Thermodynamic Remarks on an Air-cycle Microclimate Cooling Device 1999-01-2716

The research to substitute chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFC) has brought to repropose fluids already used in the past and also totally new solutions. Among these, the utilization of air has been proposed since this fluid is devoid of any pollution effect; some authors have pointed out its advantages by means of rather sophisticated cycles. However, it is easy to demonstrate that air can not be a competitor as regards two-phase fluids when the cycle exergy efficiency is a fundamental element. Notwithstanding, there are cases in which other considerations are prevailing, as in the case of airplanes in which air is soundly used. An innovative concept of using aircycle technology for the development of a microclimate-cooling device for military and industrial applications has been recently proposed.

For this last case, a thermodynamic analysis is here carried out to state pros and cons of such systems.