Air cycle refrigeration

Air cycle refrigeration is a tried and tested technology that has long been the basis of aircraft cabin cooling. Until now the low energy efficiency and high cost of air cycle systems have prevented their use in buildings. However, recent studies by BRE and the University of Bristol (see Building Services November 1998) have shown that air cycle systems could be viable for buildings that require simultaneous heating and cooling. Although air cycle cooling systems have low COPs they can provide relatively high temperature heat recovery without the efficiency penalty experienced by vapour compression systems. Mass production techniques could also at least partially overcome the relatively high cost of the systems.

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