Cooled himself: Timur Sirman (3rd from left) celebrates the prototype.
Image: Samira Schulz
The start-up Magnotherm wants to replace conventional refrigerants in refrigerators with magnetic metals. The technology is more environmentally friendly and energy-saving, say the founders. But it also has disadvantages.
AThe founders are proud of the beverage can in the bin. So proud that they gave it a new label: “I was magnetically cooled!” is written on the energy drink. For a few months now, the bin with the cans has been standing in a workshop in the south of Darmstadt, when it’s not on its way to trade fairs, award ceremonies or potential customers. Because the cooling technology of the inconspicuous device, which looks like a top-loading spin dryer, is revolutionary. “After 20 years of research, we have developed a new technology,” says Timur Sirman, head of Magnotherm, which has won multiple founders’ awards. “We can do without all climate-damaging gases.”
Conventional refrigerators work according to the principle of evaporation: A refrigerant becomes gaseous in tubes inside and thereby extracts heat from the environment. The agent is then pumped outside and releases the heat to the outside air, a compressor compresses it back into a liquid and pumps it back inside. This technology requires refrigerants that evaporate at very low temperatures. In the past, environmentally harmful fluorocarbons were used for this purpose; today, somewhat less harmful to the climate but flammable such as isobutane or a butane-propane mixture are used.
