Gustav Lorentzen (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Gustav Fredrik Lorentzen (1915–1995) was a thermodynamic scientist from Norway
.
Gustav Lorentzen was a professor at Norwegian Institute of Technology
, and Norwegian University of Science and Technology
. In the late 1980s, Gustav Lorentzen rediscovered how CO2 could be used as a refrigerant
in heating and cooling applications. He developed the modern thermodynamic transcritical cycle
in 1988-1991.
In 1988 Lorentzen designed a concept for a new, but simple and efficient way of regulating CO2 systems. This idea became the turning point in the re-invention of CO2 cooling technology. Meanwhile, the Japanese coorporation Denso
had familiarized itself with Lorentzen's dissertation in 1993, and was evaluating the concept as a basis for a new air-condition application in cars. A series of communications between Lorentzen and Denso
followed and the result of the collaboration between Lorentzen and Denso was a fundamental step in the innovation of EcoCute
which was commercialized in 2000s.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Gustav Lorentzen was a professor at Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
, and Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
. In the late 1980s, Gustav Lorentzen rediscovered how CO2 could be used as a refrigerant
Refrigerant
A refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle usually including, for enhanced efficiency, a reversible phase change from a liquid to a gas. Traditionally, fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons, were used as refrigerants, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depletion...
in heating and cooling applications. He developed the modern thermodynamic transcritical cycle
Transcritical cycle
A transcritical cycle is a thermodynamic cycle where the working fluid goes through both subcritical and supercritical states. This is often the case when carbon dioxide, CO2, is the refrigerant....
in 1988-1991.
In 1988 Lorentzen designed a concept for a new, but simple and efficient way of regulating CO2 systems. This idea became the turning point in the re-invention of CO2 cooling technology. Meanwhile, the Japanese coorporation Denso
DENSO
is a global automotive components manufacturer headquartered in the city of Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Established December 16, 1949 as , in 1996 the company became DENSO Corporation worldwide...
had familiarized itself with Lorentzen's dissertation in 1993, and was evaluating the concept as a basis for a new air-condition application in cars. A series of communications between Lorentzen and Denso
DENSO
is a global automotive components manufacturer headquartered in the city of Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Established December 16, 1949 as , in 1996 the company became DENSO Corporation worldwide...
followed and the result of the collaboration between Lorentzen and Denso was a fundamental step in the innovation of EcoCute
EcoCute
The EcoCute is an energy efficient electric heat pump, water heating and supply system that uses heat extracted from the air to heat water for domestic, industrial and commercial use. Instead of the more conventional ammonia or haloalkane gases, EcoCute uses supercritical carbon dioxide as a...
which was commercialized in 2000s.