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DOE OSTI2026

Space Cooling: Recovery, Reuse, Recycling and Supply Chain Impacts

The global cooling sector has undergone tremendous growth in recent years, and cooling demand is projected to double or triple by 2050. Surging air conditioning demand will continue to be driven by increased populations, incomes and occurrences of extreme heat and humidity events. Cooling equipment growth has important pollution and material implications as they are made up of critical metals and precious raw materials - including ferrous metals, copper, aluminum and printed circuit boards composed of copper, silver, gold and palladium - that generate significant electronic waste at end-of-life. Air conditioning equipment also contains fluorinated gas (F-gas) refrigerants, which are potent gases that are thousands of times more heat-trapping than carbon dioxide (CO2). While recovery, reuse, and recycling strategies have been assessed for cold chain and refrigeration, there is currently limited analysis on how these strategies could be adopted for the global space cooling industry and potential supply chain implications. This paper aims to address this research gap by qualitatively evaluating product and material recovery, reuse and recycling frameworks from both demand and supply-side perspectives and with the support of cooling-specific case studies. It also focuses on quantitatively assessing potential energy, emissions and resource benefits of such strategies for space cooling equipment. This paper first analyzes how existing recovery, reuse and recycling frameworks can be applied to space cooling, with emphasis on the demand-side enablers (e.g., innovative business models, supporting policies and regulations) and changes in supply-side production network throughout the supply chain (e.g., design, production and distribution, end-of-life recovery) needed to overcome existing barriers. It will present case studies of innovative business models for space cooling technologies, including reuse and recycling, and how effective refrigerant reclamation and recovery programs have been operationalized. Lastly, the paper will highlight global modeling results of energy, emissions and material recovery from scenario analysis of selected strategies for air conditioners. The findings of this paper are intended to inform the development of product and material recovery, reuse and recycling strategies for a rapidly growing stock of space conditioning equipment by addressing existing organizational, economic and regulatory barriers and potential supply-chain bottlenecks.

Khanna, Nina↗

DOE OSTI2025

LC-Opt: Benchmarking Reinforcement Learning and Agentic AI for End-to-End Liquid Cooling Optimization in Data Centers

Liquid cooling is critical for thermal management in high-density data centers with the rising AI workloads. However, machine learning-based controllers are essential to unlock greater energy efficiency and reliability, promoting sustainability. We present LC-Opt, a Sustainable Liquid Cooling (LC) benchmark environment, for reinforcement learning (RL) control strategies in energy-efficient liquid cooling of high-performance computing (HPC) systems. Built on the baseline of a high-fidelity digital twin of Oak Ridge National Lab's Frontier Supercomputer cooling system, LC-Opt provides detailed Modelica-based end-to-end models spanning site-level cooling towers to data center cabinets and server blade groups. RL agents optimize critical thermal controls like liquid supply temperature, flow rate, and granular valve actuation at the IT cabinet level, as well as cooling tower (CT) setpoints through a Gymnasium interface, with dynamic changes in workloads. This environment creates a multi-objective real-time optimization challenge balancing local thermal regulation and global energy efficiency, and also supports additional components like a heat recovery unit (HRU). We benchmark centralized and decentralized multi-agent RL approaches, demonstrate policy distillation into decision and regression trees for interpretable control, and explore LLM-based methods that explain control actions in natural language through an agentic mesh architecture designed to foster user trust and simplify system management. LC-Opt democratizes access to detailed, customizable liquid cooling models, enabling the ML community, operators, and vendors to develop sustainable data center liquid cooling control solutions.

Naug, Avisek [Hewlett Packard Enterprise]↗

DOE OSTI2025

Active and passive cooling approaches for a Southern California residential community

This study assesses cooling strategies in a low-income community in Southern California that lacks air conditioning and struggles with heat and air pollution. We used an urban building energy model and an electric distribution system model to evaluate active and passive cooling measures. The most effective space cooling measures were high-performance air-source heat pumps, cool coatings, window films, and harnessing the space cooling effect from heat pump water heaters. The results show that combining heat pump water heaters with window films and cool coatings reduces heat index hazard hours within buildings by 95 % to 99 % but increases total energy costs (equipment costs plus changes in utility bills) by 20 % to 60 % where the higher end includes building electrical upgrades. These measures also led to increased space heater use during colder months to avoid overcooling. Replacing conventional heaters with air source heat pumps eliminated unsafe indoor temperatures and reduced total energy use, but increased cost by 125 % to 150 %. In total, using heat pumps for space and water heating could reduce primary energy use by up to 57 %. The higher cost of active and passive cooling measures can be mitigated by existing and emerging incentive programs, especially those that support heat pumps. Electric distribution upgrades to support community electrification are estimated to increase utility costs by $\$$25 to $\$$40 per ratepayer per year. The results underscore the potential and challenges of adapting building infrastructure in communities at risk from climate and environmental stressors.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2026

Sub-Doppler Cooling of a Trapped Ion in a Phase-Stable Polarization Gradient

Trapped ions provide a highly controlled platform for quantum sensors, clocks, simulators, and computers, all of which depend on cooling ions close to their motional ground state. Existing methods like Doppler, resolved sideband, and dark resonance cooling balance trade-offs between the final temperature and cooling rate. A traveling polarization gradient has been shown to cool multiple modes quickly and in parallel, but utilizing a stable polarization gradient can achieve lower ion energies, while also allowing tailorable light-matter interactions in the sub-wavelength regime. In this Letter, we demonstrate cooling of a trapped ion below the Doppler limit using a phase-stable polarization gradient created using trap-integrated photonic devices. At an axial frequency of 2⁢𝜋×1.45 MHz we achieve ⟨𝑛⟩=1.56±0.07 in 150 μ⁢s and cooling rates of ∼0.3 quanta/μ⁢s. Here, we examine ion dynamics under different polarization gradient phases, detunings, and intensities, showing reasonable agreement between experimental results and a multilevel model. Cooling is fast and power efficient, with lower average motional Fock state occupation when compared to simulated operation under the corresponding running wave configuration. Our results demonstrate a well-controlled test bed for studying the dynamics of multilevel atomic systems in a phase-stable polarization gradient.

Atom & ion cooling↗

DOE OSTI2025

Simple Heat Transfer Model for Film Cooling Applications

This report describes the development of a simple engineering model for film cooling. This model is used to derive a relationship between local wall temperature variations and key cooling performance parameters like local heat transfer coefficients and film effectiveness. This relation and method new and different from previously published models. The scope of this report includes the derivation of regression model equations for a flat plate with and without film cooling. The model equation for a flat plate without film cooling can be used to estimate local heat transfer coefficients using surface temperatures measured from infrared thermography. The model equation for the flat plate with film cooling can be used to estimate film cooling effectiveness, $η_f$, and heat transfer augmentation from the film cooling jet(s).

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2025

On the Stability Analysis of Astrophysical Cooling Functions

To model the temperature evolution of optically thin astrophysical environments at MHD scales, radiative and collisional cooling rates are typically either pretabulated or fit into a functional form and then input into MHD codes as a radiative loss function. Thermal balance requires estimates of the analogous heating rates, which are harder to calculate, and due to uncertainties in the underlying dissipative heating processes these rates are often simply parameterized. The resulting net cooling function defines an equilibrium curve that varies with density and temperature. Such cooling functions can make the gas prone to thermal instability (TI), which will cause departures from equilibrium. There has been no systematic study of thermally unstable parameter space for nonequilibrium states. Motivated by our recent finding that there is a related linear instability, catastrophic cooling instability, that can dominate over TI, here we carry out such a study. We show that Balbus instability criteria for TI can be used to define a critical cooling rate, Λ c , that permits a nonequilibrium analysis of cooling functions through the mapping of TI zones. We furthermore illustrate how thermal conduction modifies the shape of TI zones. Upon applying a Λ c -based stability analysis to coronal loop simulations, we find that loops undergoing periodic episodes of coronal rain formation are linearly unstable to catastrophic cooling instability, while TI is stabilized by thermal conduction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2009

Thermal Design and Analysis of a Multi-Stage 30K Radiative Cooling System for EPIC

The Experimental Probe of Inflationary Cosmology (EPIC) is an implementation of the NASA Einstein Inflation Probe mission, to answer questions about the physics of Inflation in the early Universe by measuring the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The mission relies on a passive cooling system to cool the enclosure of a telescope to 30 K; a cryocooler then cools this enclosure to 18 K and the telescope to 4 K. Subsequently, an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator further cools a large focal plane to approx.100 mK. For this mission, the telescope has an aperture of 1.4 m, and the spacecraft's symmetry axis is oriented approx. 45 degrees relative to the direction of the sun. The spacecraft will be spun at approx. 0.5 rpm around this axis, which then precesses on the sky at 1 rph. The passive system must both supply the necessary cooling power for the cryocooler and meet demanding temperature stability requirements. We describe the thermal design of a passive cooling system consisting of four V-groove radiators for shielding of solar radiation and cooling the telescope to 30 K. The design realizes loads of 20 and 68 mW at the 4 K and 18 K stages on the cooler, respectively. A lower cost option for reaching 40 K with three V-groove radiators is also described. The analysis includes radiation coupling between stages of the radiators and sunshields, and parasitic conduction in the bipod support, harnesses, and ADR leads. Dynamic effects are also estimated, including the very small variations in temperature due to the scan motion of the spacecraft.

Space↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

LES-Based Analysis of Film Cooling in a High-Pressure Turbine Rotor Including Effects of Purge and Tip Flow

Accurate modeling of coolant airflows, which form protective films over turbine blades, is essential for designing fuel-efficient and environmentally sustainable gas turbine engines. Excessive coolant reduces thermal efficiency, while insufficient coolant leads to blade overheating and causes damage. Therefore, precise prediction of flow field interactions with cooling air is critical for optimizing turbine performance. This study numerically investigates the cooling effectiveness of purge and film cooling flows within a high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor using Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The study utilizes NASA Glenn Research Center’s Glenn-HT solver. The simulation models ethe conditions of the Penn State University START rotating rig. A high-fidelity structured mesh comprising up to 800 million cells is employed to resolve high-Reynolds number flow (Re ≈ 350,000) and to capture intricate secondary flow structures, including tip leakage and purge-induced vortices. Film cooling effectiveness computations are highly sensitive to boundary conditions at the cooling holes and to grid resolution. Even with well-resolved grids and included plena, strong mixing challenges traditional eddy viscosity models. To address this, a simplified configuration is simulated: a truncated row of shaped holes on the suction side near the leading edge and a row on the pressure side, both fed from internal plena while the purge slot and tip clearance are also modeled. Two isothermal LES cases are conducted at two distinct wall temperatures, which yield the adiabatic wall temperature and the heat transfer coefficient. The definition and means of computation of the effectiveness is discussed in this paper. The simulations reveal detailed three-dimensional unsteady flow features, including coherent vortical structures and secondary flows originating from the purge cavity. Film cooling effectiveness and Nusselt number distributions are presented for both the blade surface and tip, highlighting regions of elevated heat transfer and complex thermal behavior. These findings underscore the importance of high-resolution LES and realistic boundary conditions in capturing the dynamics of purge and film cooling, offering valuable insights for improving turbine blade design and thermal management strategies.

Secondary Flows↗

DOE OSTI2026

Data Center High-Temperature Liquid Cooling and Heat Reuse Techno-Economic Study: Preprint

Data centers are energy-intensive facilities with growing demands for efficiency and cost-effective operations. Smaller, more distributed edge inference data centers are expected to proliferate as AI applications require low latency closer to the user of AI tools, which presents a growing opportunity to explore the systems implications of liquid cooling on water and energy use. This study analyzes the implementation of high-temperature liquid cooling systems in a prototypical inference 1-MW data center and explores the potential for heat reuse across varying climates with a goal to optimize energy efficiency, reduce capital and operational costs, and identify opportunities for high-performance cooling and water use reduction infrastructure. This analysis evaluated configurations utilizing a peak day hourly sizing and systems performance spreadsheet to evaluate design and operational conditions from which component sizes, installed cost, operational cost, and performance metrics were determined for the Base case and the Elevated case. The techno-economic analysis included heat reuse applications across a range of heat recovery temperatures and heat rejection options. The analysis shows that high-temperature liquid cooling allows for improved energy efficiency, lower water consumption, and lower capital costs compared to traditional cooling approaches. Transitioning to elevated water inlet/outlet temperatures (50 degrees C/60 degrees C) eliminates the need for chillers, cooling towers, and heat recovery equipment in many scenarios across three distinct climate zones. This results in up to 75% capital cost savings for the cooling and heat recovery equipment, and with significantly reduced water consumption, especially in non-heat reuse applications. Heat generated from data centers can also be repurposed for space heating, domestic hot water, and other applications, and is most cost-effective when data center outlet temperatures exceed 55-60 degrees C.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2025

The influence of cooling rates on strain phase diagrams and domain structures of ferroelectric thin films: A case study of PbTiO 3

Strain engineering has been established as an effective approach to control phase equilibria, domain configurations, and functional properties of ferroelectric thin films. Temperature-strain phase diagrams have been used as powerful tools for providing insights into strain engineering. However, almost all existing phase diagrams established using the phase-field approach assume quenching conditions without considering actual cooling rates during the post-deposition annealing process of ferroelectric thin films. Within this work, we systematically investigate the influence of cooling rates on domain structures and the strain-phase diagram of ferroelectric thin films using phase-field simulations, taking PbTiO 3 thin films as a model system. We found that both the position of phase boundaries in the strain phase diagrams and the domain morphology are significantly influenced by the cooling rates. It is revealed that while the paraelectric-ferroelectric phase boundary remains invariant, the phase boundaries between single-phase and multi-phase regions tend to shift toward the corresponding multi-phase region as the cool rate reduces. Slow cooling generally leads to more ordered domain structures with increased domain size. Using the obtained equilibrium domain structures, we calculated effective thermal conductivities and found significant variations that can be tuned by the cooling rates. In conclusion, this work reveals an underexplored yet critical impact of cooling rates on phase equilibria and domain structures in ferroelectric thin films, which may inspire further fine-tuning of domains and domain walls in low-dimensional ferroelectrics for multifunctional applications.

Domain structures↗

DOE OSTI2025

Simulations of the fault current limiting operation of a long-length REBCO CORC ® superconducting cable cooled by helium gas

Conductor-on-round-core (CORC®) cables composed of rare-earth-barium-copper-oxide high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes are of great interest for power transmission applications due to their many advantages such as high power density, light weight, and low loss. Closed circulation loops of cryogenic helium gas can be used to cool HTS cables down to low temperatures to significantly improve their current-carrying capacity. Coupled circuit-electromagnetic-thermal finite element simulations implemented in the COMSOL Multiphysics package were developed, validated, and then used for simulating the fault current limiting (FCL) performance and the cooling processes of an 8-layer CORC® cable cooled with a flow of cryogenic helium gas. In the simulations, the temperature dependence of the electrical and thermal properties of all component materials is implemented for improved accuracy. To overcome computational challenges caused by the considerable difference in geometrical scales (i.e. few-µm-thick HTS layers versus 10 m-long HTS cable), the model is divided into two separate simulations. The first simulation is performed on the transverse cross-section of the cable to calculate the electric field, heating power and temperature rise in each component of a CORC® cable during FCL operation. The heating power calculated in the first simulation is transferred to the second model to simulate the cooling of a 10 m-long cable after the fault is cleared. The effect of the helium gas flow rate on the cooling process is also investigated to develop strategic approaches for optimizing cooling systems for HTS cables with FCL capability. The simulations indicated that a 40 ms fault with a voltage drop of 20 V m −1 along the cable can result in a temperature increase from 60 K to about 165 K inside the cable, and it takes about 500 s to cool the cable back to nearly 60 K with a flow of cold helium gas at a rate of 5 g s −1 .

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Historical Subsurface Cooling in the Tropical Pacific and Its Dynamics

Abstract Understanding how the tropical Pacific responds to rising greenhouse gases in recent decades is of paramount importance given its central role in global climate systems. Extensive research has explored the long-term trends of tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and the overlying atmosphere, yet the historical change in the upper ocean has received far less attention. Here, we present compelling evidence of a prominent subsurface cooling pattern along the thermocline in the central-to-eastern tropical Pacific since 1958. This subsurface cooling has been argued to be contributing to the observed cooling or lack of warming of the equatorial cold tongue SST. We further demonstrate that different mechanisms are responsible for different parts of the subsurface cooling. In the central-to-eastern equatorial Pacific and the southeastern off-equatorial Pacific, where zonal wind stress strengthens, a pronounced subsurface cooling trend emerges just above the thermocline that is closely tied to increased Ekman pumping. In the eastern equatorial Pacific where zonal wind stress weakens, the westward surface current and eastward Equatorial Undercurrent weaken as well, resulting in reduced vertical current shear and increased ocean stability, which suppresses vertical mixing and leads to local cooling. We conclude that the historical subsurface cooling is primarily linked to dynamical adjustments of ocean currents to tropical surface wind stress changes.

Jiang, Feng↗

DOE OSTI2024

Final cooling with thick wedges for a muon collider

In the final cooling stages for a muon collider, the transverse emittances are reduced while the longitudinal emittance is allowed to increase. In previous studies, Final 4-D cooling used absorbers within very high field solenoids to cool low-momentum muons. Simulations of the systems did not reach the desired cooling design goals. In this study, we develop and optimize a different conceptual design for the final 4D cooling channel, which is based on using dense wedge absorbers. We used G4Beamline to simulate the channel and Python to generate and analyze particle distributions. We optimized the design parameters of the cooling channel and produced conceptual designs (corresponding to possible starting points for the input beam) which achieve transverse cooling in both x and y by a factor of ~3.5. These channels achieve a lower transverse and longitudinal emittance than the best design previously published.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Tolerance Studies for the IMCC Rectilinear 6D Ionization Cooling Channel

As one of the main proposed future colliders that will enable us to reach energy scales capable of probing Beyond the Standard Model phenomena, muon colliders present unique challenges. To reach the desired luminosity, namely 1, 10, and 20 ab-1 for 3, 10, and 14 TeV, respectively, the six-dimensional emittance of the muon beam needs to be reduced significantly in a process described as muon cooling. The currently proposed system for muon cooling by the International Muon Collider Collaboration involves 6D initial cooling post-muon charge separation through rectilinear channels (A) before and rectilinear channels (B) after muon bunch merge, as well as a final 4D transverse cooling. This work focuses on the former stage of cooling with B rectilinear channels. First, we will compare its cooling performance against the rectilinear channel studied by the Muon Accelerator Program. Then, we do tolerance studies on all B stages, focusing on properties of the Radiofrequency (RF) cavities used in the channels and how they affect 6D emittance and transmission. We will evaluate the impact of these modifications on the overall performance of the rectilinear 6D cooling channel.

Karaaslan, Inci [Chicago U., EFI] (ORCID:000000033↗

DOE OSTI2026

Modeling of a Four-Stage Linear Ionization Cooling Channel for a Muon Collider in g4Beamline

A previous study of an eight-stage rectilinear ionization cooling channel in the ICOOL software demonstrated a five-order-of-magnitude reduction in a muon beam’s 6D emittance. In this study, we look to compare the ways ICOOL and Muons, Inc.’s g4Beamline software model ionization cooling by comparing their modeling of the first four stages of this optimized cooling channel constructed in ICOOL. We begin by identifying the parameters used to construct the optimized ionization cooling channel in ICOOL. We then reconstruct this beam in g4Beamline with identical parameter specifications and simulate the cooling of an identical input beam. Finally, we compare the two simulations based on their beam transmission, longitudinal emittance, and transverse emittance along the channel length. Through this process, we demonstrate that G4Beamline accurately reproduces transverse cooling results but predicts systematically different longitudinal emittance evolution while maintaining similar overall cooling performance, reproducing a 97.9% reduction in 6D emittance over four stages.

Keeler, Dominic [Purdue U., West Lafayette] (ORCID↗

DOE OSTI2026

Project Phase 1 Report: Reducing Data Center Peak Cooling Demand and Energy Costs With Cold Underground Thermal Energy Storage (Cold UTES)

Cold Underground Thermal Energy Storage (Cold UTES) is an ultra-long duration grid energy storage technology. With Cold-UTES, low-cost grid power is converted to cold thermal energy and stored in the native subsurface rock at the point of use. Cold UTES is one approach within the general category of engineered geothermal systems. Cold UTES for peak-hour cooling of data centers (DCs) was studied for deployment in Maricopa County, Arizona and Loudoun County, Virgina using thermal storage capacities from 4 GWh-th to over 1,000 GWh-th (>1 Terawatt-hour). The two sites have different power and transmission systems, available grid energy resources, daily and seasonal load profiles, weather conditions, and grid regulatory requirements. The study results indicate high value for both locations and because of this, likely indicates value across most of the US and the world. The basis of the study was a 1,000 MW-e hourly electric use of DC computing and auxiliary loads, which was modeled as 1 GW-th of thermal load to a dry cooled heat rejection system - i.e. a cooling system that does not consume water. The electric power required for cooling the DC varies as the air temperature changes. In cold weather only the dry-coolers are used, with an electrical load for cooling load as low as 10 MW-e. In hot summer hours, chillers and dry- coolers are required, which raises the electrical load for cooling load to as much as 300 MW-e. The continuous and peak cooling electrical loads result in a grid interconnection requirement of no less than 1,300 MW-e. From both a grid and thermal design modeling perspective the 1.3 GW-e could either be a single facility or result from the total load at multiple sites.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1973

Experimental investigation of aerodynamic performance of cooled turbine vanes at gas- to collant-temperature ratios up to 2.75

The results of an experimental investigation of the aerodynamic performance of two geometrically similar turbine vanes with different cooling designs are presented. The test vanes were a convection-film-cooled vanes and a transpiration-cooled vane. A solid uncooled vane with the same aerodynamic profile as the cooled vane was also tested. Four vanes of each type were tested in an annular sector cascade. The cooled vanes were tested at primary to coolant temperature ratios of 1.0, 1.75, and 2.75 and a coolant to primary pressure ratios of 1.0, 1.2, and 1.5. This resulted in coolant flows up to about 10 percent of the primary flow. The principal measurements were surveys of vane exit total pressure, total temperature, and static pressure. The report includes a brief description of the test facility and the design of the test vanes. The test results presented include weight flow and efficiency data for the uncooled vanes and coolant flow, primary flow, and efficiency data as functions of the cooling variables for the cooled vanes.

Stabe, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1973

An adverse effect of film cooling on the suction surface of a turbine vane

A J-75 size turbine vane with film cooling holes on the suction surface near the leading edge was tested with and without film cooling flow in a four vane cascade. Results show that the cooling effectiveness on the aft portion of the vane suction surface can decrease with the addition of film cooling near the leading edge. Apparently the film cooling air flow caused a laminar or transitional boundary layer to become a transitional or turbulent boundary layer. The vane was tested at a gas temperature and pressure of 1260 K (1800 F) and 22.7 newtons per square centimeter (33 psia), a coolant temperature of 280 K (50 F), film cooling flow ratios from 0.0 to 0.026, and backside midchord cooling flow ratios of 0.007 and 0.035.

Gladden, H. J.↗