Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory in collaboration with Astronautics Corporation of America, are building a prototype cooling unit based on magnetic-refrigeration technology.

According to an Ames Laboratory press release, the prototype, if successful, would be the first magnetic refrigerator capable of sustained operation and generating enough cooling power for commercial applications.

The Ames Laboratory research team of Karl Gschneidner Jr., Vitalij Pecharsky and David Jiles are working with scientist Carl Zimm of Astronautics Corporation of America on the three-year project.

Karl Gschneidner Jr., a senior Ames Laboratory scientist and the project coordinator, said magnetic refrigeration will be more environmentally friendly and a more reliable source of cooling power than cooling systems currently used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

He said magnetic refrigeration won’t use chlorofluorocarbons or other dangerous chemicals that present cooling systems are using.

Many of these chemicals have been proven to have ill effects on the ozone layer.

“We think it is going to be a more energy efficient source of refrigeration,” Gschneidner said.

Pecharsky said the outcome of the project could be a large advancement.

“To a certain extent, one can compare it to, efficiency wise, [the improvement] from steam engines to internal combustion engines,” he said.

Gschneidner said the Ames Laboratory has been working on magnetic-refrigeration research with Astronautics Corporation of America, a leader in magnetic-refrigeration technology, for eight years.

He said the project that officially began April 1 could have large-scale applications, including commercial air conditioning and supermarket refrigeration systems, when it is made available within five to 10 years.

“It will have a wide range of applications,” he said.

According to the press release, the Department of Energy will provide $750,000 in funding throughout the project, and the Milwaukee-based Astronautics Corporation of America will provide a matching amount through in-kind contributions of personnel, research, services and facilities.