Prof. Hrnjak Receives Environmental Award from US Army

7/5/2012 By Anna Flanagan

Prof. Pega Hrnjak

Written by By Anna Flanagan

Predrag Hjrnak
Predrag Hjrnak
Prof. Pega Hrnjak

The Communication-Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center's CO2 Cooling Development Team has been selected for the Army's 2004-2005 Environmental Excellence in Weapon System Acquisition (EEWSA) Award. The award is the Army's highest honor for outstanding environmental stewardship during the acquisition of weapon systems that will support the nation's military objectives. It is presented by the Army Environmental Executive, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety, & Occupational Health.

The CO2 Cooling Development Team, a cross-functional team from government, industry, and academia, includes Professor Pega Hrnjak, Co-Director of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Center. The team collaborated to design, fabricate and test an innovative, high-performance and environmentally responsible cooling system on one of the most critical tactical wheeled vehicles in the U.S. Army inventory, the M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV. Prof. Hrnjak and his research group performed all of the academic research and breadboard modeling necessary to prove the value and viability of CO2 technology.

The CO2 system produced higher capacity cooling, at lighter overall weight and in a more compact package than the baseline high-global warming hydrofluorocarbon HFC-134a system. As a result, the CO2 cooling technology is now being favorably considered for application to future tactical truck systems.
The use of CO2 cooling in place of fluorocarbon refrigerants is an example of an implementing technology for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The CO2 Cooling Development Team received a favorable endorsement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has received the Army nomination to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for similar recognition at the next level.


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This story was published July 5, 2012.