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Sustainable Heat Pumps and Refrigeration Systems: Innovations in Eco-Friendly Fluids and Energy Efficiency

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Resources and Sustainable Utilization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 54

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 6627 Antônio Carlos Avenue, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Interests: solar energy heat pump; mathematical model; ecological fluid; refrigeration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Heat pumps and refrigeration systems play a crucial role in sustainable energy, providing efficient heating, cooling, and refrigeration for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Their potential to reduce fossil fuel use and lower greenhouse gas emissions makes them valuable in the global transition toward carbon neutrality. Recent work in the field has focused on eco-friendly working fluids, including natural refrigerants and low-GWP alternatives, which address environmental concerns and comply with regulatory standards.

This Special Issue highlights research on the design, optimization, and practical application of heat pumps and refrigeration systems using eco-friendly fluids. We welcome studies that combine strong technical performance with environmental considerations, as well as articles from multiple disciplines that present experimental work, modeling, and case studies.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  • Innovative thermodynamic cycles and system designs for heat pumps and refrigeration units;
  • Performance studies of natural and low-GWP refrigerants;
  • Advances in compressors, heat exchangers, and components (expansion devices, ejectors, etc.) designed for eco-friendly fluids;
  • Energy and exergy analyses aimed at improving efficiency and reliability;
  • The integration of systems into renewable energy networks and smart grids;
  • Experimental and modeling work on control and optimization;
  • Waste heat recovery, thermal storage, and industrial-scale applications;
  • Techno-economic and environmental assessments for practical implementation.

This Special Issue offers a venue for disseminating innovative research that advances technical understanding and supports international initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable energy and climate goals. We look forward to your submissions.

Prof. Dr. Raphael Nunes de Oliveira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • heat pumps
  • refrigeration systems
  • eco-friendly fluids
  • sustainable energy
  • carbon neutrality

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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