When experimental results returned unexpected findings, Adam Slavney and Jinyoung Seo were intrigued. They had been testing new materials aimed at enhancing the efficiency of refrigerators, air conditioners, and heat pumps—a long-standing goal in the cooling appliance industry. The measurements for the materials they were evaluating were not as anticipated, leading Slavney to question, "Why are these things different? What did we change?"
Breakthrough in Refrigeration Technology
After several months of investigation, the team at Pascal, where Slavney serves as co-founder and CEO and Seo as co-founder and CTO, discovered the underlying reason for the discrepancies. Their startup recently secured $8.5 million in a follow-on to its seed round, co-led by Sazze Partners and LB Investment, with participation from KDB Silicon Valley. This funding is pivotal for advancing their technology, which promises to deliver refrigerators and heat pumps that are approximately 20% more efficient than current models.
Pascal has already signed a contract with a multinational beverage company to pilot their innovative technology. Slavney noted, "This whole funding round came together originally because we got a customer contract earlier than we were expecting to." The company is on track to unveil its first prototype early next year, with plans to release a batch of refined refrigerators by 2028.
The Quest for Better Refrigerants
For decades, scientists have sought improved refrigerants that do not harm the atmosphere. While alternatives exist, they must match or exceed the effectiveness of existing refrigerants. Slavney remarked, "We’ve been playing whack-a-mole with refrigerants for 35 years, 40 years." Older refrigerants like Freon have been linked to ozone depletion, while newer options such as R-134a remain potent greenhouse gases.
