High efficiency, hydrogen-driven cooling device

A cooling device, comprising:

• (a) a cooling section that comprises:
• (i) a working fluid,
• (ii) a heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with a conditioned space such that the heat exchanger transfers heat from the conditioned space to the working fluid, thereby cooling the conditioned space and converting the working fluid from a low pressure liquid to a low pressure gas,
• (iii) a compressor in fluid communication with the heat exchanger such to that the compressor compresses the working fluid from a low pressure gas to a high pressure gas,
• (iv) a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor such that the condenser removes heat from the working fluid, thereby condensing the working fluid from a high pressure gas to a high pressure liquid,
• (v) means for expanding the working fluid, thereby converting the working fluid from a high pressure liquid to a low pressure liquid, wherein the means for expanding are in fluid communication with the condenser, and
• (vi) means for conveying the working fluid from the means for expanding to the heat exchanger, and
• (b) a power section that comprises:
• (i) a dehydrogenation reaction zone,
• (ii) a dehydrogenation catalyst disposed in the reaction zone,
• (iii) means for supplying an endothermic heat of reaction to the reaction zone, wherein a portion of the heat of reaction is supplied by the heat removed from the working fluid in the condenser,
• (iv) means for contacting the catalyst with an organic hydride such that the organic hydride dehydrogenates to form H.sub.2 and at least one dehydrogenation product,
• (v) a combustor in fluid communication with the reaction zone such that the combustor bums the H.sub.2 to form combustion products,
• (vi) means for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the combustor, and
• (vii) a turbine in fluid communication with the combustor and in mechanical drive relationship with the compressor such that the turbine expands the combustion products to form exhaust gases, thereby providing energy to drive the compressor.