Project description
Leveraging the electrocaloric effect for more efficient cooling
Cooling is an integral part of every industrial process as heat generated by the equipment can negatively affect performance and output. Current industrial cooling methods have significant disadvantages, namely high costs, low efficiency and environmental impacts. Cooling methods based on the electrocaloric (EC) effect, whereby a material displays a reversible temperature change under an applied electric field, are a promising alternative. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ElectroCool project aims to eliminate obstacles associated with EC cooling, namely low temperature span and short fatigue life, and high applied voltage. The objective is the first regenerative EC device with a high temperature span and long fatigue life, offering an efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solution.
Objective
Cooling accounts for 17 % of total global electricity consumption. Vapor compression cooling dominated the markets, which
uses refrigerants that can leak to the environment and exhibits low efficiency. By contrast, cooling based on an electric-field
driven change in temperature of certain materials, i.e. the electrocaloric (EC) effect, promises an environmentally-friendly
technology with high efficiency. However, three key obstacles have prevented EC cooling from becoming commercially
relevant: small temperature span, low fatigue life, and high applied voltage.
This project has an ambitious goal of gaining insight into a regenerative EC cooler, which will enable the design and
fabrication of the first regenerative EC device exhibiting a large temperature span with long fatigue life. Performance targets
include a temperature span of 20 K, a fatigue life of 10000 cycles, and a low applied voltage. The research is organized into
three work packages: (1) advanced material characterization, (2) high-fidelity system modelling, and (3) demonstration of a
high-performance demonstrator. To achieve this challenging goal, a strong collaboration will take place between three
leading institutions, i.e. the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Barcelona.
The applicant is currently at forefront of international advances in developing regenerative cooling technologies, with
internationally recognized awards, 24 peer-reviewed publications, and 11 innovation patents.
The project will demonstrate a new concept of a robust, high performance electrocaloric cooler, which is expected to
transform the current cooling technology to the new one that is environmentally friendly and efficient. A timely award of the
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship will provide the applicant the necessary resources and access to expertise to make
rapid progress in this emerging research area and become an independent researcher, ready to compete globally.
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark