Descripción del proyecto
Un concepto elastocalórico innovador para tecnologías de refrigeración
La demanda de métodos variados de refrigeración aumenta en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, las tecnologías estándar de refrigeración que se basan en la compresión del vapor resultan ineficientes y nocivas para el medio ambiente. La refrigeración elastocalórica es una tecnología prometedora de refrigeración de estado sólido. Con todo, se enfrenta a dos retos fundamentales: la geometría del regenerador elastocalórico y la existencia de un mecanismo de transmisión que permita la descarga de este generador. El proyecto SUPERCOOL, financiado con fondos europeos, aplicará un método único para diseñar regeneradores elastocalóricos avanzados con estructuras complejas y un mecanismo de transmisión basado en el principio de la recuperación de la fuerza. El equipo del proyecto combinará elementos esenciales de este innovador concepto elastocalórico en un prototipo, lo cual ofrecerá una tecnología de refrigeración más eficaz y menos contaminante.
Objetivo
Cooling, refrigeration and air-conditioning are crucial for our modern society. In the last decade, the global demands for cooling are growing exponentially. The standard refrigeration technology, based on vapour compression, is old, inefficient and environmentally harmful. In the SUPERCOOL project we will exploit the potential of elastocaloric cooling, probably the most promising solid-state refrigeration technology, which utilizes the latent heat associated with the martensitic transformation in superelastic shape-memory alloys. We have already demonstrated a novel concept of utilizing the elastocaloric effect (eCE) by introducing a superelastic porous structure in an elastocaloric regenerative thermodynamic cycle. Our preliminary results, recently published in Nature Energy, show the tremendous potential of such a system. However, two fundamental challenges remain. First, we need to create a geometry of the superelastic porous structure (elastocaloric regenerator) to ensure sufficient fatigue life, a large eCE and rapid heat transfer. Second, we must have a driver mechanism that can effectively utilize the work released during the unloading of the elastocaloric regenerator. To succeed I am proposing a unique approach to design advanced elastocaloric regenerators with complex structures together with a driver mechanism with the force-recovery principle. We will employ a systematic characterization and bottom-up linking of all three crucial aspects of the elastocaloric regenerator, i.e. the thermo-hydraulic properties, the stability and the structural fatigue, together with a new solution for force recovery in effective drivers. Based on these theoretical, numerical and experimental results we will combine both key elements of our novel elastocaloric concept into a prototype device, which could be the first major breakthrough in cooling technologies for 100 years, providing greater efficiency and reduced levels of pollution, by applying a solid-state refrigerant.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
1000 Ljubljana
Eslovenia