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A cascade electrocaloric cooling device for large temperature lift

Author

Listed:
  • Yuan Meng

    (University of California)

  • Ziyang Zhang

    (University of California)

  • Hanxiang Wu

    (University of California)

  • Ruiyi Wu

    (University of California)

  • Jianghan Wu

    (University of California)

  • Haolun Wang

    (University of California)

  • Qibing Pei

    (University of California
    University of California)

Abstract

Cooling technology that is both compact and flexible is increasingly vital for the thermal management of wearable electronics and personal comfort. Electrocaloric (EC) cooling provides a potential solution, but the low adiabatic temperature change of EC materials has been the bottleneck in its progress. We demonstrate a cascade EC cooling device that increases the temperature change, with enhanced cooling power and cooling efficiency at the same time. The device integrates multiple units of EC polymer elements and an electrostatic actuation mechanism, all operating in synergy. Every two adjacent EC elements function in antiphase (in terms of both actuation and EC effect) to allow heat flow to be continuously relayed from the heat source to the heat sink. The antiphase operation also enables internal charge recycling, which enhances the energy efficiency. Operating at the EC electric field at which the adiabatic temperature change of the material is 3.0 K, a four-layer cascade device achieves a maximum temperature lift of 8.7 K under no-load conditions. The coefficient of performance is estimated to be 9.0 at the temperature lift of 2.7 K and 10.4 at zero temperature lift.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuan Meng & Ziyang Zhang & Hanxiang Wu & Ruiyi Wu & Jianghan Wu & Haolun Wang & Qibing Pei, 2020. "A cascade electrocaloric cooling device for large temperature lift," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(12), pages 996-1002, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:5:y:2020:i:12:d:10.1038_s41560-020-00715-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-020-00715-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Qiang Li & Luqi Wei & Ni Zhong & Xiaoming Shi & Donglin Han & Shanyu Zheng & Feihong Du & Junye Shi & Jiangping Chen & Houbing Huang & Chungang Duan & Xiaoshi Qian, 2024. "Low-k nano-dielectrics facilitate electric-field induced phase transition in high-k ferroelectric polymers for sustainable electrocaloric refrigeration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Panpan Song & Yawei Zhu & Zhongyan An & Mingshan Wei & Xiaoxia Sun & Yangjun Zhang, 2023. "Performance Study on an Electrocaloric Heat Pump Based on Ga-Based Liquid Metal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Jiawei Tang & Patrick Luk, 2022. "Wearable Bio-Inspired Pulsating-Flow Cooling for Live Garments Based on a Novel Design of Ferrofluid Micro-Valve," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Ming-Ding Li & Xiao-Quan Shen & Xin Chen & Jia-Ming Gan & Fang Wang & Jian Li & Xiao-Liang Wang & Qun-Dong Shen, 2022. "Thermal management of chips by a device prototype using synergistic effects of 3-D heat-conductive network and electrocaloric refrigeration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Zhang, Jiongjiong & Zhu, Yuxiang & Cheng, Siyuan & Yao, Shuhuai & Sun, Qingping, 2023. "Effect of inactive section on cooling performance of compressive elastocaloric refrigeration prototype," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).

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