Elastocalorics could replace heat pumps, air conditioning systems
A team from Saarland University is developing elastocalorics technology funded by the European Innovation Council. This innovative approach aims to revolutionize heating and cooling systems, offering energy savings and high efficiency.
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A team from Saarland University in Germany is developing elastocalorics heating and cooling technology funded by the European Innovation Council. This technology aims to replace traditional heat pumps and air conditioning systems, offering significant energy savings when combined with technologies like photovoltaics. The project, supported by a €4 million grant, focuses on creating a prototype for decentralized room air conditioning within three years. Elastocalorics technology involves using shape memory materials like superelastic nickel-titanium alloy to transport heat into or out of a room. This innovative approach has been recognized by the World Economic Forum and is considered a promising alternative to conventional heating and cooling methods by the US Department of Energy and the European Commission. The technology boasts high efficiency, requiring less electricity compared to current systems, and does not rely on coolants. The research team aims to develop a compact air conditioning unit for residential buildings that can be installed directly in new constructions with ventilation systems.
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3 commentsI did wonder at the time if they could replace the refrigerant in fridges with this but figured they would eventually fail from repeated bending.
> COP of 3.7
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43611-6 (2023)
> Using elastocaloric systems, these efficiencies can be increased by a multiple. Elastocaloric materials show COPs of up to over 30, and current technology demonstrators achieve simulative efficiencies of over 9.
https://analyticalscience.wiley.com/content/article-do/elast... (2023)
Looking for articles by the interviewee, Google Scholar only lists six. This one has a COP study:
https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/SMASIS/proceedings-ab...
The 20 COP is at temp. diff of around 3 K. At 20 K diff, the COP seems to land around 3-4.
> "The efficiency of elastocaloric materials is more than ten times higher than today’s air conditioning or heating systems – they will require significantly less electricity,” said Motzki.
Please also explain what's wrong with existing technologies that makes NiTi relevant in residential buildings. Current numbers don't seem to say what you're saying.
I could see this being really useful in e.g. space exploration where you don't want liquids slushing around, or risk leaking gas.
How do you do that with a solid metal? Do you have a complicated setup of hot room air blowing over the metal to absorb some heat, and then pump outside air through the same cavity to take away that heat? That sounds mediocre, as air is a pretty crummy working fluid for heat pumping.
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