Cleaner, more effective heating and cooling are made possible by elastocaloric technology. It regulates temperature by taking advantage of the caloric effects of materials, namely "shape-memory alloys." Because of a phenomenon called the "elastocaloric effect," these alloys can absorb or release latent heat in response to mechanical stress or relaxation. This property makes them ideal for energy-efficient refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pumping systems. Because it utilises significantly less energy than conventional systems and solid refrigerants that do not contribute to global warming, the technology is sustainable. Due to its inherent adaptability, it can be used in a variety of ways to increase energy efficiency.
With the number of scientific publications on elastocaloric heat pumps doubling every 22 months, research and development in this field is extremely dynamic. In a similar vein, the automotive and cooling industries are among the top applicants for the growing number of patent applications. On the technological front, advancements in material characteristics and device designs have resulted in prototypes that show effective heat pumping. Various institutions and companies have proposed a number of functional designs for elastocaloric heat pumps that explore complimentary materials and production technologies, such as additive manufacturing.
In the fields of device engineering and materials sciences, elastocaloric heat pump development faces difficulties. Fatigue-resistant elastocaloric materials that can endure millions of cycles of mechanical tension and relaxation are required for long-term operation. In order to overcome this problem, various alloy compositions and production techniques are being developed. Engineering-wise, designs that enable high heat transfer rates to be maintained at the same time as allowing energy-efficient mechanical actuation, such as that provided by hydraulic actuators, are being explored. Examples of these designs include stretching or compressing wires or tubes. The demand for cooling applications would greatly outpace current production facilities, necessitating a significant upscaling in material production as well as a commercial breakthrough.
The Research Topic is opened to contributions on cooling, heat pumping, air conditioning, cryogenics and drivers exploiting elastocaloric technology. Contribution can focus on materials development, thermodynamical cycles, system concepts, experimental devices, presentation of the scopes of financed projects.
Keywords:
elastocaloric, shape memory alloys, cooling, heat pumping, drivers
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Cleaner, more effective heating and cooling are made possible by elastocaloric technology. It regulates temperature by taking advantage of the caloric effects of materials, namely "shape-memory alloys." Because of a phenomenon called the "elastocaloric effect," these alloys can absorb or release latent heat in response to mechanical stress or relaxation. This property makes them ideal for energy-efficient refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pumping systems. Because it utilises significantly less energy than conventional systems and solid refrigerants that do not contribute to global warming, the technology is sustainable. Due to its inherent adaptability, it can be used in a variety of ways to increase energy efficiency.
With the number of scientific publications on elastocaloric heat pumps doubling every 22 months, research and development in this field is extremely dynamic. In a similar vein, the automotive and cooling industries are among the top applicants for the growing number of patent applications. On the technological front, advancements in material characteristics and device designs have resulted in prototypes that show effective heat pumping. Various institutions and companies have proposed a number of functional designs for elastocaloric heat pumps that explore complimentary materials and production technologies, such as additive manufacturing.
In the fields of device engineering and materials sciences, elastocaloric heat pump development faces difficulties. Fatigue-resistant elastocaloric materials that can endure millions of cycles of mechanical tension and relaxation are required for long-term operation. In order to overcome this problem, various alloy compositions and production techniques are being developed. Engineering-wise, designs that enable high heat transfer rates to be maintained at the same time as allowing energy-efficient mechanical actuation, such as that provided by hydraulic actuators, are being explored. Examples of these designs include stretching or compressing wires or tubes. The demand for cooling applications would greatly outpace current production facilities, necessitating a significant upscaling in material production as well as a commercial breakthrough.
The Research Topic is opened to contributions on cooling, heat pumping, air conditioning, cryogenics and drivers exploiting elastocaloric technology. Contribution can focus on materials development, thermodynamical cycles, system concepts, experimental devices, presentation of the scopes of financed projects.
Keywords:
elastocaloric, shape memory alloys, cooling, heat pumping, drivers
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.