Electrocaloric heat transfer system

A heat transfer system, comprising:

• an electrocaloric element comprising an electrocaloric material, and electrodes arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material;
• a first thermal flow path between the electrocaloric material and a heat sink;
• a second thermal flow path between the electrocaloric material and a heat source;
• and
• an electric power source on operative electrical communication with the electrodes;
• and
• an arc suppression circuit in series with the electrocaloric element, comprising:
• an interruptible electrical connection configured to interrupt the electrical connection in response to detection of an arc between the electrodes;
• and
• a series shunt connection in parallel with the interruptible electrical connection, said series shunt connection including a series shunt load;
• further comprising a parallel shunt connection including a parallel shunt load, in operative electrical communication with the power source in parallel with the electrocaloric element.

A heat transfer system, comprising:

• an electrocaloric element comprising an electrocaloric material, and electrodes arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material;
• a first thermal flow path between the electrocaloric material and a heat sink;
• a second thermal flow path between the electrocaloric material and a heat source;
• an electric power source on operative electrical communication with the electrodes;
• and
• a parallel shunt connection including a parallel shunt load, said parallel shunt connection in operative electrical communication with the power source in parallel with the electrocaloric element;
• wherein the parallel shunt connection is configured to preclude current flow through the parallel shunt connection in response to normal operation and to allow current flow through the parallel shunt connection in response to detection of an arc between the electrodes.

A heat transfer system, comprising:

• an electrocaloric element comprising an electrocaloric material, and electrodes arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material;
• a first thermal flow path between the electrocaloric material and a heat sink;
• a second thermal flow path between the electrocaloric material and a heat source;
• an electric power source on operative electrical communication with the electrodes;
• and
• a parallel shunt connection including a parallel shunt load, said parallel shunt connection in operative electrical communication with the power source in parallel with the electrocaloric element;
• wherein a second shunt connection includes a power crowbar switch in series with a second shunt load, configured to preclude current flow through the power crowbar switch in response to normal operation and to allow current flow through the power crowbar switch in response to detection of an arc between the electrodes.

A method of transferring heat, comprising

• selectively applying voltage from a power source to activate electrodes and apply an electric field to an electrocaloric material;
• in coordination with application of voltage to the electrodes, transferring heat from a heat source to the electrocaloric material and from the electrocaloric material to a heat sink;
• monitoring for occurrence of arcing between the electrodes;
• an
• in response to detection of arcing between the electrodes, directing electrical current from the arcing electrodes to a shunt load in series or in parallel with the arcing electrodes with respect to the power source;
• wherein electrical current is directed from the arcing electrodes to a shunt load in series with the arcing electrodes in response to detection of arcing.

A method of transferring heat, comprising

• selectively applying voltage from a power source to activate electrodes and apply an electric field to an electrocaloric material;
• in coordination with application of voltage to the electrodes, transferring heat from a heat source to the electrocaloric material and from the electrocaloric material to a heat sink;
• monitoring for occurrence of arcing between the electrodes;
• an
• in response to detection of arcing between the electrodes, directing electrical current from the arcing electrodes to a shunt load in series or in parallel with the arcing electrodes with respect to the power source;
• wherein electrical current is directed from the arcing electrodes to a shunt load in series with the arcing electrodes and to a shunt load in parallel with the arcing electrodes in response to detection of arcing.