Electrocaloric heat transfer
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorEzekiel Kruglick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat destination, and systems for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat destination are provided. More particularly, techniques and systems for transferring heat by utilizing one or more electrocaloric heat pumps are provided. An example heat pump may include an electrocaloric element for receiving heat from a heat source, and a chamber containing a phase change material, an evaporator and a condenser. Upon altering the voltage applied to the electrocaloric element, the phase change material may transform from a liquid state to a vapor state to transfer heat away from the heat source.
Claims20
A heat pump for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat destination, comprising:
- a first electrocaloric element adapted to receive heat from the heat source;
- a first chamber having a first evaporator on a first evaporator end and a first condenser on a first condenser end, the first evaporator being operably coupled to the first electrocaloric element;
- a first phase change material enclosed in the first chamber, the first phase change material adapted to be at least one of a first liquid state and/or a first vapor state, the first phase change material adapted to flow from the first evaporator to the first condenser when in the first vapor state and further adapted to flow from the first condenser to the first evaporator when in the first liquid state;
- a second electrocaloric element operably coupled to the first condenser;
- a second chamber having a second evaporator on a second evaporator end and a second condenser on a second condenser end, the second evaporator being operably coupled to the second electrocaloric element and the second condenser end being adapted to transfer heat to the heat destination;
- and
- a second phase change material enclosed in the second chamber, the second phase change material adapted to be at least one of a second liquid state and/or a second vapor state, the second phase change material adapted to flow from the second evaporator to the second condenser when in the second vapor state and further adapted to flow from the second condenser to the second evaporator when in the second liquid state.
A heat pump for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat destination, comprising:
- an electrocaloric element adapted to receive heat from the heat source;
- a chamber having an evaporator on a first end and a condenser on a second end, the evaporator being operably coupled to the electrocaloric element, the second end being adapted to transfer heat to the heat destination;
- and
- a phase change material enclosed in the chamber, the phase change material adapted to be at least one of a liquid state and/or a vapor state, the phase change material adapted to flow from the evaporator to the condenser when in the vapor state and the phase change material adapted to flow from the condenser to the evaporator when in the liquid state.
A method of transferring heat from a heat source to a heat destination via a first heat pump and a second heat pump serially coupled, the first heat pump comprising a first electrocaloric element operably coupled to a first chamber at least partially containing a first phase change material and having a first evaporator and a first condenser, and the second heat pump further comprising a second electrocaloric element operably coupled to a second chamber at least partially containing a second phase change material and having a second evaporator and a second condenser, the method comprising:
- for a first time period, applying a first voltage to the second electrocaloric element and reducing a second voltage from the first electrocaloric element;
- and
- for a second time period, applying the second voltage to the first electrocaloric element and reducing the first voltage from the second electrocaloric element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.