A multi-material cascade elastocaloric cooling device for large temperature lift

Guoan Zhou (), Zexi Li, Qiuhong Wang, Yuxiang Zhu, Peng Hua, Shuhuai Yao () and Qingping Sun ()
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Guoan Zhou: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Zexi Li: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Qiuhong Wang: Wuhan University
Yuxiang Zhu: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Peng Hua: Harbin Institute of Technology
Shuhuai Yao: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Qingping Sun: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Nature Energy, 2024, vol. 9, issue 7, 862-870

Abstract: Abstract Elastocaloric cooling using shape memory alloys is a promising candidate for next-generation environmentally friendly refrigeration. The temperature lift (Tlift), that is, the ability of the cooling device to transfer heat from a low-temperature source to a high-temperature sink, is a critical performance indicator. However, increasing the Tlift of existing elastocaloric devices is difficult due to the narrow temperature window across which the individual elastocaloric materials exhibit superelasticity (for example, ≤50 K for commercially-available NiTi shape memory alloys). Here we construct a multi-material cascade elastocaloric cooling device using NiTi with three different temperatures at which the martensite-to-austenite transition is completed, also called austenite finish temperature. By matching the working temperature distribution of the NiTi units with their austenite finish temperatures, we expand the device’s superelastic temperature window to over 100 K and achieved a Tlift of 75 K on the water side. This work demonstrates the great potential of multi-material cascade elastocaloric regenerators for space cooling in the near future.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01537-3

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