RECORDING - Advancing Elastocaloric Technology: Enhancing COP and Power Density for Low-Temperature Water-Water Heat Pumps with Solid-State Heat Recovery

Ongoing research into the Elastocaloric (EC) Effect and the associated materials has demonstrated potential application as a solid-state alternative to traditional vapour compression (VC) refrigeration and heat pumping approaches. This potential is as yet unrealised and significant technical challenges remain outstanding (excessive thermal losses, effective heat transfer implementations, operating source-sink temperature differences). This has restricted the achievable Coefficient of Performance (COP) on existing devices to values lower than comparable VC systems operating at low temperature heat pump ranges as defined by EN14825. Past laboratory-based studies of EC devices have predominantly relied on fluid-based active regeneration/heat recovery methods. This study takes a novel approach by investigating the use of a moving solid-state heat recovery storage process with a Ni51.2Ti Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) blend in sheet form. The objective is to enhance both the COP and power density for a low-temperature water-water heat pump application. Results through physical experiments and simulated system models using COMSOL Multiphysics are presented which demonstrate enhanced commercial viability & system performance using this approach.