Universal Elastocaloric Test Setup
Universal Elastocaloric Test Setup
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
The first prototype of a continuously operating elastocaloric (EC) machine was presented in 2018. Since then, numerous EC machines based on different concepts have been developed, and this trend continues to grow. At this stage, standardized testing methods are necessary to reliably assess the current state of this emerging technology and establish a baseline for comparing EC machines with one another and with conventional cooling systems.
This work presents the design of an elastocaloric calorimeter test setup, which consists of two climate chambers capable of simulating various thermal conditions. A key requirement is the adaptability of the test setup to accommodate the diversity of elastocaloric machines in terms of shape, size, architecture, and heat exchange media, such as water and air.
The universal calorimeter test setup is developed within the EU project SMACool, which also aims to establish the foundation for testing methodologies and standards for this emerging cooling technology, particularly in HVAC applications.
This work presents the design of an elastocaloric calorimeter test setup, which consists of two climate chambers capable of simulating various thermal conditions. A key requirement is the adaptability of the test setup to accommodate the diversity of elastocaloric machines in terms of shape, size, architecture, and heat exchange media, such as water and air.
The universal calorimeter test setup is developed within the EU project SMACool, which also aims to establish the foundation for testing methodologies and standards for this emerging cooling technology, particularly in HVAC applications.