<p>In this work, we utilize COMSOL Multiphysics to model the heat flow into and out of a Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) as it bends around a rotating copper disk, which acts as a thermal mass for heating or cooling. The model is verified using a novel experimental system capable of capturing the thermal gradient through the disk in both steady-state and transient operation. We then interrogate the impacts of the wire’s cross-sectional geometry, contact thermal resistance at the disk junction, rotational speed of the disk, and the disk’s radius of curvature on the cycle’s coefficient of performance (COP) through a broad parametric study. A similar (but less extensive) parametric study is performed experimentally to validate assumptions about the contact thermal resistance between the rotating disk and the wire as well as the heating load applied during elastic-plastic deformation in our NiTi alloy.&nbsp;Our results suggest that this modeling technique can accurately capture the endothermic and exothermic reactions associated&nbsp;with the phase change, as well as the temperature distribution throughout the disk. We therefore provide a useful tool for developing and optimizing next-generation passive heating and cooling systems for small-to-medium scale applications.</p>

Modeling and Optimization of Transient and Steady-State Sma-Based Elastocaloric Refrigeration Cycle

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/InterPACK/InterPACK2021/volume/85505

ASME 2021 International Electronic Packaging Technical Conference and Exhibition (InterPACK2021)

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