IMT 14-2024 Master Thesis: Numerical modelling of high-efficient regenerative elastocaloric cooling based on superelastic shape memory alloys

Currently, refrigeration and air conditioning currently account for 20% of global energy consumption and contribute to 7.8% of global carbon emissions. That amount is continuously ascending with rapid urbanization. Seeking efficient and decarbonized refrigeration technologies can make an important contribution to carbon neutrality goals.

Elastocaloric cooling is employing the solid refrigerants, such as shape memory alloys (SMAs) and polymers, which exhibit self-heating and -cooling in response to mechanical stress. Unlike conventional vapor-compression refrigeration, this technology eliminates the risk of hazardous refrigerant leakage and offers an eco-friendly, energy-efficient cooling solution. Regenerative elastocaloric cooling, utilizing active heat-transfer fluid periods, shows potential for delivering enhanced cooling power towards future commercialization. To achieve a significant system cooling power requires optimization across various aspects, including regenerator structures, system design, and operating parameters. Numerical modelling of active elastocaloric regenerators (AERs) is a powerful means to predicate the parameters of a cooling system and to guide the system design. In previous work, a 1D numerical model of AERs has been developed based on superelastic Ni-Ti alloys. The present work intends to extend the model to various porous structures and to include the other potential factors, such as hysteresis. The focus is on improving the existing model to optimize the operating parameters of the cooling system, including frequency, mass flow rate, porosity, and cooling performance evaluation.

This is a comprehensive project that offers the opportunity to study numerical calculation of heat transfer and to improve your programming skills, while also allowing you to validate your model in proof-of-concept setup. Additionally, it provides the potential for you to co-author conference and/or journal publications.

Your Tasks:

• Investigate the SMA mechanical properties (phenomenological models of SMAs)
• Improve the 1D numerical model for porous elastocaloric regenerators based on existing AER model codes (require MATLAB, thermodynamics background)
• Optimize the AER operating parameters and evaluate its cooling performance
• Comparison to the proof-of-concept of AERs

To carry out the work, the IMT has extensive state-of-the-art equipment (600 m² clean room, rapid prototyping processes such as 3D printing and laser cutting, assembly and joining technology laboratories, various metrological laboratories). Intensive support ensures that the work can be carried out within the given time frame.

Persönliche Qualifikation

• Field of study: Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics and related programs of study
   
• We are looking for ambitious, creative and self-motivated individuals, who like to work in a multidisciplinary and international team.

Organisationseinheit

Contract duration

6 - 8 Months

Application up to

22.10.2024

Contact person in line-management

For further information, please contact Dr. Kun Wang, phone +49 721 608-23857.