IMT 30-2023 Master Thesis: Solid-state elastocaloric cooling device based on shape memory alloys

In Germany, refrigeration accounts for 14% of electricity consumption. This proportion is expected to increase steadily in the future. Innovations in cooling technology can therefore make an important contribution to climate and environmental protection.

Elastocaloric cooling is an emerging solid-state cooling technology with the potential to provide environmentally friendly cooling with high efficiency. Currently, superelastic shape memory alloys (SMA) are the most promising elastocaloric materials. They respond to the application and release of stress by self-heating and -cooling, respectively, due to a reversible solid-to-solid phase transformation. SMA films are especially promising for elastocaloric cooling, since they combine a high elastocaloric effect size with highly efficient heat transfer due to the large surface-to-volume ratio of film geometries. In previous work, first SMA film-based elastocaloric cooling demonstrators have been fabricated and tested successfully. The present work intends to extend the demonstrator concept to cascaded and parallel designs to enhance the temperature range and cooling power. The focus is on cooling in the miniature range, such as cooling electronic chips or temperature control of bioanalytical chips.

This is a comprehensive project that offers the opportunity to work with embedded systems while also allowing you to test the measurement setup. Additionally, it provides the potential for you to co-author conference and/or journal publications.

Your Tasks:

• Characterization of SMA material properties (structure, mechanical, thermal)
• Design development based on lumped element modelling (Matlab/Simulink)

     And/or

• Prototype development including fabrication technology, performance control and characterization

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

Contact person in line-management

For further information, please contact Dr. Jingyuan Xu, phone +49 721 608-22752, e-mail: jingyuan.xu@kit.edu.