A electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter having a low temperature membrane electrode assembly array and a high temperature membrane electrode assembly array is provided. Additional cells are provided in the low temperature membrane electrode assembly array, which causes an additional amount of the working fluid, namely hydrogen, to be pumped to the high pressure side of the converter. The additional pumped hydrogen compensates for the molecular hydrogen diffusion that occurs through the membranes of the membrane electrode assembly arrays. The MEA cells may be actuated independently by a controller to compensate for hydrogen diffusion.

A electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter having a low temperature membrane electrode assembly array and a high temperature membrane electrode assembly array is provided. Additional cells are provided in the low temperature membrane electrode assembly array, which causes an additional amount of the working fluid, namely hydrogen, to be pumped to the high pressure side of the converter. The additional pumped hydrogen compensates for the molecular hydrogen diffusion that occurs through the membranes of the membrane electrode assembly arrays. The MEA cells may be actuated independently by a controller to compensate for hydrogen diffusion.

A cooling system employs at least one composite elastocaloric device. Each composite device has a first member with a first material and a second member with an elastocaloric material. The first material increases in size in response to an applied electric or magnetic field and returns to its prior size upon removal of the applied electric or magnetic field. The first and second members are mechanically coupled together such that the increase in size of the first material applies a stress to the elastocaloric material and the return of the first material to its prior size releases said stress, thereby causing the elastocaloric material to absorb heat.

A heat exchange system includes a pump or compressor 100 that pressurizes a working fluid, a first heat exchanger 200 that receives the working fluid from the pump or compressor 100 and causes the working fluid to exchange heat with a first medium to decrease a temperature of the working fluid, first adjustment means 300 for receiving the working fluid from the first heat exchanger 200 and decreasing the temperature and a pressure of the working fluid, heat absorption means 400 for receiving the working fluid from the first adjustment means 300, second adjustment means 500 for receiving the working fluid from the heat absorption means 400, and a second heat exchanger 600 that receives the working fluid from the second adjustment means 500.

Embodiments described herein generally relate a multi-mode heat transfer system. The heat transfer system includes an emitter device. The emitter device includes an inner core, a composite material pattern, and a surface coating pattern. The inner core is surrounded by an outer core having a thickness and an outer surface. The composite material pattern extends through at least a portion of the outer surface and at least a portion of the thickness of the outer core and is thermally coupled to the inner core. The surface coating pattern is on the outer surface and is changeable between a low emissivity state and a high emissivity state based on a surface temperature of the emitter device. In the low emissivity state, the emitter device transmits an omni-directional radiation and, in the high emissivity state, the emitter device transmits a focused radiation via the composite material pattern.

A system includes a heat exchanger mounted to the brackets and receiving cryogen, the heat exchanger having a vertical inlet coupled in parallel to a plurality of equal size horizontal tubes each traversing a width of the heat exchanger and further coupled in parallel to a vertical outlet pipe with an outlet diameter at least twice an inlet tube diameter; a temperature sensor; a thermostat that monitors the temperature sensor and maintains a predetermined temperature set point by communicating with a solenoid valve coupled to the heat exchanger; an exhaust line coupled to the outlet pipe that expels exhaust gas outside the enclosed facility; multiple fans attached to the heat exchanger; and a fail-safe oxygen sensor to protect a biological object in the enclosed facility.

A refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger configured to place a cooling fluid in a heat exchange relationship with a working fluid, a free-cooling circuit having a pump configured to circulate the working fluid through the heat exchanger and a condenser, a flow control valve configured to control a flow rate of the working fluid to the condenser, a condenser bypass valve configured to control a flow rate of the working fluid that bypasses the condenser, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the flow control valve, a position of the condenser bypass valve, a speed of a fan of the condenser, a speed of the pump, and a temperature of a heater based on an ambient temperature, a temperature of the working fluid leaving the condenser, the position of the flow control valve, the position of the condenser bypass valve, or a combination thereof.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elastocaloric core positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature. The housing is configured to receive the first fluid at a first temperature via an inlet to cause the first SMA or NTE elastocaloric core to change state. A device is configured to apply stress on the first SMA or NTE core in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE elastocaloric core to change state, releasing heat/energy and causing the SMA/NTE to heat up. A second fluid at a higher temperature is inputted and then subsequently heated further as a result of heat transfer. A second Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) or elastocaloric core is positioned in a cascade arrangement with the first core, but exhibiting a higher activation temperature. The higher temperature fluid leaving core 1 is inputted into core 2, resulting in a larger net temperature lift than could be achieved with a single core. In the alternative, in a cooling system, to achieve a lower temperature drop, the second core in the cascade can exhibit a lower activation temperatures than the first core. The cycle focus is on the endothermic stress release component where the SMA/NTE/elastocaloric core absorbs energy from the fluid. The first core results in a fluid stream drop and that then enters the second core with lower activation temperatures, resulting in a further drop of the output fluid during the cooling half of the cycle.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elastocaloric core positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature. The housing is configured to receive the first fluid at a first temperature via an inlet to cause the first SMA or NTE elastocaloric core to change state. A device is configured to apply stress on the first SMA or NTE core in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE elastocaloric core to change state, releasing heat/energy and causing the SMA/NTE to heat up. A second fluid at a higher temperature is inputted and then subsequently heated further as a result of heat transfer. A second Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) or elastocaloric core is positioned in a cascade arrangement with the first core, but exhibiting a higher activation temperature. The higher temperature fluid leaving core 1 is inputted into core 2, resulting in a larger net temperature lift than could be achieved with a single core. In the alternative, in a cooling system, to achieve a lower temperature drop, the second core in the cascade can exhibit a lower activation temperatures than the first core. The cycle focus is on the endothermic stress release component where the SMA/NTE/elastocaloric core absorbs energy from the fluid. The first core results in a fluid stream drop and that then enters the second core with lower activation temperatures, resulting in a further drop of the output fluid during the cooling half of the cycle.

The invention provides heat pump system a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) or elastocaloric material core positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb thermal heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature. The housing is configured to receive the fluid at the first temperature via an inlet to cause the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric material core to change state. A device is configured to apply stress on the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric core in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric core to change state. A support system is configured to engage with the material in the core to prevent the material buckling when the stress is applied wherein the support system comprises a series of buckling supports positioned along at least one length of the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric material core. The support system provides a mechanical buckling support and heat transfer optimisation for fluid flow in a SMA heat pump during compression.