A heat transfer system includes an electrocaloric element comprising an electrocaloric film (12). A first electrical conductor is disposed on a first side of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrical conductor is disposed on a second side of the electrocaloric film. At least one of the first and second electrical conductors is an electrically conductive liquid. An electric power source (20) is in electrical contact with the first and second electrical conductors, and is configured to provide an electrical field across the electrocaloric film. A liquid flow path (28) is disposed along the plurality of electrocaloric elements for the electrically conductive liquid.

A method of making an electrocaloric element includes dissolving or dispersing an electrocaloric polymer in an organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 100? C. at 1 atmosphere to form a liquid composition comprising the electrocaloric polymer. A film of the liquid composition is cast on a substrate, and the organic solvent is evaporated to form a film of the electrocaloric polymer. The film is removed from the substrate and disposed between electrical conductors to form an electrocaloric element.

Embodiments are directed to a heat pump element comprising: a thin-film polymer or ceramic material within a range of 0.1 microns-100 microns thickness, and electrodes coupled to both sides of the thin-film material to form an electroded active thin-film material, wherein the thin-film material is separated by, and in intimate contact with, a heat transfer fluid in channels within a range of 10 microns-10 millimeters thickness, in which the fluid is capable of being translated back and forth through the element by an imposed pressure field.

In a thermally regulated climate chamber for testing equipment, a thermoelectric unit is arranged through the wall of the climate chamber, each thermoelectric unit having two faces, an internal face inside the climate chamber and an external face outside the climate chamber, wherein a heat exchange end for an external face of a thermoelectric unit of a secondary thermal regulation circuit is placed in thermal contact with each external face of thermoelectric unit, the secondary thermal regulation circuit being external to the climate chamber and including a heat-transfer fluid circuit, a cold source, a hot source, a mixing device, a circulation pump and sensors. A chamber temperature regulation system controls the electric current of the thermoelectric unit and to control at least the mixing device and the circulation pump of the secondary thermal regulation circuit as a function of a chamber temperature setpoint and of sensor measurements.

A cooling system includes an electrocaloric element (12) having a liquid crystal elastomer or a liquid form liquid crystal retained in an elastomeric polymer matrix. A pair of electrodes (14.16) is disposed on opposite surfaces of the electrocaloric element. A first thermal flow path (18) is disposed between the electrocaloric element and a heat sink (17). A second thermal flow path (22) is disposed between the electrocaloric element and a heat source (20). The system also includes a controller (24) configured to control electrical current to the electrodes and to selectively direct transfer of heat energy from the electrocaloric element to the heat sink along the first thermal flow path or from the heat source to the electrocaloric element along the second thermal flow path.

The present disclosure is drawn to electrocaloric devices, methods of making electrocaloric integrated circuits, and methods of thermally cycling integrated circuits. The electrocaloric device can include an electrocaloric material having a solid solution of two or more components of BNT, BKT, BZT, BMgT, or BNiT. The electrocaloric material can have an ergodic transition temperature within a range of 50 C to 300 C. The device can also include electrodes associated with the electrocaloric material, as well as an electrical source to add or reduce electrical field between the electrodes across the electrocaloric material to generate heating or cooling relative to the ergodic transition temperature of the electrocaloric material.

A method of making an electrocaloric element includes dissolving or dispersing an electrocaloric polymer in an organic solvent having a boiling point of less than 100? C. at 1 atmosphere to form a liquid composition comprising the electrocaloric polymer. A film of the liquid composition is cast on a substrate, and the organic solvent is evaporated to form a film of the electrocaloric polymer. The film is removed from the substrate and disposed between electrical conductors to form an electrocaloric element.

A system comprises a first row of electrocaloric capacitors having capacitors separated by a first set of insulation regions. A second row of electrocaloric capacitors is disposed proximate the first row of electrocaloric capacitors separated by a second set of insulation regions. A first electric field is applied to the first row of electrocaloric capacitors and a second electric field is applied to the second row of electrocaloric capacitors. When the first and second electric fields are applied to their respective electrocaloric capacitors the temperature of the first electrocaloric capacitor rises in accordance with a rising first electric field and the temperature of the second electrocaloric capacitor decreases in accordance with a decreasing second electric field or the temperature of the first electrocaloric capacitor decreases in accordance with a decreasing first electric field and the temperature of the second electrocaloric capacitor increases in accordance with a rising second field.

A heat pump in which an increased temperature rise is achieved, including heat accumulators behind one another in a cascade; caloric accumulator elements positioned alternatingly in thermally conducting contact with one of the heat accumulators; and at least one drive method or mechanism for changing the position of the accumulator elements between the heat accumulators, at least one of the heat accumulators is in contact with a component to control the temperature of this component, a last one of the heat accumulators in the cascade is in heat exchange with surroundings. An intermediate accumulator is formed from at least one of the heat accumulators for transmitting heat between a heat accumulator in contact with a component to be temperature-controlled and the last heat accumulator.

A ceramic represented by: (1-m)PbSc.sub.0.5xTa.sub.0.5+xO.sub.3-mPbMg.sub.0.5yW.sub.0.5+yO.sub.3, wherein, 0.03m0.60; x, y0.1 and 0x+y0.13 when 0x, y; 0.1x<0 and 0y0.1 when 0>x and 0y; 0.1x, y and 0.13x+y<0 when 0x and 0>y; and 0<x0.1 and 0.1y<0 when 0<x and 0>y.