An apparatus can comprise a DC power supply to generate a DC electrical signal, a pulse generator to generate an electrical pulse, and an electrical element. The pulse generator and the DC power supply can be electrically coupled together. The electrical element can receive the DC electrical signal and the electrical pulse. The electrical element can generate a magnetic field in response to receiving the DC electrical signal and cool in response to receiving the electrical pulse.

A heat transfer system is disclosed that includes an electrocaloric element including an electrocaloric material and electrodes arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. A first thermal flow path is disposed between the electrocaloric material and a heat sink. A second thermal flow path is disposed between the electrocaloric material and a heat source. An electric power source is in operative electrical communication with the electrodes. The system also includes an arc suppression circuit in series with the electrocaloric element. The arc suppression circuit includes an interruptible electrical connection configured to interrupt the electrical connection in response to detection of an arc between the electrodes, and a series shunt connection in parallel with the interruptible electrical connection, with the series shunt connection including a series shunt load.

In an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a bottom electrode on a substrate and a top electrode on a substrate separated by a fixed distance from each other. Semi-insulator layers with proper electrical conductivity are attached to the bottom and top electrodes. Disposed between the substrates is a flexible S-shaped polymer stack having electrode layers with one end of the stack attached to the top substrate and the other end in contact with the bottom substrate. When a voltage is applied between the stack and the electrode layer on the bottom substrate, the stack is induced by electrostatic force to deflect in a rolling wave-like motion.

A heat transfer system cycles between a first mode where a heat transfer fluid is directed to a first electrocaloric module and from the first electrocaloric module to a heat exchanger to a second electrocaloric module while one of the first and second electrocaloric modules is energized, and a second mode where the heat transfer fluid is directed to the second electrocaloric module and from the second electrocaloric module to the heat exchanger to the first electrocaloric module, while the other of the first and second electrocaloric modules is energized. The modes are repeatedly cycled in alternating order directing the heat transfer fluid to cause a temperature gradient in each of the first and second electrocaloric modules, and fluid from a flow path between the electrocaloric modules is mixed with circulating fluid from a conditioned space to cool or heat the conditioned space.

A method for operating an elasto-caloric heat pump includes running the elasto-caloric heat pump with a pre-strain in an elasto-caloric stage of the elasto-caloric heat pump set to an initial pre-strain setting, and gradually shifting the pre-strain in the elasto-caloric stage of the elasto-caloric heat pump set away from the initial pre-strain setting and towards a final pre-strain setting over a time interval.

The present disclosure proposes an electrocaloric assisted internal cooling, texture turning tool and a nanofluid minimal quantity lubrication (NMQL) intelligent working system. The electrocaloric assisted internal cooling texture turning tool comprises an internal cooling turning tool handle, a direction-adjustable nozzle and an internal cooling turning tool blade; the internal cooling turning tool blade is arranged at one end of the internal cooling turning tool handle serving as a bearing device; an internal cooling turning tool pad is arranged between the internal cooling turning tool blade and a structure of the internal cooling turning tool handle bearing the blade; an internal cooling turning tool blade pressing device is further arranged on the internal cooling turning tool handle; the internal cooling turning tool blade is tightly pressed on the internal cooling turning tool handle by the internal cooling turning tool blade pressing device.

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.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system including a refrigerant loop and a purge system configured to purge the HVAC&R system of non-condensable gases. The purge system includes a liquid pump configured to draw a first refrigerant flow from an evaporator, a controllable expansion valve configured to receive the first refrigerant flow from the liquid pump and reduce a temperature of the first refrigerant flow, and a purge heat exchanger, which includes a purge coil. The purge coil is configured to receive the first refrigerant flow from the controllable expansion valve, a chamber of the purge heat exchanger is configured to draw a mixture of the non-condensable gases and a second refrigerant flow from a condenser, and the purge heat exchanger is configured to separate the non-condensable gases from the second refrigerant flow utilizing the first refrigerant flow.

A building heating or cooling system is disclosed that includes an air handling system comprising an air delivery flow path (44) in fluid communication with a conditioned space (40) in the building. The building heating or cooling system also includes an electrocaloric heating or cooling system (10, 11) that includes first and second modules (12, 14). A first inlet receives air from the conditioned space (40) or the air delivery flow path (44) and directs it through the first or second module (12, 14) to a first outlet to the conditioned space (40) or the air delivery flow path (44), and a second inlet that receives air from conditioned space (40) or the air delivery flow path (44) and directs it through the first or second module (12,14) to a second outlet to outside the conditioned space (40).

Disclosed is a heat transfer system with a module that includes a peripheral frame (10) and an electrocaloric element (46) disposed in an opening in the peripheral frame. The electrocaloric element includes an electrocaloric film (46), a first electrode (48) on a first side of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode (50) on a second side of the electrocaloric film. First and second electrically conductive elements (24, 25) are disposed adjacent to first and second surfaces of the peripheral frame, and provide an electrical connection to the first and second electrodes.