An SMA actuated capsule micropump is provided having a linear actuation which leads to large deflection, high discharge volume, and high static head pressure. The pump is designed for drug delivery applications by introducing a replaceable capsule reservoir and controlling the drug's delivery at a constant dose and a constant static head pressure. The device has a wide range of flow rates (from less than 2 to more than 2500 ?L/min) that would be suitable for a broad range of drug delivery applications. Also, the pump has a wide range of pressures up to 14 kPa (105 mmHg) that are possible, which well exceeds the back pressure of most of the superficial veins typically utilized for intravenous drug delivery, without compromising the suitability for transdermal drug delivery.

A cooling system based on thermoelastic effect is provided. The system comprises a heat sink, a refrigerated space and a regenerator coupled to the refrigerated space and to the heat sink to pump heat from the refrigerated space to the heat sink. The regenerator comprises solid thermoelastic refrigerant materials capable of absorbing or releasing heat.

A hybrid actuation device including a first plate and a second plate coupled to the first plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate and the second plate, a bladder positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the bladder housing a fluid, a first fixed electrode coupled to the second plate, and a flexible electrode coupled to the first plate and extending along the first fixed electrode.

An SMA actuated capsule micropump is provided having a linear actuation which leads to large deflection, high discharge volume, and high static head pressure. The pump is designed for drug delivery applications by introducing a replaceable capsule reservoir and controlling the drug's delivery at a constant dose and a constant static head pressure. The device has a wide range of flow rates (from less than 2 to more than 2500 ?L/min) that would be suitable for a broad range of drug delivery applications. Also, the pump has a wide range of pressures up to 14 kPa (105 mmHg) that are possible, which well exceeds the back pressure of most of the superficial veins typically utilized for intravenous drug delivery, without compromising the suitability for transdermal drug delivery.

A method for operating cyclic process-based systems, with a hot-side reservoir (1) and a cold-side reservoir (2) for a fluid (3), and at least one heat exchanger unit (4) with mechanocaloric material, wherein the mechanocaloric material of the heat exchanger unit (4) is actively connected to the fluid (3) such that heat is transferred between the mechanocaloric material and the fluid (3). It is essential that the transfer of heat between the mechanocaloric material and the fluid (3) takes place essentially by latent heat transfer. A corresponding heat-transfer unit (4) and a corresponding apparatus are also provided.

A cooling system based on thermoelastic effect is provided. The system comprises a heat sink, a refrigerated space and a regenerator coupled to the refrigerated space and to the heat sink to pump heat from the refrigerated space to the heat sink. The regenerator comprises solid thermoelastic refrigerant materials capable of absorbing or releasing heat.

A system for heating/cooling includes a plurality of thermoelastic modules. Each of the modules includes one or more structures formed of shape memory alloy, which converts from austenite to martensite upon application of a first stress and release latent heat from the conversion. During a first part of a heating/cooling cycle, a first module is stressed to cause conversion. The latent heat released from the first module is rejected to a heat sink while a second unstressed module absorbs heat from a heat source. During a second part of the heating/cooling cycle, the first and second modules are connected together to transfer heat therebetween for heat recovery. The cycle can be repeated indefinitely with the first and second modules alternating roles. Structures of the thermoelastic cooling material and specific applications thereof are also disclosed.

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.

The invention relates to a transport device (100) comprising a housing (110), an actuator (130), a drive (150) and a sealing element (170). The housing has a fluid inlet (111, 113), a fluid outlet (113, 111), and partially contains the actuator (130), which comprises a magnetic shape-memory alloy. The actuator (130) can be deformed by the drive (150) in such a way to form a cavity (135) for the fluid in order to transport the fluid in the cavity (135) from the fluid inlet (111, 113) to the fluid outlet (113, 111). The sealing element (170) is arranged between the actuator (130) and the housing (110) in such a way that the cavity (135) is edge-sealed or end-sealed during the transport of the fluid from the fluid inlet (111, 113) to the fluid outlet (113, 111).

A system for heating/cooling includes a plurality of thermoelastic modules. Each of the modules includes one or more structures formed of shape memory alloy, which converts from austenite to martensite upon application of a first stress and release latent heat from the conversion. During a first part of a heating/cooling cycle, a first module is stressed to cause conversion. The latent heat released from the first module is rejected to a heat sink while a second unstressed module absorbs heat from a heat source. During a second part of the heating/cooling cycle, the first and second modules are connected together to transfer heat therebetween for heat recovery. The cycle can be repeated indefinitely with the first and second modules alternating roles. Structures of the thermoelastic cooling material and specific applications thereof are also disclosed.