A method for activating a gas, wherein an electrically conductive aeromaterial having a pore space comprising the gas is electrically contacted and at least one electric current, which varies over time, flows through the aeromaterial, wherein the aeromaterial exhales gas from the pore space when the electrical power consumption is increased and inhales gas from the surroundings of the aeromaterial when the power consumption is decreased, and wherein a temporally pulsed current having predefined pulse power levels, pulse durations and pulse spacings is fed through the aeromaterial and the temperature of the aeromaterial is changed by the time-varying current by 100° C. or more within one second or less. The invention also relates to an electrothermal gas actuator and to uses of a gas actuator.

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.

The invention provides a heat pump system and method comprising a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) core (2a, 2b) 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 a second fluid via an inlet wherein a device changes pressure in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE core to change state to release the heat absorbed into the second fluid. An outlet is adapted to output the second fluid at a higher temperature than the first temperature.

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.

The present invention is inherent to a shape memory alloy actuated fluidic subassembly (10) and to an equipment incorporating it as dispensing device, wherein actuation of the shape memory alloy wires (16, 16′) causes a fluid-tight reservoir (17″) to be compressed by a lid (18) so as to reduce its volume from a maximum volume Vo to a minimum volume V1, this reduction resulting in a pressure increase that causes the opening of an outlet flap (13″) and the dispensing of a fluid through an outlet channel (13).

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.

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.

The present invention is inherent to a shape memory alloy actuated fluidic subassembly (10) and to an equipment incorporating it as dispensing device, wherein actuation of the shape memory alloy wires (16, 16′) causes a fluid-tight reservoir (17″) to e compressed by a lid (18) so as to reduce its volume from a maximum volume Vo to a minimum volume V1, this reduction resulting in a pressure increase that causes the opening of an outlet flap (13″) and the dispensing of a fluid through an outlet channel (13).

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.