Efficient elastocaloric drive system enabled by constant-torque and work-recovery design

Žerovnik, Andrej (avtor), DallʹOlio, Stefano (avtor), Krašna, Simon (avtor), Ahčin, Žiga (avtor), Tušek, Jaka (avtor)

Elastocaloric cooling is a promising alternative to vapor-compression systems, offering high efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Despite significant advances in elastocaloric technology in recent years, limited attention has been given to the mechanical systems required to drive elastocaloric materials. Here we show a cam-disc-based elastocaloric drive system with integrated direct work recovery, synchronized by four phase-shifted elastocaloric elements. The system introduces a constant-torque driving approach that maintains nearly constant input power during operation. Experimental results demonstrate a nearly constant camshaft torque of 14.4 Nm and a mechanical-level work-recovery efficiency of about 70% at an actuation force of 40 kN. Numerical simulations further show that integrating force amplification mechanisms can reduce the required camshaft torque and increase work-recovery efficiency to up to 88%. These results demonstrate that efficient drive systems can be realized for elastocaloric devices, paving the way toward their practical deployment.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: elastocaloric cooling, drive systems, efficiency
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FS - Fakulteta za strojništvo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 14 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 17, art. 6715
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185174
• UDK: 621.82/.85:621.57
• ISSN pri članku: 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-73314-7
• COBISS.SI-ID: 286059523
• Datum objave v RUL: 27.07.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Nature communications
• Skrajšan naslov: Nat. Commun.
• Založnik: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2315876

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno-Brez predelav 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Najbolj omejujoča licenca Creative Commons. Uporabniki lahko prenesejo in delijo delo v nekomercialne namene in ga ne smejo uporabiti za nobene druge namene.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: elastokalorično hlajenje, pogonski sistemi, učinkovitost