Electrocaloric device and thermal transfer systems employing the same
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- an electrocaloric device; and
a power supply configured to apply a voltage to said electrocaloric device, wherein said electrocaloric device comprises the following electrocaloric material
x(PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3)+y(PbSc0.5Nb0.5O3) where x and y represent respective mol percentages of respective portions of said electrocaloric material, and said electrocaloric material increases in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of said applied voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Thermal transfer devices according to the present invention comprise electrocaloric materials that increase in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of the applied voltage. In specific embodiments of the present invention, the electrocaloric materials, described in further detail below, are configured such that the respective increases and decreases in temperature of the electrocaloric material extend from about −10° C. to about 50° C. As a result, thermal transfer devices according to the present invention are suitable for use in a wide variety of practical refrigeration applications. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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an electrocaloric device; and
a power supply configured to apply a voltage to said electrocaloric device, wherein said electrocaloric device comprises the following electrocaloric material
x(PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3)+y(PbSc0.5Nb0.5O3)where x and y represent respective mol percentages of respective portions of said electrocaloric material, and said electrocaloric material increases in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of said applied voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25)
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23. 22 wherein said electrocaloric device is configured to serve as an active regenerator of said Stirling cycle refrigeration system.
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26. A device comprising:
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an electrocaloric device; and
a power supply configured to apply a voltage to said electrocaloric device, wherein said electrocaloric device comprises the following electrocaloric material
x(PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3)+y(PbTiO3)+z(SrTiO3)where x, y, and z are each greater than zero and represent respective mol percentages of respective portions of said electrocaloric material, and said electrocaloric material increases in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of said applied voltage.
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27. A device comprising:
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an electrocaloric device; and
a power supply configured to apply a voltage to said electrocaloric device, wherein said electrocaloric device comprises the following electrocaloric material
x(PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3)+y(PbTiO3)+z(C)where x, y, and z are each greater than zero and represent respective mol percentages of respective portions of said electrocaloric material and C represents a ceramic oxide configured to offset substantially an increase in a dielectric transition temperature attributable to inclusion of PbTiO3 in said electrocaloric material, and said electrocaloric material increases in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of said applied voltage.
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28. A device comprising:
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an electrocaloric device; and
a power supply configured to apply a voltage to said electrocaloric device, wherein said electrocaloric device comprises the following electrocaloric material that increases in temperature upon application of an applied voltage thereto and decrease in temperature upon removal of said applied voltage
x(A)+y(B)+z(C)where A represents a ceramic oxide of Pb, Mg, and Nb, B represents a ceramic oxide of Pb and at least one additional metal selected from Sc, Nb, and Ti, C represents a ceramic oxide of Sr and Ti, x represents a mol percentage of between about 45 and about 90, y represents a mol percentage of between about 10 and about 55, and z represents a mol percentage of about 0 where B represents a ceramic oxide of Pb, Sc and Nb, and a mol percentage greater than 0 and less than about 10 where B represents a ceramic oxide of Pb and Ti.
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Specification