US-12617250-B2 - Elastocaloric heat pump and motor vehicle comprising elastocaloric heat pump

US12617250B2US 12617250 B2US12617250 B2US 12617250B2US-12617250-B2

Abstract

An elastocaloric heat pump including at least one first cooling medium channel, at least one second cooling medium channel, at least one elastocaloric element, and a drive device. The elastocaloric element is positioned between the first and second cooling medium channels and connected at each end to a carriage. The carriages are displaceably arranged on two guide means that are not parallel to each other. The drive device is configured to cyclically displace the carriages along the guide means, thereby alternately bringing the elastocaloric element into thermal contact with an outer wall of the first cooling medium channel and an outer wall of the second cooling medium channel. This configuration satisfies high leak tightness requirements and achieves high efficiency.

Inventors

Christian Schneck
Sergej Kujat
Matthias Tonn
Konstantin Novgorodov
Jürgen Olfe

Assignees

VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240619
Priority Date: 20230621

Claims (20)

1 . An elastocaloric heat pump comprising: at least one first cooling medium channel; at least one second cooling medium channel; at least one elastocaloric element; and a drive device, wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is arranged between the first cooling medium channel and the second cooling medium channel and connected at each end to a respective carriage, the carriage being displaceably arranged along two guides that are not parallel to one another, and the drive device is configured to cyclically displace the carriage along the two guides so that the at least one elastocaloric element is alternately brought into thermal contact with an outer wall of the first cooling medium channel and an outer wall of the second cooling medium channel.
2 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first cooling medium channel comprises a plurality of first cooling medium channels, the at least one second cooling medium channel comprises a plurality of second cooling medium channels, and the at least one elastocaloric element comprises a plurality of elastocaloric elements, wherein each elastocaloric element is positioned between a corresponding first cooling medium channel and a corresponding second cooling medium channel, and is connected at each end to the carriage.
3 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element comprises an elastocaloric ribbon or an elastocaloric flat ribbon, and wherein the at least one first cooling medium channel and/or the at least one second cooling medium channel comprises a heat transfer structure.
4 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is configured to be strained when in thermal contact with the outer wall of the at least one first cooling medium channel.
5 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is configured to be at least partly strained during a displacement of the carriage along the two guides that are not parallel to one another.
6 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the first cooling medium channel has a convex, arched configuration, so that the at least one elastocaloric element is strained by the contact with the outer wall of the first cooling medium channel.
7 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the first cooling medium channel is elastically deformable or resilient, and/or the first cooling medium channel is resiliently mounted.
8 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the two guides comprise tracks or roller tracks, and wherein the carriage is guided along a track by a roller, and wherein the drive device comprises pitmans, such as connecting rods or push rods, the carriage being rotatably or rigidly connected to one of the pitmans, and the pitman being guided along a respective track.
9 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 1 , wherein the two guides and/or the pitmans are rotatably mounted so that an angle between the two guides and/or the pitmans can be set.
10 . A motor vehicle comprising: an elastocaloric heat pump, wherein the elastocaloric heat pump comprises: at least one first cooling medium channel; at least one second cooling medium channel; at least one elastocaloric element; and a drive device, wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is arranged between the first cooling medium channel and the second cooling medium channel and connected at each end to a respective carriage, the carriage being displaceably arranged along two guides that are not parallel to one another, and the drive device is configured to cyclically displace the carriage along the two guides so that the at least one elastocaloric element is alternately brought into thermal contact with an outer wall of the first cooling medium channel and an outer wall of the second cooling medium channel.
11 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the at least one first cooling medium channel comprises a plurality of first cooling medium channels, the at least one second cooling medium channel comprises a plurality of second cooling medium channels, and the at least one elastocaloric element comprises a plurality of elastocaloric elements, wherein each elastocaloric element is positioned between a corresponding first cooling medium channel and a corresponding second cooling medium channel, and is connected at each end to a carriage.
12 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element comprises an elastocaloric ribbon or an elastocaloric flat ribbon, and wherein the at least one first cooling medium channel and/or the at least one second cooling medium channel comprises a heat transfer structure.
13 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is configured to be strained when in thermal contact with the outer wall of the at least one first cooling medium channel.
14 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is configured to be at least partly strained during a displacement of the carriage along the two guides that are not parallel to one another.
15 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the outer wall of the first cooling medium channel has a convex, arched configuration, so that the at least one elastocaloric element is strained by the contact with the outer wall of the first cooling medium channel.
16 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the outer wall of the first cooling medium channel is elastically deformable or resilient, and/or the first cooling medium channel is resiliently mounted.
17 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the two guides comprise tracks or roller tracks, and wherein the carriage is guided along a track by a roller, and wherein the drive device comprises pitmans, such as connecting rods or push rods, the carriage being rotatably or rigidly connected to one of the pitmans, and the pitman being guided along a respective track.
18 . The motor vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the two guides and/or the pitmans are rotatably mounted so that an angle between the two guides and/or the pitmans can be set.
19 . An elastocaloric heat pump comprising: a first cooling medium channel; a second cooling medium channel; at least one elastocaloric element positioned between the first cooling medium channel and the second cooling medium channel; and a drive mechanism configured to cyclically move the at least one elastocaloric element, wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is brought into thermal contact with an outer surface of the first cooling medium channel and an outer surface of the second cooling medium channel, and wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is coupled to a movable support structure, and the drive mechanism is configured to displace the movable support structure along a predetermined path that alternates the thermal contact between the outer surfaces of the first and second cooling medium channels.
20 . The elastocaloric heat pump of claim 19 , wherein the at least one elastocaloric element comprises an elastocaloric ribbon or an elastocaloric flat ribbon, and wherein the at least one first cooling medium channel and/or the at least one second cooling medium channel comprises a heat transfer structure.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to German Pat. App. No. DE 10 2023 205 828.6, filed Jun. 23, 2021, to Schneck et al., the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an elastocaloric heat pump, comprising at least one first cooling medium channel, at least one second cooling medium channel, and at least one elastocaloric element. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a motor vehicle comprising an elastocaloric heat pump. BACKGROUND Elastocaloric heat pumps can be used to increase the efficiency of heat pumps, for example in motor vehicles. The elastocaloric effect is utilized in an elastocaloric heat pump, wherein a reversible temperature change is caused by a cyclical deformation of the elastocaloric material, which can be utilized for the transfer of heat from a cooler coolant flow to a warmer coolant flow. A device for heat exchange is known from DE 10 2018 200 376 A1, wherein the device comprises elastocaloric ribbons made of elastocaloric material and heat conducting elements for the heat exchange, wherein the heat conducting elements are designed so that a biconvex section of a heat conducting element engages in at least one elastocaloric ribbon, deforming the same, so that an elastocaloric effect is achieved, and heat conduction takes place between the at least one elastocaloric ribbon and the biconvex section of the heat conducting element, and a planar section of a further heat conducting element, in the undeformed state of the elastocaloric ribbon, is in contact with the same so that heat is conducted between the planar section of the further heat conducting element and the at least one elastocaloric ribbon. DE 10 2018 213 497 A1 discloses a heat exchange means, which is configured to surround a fluid line guiding a heat transport fluid. The means comprises at least one elastocaloric element, which is connected to the fluid line, at least one actuator, which acts on the elastocaloric element and is configured, when actuated, to exert a force on the at least one elastocaloric element so as to deform the at least one elastocaloric element, and at least one fastening element, which is configured to fasten the heat exchange means to the fluid line. DE 10 2021 209 740 A1 discloses a heat pump comprising an elastocaloric element, a first coolant channel on a cold side for a first coolant flow and a second coolant channel on a hot side for a second coolant flow, a first drive element and a second drive element, wherein the elastocaloric element is clamped on both sides between the first drive element and the second drive element, wherein the first drive element and the second drive element are designed to cyclically move the elastocaloric element back and forth between the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel and to cyclically deform the elastocaloric element. A cooling method using an elastocaloric material is known from U.S. Pat. No. 11,204,189 B2. Elastocaloric heat pumps which transfer thermal energy from a cooler gaseous or liquid cooling medium to a warmer gaseous or liquid cooling medium must satisfy high leak tightness requirements to prevent the cooling media from leaking. Moreover, an especially large surface must be provided for the elastocaloric element, in particular in the case of cooling media that have a low coefficient of heat conductivity so as to ensure sufficient heat transfer. This poses high requirements on the shape and thus the producibility of the elastocaloric element. Due to direct contact with the cooling medium, this being water, this water can condense on the elastocaloric element, which possibly evaporates again on the hot side and is thereby taken up by the warm air. As a result, dehumidification must be additionally provided for in such heat pumps. SUMMARY Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing an elastocaloric heat pump that satisfies high leak tightness requirements and has a high efficiency. In some examples, an elastocaloric heat pump is disclosed, comprising at least one first cooling medium channel, at least one second cooling medium channel, at least one elastocaloric element, and a drive device, wherein the at least one elastocaloric element is arranged between a first cooling medium channel and a second cooling medium channel and connected at each end to a carriage, wherein the carriages are displaceably arranged at two guide means that are not arranged parallel to one another. The drive device is configured to cyclically displace the carriages along the guide means so that the at least one elastocaloric element is alternately brought in thermal contact with an outer wall, in particular with a contact region of an outer wall, of the first cooling medium channel and in thermal contact with an outer wall, in particular with a contact region of an outer wall, of the second cooling medium channel. In some examples, a m