Bachelor or Master Thesis: Elastocaloric Cooling with Elastomers

 In Germany, 14 percent of electricity consumption is used for refrigeration. This amount is expected to rise steadily in the future. Innovations in this field can therefore make an important contribution to climate and environmental protection.

The young research field of elastocalorics has the potential to provide efficient and environmentally friendly cooling power. Elastocaloric cooling is based on the reversible release and absorption of heat when specific materials are subjected to mechanical stress or stress-relieved. So far, most frequently the material class of shape memory alloys (SMA) has been used and investigated for its elastocaloric effect. In addition to shape memory alloys, elastomers such as cross-linked natural rubber also exhibit the elastocaloric effect. The elastocaloric effect in elastomers is of special interest for environmentally friendly and low-cost cooling applications.

The focus of this work is on the application of rubber-based films. These have the potential to overcome the various challenges associated with elastocaloric cooling, including large adiabatic temperature changes and exceptional fatigue resistance under dynamic loading. Based on these, a demonstrator of an elastocaloric cooling unit will be designed, fabricated and investigated.

The thesis can be written in German or English.

Tasks:

  • Material characterization (dynamic tensile testing, IR thermography, thermal conductivity and heat capacity measurement).
  • Simulation of heat transfer (Matlab/Simscape)
  • Development, fabrication, commissioning and optimization of a demonstrator

The focus of the work can be tailored to the applicant's interests and competencies. IMT has extensive state-of-the-art equipment to carry out the work (600 m² clean room, rapid prototyping processes such as 3D printing and laser cutting, assembly and joining technology laboratories, various metrological laboratories). Intensive supervision ensures that the work can be carried out within the targeted time frame.

Starting date

zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt / as soon as possible

Personal qualification

  • Field of study: Mechanical engineering, mechatronics, physics
  • Experience in MATLAB/ Simscape,
  • LabVIEW (FPGA) advantageous,
  • Interested in thermal mechanisms

Contract duration

3-6 months

Contact person in line-management

For further information, please contact Carina Ludwig, phone +49 721 608-22747, email: carina.ludwig@kit.edu.

Please apply online using the button below for this vacancy number IMT 30-2022.

Ausschreibungsnummer: IMT 30-2022

Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.

Contact

Personnel Support is provided by:
Personalservice (PSE) - Human Resources
Ms Carrasco Sanchez
Phone: +49 721 608-42016,

Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe

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