THE ELECTROCALORIC VERSUS MAGNETOCALORIC ENERGY CONVERSION

摘要

One of the main alternatives to conventional compressor refrigeration technologies is the magnetic refrigeration. Despite of the large potential, some important obstacles, which regard the power density, as well as the cost and the efficiency, must be solved in future. Another alternative, with no so advanced research activities, but with the very high potential, is the electrocaloric refrigeration. Until recently, the electrocaloric materials did not show so promising characteristics as these may be found at present. Today scientists are working to synthesize promising dielectric materials which have a potential to be applied in market applications of this technology. A number of different electrocaloric materials exist today. These can be, similar as in the magnetocalorics, layered, in order to increase -the temperature span. This paper gives a brief review on the electrocaloric materials. A comparison between the electrocaloric and magnetocaloric regenerators has been performed and the results are presented in the paper. Further discussion is given on the future view of developments in the electrocaloric energy conversion.