Application Cases

Experiment Name: Performance Testing System of Electrocaloric Cooling Devices

Experiment Purpose: The construction of a testing system experimental setup plays a crucial role in experimentally studying the cooling performance of electrocaloric cooling devices. However, most of the proposed electrocaloric cooling devices are still in the theoretical analysis and simulation stages, lacking effective experimental results for analysis.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the Performance Testing System for Electrocaloric Cooling Devices

Testing Equipment: High-voltage amplifier, signal generator, data acquisition device, computer, etc.

Experiment Process:

Figure 2: Photograph of the Performance Testing System

The performance testing system for electrocaloric cooling devices mainly consists of three parts: the electrocaloric cooling device, the control electrical system, and the temperature measurement system.

The electrocaloric cooling device based on the thermoelectric heat switch comprises a thermoelectric module, a hot-side thermoelectric heat switch, a cold-side thermoelectric heat switch, an aluminum fin heat sink, a miniature ceramic resistance heater, and thermal insulation material.

In the electrocaloric cooling device based on the thermoelectric heat switch, the electrocaloric module drive circuit is used to drive the electrocaloric elements to produce the electrocaloric effect, while the thermoelectric heat switch control circuit is used to control the heat flow from the heat source to the heat sink. The two circuits complement each other and are coupled to ensure the proper operation of the electrocaloric cooling device. In this study, electromagnetic relay switches are used to control the linkage of the two circuits.

The electrocaloric module drive circuit mainly includes a signal generator and a high-voltage amplifier. Since the driving voltage requirement for multilayer capacitive electrocaloric elements is relatively high, and a typical signal generator can only produce a maximum voltage signal of 10V, amplification through a high-voltage amplifier is necessary. The low-voltage DC signal generated by the signal generator is amplified by the high-voltage amplifier to a high-voltage DC signal according to a certain ratio. It is then converted into a high-voltage square wave signal through an electromagnetic relay switch and applied to the parallel electrocaloric element array in the electrocaloric module via conductive copper wires and conductive copper plates, thereby generating the electrocaloric effect.

Figure 3: Schematic Diagram of the Electrocaloric Module Drive Circuit

The temperature measurement system mainly consists of a copper-constantan T-type thermocouple, an Agilent data acquisition device, and a computer.

Experimental Results:

The performance testing system for electrocaloric cooling devices is introduced, including the electrocaloric cooling device, the control circuit system, and the temperature measurement system. The experimental materials and equipment required for the construction of the electrocaloric cooling device, as well as the construction process, are discussed. The structure and required equipment of the electrocaloric module drive circuit and the thermoelectric heat switch control circuit in the control circuit system are described, and the working principle of coupling the two circuits using electromagnetic relay switches is analyzed. Additionally, the experimental equipment and working principles of the temperature measurement system are elaborated.

High-Voltage Amplifier Recommendation: ATA-2041

Figure: Specification Parameters of the ATA-2041 High-Voltage Amplifier

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