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Making cold from natural rubber: a low-cost and environment friendly refrigeration alternative

研究課題

研究課題/領域番号 19K04230
研究種目

基盤研究(C)

配分区分基金
応募区分一般
審査区分 小区分19020:熱工学関連
研究機関東北大学

研究代表者

SEBALD GAEL  東北大学, 高等研究機構等, 客員教授 (10792161)

研究分担者 小宮 敦樹  東北大学, 流体科学研究所, 教授 (60371142)
研究期間 (年度) 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
研究課題ステータス 交付 (2020年度)
配分額 *注記
4,160千円 (直接経費: 3,200千円、間接経費: 960千円)
2021年度: 780千円 (直接経費: 600千円、間接経費: 180千円)
2020年度: 1,560千円 (直接経費: 1,200千円、間接経費: 360千円)
2019年度: 1,820千円 (直接経費: 1,400千円、間接経費: 420千円)
キーワードsolid-state cooling / natural rubber / Refrigeration / refrigeration
研究開始時の研究の概要

The objective is to develop a proof of concept solid-state refrigeration device using natural rubber (phase transition under stress). For the next generation of refrigeration systems, flexible and low-cost elastomer as caloric material and flow control for enhancing heat transfers are investigated.

研究実績の概要

Pursuing the objective of developing an environment friendly elastocaloric refrigeration principle, several actions led to important results in FY2020. In this project, we focus especially on active regenerator solution, which consist of stretching natural rubber while cyclically circulating fluid around it. The exact mechanisms of the generation of a net heat flux required deeper investigation.
In FY2019, it was possible to propose a very first preliminary experiment using natural rubber tube, with a system temperature span reaching 2 to 3°C for a 15cm long rubber tube. The power was estimated to be around 50mW for one tube of 5mm initial diameter (2mm when stretched). There are numerous possible operating conditions, and to assist their screening, an analytical model was then developed successfully.
However, the experimental difficulties in controlling thermal boundary conditions on the one hand, and the strong assumptions of the analytical model on the other hand, makes the comparison qualitatively sound, but with strong discrepancies for some operating conditions. Therefore, in FY2020 another modelling technique was developed, based on a 1D solving of the heat diffusion equation. It was revealed especially the importance of the active thermal conductivity resulting from the fluid cyclic displacement, responsible for the decrease of the temperature span of the system.

現在までの達成度 (区分)
現在までの達成度 (区分)

1: 当初の計画以上に進展している

理由

The 1D model was developed very quickly and its comparison to the analytical model and to the experiments led to a much better understanding of the mechanisms of regenerative refrigeration using caloric materials. Deep discussion with heat transfer experts involved in the project was especially beneficial, and later, several highly promising improvements of the experimental setup were identified and are under construction as of today.
In addition, we identified several new research actions that are especially important: (i) try to parallelize the rubber tube work, (ii) further investigate more deeply what happens in a single tube, both fluid flow, rubber deformation and its elastocaloric effet, and (iii) development of a model at the system level in order to extend analytical model capabilities by adding heat exchanger and heat loss effects. This project results are expected to be presented at the Eurotherm seminar on Caloric Heating and Cooling in July 2021.

今後の研究の推進方策

For FY2021, it is planned to focus on
-Deep investigation using one single tube and controlling precisely the fluid flow inside.
-Exploration of other configurations for refrigeration, such as single-stage system.
-Combination of the modelling attempts to reach a fast computing and reliable model.
-Further development the regenerative cooling system. Compared to previous years, it is planned to optimize the instrumentation in order to be able to quantify the mechanical losses and especially the Coefficient of Performance of the elastocaloric cooling using natural rubber.

報告書

(2件)
  • 2020 実施状況報告書
  • 2019 実施状況報告書

研究成果

(5件)

すべて 2020 2019 その他

すべて 国際共同研究 (2件) 雑誌論文 (1件) (うち国際共著 1件、 査読あり 1件) 学会発表 (2件) (うち国際学会 1件)

  • [国際共同研究] INSA Lyon/CETHIL Laboratory(フランス)

    • 関連する報告書
      2020 実施状況報告書
  • [国際共同研究] INSA Lyon/LGEF Laboratory(フランス)

    • 関連する報告書
      2020 実施状況報告書
  • [雑誌論文] Regenerative cooling using elastocaloric rubber: Analytical model and experiments2020

    • 著者名/発表者名
      Gael Sebald, Atsuki Komiya, Jacques Jay, Gildas Coativy, Laurent Lebrun
    • 雑誌名

      Journal of Applied Physics

      巻: 127 ページ: 094903-094903

    • DOI

      10.1063/1.5132361

    • 関連する報告書
      2019 実施状況報告書
    • 査読あり / 国際共著
  • [学会発表] Elastocaloric Effect in Polymers2019

    • 著者名/発表者名
      Gael Sebald
    • 学会等名
      Sixteenth International Conference on Flow Dynamics
    • 関連する報告書
      2019 実施状況報告書
    • 国際学会
  • [学会発表] Main key points for developing environmental friendly solid state cooling system based on the elastocaloric effect in rubber2019

    • 著者名/発表者名
      Gael Sebald
    • 学会等名
      2020 European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) Fall Meeting
    • 関連する報告書
      2019 実施状況報告書

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公開日: 2019-04-18   更新日: 2021-12-27  

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