Project Title:
09.08-8200A
910454
Nitinol Refrigerator
Chronos Research Laboratories, Inc.
4186 Sorrento Valley Blvd, Suite H
San Diego
CA
92121
Randall B.
Olsen
619-455-8200
JSC
NAS9-18702
196
09.08-8200A
910454
Abstract:
Nitinol Refrigerator
An advanced refrigerator and/or heat pump based on the elasto-caloric effect of Nitinol
is proposed. Nitinol (Nickel Titanium alloy developed at Naval Ordnance Laboratory)
has one of most energetic solid-state phase transitions known. Nitinol has been widely
studied for prime-mover heat engines, but not for refrigeration. The Nitinol technology
offers safety, high efficiency, high reliability, long life and no chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) release problems. The objective of Phase I is to demonstrate refrigeration
and heat pumping using Nitinol as the thermodynamically active medium and to design
and to estimate the performance of the Phase II Nitinol refrigerator.
In addition to refrigeration, heat pumping, and air conditioning systems, Nitinol
materials are expected to convert low-temperature industrial waste heat into electrical
energy economically with payback time of less than two years.
elastocaloric, direct conversion, lightweight, compact refrigeration