Predicted cooling powers for multilayer capacitors based on various electrocaloric and electrode materials

Abstract

We argue that the multilayer capacitor (MLC) geometry is ideal for electrocaloric cooling. Thermal modeling predicts that a commercially available MLC, which serendipitously shows electrocaloric effects, could constitute the heart of an idealized heat pump delivering a continuous cooling power of 22.5 W kg−1. This figure could be increased via materials optimization to ∼2875 W kg−1, such that an MLC array whose sheet area is just ∼0.56 m2 would deliver the ∼20 kW cooling power of typical air-cooled chillers for air-conditioning at residential and commercial sites. Expensive materials are not required, and performance could be further enhanced via geometrical improvements.