Year: 2002
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Refrigeration effects can be obtained from elastomers classified as "ideal rubber" by operating over a cycle similar to that of the Carnot cycle.The interesting properties of ideal rubber have long been recognized, with most investigations of potential thermodynamic cycles devoted to power cycles.This paper focuses on the development of refrigeration cycles constructed from ideal rubber refrigerants.Thermodynamic properties of elastomers are presented.Similar to ideal gases, an ideal rubber "equation of state" involving force-length-temperature can be developed.Also, the specific heat at constant extension is shown to be an important property for achieving significant thermal effects.Analysis of an elastomer refrigeration cycle is presented.The simplest cycle consists of four processes that are analogous to the ideal gas Carnot cycle.Two adiabatic, reversible processes are used to change temperature of the material as it moves to each thermal energy reservoir.Two isothermal, reversible processes are used for heat transfer to and from the thermal energy reservoirs.Estimates of the performance of the system, and the effects of irreversible processes are presented along with results from a simple demonstration cycle device.
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1584305388