Performance optimization on the irreversible regenerative Ericsson refrigeration cycle using electrocaloric materials as the working medium

Abstract

A regenerative Ericsson refrigeration cycle using electrocaloric (EC) materials as the working medium is established. In accordance with the thermodynamic properties of EC materials, the mathematical expressions of the coefficient of performance (COP) and cooling rate of the regenerative EC Ericsson refrigeration cycle are derived. The cooling rate is selected as an objective function and optimized with respect to one of the two isothermal process temperatures in the Ericsson refrigeration cycle, Subsequently, the optimal ranges and bounds of the COP and dimensionless cooling rate are determined. Furthermore, the impacts of the heat leakage, finite heat capacities of heat reservoirs at high and low temperature sides, the Curie temperature of EC materials, the electric field intensity difference in the EC Ericsson refrigeration as well as the regenerator efficiency, internal irreversibility resulting from the thermal hysteresis of EC materials, etc. on the optimal performance of the regenerative EC Ericsson refrigeration cycle are revealed. The conclusions obtained are beneficial to the optimal parameter design of EC refrigerators.