A novel laminated electrocaloric cooling structure with thermoelectric elements for active heat flux control

As global regulations phase down high-GWP refrigerants, electrocaloric cooling provides a compliant solution with near-zero carbon footprint and silent operation, especially after the discovery of the giant electrocaloric effect. Currently, active electrocaloric regenerators (AERs) constitute a significant portion of research on electrocaloric cooling devices. However, AERs rely on fluids and moving parts, which compromises system stability, reduces operational lifespan, and increases flow losses. This study proposes a static electrocaloric cooling device that utilizes P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) as the electrocaloric material, combined with thermal switches to direct heat flux. Numerical simulations were performed to investigate the effects of frequency, polarization duration, electric field, and input current on the device's cooling performance. Results indicate that optimal performance occurs at 4 Hz, with a cooling power density of 7.45 W/cm³ and a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.14. Notably, even under optimal condition, <10% of the maximum available cooling capacity per cycle can be effectively utilized due to the material’s poor thermal conductivity. At a fixed frequency, shorter polarization durations and higher electric fields enhance cooling efficiency. Increasing the input current improves heat transfer through the thermoelectric module, linearly increasing the cooling power density; however, Joule heating also increases, resulting in a parabolic COP trend that peaks at 2.62 when the current reaches 0.15 A. For electrocaloric devices, improving the thermal conductivity of the electrocaloric material is crucial to increasing heat transfer rates and reducing heat transfer time, thereby enabling the electrocaloric effect to be fully realized within a shorter period.