Dr Jaka Tušek, Associate Professor at the Laboratory of Non-linear Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, and his research group have been awarded funding for two projects under the Horizon Europe – The European Innovation Council (EIC) 2023 call for proposals[1]: SMACool, which aims to develop a functional air conditioners based on elastocaloric technology, and the FROSTBIT project, which has the main objective of developing the first operational refrigerator based on a completely new barocaloric technology in a regenerative chiller.
It is estimated that around 25% of the world’s electricity is currently used for cooling, while cooling contributes approximately 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. In Europe, for example, one in five households has an air conditioner, which totals almost 40 million air conditioners, and the number is gradually increasing due to climate change and rising living standards. Increased and additional cooling needs require new solutions, as the currently prevailing vapour-compression cooling technology is over 100 years old, has limited efficiency and uses environmentally harmful or dangerous refrigerants.
SMACool[2]
With this in mind, the SMACool research team aims to develop a new, innovative form of heating and cooling using elastocaloric technology that has the potential to achieve high energy efficiency and zero greenhouse gas emissions. It uses shape memory alloys as solid-state refrigerants, replacing the harmful refrigerants used in cooling systems today. “The project will allow us to continue the development of the elastocaloric technology first developed in the ERC SUPERCOOL project, laying the foundations for its further development. The SMAcool project represents an upgrade towards the applied use of elastocaloric technology for air-conditioning of rooms,” explained Dr. Tušek.
The total value of the three-year project is estimated at almost €4 million, while the research team of Associate Prof. Dr. Jaka Tušek has received funding of €613 thousand. In addition to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the project involves renowned partners from four European countries: Saarland University in Germany, which also act as the project coordinator, the University of Ljubljana, the University of Naples Federico II in Italy and the Irish company Exergyn Limited.
FROSTBIT[3]
While the SMACool project is more application-oriented and aimed at reaching a higher level of technological development (TRL 5), the primary objective of the FROSTBIT project will be to develop the first operational refrigerator based on a completely new barocaloric technology in a regenerative refrigeration plant. The objective is to develop an experimental barocaloric chiller with 100 W cooling power and a temperature range of 20 K, with a target COP between 4 and 6 (corresponding to 30% Carnot efficiency). “We want to develop the first barocaloric regenerator prototype. This will serve as a proof of concept for the new cooling technology and open the door for further development,” said Associate Professor Dr. Jaka Tušek.
The total value of this four-year project is estimated at just over €3.4 million and will result in close cooperation between a number of major European institutions: University of Bordeaux (project coordinator), University of Ljubljana, University of Tour (France), Polytechnic University of Catalonia, National Centre for Scientific Research (France), University of Lorraine (France) and University of Kent (UK).
