Electrocaloric cooling is not exactly new, it has been around for a while now, but new materials make this a potential industry changing technology. Electrocaloric cooling is cooling accomplished by putting certain materials in an electric field (applying a Voltage). The materials naturally move heat energy from one side to the other. That creates a cold side and a hot side – perfect for things like refrigerators and even HVAC units.
Until recently, electrocaloric materials were not very efficient, but a new class of materials called relaxor ferroelectrics has greatly increased efficiencies. The advantages of electrocaloric cooling is that the materials are usually just a thin layer not taking up much room and everything is solid-state – meaning no moving parts to wear out. Also, there are no refrigerants that can destroy ozone or create greenhouse gas warming to worry about.
So, in the near future your refrigerator or even air conditioner might not even have a compressor, it might just plug into the wall and run silently. – Steve Terry, DTC HVAC & Refrigeration Instructor
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