The thermodynamic properties of fluids are critical in determining the efficiency, range of operation, and environmental safety of heat engines and refrigeration cycles. Due to the ubiquitous nature of these thermodynamic cycles, it is essential for society to optimize them in terms of their efficiency and possible operating regimes. To pursue this goal, we apply ideas from the field of metamaterials and combine multiple thermodynamic processes in order to fabricate a ‘metafluid’ that exhibits unique thermodynamic properties.
My MSc research explores the thermodynamic interaction between an encapsulated gas and an elastocaloric (EC) material. Elastocaloric alloys (e.g., NiTi, CuZnAl) undergo a stress-induced Austenite to Martensite transformation that is analogous to the latent heat exchange of fluid phase changes. Unlike traditional fluids, however, EC materials facilitate this heat exchange while remaining in the solid state. We study capsules that combine gas and EC, where the geometry and properties of these capsules can be designed to achieve various forms of gas-EC interactions. The resulting thermodynamic properties are programmable and offer a non-toxic and emission-free alternative to current fluids.
