US 12,111,084 B2
System and method for supporting SMA material and optimising heat transfer in a SMA heat pump
Kevin O'Toole, Dublin (IE); Michael Langan, Dublin (IE); Matthieu Morhan, Dublin (IE); and Richard Blackburn, Dublin (IE)
Assigned to EXERGYN LTD., Dublin (IE)
Appl. No. 17/632,137
Filed by EXERGYN LTD., Dublin (IE)
PCT Filed Aug. 1, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/071748
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 1, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/023682, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 11, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1911093 (GB), filed on Aug. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0275981 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. F25B 30/02 (2006.01); F25B 23/00 (2006.01); F03G 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 30/02 (2013.01) [F25B 23/00 (2013.01); F03G 7/0614 (2021.08); F03G 7/0646 (2021.08)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump system comprising
a Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) or elastocaloric material core positioned in a housing and adapted to absorb thermal heat and store energy in response to a first fluid inputted at a first temperature;
the housing is configured to receive the fluid at the first temperature via an inlet to cause the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric material core to change state;
a device is configured to apply stress on the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric core in the housing to cause the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric core to change state; and
a support system is configured to engage with the material in the core to prevent the material buckling when the stress is applied wherein the support system comprises a series of buckling supports positioned along at least one length of the SMA or NTE or elastocaloric material core.