Methods, systems, and devices for calculating temperature change of an electrocaloric effect material
View Patent ↗Examples are generally described that include monitoring an electrocaloric effect device. A varying voltage may be applied across an electrocaloric effect material. A capacitance change of the electrocaloric effect material at least in part responsive to the varying voltage may be measured. A temperature change of the electrocaloric effect material may be calculated based, at least in part, on the capacitance change.
1. A method of monitoring an electrocaloric effect material, the method comprising: applying a varying voltage across the electrocaloric effect material; measuring a capacitance change of the electrocaloric effect material at least in part responsive to the varying voltage wherein measuring the capacitance change of the electrocaloric effect material comprises comparing a capacitance of the electrocaloric effect material with a reference capacitance; calculating a temperature change of the electrocaloric effect material based, at least in part, on the capacitance change, wherein calculating the temperature change comprises calculating a change in polarization of the electrocaloric effect material based, at least in part, on the capacitance change; comparing the temperature change to a threshold to determine a difference between the temperature change and the threshold; and altering the varying voltage to reduce the difference between the temperature change and the threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of applying the varying voltage across the electrocaloric effect material comprises applying at least one voltage pulse across the electrocaloric effect material.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of measuring the capacitance change of the electrocaloric effect material comprises measuring a voltage at a node of a circuit between the electrocaloric effect material and a reference capacitor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of calculating the temperature change comprises combining the capacitance change with a fixed constant.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the fixed constant is based, at least in part, on a geometry of the electrocaloric effect material.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of comparing the temperature change to a threshold comprises determining whether the temperature change is above a first threshold or below a second threshold.