Emerging opportunities for high-temperature solid-state and gas-cycle heat pumps
Researchers from LAHDE, together with an international team, have published a study in Nature Energy.
Publications Archive
Publications Archive
Numerical study of macroscopic thermal diodes: influence of interface topography and contact resistance
We continue our exploration of solid-state thermal diodes – a compact, fully passive asset for next-generation thermal management.
Our latest paper, “Numerical study of macroscopic thermal diodes: influence of interface topography and contact resistance,” has just been published in iScience (IF 4.1).
AI-Driven Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis of Curie Temperature Effects on Active Magnetic Regenerator Performance
In the paper AI-Driven Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis of Curie Temperature Effects on Active Magnetic Regenerator Performance , published in the International Journal of Refrigeration (IF = 3.8), researchers from the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy revisited the methodology for analyzing the impact of statistical variations in Curie temperature on the performance of multilayer magnetocaloric regenerators.
Influence of Layering and Curie Temperature Uncertainty on the Performance of Magnetocaloric Regenerators
An article titled Influence of Layering and Curie Temperature Uncertainty on the Performance of Magnetocaloric Regenerators published in Advanced Functional Materials (IF = 19.0).
Airbrushing: A Novel Method for Preparation of High‐Emissivity Black Coating for Infrared Measurements
The article “Airbrushing: A Novel Method for Preparation of High‐Emissivity Black Coating for Infrared Measurements”, published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces (IF = 4.4), presents a new method for applying high-emissivity black coatings intended for infrared (IR) temperature measurements.
TCCbuilder: an open-source tool for the analysis of thermal switches, thermal diodes, thermal regulators, and thermal control circuits
Researchers of the LAHDE laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, have developed an open-source tool for 1D modeling of thermal control circuits, TCCbuilder.
Perspectives and Energy Applications of Magnetocaloric, Pyromagnetic, Electrocaloric, and Pyroelectric Materials
LAHDE published interesting paper in collaboration with University in Sevilla and in Cambridge.
Response of energy solutions to climate change
The Slovenian Energy Association (SZE) successfully hosted the SZE 2024 International Conference from June 2 to June 4, 2024, at the Grand Hotel Bernardin in Portorož, Slovenia. This prestigious event was organized in collaboration with Kronoterm, the main sponsor.Our group presented the latest findings from the 3Diverse project, which focused […]
Small demonstrator of a thermoelectric heat-pump booster for an ultra-low-temperature district-heating substation
Developed thermoelectric heat pump with high efficiency, compactness, silent operation, no vibrations and environmentally friendly refrigerants.
Phase change materials for improvement of thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings
Researchers of Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy (LAHDE, process engineering) participated in a research on improving thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings using phase-change materials. The research was carried out in Laboratory for Heating, Sanitary, Solar and Air Conditioning Engineering (LOSK, process engineering), also by participation of researchers […]
Design and comparison of electro-permanent magnetic field sources for magnetocaloric heat pumps
Researchers at the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy (LAHDE, Process Engineering), in collaboration with researcher from the Laboratory for Structure Evaluation (LAVEK), have conducted a comprehensive study of the design, numerical analyses and experimental validation of various electro-permanent magnetic structures that can be used in magnetocaloric refrigeration. The research […]
A conceptual design of a thermal switch capacitor in a magnetocaloric device
Researchers at the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy (LAHDE, Process Engineering), in collaboration with researchers from the Laboratory for Tribology and interface nanotechnology (TINT), have conducted a comprehensive study of the thermal properties of thermal switch capacitors used in magnetocaloric devices. The research results were published in the Journal […]
Experimental investigation of buckling stability of superelastic Ni-Ti tubes under cyclic compressive loading: Towards defining functionally stable tubes for elastocaloric cooling
Within the ERC project SUPERCOOL we have investigated buckling stability of elastocaloric tubes and define the buckling phase diagrams, based on which functionally stable tubes to be used in elastocaloric devices can be selected. The results are published in International Journal of Solid and Structures.The paper is available here […]
The numerical study on performance evaluation of a thermal switch capacitor in a magnetocaloric cooling device
In the article The numerical study on performance evaluation of a thermal switch capacitor in a magnetocaloric cooling device, published in the journal iScience (IF 6.107), researchers from the Laboratory of Refrigeration and District Energy at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering numerically analyze the performance of a thermal control element […]
High-performance cooling and heat pumping based on fatigue-resistant elastocaloric effect in compression
Within the ERC project SUPERCOOL we have developed fatigue-resistant elastocaloric regenerator with record cooling and heat-pumping performance. The results are published in prestigious journal Joule.
Protocol to evaluate a (magneto)caloric device with static thermal switches using a 1D numerical model
We were invited to publish a protocol on the use of the numerical model for the simulation of (magneto)caloric devices with thermal switches.The protocol is available here: link.The numerical model is available here: Zenodo in Github This protocol describes the use of a simple 1D numerical model to evaluate a […]
Cool BatMan project as a part of the M-ERA.NET tender
The Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy (LAHDE) won the three-year Cool BatMan project as a part of the M-ERA.NET tender entitled Battery Thermal Management System Based on High Power Density Digital Microfluidic Magnetocaloric Cooling (Cool BatMan). It is a consortium of 4 quality institutions where LAHDE acts as […]
Static electro-permanent magnetic for magnetic cooling
In the article Towards powerful magnetocaloric devices with static electro-permanent magnets, published in the Journal of Advanced Research (IF 10.479), researchers from the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering report on a new approach – the concept of an energy-efficient electro-permanent magnetic field […]
Ferrofluidic thermal switch in a magnetocaloric device
A paper on implementation of ferofluidic thermal switch in magnetocaloric device has been published in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Twente. The article was published in the journal iScience.
LAHDE annual report: 2021
LAHDE Scientific annual report: Published papers MAIORINO, Angelo, DEL DUCA, Manuel Gesù, TOMC, Urban, TUŠEK, Jaka, KITANOVSKI, Andrej, APREA, Ciro. A numerical modelling of a multi-layer LaFeCoSi active magnetic regenerator by using artificial neural networks. Applied thermal engineering, ISSN 1359-4311. [Print ed.], Oct. 2021, vol. 197, str. 1-13, ilustr. https://www.sciencedirect. […]
Condensation of water vapor from humid air inside vertical channels formed by flat plates
We published research on condensation of water vapor from humid air inside vertical channels formed by flat plates in collaboration with researchers from Shanghai University.The research was published in iScience.Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004221015352AbstractCondensation of humid air is an important process in thermal and process engineering and a subject of many currently research-intensive […]
Evaluating R450A as a drop-in replacement for R134a in household heat pump tumble dryers
An investigation into the applicability of R450A as a replacement for R134a in heat pump tumble dryers was made in collaboration with Gorenje, d.o.o.This paper presents the results of an experimental study evaluating R450A as a possible drop-in replacement for R134a in household heat pump tumble dryers. A heat pump […]
Rector’s Award for the best innovation 2021 for EASE
The traditional Rector’s Award for the Best Innovation of the University of Ljubljana promotes innovation at the University of Ljubljana and helps innovators on their way to the market. The competition was divided into two categories: 1st category of students and alumni and 2nd category of researchers employed full-time at […]
ARRS will (co-)finance TCCbuilder research project
The Public Research Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARRS) will finance a basic science project entitled TCCbuilder: An open-source simulation tool for thermal control circuits. The project was selected together with 12 other projects of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UL.The project concerns the development of World’s first numerical […]
Investigating the Feasibility of Preparing Metal-Ceramic Multi-Layered Composites Using Only the Aerosol-Deposition Technique
We have published a research paper on preparation of metal-ceramic multi-layered composites using only the aerosol-deposition technique in collaboration with researchers from Josef Stefan Institute. The article was published in the journal Materials.
Numerical modelling of active magnetic regenerator by using artificial neural networks
We have published a research paper on numerical modelling of multi-layered LaFeCoSi active magnetic regenerator by using artificial neural networks in collaboration with researchers from University of Salerno. The article was published in the journal Applied Thermal Engineering.
Thermal rectification using multi-layered materials
A paper on increasing thermal rectification using multi-layered materials has been published in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Twente. The article was published in the journal iScience.
CHC Caloric Heating and Cooling seminar, Twente 2020
Eurotherm CHC (Caloric Heating and Cooling) 2020 is another scientific seminar that was postponed from last year to 2021. It took place virtually between 13 and 15 July. The LAHDE laboratory participated in 4 conference papers and an invited lecture:Cool future: magnetocaloric devices based on static and rare earth free […]
Performance of the Condensation Process on Vertical Plates and Horizontal Tubes
The condensation of humid air is a crucial step in air conditioning and process engineering. However, the models that describe the condensation of vapour in the presence of a non-condensable gas require time-consuming numerical calculations that go beyond the Nusselt film theory. Only a small number of publications exist, where […]
Impact of neglecting the variations in the relative surface roughnesses of capillary tubes on the accuracy of a capillary tube model
Existing capillary tube models rely heavily on friction factor correlations, which enable the specification of the relative surface roughness. However, measuring the surface roughnesses of capillary tubes is a time consuming task, which requires specialized equipment. In this research we have developed a friction factor correlation, which does not […]
Fluidic and mechanical thermal control devices
An extensive review of thermal management with fluidic and mechanical thermal control devices has been published in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Twente (Dr. Miguel Muñoz Rojo and Timm Swoboda). A review article published in the journal Advanced electronic materials (published by Wiley) presents the second of two […]
Solid-state thermal control devices
An extensive review of thermal management with thermal control devices based on solid-state physics phenomena has been published in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of Twente (Dr. Miguel Muñoz Rojo and Timm Swoboda) and Stanford (Dr. Ananth Saran Yalamarthy). A review article published in the journal Advanced electronic materials […]
MagBoost: Magnetocaloric booster micro-heat pump for district heating system
Low temperature district heating systems represent an important share of the future heating supply. Such systems utilize waste heat from different systems and the heat from renewable sources. Furthermore, they show a potential to be implemented as a link between various energy sectors. The low temperature level of the district […]
Caloric micro-cooling
Within the ERC project SUPERCOOL and ARRS project J2-1738 we have developed a new, unique numerical model that serves as a tool for parametric analysis and the development of micro-cooling systems for cooling of electronic components based on electrocaloric and elastocaloric materials. An article entitled: Caloric micro-cooling: Numerical modeling and […]
Toward a solid-state thermal diode for room-temperature magnetocaloric energy conversion
The article was published in the Journal of Applied Physics and is available here.Thermal control elements, i.e., thermal diodes, switches, and regulators, can control the heat flow in an analogous way in how electronic devices control electrical currents. In particular, a thermal diode allows a larger heat flux in one […]
Thin-walled Ni-Ti tubes under compression: ideal candidates for efficient and fatigue-resistant elastocaloric cooling
The latest research results of the ERC SUPERCOOL project were published in the paper Thin-walled Ni-Ti tubes under compression: ideal candidates for efficient and fatigue-resistant elastocaloric cooling in highly ranked journal Applied Matrials Today (IF 8.013). The paper is available here. Elastocaloric cooling is emerging as one of the most promising […]
A Shell Finite Element Model for Superelasticity of Shape Memory Alloys
The latest research results of the ERC SUPERCOOL project were published in the chapter A Shell Finite Element Model for Superelasticity of Shape Memory Alloys of the book entitled Analysis of Shells, Plates, and Beams. The chapter is available here.
Two-phase flow patterns in adiabatic refrigerant flow through capillary tubes
Recently published paper in International Journal of Refrigeration reports on flow visualization of the refrigerant R600a through a capillary tube (link). (Open access link (50 days)) Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the flow visualization of the refrigerant R600a through a capillary tube with […]
Numerical and experimental investigation of roll-bond heat exchangers in ST, PV and PV/T modules (Energy Conversion and Management journal, IF 7.181)
The article: Numerical and experimental investigation of the energy and exergy performance of solar thermal, photovoltaic and photovoltaic-thermal modules based on roll-bond heat exchangers has been published in Energy Conversion and Management journal (IF = 7.181, 2019, top 5%). Link to the article*: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1akEjin8VZz4e. Abstract: This paper presents […]
Advanced Energy Materials: Energy Applications of Magnetocaloric Materials
Along with environmentally-friendly refrigerants, high energy efficiency of refrigeration systems and heat pumping will represent the foundation of future refrigeration, heating and air-conditioning systems. Recuperation and utilization of waste heat at various temperature levels will enable significantly lower energy consumption not only for heating and refrigeration, but also for generation […]
Applications on Magnetocaloric Materials: Encyclopedia of Smart Materials
In the extensive Encyclopedia of Smart Materials (Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering) a paper on Applications on magnetocaloric materials was published. The paper is available here. Abstract: The first market applications of magnetocaloric materials were in low-temperature physics and magnetic resonance imaging. These important applications, however, represent […]
The overview of elastocaloric technology
Probably the most comprehensive overview of elastocaloric technology to date was just published in a special issue of Strojniški vestnik – Journal of Mechanical Engineering devoted to the 100th anniversary of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. The article puts an emphasis on the direction of future development of […]
Slovenian Research Agency reaffirmed our excellence in science
Demonstration cooling device based on electrocaloric effectThe collaborators of the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana and the departments of Electronic Ceramics and Condensed Matter Physics of the Jozef Stefan Institute were among the first in the world to […]
Thermal control elements for caloric energy conversion
The review paper Thermal control elements for caloric energy conversion was published in Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. The paper is has open access until January 3rd 2020 (link). Abstract: Caloric energy conversion is an emerging field of cooling, heat-pumping and power-generation technologies. The potentially high energy efficiency and use […]
Very Commended Paper Award, International Journal of Refrigeration
The paper Electrocaloric refrigeration: Thermodynamics, state of the art and future perspectives (M. Ozbolt, A. Kitanovski, J. Tusek, A Poredos) was awarded by International Journal of Refrigeration for a Very Commended Paper. The paper is available here.
Exergy analyses of low-temperature district heating systems with different sanitary hot-water boosters
The paper Exergy analyses of low-temperature district heating systems with different sanitary hot-water boosters was published in Entropy Journal. Abstract: This paper presents an exergy-efficiency analysis of low-temperature district heating systems (DHSs) with different sanitary hot-water (SHW) boosters. The main objective of this study was to compare the exergy efficiencies […]
Neural network, ARX, and extreme learning machine models for the short-term prediction of temperature in buildings
The research article co-authored by members of LAHDE laboratory entitled Neural network, ARX, and extreme learning machine models for the short-term prediction of temperature in buildings was published in Building Systems and Components journal in April 2019. Abstract In this paper, the possibilities of developing machine learning based data-driven […]
Nanoscale and Microscale Heat Transfer, Levi 2018
In december 2018 we attended the Nanoscale and Microscale Heat Transfer conference in Levi, Finland. The Book of Abstracts is available here.
Numerical modelling and experimental validation of a regenerative electrocaloric cooler
The article was publishe in the International Journal of Refrigeration (link) Abstrakt This paper reports on the research and development of a cooling device with an active electrocaloric regenerator (AER) based on the bulk ceramic material (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (PMN-100xPT). For the purposes of the study a 2D transient numerical model of […]
New frontiers in magnetic refrigeration with high oscillation energy-efficient electromagnets
The article was published in Applied Energy Journal (link) Abstract This article reports on the novel resistive electromagnetic field source with the magnetic energy recovery, which enables the use of the static magnetocaloric regenerator. Most of the existing prototype magnetocaloric devices that operate near room temperature, use magnetic field sources […]