One potential use of ferroelectrics is as active material in electrocaloric cooling systems. These systems promise a more energy efficient cooling process than vapor compression, thermoelectric or other current cooling systems. Currently different design types of electrocaloric cooling devices are in the focus of research. In this paper, we present an electrocaloric cooling device demonstrator working as “Active Electrocaloric Regenerator” (AER) and employing relaxor ferroelectric elements as active material. The device design is such that it allows the integration of different material systems and regenerator designs as well as a broad variation of operational parameters

The research on the electrocaloric effect (ECE), the materials and their application has significantly increased in the last years, which resulted in several different concepts and demonstrators of electrocaloric (EC) cooling devices. The aim of this paper is to give a systematic overview of possible design concepts of EC cooling devices and to provide a method for their classification. Nine different device types could be distinguished. Each device type is being specified according to function principle, characteristic properties, technical challenges and technical readiness level. This classification and state of the art reveal areas requiring deeper research and can help researchers and engineers to select appropriate concepts for further investigation, improvement and application.

For over a decade now, the electrocaloric effect (ECE) and electrocaloric (EC) cooling have been the subject of increasing research activities. Research on electrocaloric materials (ECM) is quite advanced; however, significant progress on EC cooling systems is still missing. Therefore, a methodological approach for the structured development of EC cooling systems is presented here. It is based on the well‐known V‐Model and integrates different tools, as a classification of device types, influencing factors, and numerical simulation methods. The methodology can be used to structure development processes and to identify favorable geometrical and operating parameters of an EC cooling device. The methodology is validated with a demonstrator, which is designed, built, and practically tested for over 2000 h. With this small‐scale device and a low electrical field strength of 3 kV mm−1, a temperature span of over 1.1 K could be achieved.

This article deals with the potential of magnetic shape memory actuators for the use in micro applications and in particular in clamping devices. The most common actuator concepts are introduced briefly, including the so-called push–push concept. Subsequently, an overview of clamping technology is given and the advantages of mechanical clamping are pointed out. It is proposed to use the push–push actuation concept for the development of an energy-efficient clamping device driven by magnetic shape memory alloys. Hence, the design of the magnetic shape memory clamping device and the dimensioning of its magnetic circuits are presented. Finally, the characteristics of the device are experimentally examined and the results are summarized.

Abstract. Even though significant progress has been made in the field of micro production and the development of miniaturized micro production-machines in the last ten years, an explicit consideration of clamping-devices has not taken place. The requirements for clamping technology in the manufacturing of microparts and the manufacturing of macroscale parts are highly different. Special clamping devices for each sector are needed. This article presents the designing of a special adhesive micro-clamping device for micro production. The clamping force is applied by fixing the workpiece to the clamping module using hot melt adhesives. Thus high surface pressure and damage to the microcomponent is avoided. The development of this adhesive clamping device is a first implementation of a novel and promising approach for micro production. Basic functioning could be confirmed by practical tests.