Performance evaluation of an active magnetic regenerator for cooling applications – part I: Experimental analysis and thermodynamic performance

A numerical analysis was conducted to study a room temperature magnetocaloric refrigerator with a 16-layer parallel plates active magnetic regenerator (AMR). Sixteen layers of LaFeMnSiH having different Curie temperatures were employed as magnetocaloric material (MCM) in the regenerator. Measured properties data was used. A transient one dimensional (1D) model was employed, in which a unique numerical method was developed to significantly accelerate the simulation speed of the multi-layer AMR system. As a result, the computation speed of a multi-layer AMR case was very close to the single-layer configuration. The performance of the 16-layer AMR system in different frequencies and utilizations has been investigated using this model. To optimize the layer length distribution of the 16-layer MCMs in the regenerator, a set of 137 simulations with different MCM distributions based on the Design of Experiments (DoE) method was conducted and the results were analyzed. The results show that the 16-layer AMR system can operate up to 84% of Carnot cycle COP at a temperature span of 41 K, which cannot be obtained using an AMR with fewer layers. The DoE results indicate that for a 16-layer AMR system, the uniform distribution is very close to the optimized design.

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“…and Trevizoli et al . 46,47 , so the discussions in this section will focus on the performance of the 16-layer AMR.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A numerical analysis of a magnetocaloric refrigerator with a 16-layer regenerator

Zhang

Abdelaziz

Momen

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…It was found that, for given operating parameters, there was a finite number of layers that could be used and an optimal length of each layer. A comprehensive numerical and experimental assessment of a packed‐bed Gd‐based active magnetic regenerator was performed by Trevizoli et al The regenerator was exposed to a rectified sinusoidal magnetic flux in phase with a sinusoidal fluid flow waveform. It was concluded from the results that further work was required for improvement of the modeling of active magnetic regeneration, and its evaluation.…”

Section: Magnetocaloric Refrigeration and Heat Pumpingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, experience with prototyping reveals that such a system can only provide good control of the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit at low operation frequencies. Bidirectional fluid propulsion, in the hydraulic circuit of magnetic refrigeration or heat pumping, is implemented with the use of check valves or cam valves . A static active magnetic regenerator also enables the use of a unidirectional pump.…”

Section: Magnetocaloric Refrigeration and Heat Pumpingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Applications of Magnetocaloric Materials

Kitanovski

2020

Advanced Energy Materials

359

156

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The need for energy‐efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration, heat pumping, air conditioning, and thermal energy harvesting systems is currently more urgent than ever. Magnetocaloric energy conversion is among the best available alternatives for achieving these technological goals and has been the subject of substantial basic and applied research over the last two decades. The subject is strongly interdisciplinary, requiring proper understanding and efficient integration of knowledge in different specialized fields. This review article presents a historical and up‐to‐date account of the energy‐related applications of magnetocaloric materials and information about their processing and magnetic fields, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and other relevant characteristics. The article also discusses the conceptual design of magnetocaloric refrigeration and power generation systems and some guidelines for future research in the field.

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“…In general, the slope of the cooling curves is steeper in higher utilization conditions (Trevizoli et al, 2016;Li et al, 2019). At the end-points of cooling curve are zerospan cooling capacity and no-load temperature span, which are essential metrics in AMR devices (Teyber, 2018).…”

Section: Active Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Freeze-Cast Micro-Channel Monoliths as Active and Passive Regenerators

et al. 2020

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The efficiency of the magnetic refrigeration process strongly depends on the heat transfer performance of the regenerator. As a potential way to improve the heat transfer performance of a regenerator, the design of sub-millimeter hydraulic diameter porous structures is realized by freeze-cast structures. Four freeze-cast regenerators with different pore widths are characterized experimentally and numerically. Empirical parameters are determined for the correlations of heat transfer and flow resistance via a 1D model. Thermal effectiveness and pressure drop are measured for thermal-hydraulic evaluations. Temperature span and specific cooling capacity are obtained to compare the magnetocaloric potential based on the material La0.66Ca0.27Sr0.06Mn1.05O3. The stability of freeze-cast regenerators is validated by comparing the performance during, before and after oscillatory flow and periodic magnetic field tests. Smaller pore design obtain the better heat transfer performance and required mechanical strength, while pore design with significant dendrites provides the worst tradeoff between heat transfer performance and flow resistance.

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Performance evaluation of an active magnetic regenerator for cooling applications – part I: Experimental analysis and thermodynamic performance

Cited by 63 publications

References 29 publications

A numerical analysis of a magnetocaloric refrigerator with a 16-layer regenerator

A numerical analysis of a magnetocaloric refrigerator with a 16-layer regenerator

Energy Applications of Magnetocaloric Materials

Characterization of Freeze-Cast Micro-Channel Monoliths as Active and Passive Regenerators

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