Abstract Active magnetic regenerative refrigeration (AMRR) systems represent an environmentally attractive space cooling and refrigeration alternative that do not use a fluorocarbon working fluid. Two recent developments have made AMRR’s feasible in the near-term. A rotary regenerator bed utilizing practical and affordable permanent magnets has been demonstrated and shown to achieve a reasonable coefficient of performance (COP). Concurrently, families of magnetocaloric material alloys with adjustable Curie temperatures have been developed. Using these materials, it is possible to construct a layered regenerator bed that can achieve a high magnetocaloric effect across its entire operating range. This paper describes a numerical model capable of predicting the practical limits of the performance of this technology applied to space conditioning and refrigeration. The model treats the regenerator bed as a one dimensional matrix of magnetic material with a spatial variation in Curie temperature, and therefore magnetic properties. The matrix is subjected to a spatially and temporally varying magnetic field and fluid mass flow rate. The variation of these forcing functions is based on the implementation of a rotating, multiple bed configuration. The numerical model is solved using a fully implicit (in time and space) discretization of the governing energy equations. The nonlinear aspects of the governing equations (e.g., fluid and magnetic property variations) are handled using a relaxation technique. Some preliminary modeling results are presented which illustrate how an AMRR system can be optimized for a particular operating condition. The performance of the AMRR in a space cooling application with the layered vs non-layered bed is compared to current vapor compression technology.
A Numerical Model of an Active Magnetic Regenerator Refrigeration System
Cryocoolers 13 ; 471-480
2005-01-01
10 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Magnetic Entropy Change , Heat Transfer Fluid , Mass Flow Rate , Magnetocaloric Effect , Heat Exchanger Strongly Correlated Systems, Superconductivity , Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Sciences , Automotive Engineering , Imaging / Radiology , Physics , Optics, Optoelectronics, Plasmonics and Optical Devices
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