Finite Element Analysis of Magnetic Field Exciter for Direct Testing of Magnetocaloric Materials’ Properties

Wieslaw Lyskawinski,Cezary Jedryczka,Wojciech Szelag,Tomasz Tolinski

doi:10.3390/en14102792

Wieslaw Lyskawinski, Cezary Jedryczka + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14102792

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Abstract

The paper presents research on magnetic field exciters dedicated to testing magnetocaloric materials (MCMs) as well as used in the design process of magnetic refrigeration systems. An important element of the proposed test stand is the system of magnetic field excitation. It should provide a homogeneous magnetic field with a controllable value of its intensity in the MCM testing region. Several concepts of a magnetic circuit when designing the field exciters have been proposed and evaluated. In the MCM testing region of the proposed exciters, the magnetic field is controlled by changing the structure of the magnetic circuit. A precise 3D field model of electromagnetic phenomena has been developed in the professional finite element method (FEM) package and used to design and analyze the exciters. The obtained results of the calculations of the magnetic field distribution in the working area were compared with the results of the measurements carried out on the exciter prototype. The conclusions resulting from the conducted research are presented and discussed.

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
The experimental observation of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has usually been attributed to Emil Gabriel Warburg [1,2,3], who noticed in 1881 that the iron sample heats up by several mK when placed in the magnetic field and cools down when the sample is removed from the magnetic field
We have presented research on the development of a magnetic field exciter with permanent magnets to be used on a test stand for determining thermodynamic properties of magnetocaloric materials (MCMs), depending on the temperature and the value of magnetic flux density

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Gd5 Ge2 Si2 properties stimulated the search for new MCMs and led to the discovery of other alloys exhibiting giant MCEs, e.g., MnAsSb [11], NiMnGa [12], and LaFeSi [13] These materials exhibit the MCE over a narrow temperature range which makes it difficult to develop functional magnetic refrigeration systems. Testing room temperature is the lack of such compactto and low-cost systems on the For these reasons,MCMs the research lack of such and low-cost on the market.ofFor these reasons, research presented incompact this paper has focusedsystems on the development a dedicated field the exciter.

Methods of Measurement of MCE

Analysis of Magnetic Field Exciters

Exciters with:with:

12. The comparison

Findings

Conclusions