Abstract
A novel flow structure of a solid active magnetic regenerator is proposed in this paper. The numerical performances of two nature-inspired flow geometries, based on double corrugated tubes with an elliptical cross-section, are compared to the performance of conventional flow structures for Active Magnetic Regeneration (AMR) applications, namely, packed spheres and a cylindrical micro-channel matrix. The numerical performance of all the geometries is analysed in terms of cooling power and coefficient of performance. Regenerators with various porosities and two different hydraulic diameters of the flow channels are evaluated varying utilisation at fixed temperature spans between the hot and cold reservoirs. The selection of the regenerator geometry is based on two actual AMR machines. The numerical results demonstrate that a suitably optimized AMR geometry with a double corrugated flow pattern provides the same or higher efficiency at higher porosity compared to conventional AMR flow geometries. These findings suggest that the magnetocaloric material used to construct AMR beds can be exploited more efficiently and at a lower investment cost of an AMR device when suitable double corrugated flow pattern is used.
Highlights
Heat pump technology is widely used in residential and industrial applications
Before analyzing the numerical results in details, it must be noted that two solutions of cooling coefficient of performance (COP) can often be obtained for the same value of Qcool as it is seen from Figures 8–11
The obtained results were compared with the numerical performance of an Active Magnetic Regeneration (AMR) with conventional flow structures, namely, packed spherical particles and a cylindrical microchannel matrix
Summary
Heat pump technology is widely used in residential and industrial applications. Heat pumps are especially popular choices for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. In the USA HVAC applications constitutes more than 40% of the whole primary energy consumptions (Goetzler et al, 2014). Practically all heat pumps use the vapor compression cycle utilizing synthetic refrigerants that contribute to global greenhouse gas emission related to leakage to the ambient. A step toward prohibition of using these synthetic refrigerants has been already made (European Commission, 2013). This implies that new less harmful substances must be developed to be used in vapor compression cycle
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
