Thermodynamic Study of the Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigeration in Transitional Regime

Abstract

Magnetic refrigeration is an emerging technology based on the magnetocaloric effect. In this paper, the magnetocaloric effect is remembered. The components of magnetic refrigeration system are described. An analogy between magnetic refrigeration and conventional refrigeration is done concerning the steps and the original work received by the system. A regenerator positioned between the hot source and the cold source increases the efficiency of the refrigeration system, from which the active magnetic regenerative refrigeration (AMRR) is studied. Thus a thermodynamic study is developed and thermal regenerator study transitional regime is done. From the results obtained by the numerical calculation, the difference of temperature between hot and cold sides reaches a limit after a certain number of cycles. This number of cycles (Nc) necessary to wait for the permanent regime depends on the difference in temperature hot side and cold side (∆T), the flow regime and the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of the regenerator. Moreover this work allowed us to study the thermal and fluidic behavior of the magnetic regenerative refrigeration, as well as to determine the flux exchanged during magnetization and demagnetization.