Critical parameters in design of active magnetocaloric regenerators for magnetic refrigeration applications

A new way to evaluate the performance of the active magnetocaloric regenerator (AMR) was developed based on a few critical parameters proposed in this study. The critical parameters were derived from the energy equations that have been used to describe the transient energy transfer processes in the AMR for both the magnetocaloric materials and the heat transfer fluid. Each parameter is corresponding to a specific energy transfer mechanism in the AMR and can be easily implemented to evaluate the contribution from each term, including axial conduction and remnant energy storage in the magnetocaloric materials, axial conduction, remnant energy storage and fluid dissipation in the heat transfer fluid, and internally regenerated energy. Parametric studies were carried out to explore the impact of geometric and operating parameters and to determine whether or not a certain heat transfer mechanism is significant to the overall system performance.