Numerical study on the multi-layered magnetocaloric regenerators

Layering magnetocaloric materials with different transition temperatures is an effective way to improve the cooling performance of magnetic cooling systems. The optimum layering designs, however, remain unclear. This paper developed a one-dimensional transient model to investigate the cooling performance of the multi-layered active magnetic regenerator filled with the first-order magnetic phase transition materials. In addition to the type of the materials, the number of layers and the transition temperature interval between layers are crucial parameters that influence the cooling performance of the magnetic cooling system. Moreover, the length proportion of each layer is investigated where traditional wisdom fails to determine the optimum length proportion. A new graphical tool is proposed to properly size the length proportion of the multi-layered regenerator. With the recommended type of magnetocaloric materials, the number of layers, transition temperature intervals, and length proportions, this study could promote the development of future multi-layered active magnetocaloric regenerators.