A numerical comparison of a parallel-plate AMR and a magnetocaloric device with embodied micro thermoelectric thermal diodes

• Comparison of two types of magnetocaloric device characteristics is presented.
• One magnetocaloric device applies thermal diode mechanism.
• Another magnetocaloric device applies conventional AMR.
• A new mathematical-numerical model has been developed.
• Numerical analyses show promising features for application of thermal diodes.

This article introduces a novel heat-transfer mechanism for magnetocaloric energy conversion based on the introduction of thermoelectric thermal diodes. These can provide the very rapid transport of heat from/to the magnetocaloric material. For the purposes of the study, a new mathematical-numerical model has been developed. The model serves for dynamic heat-transfer simulations and an estimation of the cooling characteristics of magnetocaloric devices, which apply thermal diodes. Micro Peltier elements were considered as the thermal diodes. A theoretical analysis was performed in order to compare the performance of a parallel-plate active magnetic regenerator with a magnetocaloric device that uses thermal diodes. The results show the great potential for magnetocaloric devices with thermal diodes, especially in terms of an increased operating frequency and specific cooling powers.