| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 790220 | International Journal of Refrigeration | 2014 | 12 Pages |
•A means for modeling arbitrary AMR systems using a one-phase approximation is presented.•The system modeling approach is applied to an experimental device.•Modeling results are compared to steady state experimental performance data.•COP and efficiency of an AMR device are mapped over a range of utilizations.
A system modeling approach for predicting the performance of active magnetic regenerators using a one-phase approximation is presented. The approach is described for an arbitrary AMR device independent of the magnetic refrigerant, thermal losses or magnetic waveform. A general expression for magnetic work is derived which can be used for cycles where the low-field intensity is not zero. Additionally, a means of treating the varying magnetic field waveform as a single high and low field is described. The model is applied to a permanent magnet magnetic refrigerator using water–glycol as the heat transfer fluid. Simulated results are compared to experimental data which vary by heat load, frequency and utilization. A sensitivity analysis is performed using utilization, adiabatic temperature change, effective conductivity and particle size as independent variables. Comparisons to experimental data show that reducing the calculated magnetocaloric effect by 25% provides good agreement between simulations and experimental results.
