July 6, 2005: ARTI Releases Final Report On Magnetic Refrigeration Project
ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute (ARTI) has released a final report on a project that developed a numerical model for predicting energy efficiency and performance limits of magnetic refrigeration systems. Performed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the project report is called "A Numerical Model of an Active Magnetic Regenerator Refrigeration System."
Certain paramagnetic materials, like gadolinium alloys, heat up when placed in a magnetic field and cool down when the field is removed. In a magnetic refrigeration system this process takes the place of the compressor that is used in a normal vapor compression system. Specifically, a regenerator bed made with porous magnetocaloric material is employed. Water flows through the regenerator bed and move heat to or from the system's heat exchangers.