Performance of a room-temperature rotary magnetic refrigerator

Abstract: We have designed and operated a rotating-magnet type AMR (active magnetic regeneration) refrigerator that uses water as a heat transfer fluid. Four kinds of gadolinium-based alloy are used as magnetic materials. A magnetic field of 0.77T is applied by neodymium permanent magnets. The refrigerator produces a maximum cooling power of 60W around 10°C. An optimal time for one cycle exists, and it depends on the water flow rate and the frequency of magnetization and demagnetization. Enhancement of the water flow rate and the frequency is known to be essential for increasing the cooling power of this refrigerator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]