This study presents an experimental evaluation of the thermodynamic performance of three generations of a magnetic air-conditioning prototype. The constraints, operating conditions and design modifications introduced after each prototype generation are identified and discussed in detail. The main motivation for the changes leading to the three generations was the availability and reliability of the commercial magnetocaloric material used, which were limited by supply-chain constraints, chemical and mechanical instability, and low manufacturing reproducibility. Dedicated engineering solutions were developed to address these limitations, enabling the experimental evaluation of three successive generations of the system. The performance of each generation was assessed using metrics such as cooling capacity, temperature span, coefficient of performance and second-law efficiency, evaluated at both the active magnetic regenerator and system levels. The first prototype established a robust experimental benchmark, delivering the required temperature span for air-conditioning operation under practical conditions. It operated between thermal reservoir temperatures of 22 ∘ C and 35 ∘ C and achieved cooling capacities up to 480 W. Advanced thermodynamic analysis further highlighted the high-efficiency potential of magnetic refrigeration at the regenerator level, while demonstrating that losses associated with auxiliary components are the dominant factor limiting system-level performance. Overall, the three prototype versions provide a validated experimental foundation and a clear pathway for future improvements, particularly through targeted optimization of supporting components and their integration with the magnetic cycle.
Peixer et al. (Wed,) studied this question.