A magnet-based device for active magnetic regenerative refrigeration

To study magnetic refrigeration an experimental device is developed. It uses gadolinium as a giant magnetocaloric effect material and a Halbach magnet cylinder as the magnetization source. A specific thermodynamic cycle, active magnetic regenerative refrigeration, is required to enhance the temperature span. The system is simple and compact. The first results obtained (/spl Delta/T=4/spl deg/C or 7/spl deg/C, COP=2) are promising and confirm the model developed. It can be used already to evaluate the potential of different magnetocaloric effect materials and the efficiency of different active magnetic regenerative refrigeration cycles.