Numerical simulation for hydrogen magnetic refrigeration

Abstract

We have built active magnetic regenerator (AMR) test apparatuses operated with a gas displacer to transfer the heat from magnetic material unit (AMR bed). Because finding an optimum parameter by experiment is not easy, numerical simulation is necessary to confirm the experimental conditions. As the first step of the project, we developed a 1-dimensional porous media model for hydrogen magnetic refrigerator with a Brayton-like operation cycle. This model has been calculated separately for heat exchange fluid and magnetic material. The results using two different magnetic materials have been compared. We confirmed that the simulation results agreed with experimental data of the internal gas displacer system.