Self-Heat Recuperation Using Magnetocaloric Effect

• Main Authors: Y. Kotani, Y. Kansha, A. Tsutsumi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2012-09-01
• Series: Chemical Engineering Transactions
• Online Access: https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/7059

Recently, self-heat recuperation using a magnetic heat circulator for thermal processes that uses liquids as their process stream has been proposed. In the heat circulator, the heat exergy of the process stream is recuperated by magnetocaloric effect of ferromagnetic material so that it can be recirculated. All heat is recirculated inside the system without heat addition, leading to drastic energy saving. A numerical one-dimensional time-dependant model has also been presented to study the transient and steady behaviour of the magnetic heat circulator. Gadolinium was chosen as the magnetocaloric material while the process fluid is represented by liquid water. With this model it is possible to define the temperature where the heat conduction balances with the heat from the magnetocaloric effect and to make a quick comparison of parameters such as the maximum magnetic flux density, bed length and diameter, magnetocaloric material and fluids.