Numerical modeling and analysis of the active magnetic re-generator

English In this thesis the active magnetic regenerator (AMR) is analyzed using various numerical tools and experimental devices. A 2-dimensional transient numerical model of the AMR is developed and implemented and it is used to investigate the influence of a range of parameters on the performance of the AMR. The model simulates a regenerator made of parallel plates. The operating parameters, such as fluid flow rates, thermal utilization, magnetocaloric properties etc. are varied as are geometric properties such as plate and channel thickness, regenerator length and porosity. In this way the performance expressed as temperature span versus cooling power is mapped as a function of the central parameters. Since regenerators built of several magnetic materials distinguished by their respective magnetic transition temperatures are reported to perform better than single-material AMRs this concept has been investigated using the numerical AMR model. The results show indeed that the performance may be enhanced significantly and it may thus be concluded that the performance of the AMR is dependent on a vast number of parameters (material composition, magnetic field source, regenerator geometry, regenerator efficiency, operating conditions etc.). The results presented in this thesis thus provide an overview of the influence of many of these parameters on the AMR performance. It is also concluded that the internal field of an AMR is far from homogeneous. Indeed, it does depend on both regenerator geometry, orientation of the applied field, the temperature distribution in the material and the material composition. A magnetostatic 3-dimensional model is developed (by the author of this thesis in close collaboration with Mr. D.V. Christensen, Risø DTU). The results from this show that the resulting internal field in an active regenerator may vary so significantly that clearly preferable configurations exist and in particular that certain configurations should not be considered. The combination of the model for the internal field and the transient AMR model has not been fully implemented and the performance impact of the internal field model remains thus to be investigated. Finally, suggestions for future work are provided based on the knowledge presented here. These include alternative regenerator geometries, a list of physical effects that have not been investigated in terms of their impact on the AMR performance yet etc. Several ready-to-go projects are thus suggested for future work.