Selection of regenerator geometry for magnetic refrigerator applications

In our effort to develop magnetic regenerators of high efficiency we have looked at the following geometries: (1) tube channels in solid block; (2) stack of perforated plates normal to the fluid flow direction; (3) stack of solid plates parallel to fluid flow direction, and packed bed of spherical particles; (4) loose packed; and (5) sintered. Reported are computations of the overall efficiency of the regenerator, considering heat transfer, longitudinal conduction, and fluid pressure drop, for all the above arrangements as a function of geometrical variables, such as overall length and particle diameter or plate thickness. The results yield the optimum geometry for a given combination of other controlling parameters, such as frequency, porosity, and fluid properties. The different geometries are compared under the constraint that the mass of magnetic material is the same for all. This condition is peculiar to the magnetic refrigeration process because the net refrigeration and driving forces are proportional to the mass of magnetic material.