A magnetocaloric cooling device that employs triangular-microchannel active regenerators

Project Information

MicroChMag

Grant agreement ID: 101066427

DOI

10.3030/101066427

Project closed

EC signature date 5 July 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2024

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 189 687,36

Coordinated by

MAGNOTHERM SOLUTIONS GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MicroChMag (A magnetocaloric cooling device that employs triangular-microchannel active regenerators)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

This project seeks to develop a highly efficient magnetocaloric refrigerator by incorporating triangular-microchannel active magnetic regenerators (AMRs), which offer exceptional heat transfer performance with minimal pressure loss. These advancements are expected to improve the efficiency of magnetocaloric devices by 35%. The insights and expertise gained from this endeavor will play a pivotal role in advancing the technology toward commercialization, addressing key challenges in sustainable energy. Achieving this milestone is crucial to promoting transformative energy solutions and mitigating the severe consequences of inaction in the heating and cooling sector.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Our next-generation products now incorporate optimized operating curves and a groundbreaking AMR housing design to enhance performance and efficiency. Due to production constraints resulting in lower-than-expected volumes of triangular microchannels, packed-bed AMRs were employed in the full-scale prototype. However, triangular microchannel AMRs were successfully fabricated and evaluated at a smaller scale, demonstrating their potential for future scalability.

In parallel, we developed a robust 1-D numerical model in MATLAB, capable of simulating diverse magnetocaloric refrigeration cycles, various heat transfer correlations, and multiple heat regeneration configurations. This versatile modeling tool provides a deeper understanding of system dynamics, enabling precise optimization of performance parameters and supporting the design of advanced magnetocaloric refrigeration systems. These combined efforts represent significant strides toward the realization of high-efficiency, commercially viable magnetocaloric cooling solutions.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Efficiency Improvement: Achieved a 40% improvement in efficiency, surpassing the original 35% target for magnetocaloric devices.

Key Achievement:

- Small-scale triangular microchannel AMRs reduced pressure drop by 50% compared to packed-bed AMRs while maintaining heat transfer performance.
- Numerical and Design Innovations: Developed a robust 1-D numerical model in MATLAB, enabling the implementation of advanced magnetocaloric cycles and configurations.
- Prototype Development: Successfully integrated optimized AMR housing and operating curves into next-generation devices.
- Control Strategy Success: Implemented a model predictive control strategy for parallel AMRs, delivering a 36.9% improvement in heating power, demonstrating feasibility for complex multi-AMR systems.

Optimization and Economic Analysis:

- Developed a framework for Curie temperature optimization to maximize cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP).
- Explored alternative production techniques for cost reduction, though full economic trade-off analysis requires additional magnetocaloric material (MCM) cost data.

Materials Presentation at a public outreach: Open House Day 2023 MagnoTherm Darmstadt

LaFeSi test device presented at Dresden Days of Magnetocalorics

Materials Presentation at a public outreach: Chillventa 2024 Nürnberg