Low Temperature Magnetocaloric Materials for Cryogenic Gas Liquefaction by Magnetic Cooling Technique

Abstract

Natural gas is rapidly gaining in geopolitical importance. Gas has grown from a marginal fuel in regionally disconnected markets to an energy source that is transported across great distances for consumption in many different economic sectors. Natural gas is the fuel of choice for consumers seeking for relatively low environmental impacts. As a result, the world’s gas consumption is projected to more than double over the next three decades, rising from 23 – 28 % of the total primary energy demand by 2030 and surpassing coal as the world's number two energy source and potentially overtaking oil's share in many large industrialized economies. This paper is devoted to a short review of materials used in the novel approach to natural gas liquefaction – magnetic cooling process.