Effect of Cycle Frequency of a Reciprocating Magnetic Refrigerator Prototype on the Temperature Span and Cooling Capacity

Abstract

Magnetic refrigeration is an environment-friendly cooling technology and an interesting potential replacement for the vapor compression refrigeration system. This paper presents a linear reciprocating magnetic refrigerator prototype that operates at room temperature by using gadolinium parallel plates under a maximum magnetic field intensity of 0.94[Formula: see text]T. The design, installation and preliminary results are reported. The temperature span and cooling capacity are studied in a function of cycle frequency, and the results show the cycle frequency effects on temperature span and cooling capacity. The maximum temperature span and cooling capacity for cycle frequency of 0.16[Formula: see text]Hz are 1.3[Formula: see text]K and 4.68[Formula: see text]W, respectively. The results from the experiment will be a guideline to determine the maximum performance of the magnetic refrigerator prototype.