Abstract
In this study we illustrate the fundamental characteristics of a magnetocaloric heat pump using air as a heat transfer fluid concerned with the heat transfer characteristics of an active magnetic regeneration (AMR) cycle. The basic components of the target system are a magnetic circuit, a test section, a fluid supplying system and an associated instrumentation. Spherical gadolinium particles are used as magnetic working substance, and also LaFeSi type magnetocaloric powder coated particles are produced as magnetocaloric materials (MCMs) by powder coating apparatus, to validate the effectiveness of the coating particles. Temperature profiles under several operating conditions for the AMR are measured experimentally. The results show that the AMR cycle is effective for improvement of the performance of a magnetocaloric heat pump, because increase in the temperature span between the hot-end and the cold-end due to regeneration is realized. LaFeSi coating particles also showed the temperature differences in the AMR cycle.
