Recent Progress in Magntic Regenerator Materials and Their Application

Abstract

Our group have investigated applications of magnetic materials to refrigeration technology since 1978. We have verified that the heavy rare earth magnetic materials are very effective and useful as the regenerator material. Therefore, in the present articles I will describe the developing process of the magnetic regenerator materials briefly and will show the recenttopics.
First,I will present the guideline for selecting the magnetic materials and show some typical examples of the specific heats of the promising materials. Next, I will indicate the superiority of the magnetic material from the comparison between the characteristics of the Pb regenerator and the Er₃Ni magnetic regenerator.
Then, in order to obtain the large refrigeration power at low temperature we have developed two layer type of magnetic regenerators which is the simplest model of the multi-layered magnetic regenerator. We will explain the developing process of those regenerators and their characteristics. Last, we will discuss briefly the advaning way of magnetic regenerator.