DEVELOPING A MAGNETOCALORIC DOMESTIC HEAT PUMP

摘要

If the field of magnetocalorics is to progress beyond lab-scale demonstrations showcasing the technology at arnsmall scale, it is important to develop prototype devices aimed at specific applications. Several groups and companies around thernworld are addressing cooling applications, including beverage coolers, A/Cs for cars and electronics cooling. Devices for heatingrnhave not been extensively demonstrated. Here we consider a promising application of magnetocaloric heat pumps for domesticrnheating. The task of designing and building such a device is a multidisciplinary one encompassing materials development andrncharacterization, magnet design and construction, as well as device modelling, design and construction.