Istruzione e Formazione
Magnet vs. Freon: Scientists From MISiS and Tver State University Invent a Magnetic Refrigerator, Which Is 30-40 % More Efficient Than Usual
The scientific team of physicists and engineers of the NUST MISIS Department for Functional Nanosystems & High-Temperature Materials and Tver State University solved the problem of efficient cold generation by proposing a new cooling system – a magnetic one. In a conventional refrigerator, cooling occurs due to the sudden evaporation of freon (or other refrigerants), which passes into a gaseous state. A different principle works in the invention of young Russian scientists – the so-called magnetocaloric effect. In simple terms, it means the change of the magnetic material temperature during its magnetization or demagnetization.
Technically, it looks quite simple – the metal bar is introduced into the magnetic field and heats up, and when taken out of the field – cools down. However, this must be done quickly and cyclically so that the temperature difference was maintained. A team of scientists designed a device prototype, which is small in size, but capable of cooling an entire refrigerator.
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The second unique technical solution was to separate the flows of heat transfer fluid from the cold and hot heat exchangers, while allowing the working bodies, being in a magnetized (demagnetized) state, to sequentially move from one flow to another.
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During the experiment to estimation the effectiveness of the prototype, the researchers have found that the maximum amount of heat that a heat pump can take during a cycle is about 405 J, which corresponds to a maximum cooling power of 45 watts.
Currently, the research team has assembled a laboratory prototype of the cooling mechanism and is conducting a series of laboratory tests.