Ferrofluidic thermal switch in a magnetocaloric device

• Published in: iScience Vol. 25; no. 2; p. 103779
• Main Authors: Klinar, Katja, Vozel, Katja, Swoboda, Timm, Sojer, Tom, Muñoz Rojo, Miguel, Kitanovski, Andrej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 18.02.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Energy engineering; Materials science; Thermal engineering; Thermal property; Materials science; Thermal property; Energy engineering; Thermal engineering
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103779

Thermal switches are advanced heat-management devices that represent a new opportunity to improve the energy efficiency and power density of caloric devices. In this study we have developed a numerical model to analyze the operation and the performance of static thermal switches in caloric refrigeration. The investigation comprises a parametric analysis of a realistic ferrofluidic thermal switch in terms of the maximum temperature span, cooling power, and coefficient of performance. The highest achieved temperature span between the heat source and the heat sink was 1.12 K for a single embodiment, which could be further developed into a regenerative system to increase the temperature span. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to correlate the relationship between the input parameters and the results. We show that thermal switches can be used in caloric devices even when switching ratios are small, which greatly extends the possibilities to implement different types of thermal switches. [Display omitted] •A ferrofluidic thermal switch was numerically analyzed in a magnetocaloric device•The highest temperature span achieved was 1.12 K for a single embodiment•A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of all parameters Energy engineering; Thermal engineering; Materials science; Thermal property