A numerical comparison of a parallel-plate AMR and a magnetocaloric device with embodied micro thermoelectric thermal diodes

This article introduces a novel heat-transfer mechanism for magnetocaloric energy conversion based on the introduction of thermoelectric thermal diodes. These can provide the very rapid transport of heat from/to the magnetocaloric material. For the purposes of the study, a new mathematical-numerical model has been developed. The model serves for dynamic heat-transfer simulations and an estimation of the cooling characteristics of magnetocaloric devices, which apply thermal diodes. Micro Peltier elements were considered as the thermal diodes. A theoretical analysis was performed in order to compare the performance of a parallel-plate active magnetic regenerator with a magnetocaloric device that uses thermal diodes. The results show the great potential for magnetocaloric devices with thermal diodes, especially in terms of an increased operating frequency and specific cooling powers. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.