The thermomagnetic Curie-motor for the conversion of heat into mechanical energy

The Curie-motor converts heat into mechanical energy when one side of its mobile soft magnetic rotor in the magnetic field is heated up to Curie temperature. The saturation flux density of the heated rotor material decreases, the energy of the magnetic field stored at this location increases. The magnetic rotor is pulled into the magnetic field. This paper presents the calculations simulating the dynamic behaviour of the motor when heated by focused solar radiation. Various design principles are shown, potential applications are described and discussed. The simulations show that the motor can generate magnetic forces as strong as a conventional magnetic device of similar size and identical saturation flux density of the rotor. However, the achievable speed is low. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.