Evaluation of industrial magnetic heat pump/refrigerator concepts that utilize superconducting magnets

Technical Report · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7250911· OSTI ID:7250911

Waynert, J. A.; DeGregoria, A. J.; Foster, F. W.; Barclay, J. A. ^[1]

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1. Astronautics Technology Center, Madison, WI (USA)

This report provides a preliminary assessment of some magnetic heat pump (MHP)/refrigeration concepts for cryogen liquefaction and other industrial applications. The study was performed by Astronautics Corporation of America for Argonne National Laboratory under the sponsorship of the US Department of Energy. Applications of interest range from the liquefaction of gases (20 K to 100 K) to cold storage refrigeration for food preservation (250 K to 320 K) to heat pumps utilizing industrial waste heat (350 K to 400 K). Initial market penetration of magnetic refrigeration devices is anticipated for low-temperature industrial applications such as the cryogen liquefaction field, and the major focus of the study is on hydrogen liquefaction (20 K) utilizing a liquid nitrogen heat sink (77 K). A brief market analysis indicated that there is a need for small ({approximately}1 ton/day liquid hydrogen) hydrogen liquefiers with dispersed usage at appropriate sites in the country to reduce distribution costs. This provides an ideal market niche for magnetic liquefiers since conventional gas-cycle liquefiers cannot be economically scaled to small sizes. A number of design options for hydrogen liquefiers are analyzed, including thermodynamic cycles; magnetic materials; heat exchangers; process of magnetization/demagnetization; magnet configurations; source/sink connections; and regenerative, recuperative, and active magnetic regenerative concepts. 42 refs., 19 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Astronautics Technology Center, Madison, WI (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7250911
• Report Number(s): ANL-89/23; ON: DE90008093
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
HEAT PUMPS
SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS
HYDROGEN
LIQUEFACTION
CRYOGENICS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
INDUSTRY
MARKETING
REFRIGERATORS
THERMODYNAMICS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
MAGNETS
NONMETALS
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
420201 - Engineering- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices