Magnetic refrigeration (MR) is an environmentally friendly and cost effective technology with a considerable energy saving of up to 30% compared to the conventional gas compression technology. The aim of the program is to develop novel giant magnetocaloric materials (GMM) for fulfilling the operational demands of future MR systems at room temperature. This proposal will focus on fundamental studies related to the critical issues facing the application of MR. The expected outcomes will be an understanding of the first order magnetic phase transition and the magneto-thermal behaviour of these materials, the development of nanostructured GMM and demonstration of prototype MR devices.
Magnetic refrigeration (MR) is an environmentally friendly and cost effective technology with a considerable energy saving of up to 30% compared to the conventional gas compression technology. The aim of the program is to develop novel giant magnetocaloric materials (GMM) for fulfilling the operational demands of future MR systems at room temperature. This proposal will focus on fundamental studies related to the critical issues facing the application of MR. The expected outcomes will be an understanding of the first order magnetic phase transition and the magneto-thermal behaviour of these materials, the development of nanostructured GMM and demonstration of prototype MR devices.