Influence of micro-channel shape and magnetic material on the magneto-refrigeration process of integrated circuits.
We developed a two dimensional transient numerical model that solves the first step of heat transfer of an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator (AMR) using the heat conduction equation for an adiabatic system. For micro-refrigeration, an AMR device is constituted by a magnetic material, placed on a silicon wafer containing micro-channels where a heat exchanging fluid flows. The magnetic materials used in the simulations are the promising the Gd5Si2Ge2, La(Fe0.88Si0.22)13 and La0.66Sr0.33MnO3 compounds, because they exhibit a giant magnetocaloric effect near room temperature. We considered different initial conditions, namely different micro-channel shapes, sizes and separations, aiming to increase the performance of the micro-cooler device. The influence of the thickness of the magnetic material on refrigeration power is also studied.
Pereira
A M
AM
IN, IFIMUP unit, Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
Soares
J C
JC
Ventura
J
J
Sousa
J B
JB
Araujo
J P
JP
Oliveira
J C R E
JC