Influence Of Some Design Parameters On The Thermal Performance Of Domestic Refrigerator Appliances

A one dimensional dynamic model of an active reciprocating magnetic regenerator (AMR) was developed and a parametric analysis on its behavior was carried out. The main hypothesis assumed in the 1D model are: ideal magneto caloric effect, no heat leakages outwards, constant fluid thermo physical properties, uniform temperature in both the solid matrix and in the fluid at each cross section of the AMR. The geometry of the AMR and a standard set of working conditions and parameters are defined according to the size and operating conditions of a prototype under construction at the University of Genoa. A parametric investigation is carried out, in order to evaluate the influence of the operating parameters operating frequency and fluid mass flow rate, that is the parameters that can be tuned in a given device. Simulations show that for a given temperature span (temperature difference between hot and cold thermal sources) these parameters can be tuned to obtain an optimal behavior.