Active magnetic regenerative refrigeration using superconducting solenoid for hydrogen liquefaction
Koji Kamiya, Koichi Matsumoto, Takenori Numazawa, S. Masuyama, Hiroyuki Takeya, Akiko T. Saito, Naoya Kumazawa, Kazumi Futatsuka, Keigo Matsunaga, Tsuyoshi Shirai, S. Takada, Teruhito Iida
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic refrigerator that makes use of the magneto-caloric effect realizes a highly efficient cooling device. Since the cooling power of magnetic refrigerators depends largely on the strength of the magnetic field, the use of a superconducting magnet is essential. Using magnetic refrigeration, achieving a liquefaction efficiency of larger than 50% is theoretically possible, which is twice that of conventional gas expansion refrigerators. In this study, an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator, one of the magnetic refrigerators using a superconducting solenoid, was built and hydrogen liquefaction was successfully demonstrated.