Modeling a novel technique of thermomagnetic generator uses two heat sources

• Main Authors: Homadi, Abdulrahman, Hall, Tony
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Curie temperature; Disks; Electricity; Electrons; Ferromagnetic materials; Gadolinium; Heat; Heat sinks; Heat sources; Modelling; Permanent magnets; Room temperature; Thermodynamic properties
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0190875

In an unprecedented step, this modeling study is carried out without heat sink using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2a (COMSOL) software. This technique relies on two sources of heat in a parallel way separated by a distance. The operation of the generator depends on the continuous change of two permanent magnet forces (FPM) and two spring forces (FSP). The forces effect the two disks of ferromagnetic materials that are placed together with a third nonmagnetic disk between them. The two permanent magnets are fixed to each side of the heat sources while the two springs connect the heat sources with the disks. Gadolinium (Gd) was chosen in this system as a ferromagnetic metal for its unique thermal properties where its Curie temperature is close to the room temperature. When one of the two Gd disks stuck to the heat source due to the FPM, an opposite force is already raised to force it in the opposite direction, so it does not require to be paramagnetic metal. Temperature around the Gd disks is assumed to cool it off to rearise the FPM again. Two copper coils are turned around the two Gd disks to exploit the magnetic field to generate electricity. The system can dissipate about 12.7kW/m2 of unwanted heat and generate electricity with voltage ranging of (-0.15-0.3) volts.