Experimental investigation and performance analysis of a reciprocating magnetic refrigerator

Magnetic refrigeration is a promising alternative to conventional vapor-compression systems due to its environmental advantages and high thermodynamic efficiency. This study presents a novel reciprocating magnetic refrigerator prototype that operates at near room temperature. The system features a linearly moving Halbach array as the magnetic field source, a stationary regenerator, and an integrated automation setup capable of on-board data acquisition and control. The mechanical configuration is optimized to reduce energy consumption by eliminating conventional complex actuation mechanisms. Experiments were conducted using gadolinium as the magnetocaloric material to evaluate the performance of the system under different flow rates and frequencies. A temperature span of 2.197 K was obtained under no thermal load at a volumetric flow rate ( V ̇ ) of 2.5 L/h and an operating frequency of 0.08 Hz. The highest observed cooling power was 7.90 W, measured at V ̇ = 4 . 0 L/h when the temperature span approached 0 K. The maximum coefficient of performance (COP) was 1.32, achieved at V ̇ = 3 . 0 L/h under moderate cooling conditions. The proposed prototype demonstrates effective thermal performance, energy efficiency, and automation integration, indicating its potential for future magnetic refrigeration applications. • A novel magnetic refrigerator with low-energy reciprocating motion was developed. • Sensor data is processed and logged by custom on-board control software. • Maximum COP of 1.32 was achieved as the temperature span approached 0. • Registered as a utility model by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.