Development of Low-cost Magnetocaloric Materials (CRADA 446)

This is the final report for a TCF funded project, supported by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Office. PNNL worked with GE&R, a domestic US company that manufactures magnetocaloric materials (MCM), for potential applications in magnetic refrigeration. The overall goal of this project was to develop an energy-efficient technique to shorten the annealing time of MCM, from days to hours, with the expected benefits of lower costs and shorter lead times. Success in this project will enable industry partner General Engineering & Research LLC (GE&R) to commercialize their high-performance MCM, in support of DOE-Fuel Cell Technology Office’s efforts to develop energy-efficient magnetic refrigeration technology (using MCM) for hydrogen liquefaction.. Authors: Efe, Mert [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)]; Ihnfeldt, Robin [General Engineering & Research, LLC (GE&R), San Diego, CA (United States)]; Rohatgi, Aashish [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000317628016). DOE Contract: AC05-76RL01830. Subjects: Joule heating; MCM; heat-treatment; magnetocaloric