Hi, again.
In studying for my EPA Universal CFC certificate, I did a lot of Googling. One of the topics related to refrigeration was a new type of refrigerator that didn't use any CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon), HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon), HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) or PFC (Perfluorocarbon) refrigerant. It used magnets and what is known as a magnetocaloric material.
Supposedly, this would be really efficient, since only a very small motor is required to move the magnetocaloric material through the magnetic field.
For those unfamiliar, magnetocaloric materials heat up when placed in a strong magnetic field (>1T). If you then release that heat while the magnetocaloric material is still within the magnetic field, when it exits the magnetic field, the magnetocaloric material will be cooler.
Here's the Wikipedia entry on magnetic refrigeration:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_refrigeration
I had an idea... use that magnetocaloric thermal difference to drive a generator. Possibly by using the heat generated to boil a low-boiling-point liquid, to drive a turbine (and the lower temperature of the magnetocaloric material to recondense the liquid)? By utilizing both the waste heat and the lower temperature within one cycle, you increase your efficiency (rather than just throwing the heat away as waste, as you would in a classic-style refrigerator).
Anyone have any ideas on this?
Anyone know of any readily available magnetocaloric materials that would be usable?