Design and mechanical characterization of a magnetocaloric pump

In this thesis, a Magnetocaloric Pump (MCP) able to convert heat into power by using the magnetocaloric effect is studied and designed. The actual pressure head is compared with the simplified Bernoulli equation for magnetic fluids and some important design parameters are identified and clarified. Two MnxZn1--xFe 2O4 (a water-based and a hydrocarbon-base) ferrofluids are compared in order to analyze their magnetocaloric effect. The synthesis procedure is improved and ferrites production is found to be scalable. For the produced water-based ferrofluid, a chemical co-precipitation method and a double layer surfactant technique are employed in the production of the ferrofluids. The effect of the saturation magnetization Ms and the Curie temperature in the pump performance as well as the heating source position inside the induced magnetic field of approximately 0.5 Tesla are tested. Optimum operational conditions were established and an efficient ferrofluid suitable for electronic cooling applications is selected according to the maximum pressure head reached by the pump.