Thermag VIII, Darmstadt, Germany, 16.-20.

September 2018

PAPER ID: 0017

Modelling and simulation of a Gd-based thermomagnetic motor
DOI: 10.18462/iir.thermag.2018.0017
Modelling
Modelling and
and simulation
simulation ofof aa Gd-based thermomagnetic motor
Gd-based thermomagnetic motor
A. C. de Souza*a, B.M.Gargaroa, W.A.S.Conceiçãoa, G. H. Kanekoa, F.C.Colmana,
A. C. de Souza*(a), B.M.Gargaro (a)
, W.A.S.Conceição (a)
,
A. C. de Souza*a,P.V. Trevizoli
B.M.Gargaro ab, A.M.G.Carvalho
, W.A.S.Conceição a , C.S. Alvesa a
a,c
, G. H. Kaneko , F.C.Colman a
,
G. H. Kaneko , F.C.Colman
(a) (a)
, P.V. Trevizoli (b)
,
P.V. Trevizoli , A.M.G.Carvalho
b a,c
, C.S. Alves a
a
A.M.G.Carvalho(
Department of Mechanical a,c)
Engineering, State University ,ofC.S. Alves(a) Avenida Colombo, 5790 –
Maringá.(UEM),
a (a)
Department
Department of Mechanical
of Mechanical Engineering,
Zona
Engineering, StateState
07, Maringá, University
PR, of Maringá.(UEM),
87020-900,
University Brazil.
of Maringá.(UEM), Avenida
Avenida Colombo,
Colombo, 5790 –
5790 – Zona 07, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil.
b
Department of Mechanical Engineering. Ingá University Center (UNINGÁ),
Zona 07, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil. Rod. PR-317, 6114 - Parque
b
Department
(b)
Department of Mechanical
of Mechanical Engineering.
Industrial
Engineering.200,
Ingá Ingá PR,
Maringá, University
University Center Center
87035-510, (UNINGÁ),
Brazil.
(UNINGÁ), Rod. PR-317,
Rod. PR-317, 6114 - Parque
c
Laboratório Nacional6114 -Industrial
de Luz Parque Industrial
Síncrotron 200, Maringá,
(LNLS),
200, Maringá, Centro PR, 87035-510,
Nacional
PR, 87035-510, de Brazil.
Pesquisa
Brazil. em Energia e Materiais
Laboratório Nacional (CNPEM),
c (c)Laboratório Nacional
dedeLuz Campinas,
LuzSíncrotron SP, 13083-100,
Síncrotron(LNLS),
(LNLS), Brazil (Campinas/Brazil)
CentroNacional
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa
de Pesquisa em
em Energia
EnergiaeeMateriais
Materiais
*Corresponding
(CNPEM), author.
Campinas, SP,E-mail:alisson.cocci26@gmail.com
13083-100, Brazil (Campinas/Brazil)
(CNPEM), Campinas, SP, 13083-100, Brazil (Campinas/Brazil)
*
Correspondingauthor.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:alisson.cocci26@gmail.com
E-mail:alisson.cocci26@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
The initial developments on thermomagnetic motors date from 1880's with the patents of Edison and Tesla.
More recently,
The initial due to theon
developments developments
thermomagnetic on magnetic cooling
motors date fromsystems and magnetocaloric
1880's with materials
the patents of Edison andaround
Tesla.
room temperature, research on thermomagnetic motors has gained interest. This work
More recently, due to the developments on magnetic cooling systems and magnetocaloric materials around presents a theoretical
modeling of a reciprocating
room temperature, research thermomagnetic
on thermomagnetic motor basedhas
motors ongained
Tesla'sinterest.
concept.This
The work
mathematical
presents model solves
a theoretical
the solid energy equation and the finite volume method was implemented. Gd is used as
modeling of a reciprocating thermomagnetic motor based on Tesla's concept. The mathematical model solves magnetic material,
and its magnetic
the solid energy properties are the
equation and obtained
finite from WDS
volume model.was
method The Gd block have
implemented. Gdthe
is dimensions of 100x100x10
used as magnetic material,
mm.
and its magnetic properties are obtained from WDS model. The Gd block have the dimensions ofconsidered.
To warm up and cool down the Gd block, a hot and cold water streams, respectively, are 100x100x10 A
magnetic
mm. To warm field up
of 1.33 T is down
and cool generated by ablock,
the Gd NdFeB magnetic
a hot and coldcircuit.
waterThe main respectively,
streams, results are the
arenet force acting
considered. A
on the plate. Additional results for temperature distribution are presented.
magnetic field of 1.33 T is generated by a NdFeB magnetic circuit. The main results are the net force acting
on the plate. Additional results for temperature distribution are presented.
Keywords: thermomagnetic, motor, Gd, modelling
Keywords: thermomagnetic, motor, Gd, modelling

1. INTRODUCTION
The first devices that proposed the1.useINTRODUCTION
of the magnetic force to generate power were patented by
ThomasThe Edison
firstand, one year
devices thatlater, by Nikola
proposed Tesla.
the use of the Thomas Edison’s
magnetic force (1988) 1
patentpower
to generate establishes
were the principle
patented by
of operation of a pyromagnetic motor, and Nikola Tesla (1889) 2
patented
Thomas Edison and, one year later, by Nikola Tesla. Thomas Edison’s (1988) patent establishes the principle
1 a device that he called a
thermomagnetic
of operation of motor. In a thermomagnetic
a pyromagnetic motor, andmotor Nikola a magnetic body2 ispatented
Tesla (1889) used as working
a device material.
that he Due calledto aa
intermittent heating and cooling processes, it is possible to change the temperature
thermomagnetic motor. In a thermomagnetic motor a magnetic body is used as working material. Due to a of the material from below
to above theheating
intermittent Curie temperature
and cooling(T c), and vice-versa.
processes, it is possible As toa result,
changethe themagnetic
temperaturephaseof isthechanged
materialfrom
fromferro
belowto
paramagnetic phase, and vice-versa.
to above the Curie temperature (Tc), and vice-versa. As a result, the magnetic phase is changed from ferro to
The development
paramagnetic of novel thermomagnetic motor has gained interest recently. Firstly, after the
phase, and vice-versa.
discovery The development of materials
of novel magnetic for magnetic cooling
novel thermomagnetic motor 4hassystem
gainedapplications 3
, which presented
interest recently. the so-
Firstly, after the
called giant magnetocaloric effect around room temperature . From the motor
discovery of novel magnetic materials for magnetic cooling system applications , which presented the so- point
3 of view, what is more
interesting
called giantabout these magnetocaloric
magnetocaloric alloys
effect around is thetemperature
room abrupt first4.order
Fromtransition,
the motorwhich pointenable the what
of view, development
is more
of thermomagnetic motors operating in a narrower temperature range around room
interesting about these magnetocaloric alloys is the abrupt first order transition, which enable the developmenttemperature. Secondly, a
different design hasmotors
of thermomagnetic been proposed,
operatingwhich is a rotary
in a narrower thermomagnetic
temperature range motor,
around known as a Curie wheel
room temperature.
567
Secondly,.Thisa
type of motor can operate at higher frequencies than the prior designs, because,
different design has been proposed, which is a rotary thermomagnetic motor, known as a Curie wheel .Thiswhen the temperature gradient
567
is established,
type of motor can theoperate
rotational movement
at higher is practically
frequencies than theconstant. Its torque,
prior designs, because,however,
when the is relatively
temperature low, which
gradient
limits practical applications.
is established, the rotational movement is practically constant. Its torque, however, is relatively low, which
The present
limits practical work proposes a 1D mathematical model to simulate a reciprocating thermomagnetic
applications.
motor, similar to that
The present work one proposed
proposes by a 1DTesla. The modelmodel
mathematical solves tothesimulate
temperature field for thethermomagnetic
a reciprocating solid magnetic
material. To warm up and cool down the solid magnetic material, a hot and
motor, similar to that one proposed by Tesla. The model solves the temperature field for the solid cold water streams with high flow
magnetic
rates, respectively, are considered. For simplicity, the fluid phase
material. To warm up and cool down the solid magnetic material, a hot and cold water is not simulated because of its high thermal
streams with high flow
mass
rates, compared
respectively,with arethe solid phase.
considered. ForThe finite volume
simplicity, the fluid method
phase was
is notimplemented
8
simulated because. Gd isofused as magnetic
its high thermal
material, and its magnetic properties are obtained from WDS model. A magnetic
mass compared with the solid phase. The finite volume method was implemented . Gd is used as magnetic field
8 of 1.33 T, generated by
amaterial,
permanentandmagnet (NdFeB)
its magnetic C-shape
properties aremagnetic
obtainedcircuit,
from WDS is considered.
model. AThe main output
magnetic field ofof1.33the model is the net
T, generated by
force acting on the plate and average temperature fields.

108
2. METODOLOGY
 a permanent magnet (NdFeB) C-shape magnetic circuit, is considered. The main output of the model is the net
 force acting on the plate and average temperature
Thermag fields. Germany, 16.-20. September 2018
VIII, Darmstadt,

2. METODOLOGY
2.1 Components description
Fig. 1 presents a schematic drawing of the thermomagnetic motor operation. The main components
are the magnetic field source, the Gd plate and a crank disk to convert the linear to rotary movement. Initially
the gadolinium plate is positioned outside the high magnetic field region (step 1), where it is cooled down by
a cold stream up to a temperature below its Tc (~293 K), establishing the ferromagnetic phase. As a result, the
Gd plate is attracted by the magnetic field and force is generated by the Gd plate displacement (step 2). The
plate is then warmed up (step 3) by a hot stream up to a temperature above Tc, (paramagnetic phase). When
the plate reaches a certain temperature, the gravitational force becomes greater than the magnetic attraction
(step 4) pulling down the plate outside the high magnetic field region, where it will be cooled down by the
cold stream, restarting the cycle. Therefore, the present model was based on the Ericson cycle, which has two
processes at constant temperature (steps 2 and 4) and two processes at constant magnetic field (steps 1 and 3).

Figure 1: Schematic thermomagnetic motor cycle.

The Gd plate was designed with 80 x 80 x10 mm, containing five fluid channels with a diameter of 5
mm and distanced by 20 mm, as presented in Fig. 2. The total mass of the plate is 0.79 kg. Gd was initially
chosen for the present work because of the availability of data and its magnetic properties are easily obtained
using WDS theory9.
The magnetic field source is a C-shape permanent magnet designed based on the magnet geometry
proposed by Vasile and Muller10. The magnetic circuit is composed by six N5211 NdFeB blocks and AISI 1020
as soft magnetic material. The final dimensions of the magnetic circuit, especially the magnetic gap where the
Gd plate is placed, were determined via a parametric study and considering the commercial availability of the
NdFeB magnets', with the target to obtain the highest magnetic flux density in the magnetic gap. The 3D
simulations were made in COMSOL Multiphysics12.

109
 Thermag VIII, Darmstadt, Germany, 16.-20. September 2018
NdFeB magnets', with the target to obtain the highest magnetic flux density in the magnetic gap. The 3D
simulations were made in COMSOL Multiphysics12.

Figure 2: Frontal view of the designed Gd plate.

The final configuration is presented in Fig. 3(a). The magnetic gap has the dimensions of 110 x 110x16
mm, and has an uniform magnetic flux density of 1.33 T at the position where the Gd plate is placed inside the
magnetic circuit. Fig. 3(b) shows the magnetic flux density distribution along the z-axis (axial direction). The
symbols stands for the COMSOL simulation results and the solid line is a fitting curve. The fitting is
implemented in the motor model. It is important to notice that the Gd plate moves in and out the high field
region along the z- axis, and therefore the applied magnetic field variation on the plate follows the fitting curve
along the axial axis.

(a)
(b)
Figure 3: (a)Designed magnetic circuit; (b) Distribution of the magnetic flux density along the axial direction.
Symbols stands for COMSOL simulations and the line is a fitting curve implemented in the motor modeling.

2.2 Mathematical model

The mathematical model solves the energy equation for the solid phase, presented in Eq. 1, where the
term on the left is the thermal inertia of the solid, and those terms on the right are the axial heat conduction
and interstitial heat transfer. The subscripts s and f strands for the solid and fluid temperatures (𝑇𝑇).

𝜕𝜕𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠
𝜌𝜌𝑐𝑐𝑝𝑝 = 𝑘𝑘 2 + 𝛽𝛽ℎ(𝑇𝑇𝑠𝑠 − 𝑇𝑇𝑓𝑓 ) Eq. (1)
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧

The conductivity (𝑘𝑘) and density (𝜌𝜌) of Gd are, respectively,10 W/m-K13 and 7900 kg/m3. The specific
heat (𝑐𝑐𝑝𝑝 ) is dependent on the temperature and internal field and calculated via WDS theory. It is important to
mention that the applied field is corrected for demagnetization losses14. The heat transfer coefficient (ℎ) was
determined using the correlation of Hausen and Kays15,16 to account the entrance region. 𝛽𝛽 is the density of
heat transfer area. Adiabatic ends are considered as boundaries conditions, and the plate is initially at 280 K.A
pump with a flow rate of 4 L/min was adopted. Therefore, for a diameter of 5 mm, the average flow
velocity in each hole was considered as 3.39 m/s.
This first version of the model has two important simplifications:

110
 mention that the applied field is corrected for demagnetization losses14. The heat transfer coefficient (ℎ) was
determined using the correlation of Hausen and Kays15,16 to account the entrance region. 𝛽𝛽 is the density of
 heat transfer area. Adiabatic endsThermag VIII, Darmstadt,
are considered Germany,
as boundaries 16.-20.and
conditions, the plate is initially at 280 K.A
September 2018
pump with a flow rate of 4 L/min was adopted. Therefore, for a diameter of 5 mm, the average flow
velocity in each hole was considered as 3.39 m/s.
This first version of the model has two important simplifications:
 (i) the fluid phase is not simulated. This is a good initial approximation because the working fluid
(water) thermal mass is much larger than the Gd thermal mass. This way, while performing the cooling
process the fluid stream temperature is constant at 280 K, and when performing the warming process,
its temperature is constant at 340 K.
 (ii) the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is not taken into account. The MCE will be included in the next
version of the model.
The magnetic force (𝐹𝐹⃗𝑚𝑚 ) is calculated by17,18:

𝐹𝐹⃗𝑚𝑚 = 𝜇𝜇0 𝑉𝑉𝑃𝑃 𝑀𝑀∇𝐻𝐻 Eq. (2)

and is proportional to the solid volume (𝑉𝑉𝑃𝑃 ), the magnetization (𝑀𝑀 ) and the gradient of the applied magnetic
field (∇𝐻𝐻). The magnetization of the material is dependent on the temperature and the internal field, and was
calculated via WDS theory.

2.3 Numerical implementation

The mathematical model was solved using the finite volume method and developed in Matlab 2013®.
The Central Difference Scheme (CDS) was applied to the solid energy equation and the solver is implemented
using Thomas' algorithm19. The longitudinal mesh consists of 200 volumes and the time step is 0.5 s. At each
time step, the internal magnetic field and temperature to all the volumes are calculated considering the
longitudinal applied magnetic field distribution (Fig. 3(b)). Along the iterative solver, the specific heat and
magnetization are recalculated at each iteration, up to the convergence criteria (10-6) is satisfied.
As previously explained, the material moves in and out the magnetic field region along the z-axis.
Thus, the force can be analyzed in discrete points separated by a distance Δz (volume size), and approximated
as follows:

𝐻𝐻𝑧𝑧+∆𝑧𝑧 − 𝐻𝐻𝑧𝑧 Eq. (3)

𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 = 𝜇𝜇0 𝑉𝑉𝑃𝑃 𝑀𝑀 ( )
∆𝑧𝑧
After the convergence of each time step, the magnetic force is calculated and a force balance is
performed to verify if the plate moves in or out the magnetic field, as follows, where P is the gravitational
force acting on the plate:

𝐹𝐹𝑅𝑅 = 𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 − P Eq. (4)

 If 𝐹𝐹𝑅𝑅 > 0, 𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 > 𝑃𝑃 and then: (i) the plate is attracted by the field geranting power or; (ii) the
plate remains inside the high field region while it is warmed up.
 If 𝐹𝐹𝑅𝑅 < 0,𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 < 𝑃𝑃 and then: (i) the plate is moved out the field or; (ii) the plate remains outside
the high field region while it is cooled down.

3. RESULTSANDDISCUSSION
To determine the maximum displacement of the Gd plate and the minimum P force to be adjusted for
the proper operation of the motor, it is necessary to calculate the magnetic force along the z-axis. The
magnetic force variation along the z-axis, from z = 0 (at the center of the magnetic gap) to z = 25 mm (outside
the magnetic gap) is evaluated at different temperatures, ranging from 280 K to 340 K, as presented in Fig. 4.
Conditioning the Gd plate at 340 K inside the magnetic gap at 𝑧𝑧 = 0.3 m, a maximum value of 𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 =
104.74 N is found. This corresponds to the minimum P force necessary to overcome the magnetic
force and remove the Gd plate from the magnetic gap. It is important to notice that only the Gd plate
mass (which has about 0.79 kg) is not sufficient to overcome the magnetic force and, thus, a P force
of 120 N was adopted. Now, conditioning the Gd plate at 280 K, it is searched in the Fig. 4 diagram
a position along the z-axis (outside the magnetic gap) where the magnetic force is higher than P =
120 N. It is found that at the position at 𝑧𝑧 = 0.12 m magnetic force is enough to overcome the P

111
 Thermag VIII, Darmstadt, Germany, 16.-20. September 2018

force and the Gd plate is moved into the magnetic gap. Therefore, when the plate is inside the
magnetic gap, at the position 𝑧𝑧 = 0.03 m, it is warmed up to 340 K resulting in a 𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 < 120 N, and
then the plate is moved out of the field region due to the action of the gravitational force, and stops
at 𝑧𝑧 = 0.12 m. At this position, the Gd plate is cooled down to 280 K reaching the condition of
𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 > 120 N, and then the plate is moved in the magnetic field region (𝑧𝑧 = 0.03 m) producing
power. A maximum displacement of 0.117 m is obtained.

Figure 4: Variation of the magnetic force of the plate along the z-axis, at different temperature conditions.

Figure 5(a) and (b) show, respectively, the behavior of the average temperature of the Gd plate and
magnetic force along a cycle, after periodically developed state is reached. First the plate is cooled down,
reaching an average temperature lower than 290 K. The cooling process takes about 8.7 s. When the plate
reaches the minimum temperature and the magnetic force is higher than P the plate, almost instantenously
is displaced by 0.117 m into its position inside the magnetic field, generating a maximum force of
614.43 N. After that, the plate is warmed up, reducing the magnetic force up to an average temperature of
about 335 K, when reaches a magnetic force lower than P. This process takes about 10s, and the plate is moved
out the magnetic gap, returning to its initial position. The cycle period is 18.71 s, and produces a liquid work
of 494.43 N (disregarding viscous losses), which corresponds to a torque of 57.8 Nm and a generated power
of 3.1 W. The small power generated is due to the long periods respective to the cooling and warming
processes. To reduce these periods, however, it is necessary to enhance the interstitial heat transfer and use a
material with abrupt magnetic phase transitions like first order magnetocaloric materials.

(a) (b)

Figure 5:Thermomagnetic motor cycle: (a) Magnetic force; (b) Average plate temperature.

112
 Figure 5:Thermomagnetic motor cycle: (a) Magnetic force; (b) Average plate temperature.
 Thermag VIII, Darmstadt, Germany, 16.-20. September 2018

4. CONCLUSIONS
The present manuscript presented a 1D mathematical model of a thermomagnetic motor. A Gd plate
is used as working material and the field source is a designed as a C-shape Halbach made of N52 NdFeB
permanent magnets. The preliminary results presented a liquid work of 494.43 N, which corresponds to a
torque of 57.8 Nm and a generated power of 3.1 W. The cycle period is 18.71 s. The next steps of this research
is to simulate a first order magnetocaloric material processed as a porous medium to enhance heat transfer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to CAPES and CNPq for the financial support.

NOMENCLATURE
T Temperature (K) H Magnetic applied field (A/m)
z z axis (m) M Magnetization (A/m)
ρ Density (kg/m3) V Volume (m3)
B Magnetic flux density (T) t Time (s)
μ Magnetic permeability (H/m) cp Specific heat (J/kg-K)
h Convective coefficient (W/m2-K) β Density of heat transfer area (m-1)

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