Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPMMagMed projects (completed)
Magnetocalorics: Development of a refrigerant-free, efficient cooling technology
The aim of the project was to develop a medical refrigerator based on the magnetocaloric effect that guarantees a storage temperature of 4 – 18 °C and uses water as its fluid. Compared to devices that operate with currently available technologies, the refrigerator was to be characterized in particular by higher efficiency.
Within the scope of MagMed 1 and 2 projects, the functional principle based on thermal diodes and a latent heat transport could successfully be confirmed. In particular, a very high specific cooling capacity of 12.5 W/g was achieved – a value that by far exceeds the state of the art.
The first market addressed in this project was medical technology, which lends itself as a pilot market as it is an application area with sufficiently high sales potential and comparatively low pricing pressure. After a successful market launch, magnetocalorics has the potential to gradually replace compressor technology in many other applications, e. g. households, industry, commerce and transport.
Project partners
- Fraunhofer IPM
- GSI Technology UG
- Philipp Kirsch GmbH (coordination)
- University of Freiburg, IMTEK
- Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG
Project term
- November 2021 – October 2024 (MagMed 2)
- June 2017 – May 2021 (MagMed 1)
Project funding
- German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy