Energy conversion of waste heat using thermomagnetic materials
- To date, there are very few technologies available for the conversion of low-temperature waste heat into electricity. Thermomagnetic generators are one approach proposed more than a century ago. Such devices are based on a cyclic change of magnetization with temperature. This switches a magnetic flux and, according to Faraday’s law, induces a voltage. We demonstrated that guiding the magnetic flux with a pretzel-type topology of the magnetic circuit improves the performance of thermomagnetic generators by orders of magnitude [1]. From an ideal material’s perspective, several similarities with magnetocaloric materials [2] can be found, like a sharp first-order like magnetostructural transition, low hysteresis and high thermal diffusivity. This makes some magnetocaloric materials good candidates also for thermomagnetic energy harvesting, like e.g. (MnFe)2P-based and La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds.
Recently, the EU MSCA initial training network Heat4Energy [2] was started with the aim ofTo date, there are very few technologies available for the conversion of low-temperature waste heat into electricity. Thermomagnetic generators are one approach proposed more than a century ago. Such devices are based on a cyclic change of magnetization with temperature. This switches a magnetic flux and, according to Faraday’s law, induces a voltage. We demonstrated that guiding the magnetic flux with a pretzel-type topology of the magnetic circuit improves the performance of thermomagnetic generators by orders of magnitude [1]. From an ideal material’s perspective, several similarities with magnetocaloric materials [2] can be found, like a sharp first-order like magnetostructural transition, low hysteresis and high thermal diffusivity. This makes some magnetocaloric materials good candidates also for thermomagnetic energy harvesting, like e.g. (MnFe)2P-based and La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds.
Recently, the EU MSCA initial training network Heat4Energy [2] was started with the aim of making three thermomagnetic energy converters for low grade waste heat (<100°C) to electricity with different power output ranges. While the smallest demonstrator operates with thin film materials, the two larger machines use bulk material, for which different processing and shaping routes are explored. In collaboration with the industrial stakeholders of the project, up-scalability and practical application issues of materials processing will be addressed during the project. After an introduction into the technological background and the ITN project, we will present first results on 3D printing and non-destructive imaging of the thermomagnetic parts.…


| Autor*innen: | Anja Waske |
|---|---|
| Koautor*innen: | Savvina Papaioannou, Sebastian Fähler |
| Dokumenttyp: | Vortrag |
| Veröffentlichungsform: | Präsentation |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2025 |
| Organisationseinheit der BAM: | 6 Materialchemie |
| 6 Materialchemie / 6.0 Abteilungsleitung und andere | |
| DDC-Klassifikation: | Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften und zugeordnete Tätigkeiten |
| Freie Schlagwörter: | Energy harvesting; Magnetic materials; Thermomagnetic energy conversion |
| Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM: | Material |
| Material / Additive Fertigung | |
| Material / Materialdesign | |
| Veranstaltung: | Advances in Magnetics (AIM) 2025 |
| Veranstaltungsort: | Bressanone, Italy |
| Beginndatum der Veranstaltung: | 10.02.2025 |
| Enddatum der Veranstaltung: | 14.02.2025 |
| Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") |
| Datum der Freischaltung: | 19.12.2025 |
| Referierte Publikation: | Nein |
| Eingeladener Vortrag (wissenschaftliche Konferenzen): | Ja |

