Application of magnetic fields to make refrigerators in the future

In the future, our refrigerators can preserve food by applying magnetic fields to cool them through magnets.

If this is the case, the refrigerator not only consumes less electricity but also operates more smoothly than the current refrigerator and will also not use hydrofluorocarbon - a gas that can cause a greenhouse effect if not treated properly. well suited.

The application of magnetic fields for cooling is via a magnetic-magnetic (magnetocaloric) effect, whereby changing the magnetic field in the material can make the material cooler.

This application promises great potential although scientists must first shape the system's operating cycle.

Sujoy Roy, a physicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, is studying this application, saying that the core problem lies in finding the type of alloy that can produce a thermal-magnetic effect at Room temperature, low energy consumption, and reasonable price.

To do this, a series of researchers are very interested in the types of alloys that can produce a large thermal-magnetic effect, meaning a strong transition in temperature when magnetic fields are conditioned. control.

In 2008, Roy read information about a Southern Illinois University team using additional copper-galli nickel-copper alloys and obtained a large thermal-magnetic effect at room temperature.

Now Roy uses Berkeley Lab's 'advanced light source', which can produce brighter light than sunlight, to study how the elements in this alloy change when going on. Heat-magnetic effect.

So far, Roy and his team have determined that adding copper will weaken the alloy's magnetism, making the alloy's nickel-galli bond stronger.

According to Roy, there is still a lot of work to do to be able to apply this effect, but this is a right step.