Abstract
When a magnetic field is applied to a magnetic material it releases energy. It has been proven experimentally that this temperature rise could be as high as 20 K when a magnetic field of 10 T is applied. Heat is generated when the magnetic field is applied and cooling is produced when the magnetic field is released. The purpose of this study is to explore transient heat transfer coefficient when a fluid is circulated in the substrate through microchannels. Equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy were solved in the fluid region. In the solid region, the transient heat conduction equation was solved. Gadolinium and water were picked as the magnetic material and working fluid respectively. The results are represented by plotting the variations of heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number with time at various sections of the tube. The effects of the magnetic field strength, diameter of the microtube in the substrate, and Reynolds number were studied. It was found that the heat transfer coefficient changes with time in a periodic fashion when heating and cooling are generated in the system by repeated introduction and relaxation of the magnetic field. The results of this study will be useful for the development of microtube heat exchangers for a compact magnetic refrigerator.