FOM and BASF develop magnetic materials to save energy
This is a joint PRESS RELEASE from BASF and FOM
Utrecht (NL)/ Ludwigshaven (D) – The Dutch foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) and BASF - The chemical company start a joint research programme on magnetocaloric materials. These materials are a new class of refrigerants that may help to reduce the impact of todays cooling systems on the environment. A quarter of our total energy consumption today is used for cooling applications, for instance in refrigerators and air conditioners. Magnetocaloric materials are an alternative to state of the art gaseous refrigerants and should help establish cooling technologies with an increased energy efficiency. Research leader Prof.dr. Ekkes Brück (Delft University of Technology-TU Delft, NL) aims at clarifying the fundamental magnetocaloric principles and developing new materials with the best properties. The joint research project of FOM and BASF will have a duration of five years. It will be executed at TU Delft and in the laboratories of BASF in De Meern (NL) and Ludwigshafen (D).
An ordinary refrigerator uses a cycle of vaporisation of a fluid (this withdraws heat from the fridge) and gas compression and –condensation (which releases heat at the back of the refrigerator) for cooling. Within this process it is important that the refrigerant meets the right physical specifications (boiling point, vapour pressure, etc). Toxic ammonia from the first refrigerators was later replaced by chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), which are known for their potential in harming the protecting ozone layer in the atmosphere. Alternative gaseous refrigerants require a higher pressure in the cycle. This results in higher energy consumption. For this reason, research on alternative heat pump processes may ease the burden that our cooling needs cast on the environment.
Magnetic cooling
An important breakthrough was the invention of a new class of magnetocaloric materials, solid alloys, by Brück and co-workers. These materials that may be an ideal alternative for above mentioned cooling cycle: they warm up in a magnetic field and cool down when the field is removed. For an energy-efficient heat pump, the magnetic field of a permanent magnet is sufficient. Hence, the cooling cycle consumes energy only for the heat transport within the machine and the magnetization-demagnetisation process. Theoretical considerations show an energy savings potential of up to fifty percent. An additional benefit results from the relatively small size of the devices that are based on the magnetic cooling cycle. This makes them ideal for all kinds of domestic and commercial applications such as refrigerators, air conditioners, cooling of computers, but they can also replace heat pumps in central heating systems.
New research
The functionality of magnetocaloric materials strongly depends on the structure on atomic scale. Small changes seem to have large consequences on the cooling properties. Within the new research programme Brück and his colleague physicists will study the fundamentals of magnetic cooling and search for the optimal composition of the magnetocaloric alloy. The researchers try to find suitable alternatives that will offer optimal performance and the most simple production process.
The investigation into new materials will take place primarily at the department 'Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy (FAME)' of the TU Delft. The R&D department of BASF Nederland B.V. will focus on the scale up of the magneto-caloric materials. A laboratory with dedicated equipment is being installed for preparation of materials to be evaluated in prototypes with partners.
Public private cooperation
FOM and BASF collaborate within a so called Industrial Partnership Programme (IPP). IPP’s are research programmes where FOM couples academic knowledge to industrial ambitions by renowned fundamental physical research in close cooperation with industry. Companies finance at least fifty percent. The research of FOM and BASF runs for five years. The research is executed at the Delft University of Technology (NL) and the laboratories of BASF in De Meern (NL) and Ludwigshaven (D).
Additional information
Additional information about the new research programme can be found at: /live/onderzoek/onderzoeksprogrammas/artikel.pag?objectnumber=69960
Drs. Huub Eggen, Stichting FOM, phone +31 (0)30 600 12 08
Prof. dr Ekkes Brück, TU Delft, phone +31 (015) 278 31 58
Drs Bennie Reesink, BASF, phone ++31(0)30666 93 56
About BASF
BASF Future Business GmbH, a 100 percent subsidiary of BASF Aktiengesellschaft, was founded in April 2001. It aims to open up business areas with above-average growth rates that lie outside BASF’s current activities. The company focuses on chemistry-based new materials, technologies and system solutions. BASF Future Business GmbH commissions research from BASF’s R&D units and cooperates with startup companies, industrial partners, universities and potential customers. Further activities include acquisition of direct stakes, initiation of joint venturesand provision of venture capital via the subsidiary BASF Venture Capital GmbH. Further information on BASF Future Business is available on the Internet at www.basf-fb.de.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
About FOM
The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) promotes, co-ordinates and finances fundamental physics research in The Netherlands. It is an autonomous foundation responsible to the physics division of the national research council NWO. With about 900 employee’s and an annual budget of 80 million euro’s FOM executes physics research of international top level quality within four institutes and 180 university research groups in the Netherlands. For cooperation with industrial researchers (Industrial Partnership Programmes) FOM has an annual budget of 3 million euro’s available. See www.fom.nl.