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Proceedings of IMECE2008
2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
October 31 November 6, 2008, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
IMECE2008-67283
ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MAGNETOCALORIC PUMP FOR
ELECTRONIC COOLING APPLICATIONS USING A MN-ZN FERRITE FERROFLUID


Jorge Gustavo Gutierrez
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, United States
Miguel Riccetti
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, United States


ABSTRACT

A device able to pump a fluid with no moving mechanical
parts represents a very encouraging alternative since such
device would be practically maintenance free. A magnetocaloric
pump could achieve this purpose by providing a magnetic
pressure gradient to a ferrofluid placed inside a magnetic field
while experiencing a temperature change. If the temperature
change is produced by extracting heat out of an element that
needs refrigeration, coupling this generated heat with the
magnetocaloric pump will result in a passive cooling system.
For applications near ambient temperature the ferrofluid must
have specific characteristics such as low Curie temperature,
high pyromagnetic coefficient, high thermal conductivity and
low viscosity.
This work presents an analysis of the ferrohydrodynamic
governing equations, emphasizing the importance of the Kelvin
force in the magnetocaloric pump analysis. The general
equations are simplified and scaled to show which parameters
are important in the generation of the magnetic pressure
gradient. Based on the scaling analysis, a variable magnetic
field and a higher saturation magnetization is needed to
generate a higher magnetic pressure gradient. The working fluid
used is an aqueous
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O ferrite ferrofluid
synthesized by the co-precipitation technique. This ferrite
shows lower Curie temperature than commercially available
magnetite. Important issues in the design of a magnetocaloric
pump prototype with a variable magnetic field source are also
discussed.

INTRODUCTION

Ferrohydrodynamics began to be developed in the 1960s,
motivated by the objective of converting heat into work with no
moving mechanical parts [1]. Magnetocaloric effects for
cooling applications were explored by [2] and [3], using Mn-Zn
ferrites. Magnetocaloric pumping uses the fact that certain
magnetic materials tend to loose their magnetization when they
are heated up and become magnetic again when they are cool
down. The phenomenon is known as magnetocaloric effect. In
general terms, for a given material, the larger the change in
magnetic field, the larger the magnetocaloric effect. A
promising application of this principle is the use of magnetic
fluids with large change in magnetization as they are heated up,
near the operational temperature of the the magnetocaloric
device; magnetite, the most widely used commercially available
magnetic fluids has a relatively high Curie temperature.
Therefore, synthesis of special temperature sensitive magnetic
nanoparticles for ferrofluids is of great interest. Developments
of synthesis processes and coating of nanoparticles have created
a new and special class of fluids, called ferrofluids, that
appear to have great potential for cooling applications. The
term ferrofluid refers to a colloidal suspension in which the
continuous phase is a liquid (carrier) and the dispersed one is
composed of extremely fine metallic nanoparticles, usually less
than 50 nm in size. For application near ambient temperature
cooling, ferrofluids with a Curie temperature in the order of
100 C are desirable. If the Curie temperature is far above the
operational temperature of the thermal system, the
magnetocaloric effect will be negligible. In this work
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O ferrite ferrofluid have been synthesized and
characterized. Saturation magnetization, Curie temperature,
pyromangetic coefficient and volume fraction of magnetic
particles have been measured to study the behavior of the
synthesized ferrofluid for cooling applications. An analysis of
the governing equations for magnetic fluids is presented to
show how the magnetostatic equations are coupled with the
equations of ferrofluid motion. A scaling analysis is carried out
Proceedings of IMECE2008
2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
October 31-November 6, 2008, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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to identify the correct orders of magnitude of flow velocity and
pressure gradient.
NOMENCLATURE

F magnetic body force per unit volume
g Gravitational acceleration
H applied magnetic field intensity
K Pyromagnetic coefficient
M magnetization of the ferrofluid
M
s
Saturation magnetization
T Temperature
T
C
Curie temperature
v Velocity

0
Permeability of the free space
Density
dynamic viscosity

0
Initial magnetic susceptibility
Volumetric fraction of magnetic particles
scalar potential


THE MAGNETOCALORIC PUMP PRINCIPLE

A magnetocaloric pump provides a simple way of pumping
a magnetic fluid using only a heat source and a magnetic field
source. The working principle is simple: ferrofluids lose its
magnetization as their temperature increases, reaching a point
where they can no longer maintain their magnetization; this
temperature is called the Curie temperature. When a
ferrofluid is inside a magnetic field coincident with a
temperature gradient, a pressure gradient is generated in the
magnetic fluid [1]. As the ferrofluid increases its temperature,
its magnetization decreases and it is displaced by the cooler
fluid with higher magnetization. The result is fluid propulsion
with no moving mechanical parts.
An important aspect is that the Curie temperature of the
ferrofluid must be closer to the maximum operational
temperature of the system that is cooled; otherwise the change
in magnetization would be negligible and hence negligible its
magnetocaloric effect.


Fig.1: Principle of Magnetocaloric Pumping


NANOPARTICLE SYNTHESIS AND FERROFLUID
PREPARATION

0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O ferrite is chosen for preparing the
ferrofluid because of its low Curieie temperature. The ideal
ferrofluid should have a Curie temperature near the maximum
operating temperature of the system, near 100C in this study,
low viscocity, large pyromagnetic coefficient and high specific
heat. Most commercially available ferrofluids are based on
magnetite particles with a Curie temperature of 585C which
makes them undesirable for applications operating at
temperatures near ambient temperature.

The synthesis of
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O ferrite nanoparticles was
carried out by the conventional chemical co-precipitation
method. Iron(III) chloride Hexahydrate (
3 2
6 . FeCl H O),
Manganese(II) chloride Tetrahydrate (
2 2
4 . MnCl H O) and Zinc
chloride (
2
MnCl ) were the metallic salts employed in the
synthesis process of the
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O nanoparticles, while
sodium hydroxide ( NaOH ) at 0.5 mol/L was used as the co-
precipitant agent. The metallic salts mixture was added to the
pre-heated co-precipitant solution. Keeping constant fluid
volume and temperature conditions the reaction time for the
ferrite nanoparticles formation was approximately 1 hour under
a strong agitation rate [3].




Fig. 2: Schematic of synthesis process of ferrite nanoparticles [2]


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The obtained nanoparticles were washed with a 2mol/L
nitric acid (
3
HNO ) solution and centrifuged after manual
agitation at 3600rpm for seven minutes period, where the nitric
acid cleans and provides the nanoparticles surface with a
positive electrostatic charge (first layer). Then a 25 % water
solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide is slowly added to
the cleaned particles providing them of a negative surface
electrostatic charge (second layer) and thus completing the
double-layer surfactant effect and inhibiting their agglomeration
and further sedimentation. The mixture of the water, surfactant
and nanoparticles is again strongly agitated and then
centrifugated at 3600rpm for twelve minutes [3].






Fig. 3: Steps for ferrofluid preparation




MAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS

Two water based ferrofluids with different volumetric
concentration of ferrite nanoparticles were prepared and
characterized by magnetic measurements. The magnetic
measurements were carried out in a SQUID (Super Quantum
Interference Device). Figure 4 shows the variation of
magnetization with the magnetic field for ferrofluids with
volume fraction concentrations of =2.54% and =3.11%. The
experiment was carried out at a temperature of 325 K. Figure 5
shows the variation of magnetization of ferrofluids with the
temperature keeping a constant magnetic field of 5000 Oe.
The results obtained from these measurements are
summarized in table 1. The Curie temperature is obtained by
extrapolation of the regression line. The pyromagnetic
coefficient is the slope of the magnetization with the
temperature, defined as
M
K
T
H

=


, saturation magnetization
Ms is the maximum magnetization of the ferrofluid and the
initial magnetic susceptibility
0
defined as M/H at the initial
stage.

Fig.4: Magnetization vs. Applied Field
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O
Ferrite
Ferrofluid, for different volume fraction concentrations, at 325 K



Fig. 5: Magnetization vs. Temperature
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O
Ferrite
Ferrofluid, for different volume fraction concentrations, at 5000 Oe.


Table 1: Curie temperature, pyromagnetic coefficient, and
magnetic susceptibility of
0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O
ferrite ferrofluids.

0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O

Ferrofluid
=2.54% =3.11%
Tc 148.84 C 151.64 C
K 35.22 A/mK 37.23 A/mK
Ms 4427.59 A/m 5313.10 A/m

0
0.029 0.036


MAGNETOSTATIC FIELD EQUATIONS

The governing equations for magnetostatic fields are the
Amperes law (with the displacement current density neglected)
and the magnetic flux continuity law given by (for non
Synthesized ferrite nanoparticles Place in centrifugation tubes to
separate ferrite nanoparticles
from water
Acid treatment with 2M HNO3 Synthesized ferrite nanoparticles
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conducting fluids or zero electric fields, the surface current J is
zero)
= 0 H (1)
= 0 B (2)

Using the constitutive equation:

0
( ) = + B H M (3)

Where M is the magnetization of the permanent magnet.
M and H are related through,
m
M = H , where
m
is the
magnetic susceptibility of the material. For a linear material,

m
is a constant. Then,
0 0
(1 )
r
m
= + B H = H = H .
Then, knowing that the rotor and the divergence of a vector
field are both zero, the magnetic field H can be represented in
terms of a scalar potential , such that

= H (4)

Equation (1) is satisfied identically since the rotor of a
gradient is always zero. Substituting (4) into (2) the following
equation is obtained:
2
0
m

= (5)
where
0 m
= M

Equation (5) is a Poisson equation. Solving equation (5) for
a given geometry of a permanent magnet, the magnetic field,
H is calculated using using equation (4). Knowing the
magnetic field at which the ferrofluid is exposed, the magnetic
body force exerted on the ferrofluid can be calculated.


MAGNETIC BODY FORCE

From electromagnetic theory, the force per unit volume on
a piece of magnetized material of magnetization M (dipole
moment per unit volume) in a magnetic field of intensity H is
given by [5]
( ) ( )
0
1
2
= + F M H M H (6)
The term ( )
0
M H is called the Kelvin force and the
term ( )
1
2
M H is called the magnetostrictive force.
0
is
the permeability of the free space. It can be seen that
ferrohydrodynamic interactions require the existence of
spatially variable magnetic fields. Note that the magnetization
M

here is the magnetization of the ferrofluid, not the
magnetization of the permanent magnet.
If the direction of magnetization of a fluid element M, is
always in the direction of the local magnetic field H ,
M H = 0 . Then, the magnetostrictive force is always zero.

Using the following vector identity

( ) ( ) ( )
1
2
= H H H H H H (7)

and assuming the ferrofluid is electrically nonconducting
0 = H , we obtain [4]

( ) ( )
0 0 0
1
2
M
M H
H
= =



M H H H (8)

This result, valid when M

is parallel to H , should be a good
approximation for the flow of ferrofluids dispersions considered
in this work since the individual suspended particles are
mechanically free to align with the magnetic field. Then, an
equivalent form of the Kelvin force in the ferrofluid is:

0
M H = F (9)

7 2 2
0
4 10 henry/m (Kg-m/A -s )

= , H and M have units of
A/m.


EQUATION OF FERROFLUID MOTION

To calculate the velocity profile on the ferrofluid exposed
to an external magnetic filed, we have to solve the equation of
ferrofluid motion. The governing equations for the ferrofluid
are the continuity and momentum equations [5] given by:
0 = v
(10)
( ) ( )
2
0
P = + + v v v M H

Where ( )
T T
P P P P
s
= = g r is the dynamic pressure.
The significance of each term in equation (10) is given
bellow:
( ) v v : Convective acceleration
P : pressure force
2
v : Viscous force
( )
0
M H : Kelvin force

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Introducing equation (9) into the momentum equation (10)
yields
( )
2
0
P M H = + + v v v (11)

which is the simplified equation of ferrofluid motion that is
valid if the fluid is electrically nonconducting and if Mis
parallel with H everywhere in the field [4].


MAGNETIC PRESSURE GRADIENT

The force that generates a magnetic pressure gradient in the
magnetocaloric pump is the Kelvin Force. Then, the Kelvin
force can be seen as a magnetic pressure gradient A simplified
est
0
M H =
m
P (12)
Integrating equation (12) from point 1 where the magnetic
field is H
1
to point 2 where the magnetic field is H
2
( )
2
1
H
0
H
,
m
P M T dH =

(13)

To find
m
P
it is necessary to know how the magnetization of
the ferrofluid varies respect to the temperature, T, and to the
external magnetic field, H. This expression can be obtained
experimentally doing M vs. H curves for different values of T
and then integrating numerically to find the value of the
magnetic pressure gradient. This magnetic pressure gradient is
the driving force of the ferrofluid flow.



SCALING ANALYSIS

The scale of a variable is an estimate of its maximum order
of magnitude, and scaling is the process of identifying the
correct orders of magnitude of various unknowns which one
confronts in a new problem [6]. In this work, the scales of
velocity and pressure are unknown and is of great interest to
know their order of magnitude to predict what will be the
behavior of the magnetocaloric pump.
Now, equations (9) and (10) are solved for a tube of
constant cross sectional area of radius R and finite length L
with an applied magnetic field that varies linearly in L.



Fig. 9: Schematic of the spatially variable magnetic field applied to the
ferrofluid and the pipeline by which the ferrofluid is flowing

Assuming, steady state condition, constant density, constant
cross sectional area, one-dimensional flow, v v 0
r
= = and
considering a variation of the magnetic field H only in axial z
direction, ( ) H H z = . Under these assumptions it is possible to
obtain from the governing equations, the scale of the velocity
and the scale of the pressure gradient.
From continuity equation in cylindrical coordinates:

v
r
r
v
r
r

v
1
r

v
0
z
z

+ =

(14)
Under the given assumption,
z
v
0
z

and
z z
v v ( ) r =
Momentum equations in the radial direction simplifies to,
0
P
r

and in the circumferential direction to,

0
P

.
Then, then the pressure is only function of the axial direction z,
( ) P P z = .
The momentum equation in cylindrical coordinates in the
axial direction yields:
2
0 2
v v 1
0
z z
d d dP dH
M
dz r dr dr dz
= + + +
(15)

Now, defining the following dimensionless variables:
* *
z
v ( ) ( )
; ; ; v
z
z
s
r z r M z
L R M V
= = = =

(16)

Where L the length of the device in the axial direction z
direction, R is the radius of the tube,
s
M is the saturation f
ferrofluid (the saturation magnetization magnetization of the
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ferrofluid), and V

is the scale of the velocity which is unknown
and has to be determined

Introducing these dimensionless variables (16) into
equation (15) and rearranging:
* 2 * *
z z
2
2 2
0
v v 1 1
0
z
s
d d dP dH
V V
dz d d dz
R M R

= + + +

(17)

Then,
2
V R
scales the pressure gradient
dP
dz
and
2
0 s
V M R
scales the magnetic gradient
dH
dz
. Assuming a
linear variation for the gradient of P and H, then the order of
magnitude of these gradients are given by.

2 1
P P dP
dz L

(18)

and

2 1
H H dH
dz L

(19)

From here and order of magnitude for the scale of the velocity
and the scale of the pressure gradient can be obtained:

2
0 2 1 s
M R H H
V
L

= (20)
2 1
0 2 s
H H P V
M
L R L

= = (21)
It can be seen from equations (20) and (21) that
H
L

and
s
M increases, V and P will increase also. Then, higher
H
L

and
s
M will generate a higher flow velocity and a higher
magnetic pressure gradient. Note also that viscosity appears in
the denominator in the expression of the velocity V , then
higher viscosity will result in lower flow. This is an important
consideration since the concentration of nanoparticles will
increase the magnetization of the ferrofluid but also will
increase its viscosity.

CONCLUSIONS

0.5 0.5 2 4
Mn Zn Fe O
ferrite ferrofluid are good candidates for
magnetocaloric applications due its lower Curie temperature.
Higher nanoparticle concentrations will increase the viscosity of
the ferrofluid affecting negatively the fluid flow generated by
magnetic pressure.
It was shown how the magnetostatic equations are coupled
with the equations of ferrofluid motion and how is the calculus
sequence to determine the velocity profile and the pressure
gradient.
The scaling analysis served to show the importance of a
spatially variable magnetic field and a higher saturation
magnetization in the generation of the pressure gradient and
flow velocity. Higher
H
L

and
s
M will generate higher pressure
gradient and higher flow velocity.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Dr. Gustavo Gutierrez and Mr. Miguel Riccetti would like
to thank the DoD-HBCU program for their financial support of
the project. Also, thank the University of Puerto Rico-
Mayaguez.
REFERENCES

[1] R. E. Rosensweig, Ferrohydro-dynamics, Dover, New
York , 1997
[2] J.E Catao, Development of a magnetocaloric pump for
heat pipes applications, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, MS Thesis, 2005
[3] E. O. Bermudez, Design and mechanical
characterization of a magnetocaloric pump, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at
Mayaguez, MS Thesis, 2007
[4] J. L. Neuringer and R. E Rosensweig,
Ferrohydrodynamics, Avco Research and Advanced
Development Division, Wilmington, Massachusetts, 1964
[5] S. Odenbach, Ferrofluids. Magnetically Controllable
Fluids and Their Applications, Springer, Bremen, 2002
[6] W. M. Deen, Analysis of Transport Phenomena, Oxford
University Press, New York, 1998
[7] L. J. Love, J. F. Jansen, T. E. Mcknight, Y. Roh, and T.
J. Phelps. A magnetocaloric pump for microfluidic applications,
IEEE transactions on nanobioscience, vol 3, n 2, 2004.
[8] R. W. Chantrell, J. Popplewell and S.W Charles.
Measurements of Particle Size Distribution Parameters in
Ferrofluids. IEEE transactions on magnetics, Vol. MAG-14 No.
5, 1978

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