Power Losses in $LaFe_{x}Co_{y}Si_{1.1}$ Intermetallics near the Magnetic Phase Transition

The paper presents magnetic parameters of $LaFe_{x}Co_{y}Si_{1.1}$ bulk specimens proving strong magnetocaloric effect. The main research work was oriented on measurements of the alloy's power losses according to IEC 60404 standards and validated with unbalanced bridge method and other methods. The measurements of the $LaFe_{10.8}Co_{1.1}Si_{1.1}$ specimens were determined in the range of temperatures near the Curie temperature where the magnetocaloric effect is the strongest. Power losses were taken into account mainly for the evaluation of usefulness and efficiency in the magnetic refrigeration applications. The results of presented measurements testify that the most suitable range of temperature and the best operational conditions are very close to the point of magnetic phase transition and slightly above it. It indicates that the magnetic state between the $T_{ \Delta S max}$ and $T_{c}$ is more effective for the magnetic refrigeration applications due to lower power losses and high level of the isothermal changes of entropy. Operating temperature below the $T_{ \Delta S max}$ in ferromagnetic state is improper because of the increasing power losses which achieve the level of 130 mJ/kg for main frequency and decrease to 20 mJ/kg for the value of 0.1 Hz