Conversion de la chaleur fatale de bas niveau en énergie électrique par effet magnétocalorique

The main objective of my thesis is the design and development of a device suitable to recover, and scavenge, low grade heat to produce electrical energy and thus supply small autonomous systems (μW to mW). The developed generator converts energy in three steps. First of all, thermal energy is converted into magnetic energy through a thermodynamic cycle operated by a magnetocaloric material. This first conversion is closely linked to the second, conversion of magnetic energy into mechanical energy, because the displacement of the magnetocaloric material also controls the applied field and the heat exchanges with the reservoirs. It is the interweaving of these two cycles, thermodynamic and dynamic, which allows the system to self-oscillate. The mechanical energy of the pseudo-oscillating system is converted into electrical energy via piezoelectric elements. My experimental, theoretical and numerical works aimed to maximize the electrical energy recovered while ensuring the self-oscillation of the structure. All devices developed are able to self-oscillate for temperature difference of 35 °C while producing electrical energy. Our most efficient prototype has an energy of 10.6 μJ per cycle for a frequency of 0.41 Hz, i.e. a power of 4.2 μW (240 μW/cm3). This work, especially, focuses on the cycles associated with energy conversion.