Method for forming a bed of stabilized magneto-caloric material

A method for forming a stabilized bed of magneto-caloric material, comprising:

• coating a plurality of magneto-caloric particles with a binder;
• applying a magnetic field to the plurality of magneto-caloric particles such that the magneto-caloric particles align into chains within a casing;
• and
• activating the binder on the plurality of magneto-caloric particles while the magnetic field is applied to the magneto-caloric particles such that the chains of magneto-caloric particles are coupled together with the binder, the chains of magneto-caloric particles fixed relative to one another with the binder after activating the binder;
• wherein each chain of magneto-caloric particles is spaced apart from an adjacent chain of magneto-caloric particles by a respective gap within the casing, each gap being no less than fifty microns and no greater than four hundred microns, and
• wherein each gap is unfilled between the chains of magneto-caloric particles such that each gap forms a channel for fluid flow and a heat transfer fluid is flowable through each gap between the chains of magneto-caloric particles within the casing.