Room-temperature magnetic refrigeration has broad application prospects as a high-energy efficient

environmentally friendly

and reliable refrigeration technology. In the past decades

research concerning room-temperature magnetic refrigeration has primarily focused on developing magnetic refrigerants and designing magnetic refrigerators. This paper summarizes several typical room-temperature magnetic refrigerants and magnetic refrigerators that have been investigated and developed. Room-temperature magnetic refrigerants currently being investigated primarily include rare earth metal Gd and its alloys

NaZn-13-type La(Fe

Si)13 series alloys

and Fe2P-type MnFePA series alloys. Their magnetocaloric performances are compared and existing application problems are presented. The existing magnetic refrigerators are primarily classified into reciprocating and rotary magnetic refrigerators based on their operation mode. The operating parameters and refrigeration performance of magnetic refrigerators developed by different research institutions are introduced. In addition

the practical applications of room-temperature magnetic refrigeration technology in different fields are reviewed

and the development trend and perspective of this technology is discussed.