A　new　way　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　active　magnetocaloric　regenerator　(AMR)　was　developed　based　on　a　few　critical　parameters　proposed　in　this　study.　The　critical　parameters　were　derived　from　the　energy　equations　that　have　been　used　to　describe　the　transient　energy　transfer　processes　in　the　AMR　for　both　the　magnetocaloric　materials　and　the　heat　transfer　fluid.　Each　parameter　is　corresponding　to　a　specific　energy　transfer　mechanism　in　the　AMR　and　can　be　easily　implemented　to　evaluate　the　contribution　from　each　term,　including　axial　conduction　and　remnant　energy　storage　in　the　magnetocaloric　materials,　axial　conduction,　remnant　energy　storage　and　fluid　dissipation　in　the　heat　transfer　fluid,　and　internally　regenerated　energy.　Parametric　studies　were　carried　out　to　explore　the　impact　of　geometric　and　operating　parameters　and　to　determine　whether　or　not　a　certain　heat　transfer　mechanism　is　significant　to　the　overall　system　performance.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Ltd　and　IIR.　All　rights　reserved.