Abstract:
A refrigerator appliance includes a cold side heat exchanger positioned within a cabinet such that a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber are chillable with air from the cold side heat exchanger. A regenerator housing is connected to the cold side heat exchanger such that working fluid is flowable from the regenerator housing to the cold side heat exchanger. The working fluid is flowable through a caloric material within the regenerator housing. The refrigerator appliance also includes features for drawing the working fluid from the regenerator housing at a plurality of locations along the length of the caloric material.
Abstract:
A magnetic cooling apparatus including a plurality of magnetic regenerators including a plurality of magnetocaloric materials to emit heat when magnetized and to absorb heat when demagnetized. The magnetic regenerators are rotatably disposed on a circumference having a predetermined radius, at least one coil is disposed on the circumference and coupled to the magnetic regenerators, and a plurality of permanent magnets is provided inside and outside the circumference to generate a magnetic field to magnetize or demagnetize the magnetic regenerators. The at least one coil interacts with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets to rotate the magnetic regenerators. The coil interacting with the magnetic field to magnetize or demagnetize the magnetic regenerators is coupled to the magnetic regenerators such that the magnetic regenerators reciprocate or rotate, thereby minimizing a size of the magnetic cooling apparatus, relative to the use of a motor. In addition, a member to switch a channel of a heat transfer fluid directly performs heat transfer between the heat transfer fluid and an external fluid, thereby minimizing heat loss.
Abstract:
Cryogenic cooling apparatus is disclosed for cooling a target region using the demagnetization cooling effect. The apparatus has a primary magnet for providing a magnetic field within the target region and a demagnetization magnet arranged to selectively provide conductive cooling to the target region. A primary shielding magnet substantially cancels the magnetic field from the primary magnet at least at a first position between the primary and demagnetization magnets. A demagnetization shielding magnet substantially cancels the magnetic field from the demagnetization magnet at least at the first position between the primary and demagnetization magnets. Each of the primary shielding magnet and demagnetization shielding magnet comprises a cylindrical superconducting coil having a geometric envelope which encloses the primary magnet and demagnetization magnet respectively. A conductive cooling assembly provides conductive cooling to each of the magnets. A cryogenic system including a cryostat, the apparatus and a refrigeration system is also provided.
Abstract:
A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.
Abstract:
A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.
Abstract:
A caloric heat pump system includes a plurality of stages, a plurality of conduits and a plurality of flow restrictors. Each stage includes a caloric material disposed within a respective chamber of a plurality of chambers. Each conduit is coupled to a regenerator housing at a respective one of the plurality of chambers. Each flow restrictor is coupled to the regenerator housing or a respective one of the plurality of conduits. A related method for regulating fluid flow through a plurality of stages of a caloric heat pump is also provided.
Abstract:
A heat pump system is provided that uses MCM to provide for heating or cooling. The heat pump is constructed from a continuously rotating regenerator where MCM is cycled in and out of a magnetic field in a continuous manner. A heat transfer fluid is circulated therethrough to provide for heat transfer in a cyclic manner. The MCM may include stages having different Curie temperature ranges. A field of varying magnetic flux may be used. The rotating regenerator can be equipped with one or more gaskets to improve fluid seals between the rotating regenerator and stationary parts. An appliance using such a heat pump system is also provided. The heat pump may also be used in other applications for heating, cooling, or both.
Abstract:
A method for forming a stabilized bed of magneto-caloric material is provided. The method includes aligning magneto-caloric particles within the casing while a magnetic field is applied to the magneto-caloric particles and then fixing positions of the magneto-caloric particles within the casing. A related stabilized bed of magneto-caloric material is also provided.
Abstract:
A parallel magnetic refrigerator assembly, includes at least two magnetocaloric stages arranged in parallel connection, each having in use a cold side and a hot side; each magnetocaloric stage including hot and cold side heat exchange circuit for carrying a heat exchange fluid to respectively receive and transfer heat from the magnetocaloric stages; wherein the hot and cold side heat exchange circuit are configured such that in use a heat exchange fluid passes in thermal contact with the respective hot and cold sides of both magnetocaloric stages. The magnetocaloric stages have substantially the same temperature spans but different cold end and hot end temperatures. In this way the device temperature span may be substantially larger than the individual temperature span of each magnetocaloric stage.
Abstract:
A magnetocaloric regenerator unit comprising (A) at least one magnetocaloric material unit having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side during operation, wherein the magnetocaloric material unit contains at least one magnetocaloric material, (B) at least one magnetic unit for producing a magnetic field over the magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetocaloric material unit, (C) at least one magnetic shielding comprising at least one window wherein the at least one magnetic shielding is mounted flexible to allow movement of the magnetic shielding between at least one first position and at least one second position thereby insulating the magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetocaloric material unit from the magnetic field when the magnetic shielding is in a first position and allowing the magnetic field to act on the magnetocaloric material through the at least one window when the magnetic shielding is in a second position.