Magnetocaloric Refrigerant
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides the use of a material of general formula (I):
[(AyCo1-y)]u(Mn1-zCz)[(Si1-xBx)]v (I)
as a magnetocaloric material, wherein the material is orthorhombic and wherein:
- A is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof;
- B is selected from Ge, Sn, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof;
- C is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof;
- x, y and z are the same or different and are numbers in the range 0 to 0.2; and
- u and v are the same or different and are numbers in the range 0.5 to 1.5. The invention also provides a method of making materials of formula (I) and a magnetocaloric refrigeration device comprising such materials.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. A process for preparing a material of general formula (I) comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing Co, Mn, Si, and optionally A, B and C, in amounts sufficient to produce a material of formula (I);
[AyCO1-y)]u(Mn1-zCz[Si1-xBx)]y
(I)wherein; A is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; B is selected from Ge, Sn, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; C is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; x, y and z are the same or different and are numbers in the range 0 to 0.2; and u and v are the same or different and are numbers in the range 0.5 to 1.5; (b) co-melting the metals provided in step (a) under an inert atmosphere; (c) cooling the mixture of molten metals; (d) annealing the material at a temperature of from 825 to 975°
C.;(e) slowly cooling the material from step (d) to 825°
C. or below; and(f) optionally, if the material from step (e) is above room temperature, further cooling the material to room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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15. (canceled)
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21. A material of general formula (I):
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[(AyCo1-y)]u(Mn1-zCz)[(Si1-xBx)]v
(I)wherein the material is orthorhombic and wherein; A is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; B is selected from Ge, Sn, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; C is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; x, y and z are the same or different and are numbers in the range of from 0 to 0.2 with the proviso that at least one of x, y and z is greater than zero; and u and v are the same or different and are numbers in the range of from 0.5 to 1.5. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of providing a heating or refrigerating effect to a heat load which comprises:
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(i) providing a magnetocaloric material of formula (I);
[(AyCo1-y)]u(Mn1-zCz)[(Si1-xBx)]v
(I)as a magnetocaloric material, wherein the material is orthorhombic and wherein; A is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; B is selected from Ge, Sn, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; C is selected from Ni, Cr, Fe, Al, P, Se, Ga and Sb and mixtures thereof; x, y and z are the same or different and are numbers in the range of from 0 to 0.2; and u and v are the same or different and are numbers in the range of from 0.5 to 1.5; (ii) applying to said magnetocaloric material a magnetic field in order to cause said magnetocaloric material to increase or reduce in temperature; and (iii) allowing heat to transfer either (i) from the magnetocaloric material to the heat load where the temperature of the magnetocaloric material is increased, or (ii) from the heat load to said magnetocaloric material where the temperature of the magnetocaloric material is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification