MAGNETICALLY REFRIGERATING MAGNETIC MATERIAL, MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION APPARATUS, AND MAGNETIC REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• US 20100058775A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Materials Company Limited (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Akiko, Kobayashi, Tadahiko, Kaji, Shiori
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.100
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/00 Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0022 with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/015 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

There are provided a magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration improving a magnetic refrigeration efficiency by including a wide operation temperature range and a magnetic refrigeration apparatus and a magnetic refrigeration system using the magnetic material. The magnetically refrigerating magnetic material is formed of a magnetic material shown by a composition formula of Gd_100-x-yZr_xY_y, wherein 0<x<3.4 as well as 0≦y≦13.5, and the magnetic refrigeration apparatus and the magnetic refrigeration system uses the magnetic material.

It is preferable that the magnetic material be approximately spherical magnetic particles having a maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less.

Claims

1. A magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration comprising a magnetic material shown by a composition formula of Gd_100-x-yZr_xY_y, wherein 0<

x<

3.4 and 0≦

y≦

13.5.

2. The material according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is a number of substantially spherical magnetic particles having a maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less.

3. A magnetic refrigeration apparatus comprising:

an AMR bed filled with a magnetic material;

a magnetic field generation device configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material;

a low temperature side heat exchanging unit configured to receive coldness from the AMR bed;

a high temperature side heat exchanging unit configured to receive heat from the AMR bed; and

a heat transfer fluid path formed by connecting the AMR bed, the low temperature side heat exchanging unit, and the high temperature side heat exchanging unit for circulating a heat transfer fluid,

wherein at least a part of the magnetic material is formed of a magnetic material shown by a composition formula of Gd_100-x-yZr_xY_y, wherein 0<

x <

3.4 and 0≦

y≦

13.5.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic material is a number of substantially spherical magnetic particles having a maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the AMR bed is filled with the magnetic material and a magnetic material having the other composition in a layered state.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the magnetic material and the magnetic material having the other composition are a number of substantially spherical magnetic particles having a maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the AMR bed is filled with the magnetic material and a magnetic material having the other composition after they are mixed with each other.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic material and the magnetic material having the other composition are a number of substantially spherical magnetic particles having a maximum diameter of 0.3 mm or more to 2 mm or less.

9. A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:

a magnetic refrigeration apparatus having an AMR bed filled with a magnetic material, magnetic field generation device configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material, a low temperature side heat exchanging unit, a high temperature side heat exchanging unit, and a heat transfer fluid path formed by connecting the AMR bed, the low temperature side heat exchanging unit, and the high temperature side heat exchanging unit for circulating a heat transfer fluid, wherein at least a part of the magnetic material is formed of a magnetic material shown by a composition formula of Gd_100-x-yZr_xY_y, wherein 0<

x<

3.4 and 0≦

y≦

13.5;

a cooling unit thermally connected to the low temperature side heat exchanging unit; and

a heat discharge unit thermally connected to the high temperature side heat exchanging unit.