MAGNETIC REFRIGERATING DEVICE AND MAGNETIC REFRIGERATING SYSTEM

• US 20120031108A1
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Tadahiko, Saito, Akiko, Kaji, Shiori
• Granted Patent: US 8,935,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/00 Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/002 by using magneto-caloric effects
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0022 with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

The magnetic refrigerating device according to one embodiment includes a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container that is filled with a magnetic material and that can move in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at the end of the magnetic material container. The magnetic refrigerating device also includes a magnetic-field applying/removing mechanism that is provided at the outside of the fixed container, and that can apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and can generate a magnetic torque to the magnetic material container in moving direction of the magnetic material container.

Claims

1. A magnetic refrigerating device comprising:

a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container being filled with a magnetic material and being capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container; and

a magnetic field applying/removing mechanism being provided at outside of the fixed container, the mechanism configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in a moving direction of the magnetic material container.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism has a permanent magnet configured to move in the moving direction.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the permanent magnet rotates about a rotation axis provided at the outside of the fixed container so that the permanent magnet becomes close to the fixed container and becomes away from the fixed container alternatively.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a magnetic member is provided at an end of the magnetic material container.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed container and the magnetic material container are made of a non-magnetic material.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a high-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to one end of the fixed container; and

a low-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to the other end of the fixed container.

8. A magnetic refrigerating device comprising:

plural fixed containers filled with a refrigerant being annularly arranged in series, each container including a magnetic material container being filled with a magnetic material and being capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container;

a magnetic field applying/removing mechanism being provided at outside of the fixed containers, the mechanism configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in a moving direction of the magnetic material container;

a high-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to a first fixed container at one terminal of annularly arranged fixed containers; and

a low-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to a second fixed container at the other terminal of the annularly arranged fixed containers, wherein

magnetic transition temperature of the magnetic material in the first fixed container is higher than the magnetic transition temperature of the magnetic material in the second fixed container.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism has a permanent magnet configured to move in the moving direction.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the permanent magnet rotates about a rotation axis provided at the outside of the fixed containers so that the permanent magnet becomes close to the fixed containers and becomes away from the fixed containers alternatively.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein a magnetic member is provided at an end of the magnetic material container.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the fixed containers and the magnetic material container are made of a non-magnetic material.

14. A magnetic refrigerating system comprising:

a magnetic refrigerating device including;

plural fixed containers filled with a refrigerant being annularly arranged in series, each container including a magnetic material container being filled with a magnetic material and being capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container;

a magnetic field applying/removing mechanism being provided at outside of the fixed containers, the mechanism configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in a moving direction of the magnetic material container;

a high-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to a first fixed container at one terminal of annularly arranged fixed containers; and

a low-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to a second fixed container at the other terminal of the annularly arranged fixed containers, wherein magnetic transition temperature of the magnetic material in the first fixed container is higher than the magnetic transition temperature of the magnetic material in the second fixed container;

an exhaust heat unit thermally connected to the high-temperature-side heat exchange unit; and

a cooling unit thermally connected to the low-temperature-side heat exchange unit.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the mechanism has a permanent magnet configured to move in the moving direction.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the permanent magnet rotates about a rotation axis provided at the outside of the fixed containers so that the permanent magnet becomes close to the fixed containers and becomes away from the fixed containers alternatively.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein a magnetic member is provided at an end of the magnetic material container.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the fixed containers and the magnetic material container are made of a non-magnetic material.