MAGNETIC COOLING APPARATUS

• US 20150007582A1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuk, Keon, Kim, Min Soo, KIM, Jin Han, Mun, II Ju, Choi, Woo Hyek, Ko, Young Dae
• Granted Patent: US 9,964,344 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 2321/0021 with a static fixed magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0023 with modulation, influencing or enhancing an existing magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

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.

Claims

1. A magnetic cooling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of magnetic regenerators comprising a plurality of magnetocaloric materials to emit heat when magnetized and to absorb heat when demagnetized, the magnetic regenerators being rotatably disposed on a circumference having a predetermined radius;

at least one coil disposed on the circumference and coupled to the magnetic regenerators; and

a plurality of permanent magnets provided inside and outside the circumference to generate a magnetic field to magnetize or demagnetize the magnetic regenerators, wherein

the at least one coil interacts with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets to rotate the magnetic regenerators.

2. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coil generates a magnetic field having an opposite direction to the magnetic field of the permanent magnets.

3. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coil generates a magnetic field having a same direction as the magnetic field of the permanent magnets.

4. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one first channel switching valve coupled to one ends of the magnetic regenerators in an axial direction of the circumference to guide a heat transfer material discharged from a demagnetized one of the plurality of magnetic regenerators to a magnetized one of the plurality of magnetic regenerators;

a heat exchanger in which the heat transfer material absorbs heat energy from the one of the plurality of magnetized magnetic regenerators; and

at least one second channel switching valve coupled to other ends of the magnetic regenerators in the axial direction of the circumference to guide the heat transfer material discharged from the one of the plurality of magnetized magnetic regenerators to the heat exchanger and to guide the heat transfer material discharged from the heat exchanger to the one of the plurality of demagnetized magnetic regenerators.

5. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first channel switching valve comprises a rotary unit having a first channel connected to the one of the plurality of magnetized magnetic regenerators and a second channel connected to the one of the plurality of demagnetized magnetic regenerators, the rotary unit rotating together with the magnetic regenerators, and a fixed unit having a connection channel connected between the first channel and the second channel, the fixed unit rotatably supporting the rotary unit.

6. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heat transfer material having transferred heat energy to the one of the plurality of demagnetized magnetic regenerators absorbs heat energy from the fixed unit.

7. A magnetic cooling apparatus comprising:

a magnetic field generation member to generate a magnetic field;

a magnetic regeneration member having a plurality of magnetic regenerators to emit heat energy when magnetized by the magnetic field and to absorb heat energy when demagnetized and at least one coil to move the magnetic regenerators using interaction with the magnetic field; and

a channel switching member to guide a heat transfer material having passed through a demagnetized one of the plurality of magnetic regenerators to a magnetized one of the plurality of magnetic regenerators.

8. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least one coil that generates a magnetic field having an opposite direction to the magnetic field of the magnetic field generation member.

9. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one coil generates a magnetic field having a same direction as the magnetic field of the magnetic field generation member.

10. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one coil does not generate a magnetic field.

11. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic regenerators are disposed on a same plane and the at least one coil is disposed outside the magnetic regenerators.

12. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic regeneration member generates the magnetic field perpendicular to the plane.

13. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the magnetic regeneration member reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation member.

14. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic regenerators are disposed on a circumference having a predetermined radius and the at least one coil is disposed between the magnetic regenerators.

15. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic field generation member generates the magnetic field in a radial direction.

16. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the magnetic regeneration member rotates in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation member.

17. A magnetic cooling apparatus comprising:

a magnetic field generation member to generate a magnetic field;

a magnetic regeneration member having a magnetic regenerator to emit heat energy when entering the magnetic field and to absorb heat energy when leaving the magnetic field, and at least one coil to move the magnetic regenerator using interaction with the magnetic field;

a position detection unit to detect a position of the magnetic regeneration member;

a driving unit to supply driving current to generate a variable magnetic field to the at least one coil; and

a controller to control the driving unit such that the magnetic regenerator enters or leaves the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation member based on a detected result of the position detection unit.

18. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller supplies driving current to cause the at least one coil to generate a magnetic field having an opposite direction to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation member.

19. The magnetic cooling apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, when the magnetic regeneration member moves a predetermined distance, the controller supplies driving current to cause the at least one coil to generate a magnetic field having the same direction as the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation member.