Reciprocating magnetic refrigerator employing tandem porous matrices within a reciprocating displacer
First Claim
1. A method of operating a magnetic refrigerator having an object to be cooled at one temperature extreme in heat transfer relationship to a fluid medium, a heat sink adapted for heat transfer with a fluid medium at a second and higher temperature extreme, and a magnetic coil for producing a localized magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of:
- coaxially aligning at least a pair of spaced paramagnetic substances on a movable displacer;
warming one of the paramagnetic substances by placing it in a constantly energized magnetic field while cooling the other paramagnetic substance to a lower temperature than the first by locating it outside the localized magnetic field; and
simultaneously flowing two separate fluid medium streams through both of the paramagnetic substances for achieving a heat exchange at both of said temperature extremes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a magnetic refrigeration system. A continuously reciprocating displacer houses at least a pair of paramagnetic substances each of which is alternately driven into and out of a magnetic field. Two separate bidirectional pumping systems flow helium gas through the displacer and through both paramagnetic substances to create heat exchange conditions at two separate temperature extremes.
91 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a magnetic refrigerator having an object to be cooled at one temperature extreme in heat transfer relationship to a fluid medium, a heat sink adapted for heat transfer with a fluid medium at a second and higher temperature extreme, and a magnetic coil for producing a localized magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of:
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coaxially aligning at least a pair of spaced paramagnetic substances on a movable displacer; warming one of the paramagnetic substances by placing it in a constantly energized magnetic field while cooling the other paramagnetic substance to a lower temperature than the first by locating it outside the localized magnetic field; and simultaneously flowing two separate fluid medium streams through both of the paramagnetic substances for achieving a heat exchange at both of said temperature extremes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
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6. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the paramagnetic substance is a material that is porous to a gas flow, and the medium fluid is helium gas, said method further including the steps of:
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slidably encasing the displacer in a closed cylinder having a series of ports located therein; completing a first helium gas flow loop through ports in the cylinder that are located at opposite ends of the cylinder; displacing the displacer so that at least one of the pair of paramagnetic material is outside the magnetic field and in said first helium gas flow loop; and flowing the helium gas in said first loop through an empty area within the cylinder which is outside of the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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10. A magnetic refrigerator having an object to be cooled at one temperature extreme in heat transfer relationship to a fluid medium, a heat sink adapted for heat transfer with a fluid medium at a second and higher temperature extreme, and a closed cylinder having communication ports for establishing fluid medium flow paths, said refrigerator comprising:
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at least a pair of spaced porous paramagnetic substances coaxially aligned on a slidably displaceable displacer located within said closed cylinder; a magnetic coil surrounding the center portion of said cylinder for producing a constantly-energized localized magnetic field; means sliding the displacer into the magnetic field for warming one of the paramagnetic substances, while simultaneously cooling the other paramagnetic substance to a lower temperature than the first by locating it outside the magnetic field; and means simultaneously pumping two separate fluid medium streams through both of the porous paramagnetic materials for creating a heat exchange condition at both of said temperature extremes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification