Active magnetic regenerator method and apparatus

• US 5,249,424 A
• Filed: 06/05/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Astronautics Corporation of America
• Original Assignee: Astronautics Corporation of America
• Inventors: Jastrab, Alexander G., Janda, Dennis J., Lubasz, Richard A., Ludeman, Evan M., Zimm, Carl B., DeGregoria, Anthony J., Johnson, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US07/894,777
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 62/3.1, 62/467
• 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 2321/0022 with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/001 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0221 using the cold stored in an external cryogenic component in an open refrigeration loop
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0227 within a refrigeration cascade
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0259 Modularity and arrangement of parts of the liquefaction unit and in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2210/42 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2270/908 by regenerative chillers, i.e. oscillating or dynamic systems, e.g. Stirling refrigerator, thermoelectric ("Peltier") or magnetic refrigeration
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/012 adapted for magnetic entropy change by magnetocaloric effect, e.g. used as magnetic refrigerating material refrigeration systems using magnetic effects F25B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

In an active magnetic regenerator apparatus having a regenerator bed of material exhibiting the magnetocaloric effect, flow of heat transfer fluid through the bed is unbalanced, so that more fluid flows through the bed from the hot side of the bed to the cold side than from the cold side to the hot side. The excess heat transfer fluid is diverted back to the hot side of the bed. The diverted fluid may be passed through a heat exchanger to draw heat from a fluid to be cooled. The apparatus may be operated at cryogenic temperatures, and the heat transfer fluid may be helium gas and the fluid to be cooled may be hydrogen gas, which is liquified by the device. The apparatus can be formed in multiple stages to allow a greater span of cooling temperatures than a single stage, and each stage may be comprised of two bed parts. Where two bed parts are employed in each stage, a portion of the fluid passing from the hot side to the cold side of a first bed part which does not have a magnetic field applied thereto is diverted back to the cold side of the other bed part in the stage, where it is passed through to the hot side. The remainder of the fluid from the cold side of the bed part of the first stage is passed to the hot side of the bed part of the second stage.

Claims

1. Active magnetic regenerator apparatus comprising:

(a) a porous regenerator bed of material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect, the bed having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side;

(b) heat transfer fluid which can pass through the bed between the hot and cold sides to effect heat transfer with the material of the bed;

(c) a magnet producing a magnetic field;

(d) means for causing the magnetic field of the magnet to be applied alternately to the bed and removed from the bed;

(e) transfer means for providing a path for the fluid to and from the regenerator bed and for driving a first volume of the fluid through the bed from the hot side to the cold side when the magnetic field is removed from the bed and for driving a second volume of the same fluid through the bed from the cold side to the hot side when the magnetic field is applied to the bed, wherein the first volume is greater than the second volume, and for providing a path from the cold side to the hot side for diverting a portion of the first volume of fluid so that it flows back to the hot side of the bed without passing through the bed from the cold side to the hot side.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a heat exchanger in the path from the cold side to the hot side through which the fluid is diverted, the heat exchanger also having a path therethrough for passage of fluid to be cooled, such that the diverted heat transfer fluid passed through the heat exchanger receives heat from the fluid to be cooled as it passes back to the hot side of the bed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas and the fluid to be cooled is hydrogen gas.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the regenerator bed is formed of two parts, each bed part having a hot side and a cold side, wherein the transfer means establishes a path to and from the hot side and the cold side of each bed part and transfers the first volume of heat transfer fluid to a first of the bed parts from the hot side to the cold side and transfers the second volume through the second bed part from the cold side to the hot side thereof, the second bed part having the magnetic field from the magnet applied thereto and the first bed part having the magnetic field removed therefrom.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for causing the magnetic field to be applied alternately to the bed and removed from the bed alternately applies the magnetic field to the first bed and then to the second bed in repeated cycles, and wherein the transfer means reverses the flow of the first and second volumes of fluid through the first and second bed parts when the magnetic field is applied to the first bed part and removed from the second bed part.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second bed parts, the magnet, and the means for causing the magnetic field to be applied alternately to the bed and removed from the bed comprise a first stage, and including a second stage having first and second bed parts, a magnet and means for causing the magnetic field to be applied alternatively to the bed parts and removed from the bed parts as in the first stage, and wherein the transfer means establishes a path for heat transfer fluid from the cold side of each of the bed parts of the first stage to the hot side of a corresponding one of the bed parts of the second stage and wherein a path is established between the cold side of each of the bed parts of the first stage to divert a portion of the first volume of fluid passing from the hot side to the cold side of a bed part to the cold side of the other bed part of the first stage to pass therethrough to the hot side thereof, and for establishing a path between the cold sides of each of the bed parts of the second stage to allow flow therebetween and for establishing a path from the cold sides of each of the bed parts of the second stage back to the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage for a portion of the fluid passing from the cold side of a bed part of the second stage.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including a heat exchanger in the path from the cold sides of the bed parts of the second stage to the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage, the heat exchanger also passing a fluid therethrough which is to be cooled such that the heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger receives heat from the fluid to be cooled as it passes back to the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas and the fluid to be cooled is hydrogen gas.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts of the first stage is selected from the group consisting of GdNi₂, GdNi, and a mixture of the two with cobalt substituted for a portion of the nickel, and wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts of the second stage is selected from the group consisting of GdPd and Er₀.8 La₀.2.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transfer means includes a pump having an input and an output, wherein a path is established from the hot side of the bed parts to the input of the pump and a path is established for the fluid diverted from the cold side of the bed parts to the input of the pump, wherein the path from the hot side of the bed parts to the input of the pump directs fluid to the input of the pump from a bed part only when the magnetic field is applied to the bed part, wherein a path is established from the output of the pump selectively to the hot sides of the bed parts to provide heat transfer fluid to a bed part when the magnetic field is not applied to the bed part.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a heat exchanger in the path of the fluid diverted from the cold side of the bed parts to the input of the pump, the heat exchanger also receiving a fluid to be cooled therethrough such that the heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger receives heat from the fluid to be cooled.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas and the fluid to be cooled is hydrogen.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 including an additional heat exchanger in the path established from the output of the pump to the hot sides of the bed parts, the additional heat exchanger operable to remove heat from the heat transfer fluid which is supplied to the hot sides of the bed parts.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the additional heat exchanger is cooled by a bath of liquid nitrogen to remove the heat from the heat transfer fluid.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transfer means includes two three-position valves, a first valve in the path from the hot side of the bed parts to the input of the pump and also in communication with the path from the output of the pump, the first valve switchable between a first position in which fluid from the hot side of one of the bed parts is provided to the input of the pump, a second position in which fluid from the output of the pump is provided to the hot side of the bed part, and a third position in which the fluid from the output of the pump is supplied back to the input of the pump and no fluid is supplied to or from the hot side of the bed part, and the second valve in the path between the hot side of the other bed part and the input of the pump and also in communication with the path from the output of the pump, the second valve switchable between a first position in which the output of the pump is provided to the hot side of the bed part, a second position in which fluid from the hot side of the bed part is provided to the input of the pump, and a third position in which the fluid from the output of the pump is supplied to the input of the pump and no fluid flows to or from the hot sides of the bed parts.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first and second bed parts, the magnet, and the means for causing the magnetic field of the magnet to be applied alternately to the bed parts and removed from the bed parts comprises a first stage, and including a second stage of the same components, the transfer means establishing a fluid flow path from the cold sides of the two bed parts of the first stage to the hot sides of the two bed parts of the second stage, a fluid flow path between the cold sides of the two bed parts of the first stage to divert a portion of the fluid passing out of the cold side of one bed part of the first stage to the cold side of the second bed part of the first stage, and a fluid flow path between the cold sides of the two bed parts of the second stage, and for providing a fluid flow path for diverting a portion of the fluid flowing from the cold side of either of the two bed parts of the second stage back to the input of the pump.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 including a heat exchanger in the path of the fluid diverted from the cold sides of the bed parts of the second stage to the input of the pump, the heat exchanger also receiving a gas to be cooled therethrough such that heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger receives heat from the gas to be cooled.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the regenerator bed is fixed in position and the magnet is mounted for reciprocating motion toward and away from the bed, and the means for causing the magnetic field to be applied alternately to the bed drives the magnet in cyclical reciprocating motion toward and away from the bed.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bed is formed of a plurality of bed units mounted in a rim of a wheel mounted for rotation about an axis, wherein the magnet is mounted about the wheel to apply the magnetic field to a portion of the wheel, and the means for causing the magnetic field to alternately be applied to the bed drives the wheel in continuous rotation, and wherein the transfer means includes a manifold for distributing the heat transfer fluid to a portion of the wheel outside the magnetic field to pass therethrough from the hot side to the cold side of the regenerator bed units, and for distributing heat transfer fluid to a portion of the wheel in the magnetic field to pass fluid from the cold side to the hot side of the regenerator bed units which are in the magnetic field as the wheel rotates.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the wheel includes radial channels therein for providing a path for the heat transfer fluid from openings adjacent to the axis of the wheel out to the rim of the wheel to the bed units, and wherein the manifold has sliding seals which are in sliding contact with the wheel at positions adjacent to the axis of the wheel to direct heat transfer fluid to and receive heat transfer fluid from the openings to the channels in the wheel as the wheel rotates.

21. Active magnetic regenerator apparatus comprising:

(a) first and second stage regenerator beds, the bed of each stage composed of two parts, each bed part formed of material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect and is porous to allow the flow of heat transfer fluid therethrough, each bed part having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side;

(b) two superconducting solenoidal magnets having internal bores such that the magnets can surround 14 the bed parts of the first and second stages and selectively apply a magnetic field thereto;

(c) means for mounting the magnets with respect to the regenerator beds of the first and second stage such that the bed parts and the magnet can be moved relative to one another from a position in which a first magnet is over the first bed part of the first stage to a position in which it is over the second bed part of the first stage, and for moving the second magnet and the second stage beds relative to one another from a position in which the magnet is over a first bed part of the second stage to a position wherein the magnet is over the second bed part of the second stage;

(d) drive means for selectively driving the magnets and the bed parts relative to one another between a first position in which each magnet is over a first bed part of the first and second stages and a second position in which each magnet is over a second bed part of the first and second stages;

(e) lines establishing a path for heat transfer fluid from the cold side of the first bed part of the first stage to the hot side of the first bed part of the second stage, from the hot side of the second bed part of the second stage to the cold side of the second bed part of the first stage, from the cold side of the first bed part of the first stage to the cold side of the second bed part of the first stage, and from the cold side of the first bed part of the second stage to the cold side of the second bed part of the second stage;

(f) a heat exchanger having a path therethrough for heat transfer fluid and a path for fluid to be cooled such that heat can be transferred from the fluid to be cooled to the heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger;

(g) a pump for heat transfer fluid having an input and an output;

(h) lines establishing a path for heat transfer fluid from the cold side of the first and second bed parts of the second stage through the heat exchanger to the input of the pump, from the hot sides of the first and second bed parts of the first stage to the input of the pump, and from the output of the pump to the hot sides of the first and second bed parts of the first stage, and switching valves in the lines between the hot sides of the first and second bed parts of the first stage and the input and the output of the pump, the switching valves switchable to a position in which heat transfer fluid is supplied from the hot side of the first bed part of the first stage to the input of the pump and from the output of the pump to the hot side of the second bed part of the first stage, and the valves switchable to a second position in which heat transfer fluid is supplied through the lines from the hot side of the second bed part of the first stage to the input of the pump and the output of the pump is supplied through the lines to the hot side of the first bed part of the first stage, the switching of the valves coordinated with the position of the magnets with respect to the bed parts so that heat transfer fluid is supplied from the first bed part or the second bed part of the first stage to the input of the pump depending on which bed part has a magnet applying a magnetic field to it.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the switching valves are switchable to a third position in which there is no flow of heat transfer fluid from the bed parts of the first stage or from the output of the pump to the bed parts of the first stage, and wherein the heat transfer fluid flows through the lines through the switching valves from the output of the pump back to the input of the pump during the times that the magnets and heat transfer beds are moving relative to one another and the magnets are not applying a magnetic field to one or the other of the bed parts.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 including a frame, the first and second stage bed parts mounted to the frame, and wherein the means for mounting includes carriages supported for reciprocating motion on the frame and supporting the magnets to reciprocate between positions in which the magnets are over a first bed part of each of the first and second stages to a position wherein the magnets are over a second bed part of each of the first and second stages, and further including drive means operably connected to the carriages to drive the carriages and the magnets mounted thereon selectively in reciprocating motion.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas and the fluid to be cooled is hydrogen gas.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts of the first stage is selected from the group consisting of GdNi₂, GdNi, and a mixture of the two with cobalt substituted for a portion of the nickel, and wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts of the second stage is selected from the group consisting of GdPd and Er₀.8 La₀.2.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 including an additional heat exchanger in the lines establishing the path from the output of the pump to the hot sides of the first stage bed parts, the additional heat exchanger operable to remove heat from the heat transfer fluid which is supplied to the hot sides of the bed parts.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the additional heat exchanger is cooled by liquid nitrogen to remove the heat from the heat transfer fluid.

28. Active magnetic regenerator apparatus comprising:

(a) a wheel mounted for rotation about an axis and having a rim;

(b) a plurality of porous regenerator bed units formed of material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect, each bed unit having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side, the bed units mounted in the rim of the wheel to allow axial flow of heat transfer fluid therethrough;

(c) radial channels formed in the wheel to provide a path for heat transfer fluid from openings near the axis of rotation of the wheel to the hot side of each of the bed units and from the cold side of each of the bed units to openings in the wheel near the axis;

(d) a magnet mounted to apply a magnetic field to a portion of the regenerator bed units on the rim of the wheel so that the bed units have the magnetic field applied thereto as the wheel rotates to bring the bed units into the magnetic field of the magnet, and such that the magnetic field from the magnet is removed from the bed units as the wheel continues to rotate so that the bed units have a magnetic field applied thereto cyclically as the wheel rotates;

(e) a manifold having ports with sliding seals in engagement with the wheel to supply heat transfer fluid to an input port and receive fluid from an output port, the seals providing selective communication of heat transfer fluid with the radial channels in the wheel to direct fluid to and from selected regenerator bed units, the manifold cooperating with the channels in the wheel to provide heat transfer fluid from the cold side to the hot side of the bed units which are outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and from the cold side to the hot side of the bed units that are in the magnetic field of the magnet.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 including a pump for heat transfer fluid having an input and an output, lines establishing a path for heat transfer fluid from the output port of the manifold leading from the bed units in the magnetic field to the input of the pump and from the output of the pump to the input port of the manifold leading from the bed units outside the magnetic field, and a heat exchanger in the lines from the output port of the manifold to the input port of the pump, the heat exchanger passing a fluid therethrough which is to be cooled such that the heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger receives heat from the fluid to be cooled as it passes therethrough, and lines establishing a path from the output port of the manifold to the input port of the manifold.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas and the fluid to be cooled is hydrogen gas.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 including an additional heat exchanger in the lines establishing a path from the output of the pump to the input port of the manifold, the additional heat exchanger operable to remove heat from the heat transfer fluid which is supplied to the input port of the manifold.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein there are two wheels having a plurality of bed units, with a manifold for each wheel having an input port and an output port on each side of the wheel leading to and from, respectively, the bed units in the magnetic field and the bed units outside the magnetic field, and a magnet for each wheel to apply a magnetic field to a portion of the bed units, a pump for heat transfer fluid having an input and an output, and lines establishing a path for heat transfer fluid from the output port of the first wheel to the input port of the second wheel, from the output port of the second wheel to the input of the pump, from the output of the pump to the input port of the first wheel, from one output port of the second wheel to the input port on the same side of the wheel, and from an output port of the first wheel to the input port of the first wheel on the same side of the wheel to divert a portion of the flow from the output port of the first wheel to the input port of the first wheel.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 including a heat exchanger in the lines establishing the path of fluid from the output port of the second wheel to the input of the pump, the heat exchanger also receiving fluid to be cooled therethrough such that the heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger receives heat from the fluid to be cooled.

34. Active magnetic regenerator apparatus comprising:

(a) at least two regenerator stages, each stage having a porous regenerator bed formed of two parts of material which exhibits the magnetocaloric effect, each part of the bed having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side, a heat transfer fluid which can pass through the beds between the hot and cold sides to effect heat transfer with the material of the bed, a magnet for each stage producing a magnetic field, means for causing the magnetic field of the magnet for each stage to be applied alternately to one of the bed parts and removed from one of the bed parts;

(b) lines establishing a path for heat transfer fluid from the cold side of each of the bed parts of a first stage to the hot side of a corresponding one of the bed parts of a second stage, establishing a path for fluid between the cold side of each of the bed parts of the first stage to divert a portion of a first volume of fluid passing from the hot side to the cold side of a bed part of the first stage to the cold side of the other bed part of the first stage to pass therethrough to the hot side thereof, for establishing a path between the cold sides of each of the bed parts of a second stage to allow flow therebetween and for establishing a path from the cold sides of each of the bed parts of the second stage back to the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage for a portion of the fluid passing from the cold side of a bed part of the second stage.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 including a heat exchanger in the path from the cold sides of the bed parts of the second stage to the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage, the heat exchanger also passing a fluid therethrough which is to be cooled such that the heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger receives heat from the fluid to be cooled as it passes back to the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas and the fluid to be cooled is hydrogen gas.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts of the first stage is selected from the group consisting of GdNi₂, GdNi, and a mixture of the two with cobalt substituted for a portion of the nickel, and wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts of the second stage is selected from the group consisting of GdPd and Er₀.8 La₀.2.

38. The apparatus of claim 34 including a pump having an input and an output, lines establishing a path from the hot side of the bed parts of the first stage to the input of the pump and from the output of the pump from the hot sides of the bed parts of the first stage, and wherein the lines provide a path from the cold sides of the bed parts of the second stage to the input of the pump, and switching valves in the lines between the hot sides of the first and second bed parts of the first stage and the input and output of the pump, the switching valves switchable to a position in which heat transfer fluid is supplied from the hot side of a first bed part of the first stage to the input of the pump and from the output of the pump to the hot side of the second bed part of the first stage, and the valves switchable to a second position in which heat transfer fluid is supplied through the lines from the hot side of the second bed part of the first stage to the input of the pump and the output of the pump is supplied through the lines to the hot side of the first bed part of the first stage, the switching of the valves coordinated to the application of the magnetic field to the bed parts so that heat transfer fluid is supplied from the first bed part or the second bed part of the first stage to the input of the pump depending on which bed part has a magnetic field applied to it.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the switching valves are switchable to a third position in which there is no flow of heat transfer fluid from the bed parts of the first stage or from the output of the pump to the bed parts of the first stage, and wherein the heat transfer fluid flows through the lines from the output of the pump back to the input of the pump during the times that the magnets are not applying a magnetic field to one or the other of the bed parts.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 including an additional heat exchanger in the lines establishing the paths from the output of the pump to the hot sides of the first stage bed parts, the additional heat exchanger operable to remove heat from the heat transfer fluid which is supplied to the hot sides of the bed parts.

41. A method of providing regenerative cooling of a heat transfer fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a porous regenerator bed of material which exhibits the magnetocaloric effect, the bed having two sides;

(b) alternately applying a magnetic field to and removing the magnetic field from the regenerator bed;

(c) passing heat transfer fluid through the bed in one direction with no magnetic field applied to the bed and passing heat transfer fluid through the bed in the other direction with a magnetic field applied to the bed, such that one side of the bed is a higher temperature hot side and the other side of the bed is a lower temperature cold side, the heat transfer fluid being passed through the bed from the hot side to the cold side when no magnetic field is applied to the bed and from the cold side to the hot side when a magnetic field is applied to the bed; and

(d) diverting a portion of the volume of heat transfer fluid passed through the bed from the hot side to the cold side back to the hot side of the bed such that the volume of fluid passed through the bed from the hot side to the cold side is greater than the volume of fluid passed back through the bed from the cold side to the hot side.

42. The method of claim 41 including the additional step of drawing heat from a fluid to be cooled to the heat transfer fluid diverted from the cold side of the bed to the hot side of the bed to warm the diverted fluid and cool the fluid to be cooled.

43. A method of providing regenerative cooling of a heat transfer fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a porous regenerator bed having two bed parts of material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect, each bed part having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side;

(b) alternately applying a magnetic field to and removing the magnetic field from the regenerator bed parts such that the field is applied to one bed part when it is removed from the other;

(c) passing heat transfer fluid through a first of the regenerator bed parts from the hot side to the cold side with no magnetic field applied to the regenerator bed part, and passing a portion of the fluid passed through the first bed part through the second bed part from the cold side to the hot side thereof while a magnetic field is applied to the bed part, and simultaneously diverting a portion of the fluid passed through the first bed part from the hot side to the cold side back to the hot side of the bed part, and supplying the fluid passed through the second bed part from the cold side to the hot side back to the hot side of the first bed part to mix with the fluid diverted from the cold side of the first bed part.

44. The method of claim 43 including the additional step of drawing heat from a fluid to be cooled to the heat transfer fluid diverted from the cold side to the hot side of the first bed part to cool the fluid to be cooled and warm the diverted heat transfer fluid.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein a magnetic field is applied alternately to the first bed part and the second bed part and including the additional steps of passing the heat transfer fluid from the hot side of the second bed part to the cold side thereof when the magnetic field is not applied to the bed part, and passing a portion of the heat transfer fluid passed through the second bed part into the cold side of the first bed part to pass from the cold side to the hot side thereof while magnetic field is applied to the first bed part, and diverting a portion of the fluid passed through the first and second bed parts back to the hot side of the second bed part to be mixed with fluid passing from the hot side of the first bed part.

46. A regenerator bed structure for an active magnetic regenerator apparatus, comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular housing;

(b) two bed parts mounted in the housing, each bed part formed of plural bed sections having two sides mounted in the housing in stacked relation, each bed part formed of a material which exhibits the magnetocaloric effect and which is porous to the flow of heat transfer fluid therethrough;

(c) first and second ports formed in the housing for one of the bed parts and first and second ports formed in the housing for the other of the bed parts;

(d) channels in the housing extending from the first port for each of the bed parts to one side of each section in the bed part, and channels extending from the second port for each of the bed parts to the other side of each section in the bed part, such that heat transfer fluid flowing into the first port for each of the bed parts flows through the channels to one side of each section in the bed part through the sections in parallel and out the other sides of each section and through the channels leading to the second port for each bed part.

47. The regenerator bed of claim 46 wherein the material which exhibits the magnetocaloric effect in each of the bed sections of each bed part comprises small spherical pellets of material which exhibits the magnetocaloric effect with interstices therebetween through which the heat transfer fluid can flow.

48. The regenerator bed of claim 47 wherein each bed section includes a cylindrical outer ring within which the pellets of magnetocaloric material are contained, end caps closing the ends of the outer ring and having lateral channels formed therein to direct flow of heat transfer fluid laterally through the channels in one end cap and then axially through the magnetocaloric material to the other end cap and then laterally through the channels in the other end cap.

49. The regenerator bed of claim 48 wherein each bed section in each bed part includes a flow divider having sections which extend axially between the end caps to divide the flow of heat transfer fluid as it passes through the bed section.

50. The regenerator bed of claim 46 wherein the magnetic material of the bed parts is selected from the group consisting of GdNi₂, GdNi, mixtures of the two with cobalt substituted for a portion of the nickel, GdPd, and Er₀.8 La₀.2.

51. Active magnetic regenerator apparatus comprising:

(a) a first stage comprising a porous regenerator bed of material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect selected from the group consisting of GdNi₂, GdNi, and a mixture of the two with cobalt substituted for a portion of the nickel, the bed having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side, heat transfer fluid which can pass through the bed between the hot and cold sides to effect heat transfer with the material of the bed, a magnet for producing a magnetic field, and means for causing the magnetic field of the magnet to be applied alternately to the bed of the first stage and removed from the bed of the first stage;

(b) a second stage comprising a porous regenerator bed of material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect selected from the group consisting of GdPd, GdPd₀.75 Ni₀.25 and Er₀.8 La₀.2, the bed having a higher temperature hot side and a lower temperature cold side, heat transfer fluid which can pass through the bed between the hot and cold sides to effect heat transfer with the material of the bed, a magnet producing a magnetic field, and means for causing the magnetic field of the magnet to be applied alternately to the bed of the second stage and removed from the bed of the second stage;

(c) transfer means for providing a path for the fluid to and from the regenerator beds of the first and second stages, wherein the transfer means establishes a path for heat transfer fluid from the cold side of the bed of the first stage to the hot side of the bed of the second stage, and for establishing a path from the cold side of the bed of the second stage to the hot side of the bed of the first stage for at least a portion of the fluid passing from the cold side of the bed of the second stage, and for driving a first volume of the fluid through the beds of each stage from the hot side to the cold side of each when the magnetic field is removed from the beds and for driving a second volume of the fluid through the beds of each stage from the cold side to the hot side of each when the magnetic field is applied to the beds.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the transfer means provides a path from the cold side to the hot side of the first stage bed for diverting a portion of the first volume of fluid though the bed of the first stage so that it flows back to the hot side of the first stage bed without passing through the first stage bed from the cold side to the hot side.

53. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the heat transfer fluid is helium gas.