Reciprocating active magnetic regenerator refrigeration apparatus

• US 5,934,078 A
• Filed: 02/03/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Astronautics Corporation of America
• Original Assignee: Astronautics Corporation of America
• Inventors: Zimm, Carl B., Jastrab, Alexander G., Lawton, Lewis M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kilner, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US09/018,153
• Time in Patent Office: 553 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 2321/0021 with a static fixed magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

An active magnetic regenerator refrigeration apparatus includes one or more reciprocating regenerator beds and a heat transfer fluid distribution valve that is activated as the bed is moved between a position in which it is in the magnetic field of a magnet to a position in which it is outside the magnetic field of the magnet. The distribution valve has a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidingly engaged to each other, each of which has ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member. The bed is mounted to the moving second valve member so that heat transfer fluid is conveyed to and through the valve in a single direction into the regenerator bed. The material of the bed exhibits the magnetocaloric effect and the temperature of the bed rises when it enters the magnetic field of the magnet and decreases when it exits the magnetic field, providing a refrigeration cycle. The direction of fluid flow to, from and through the distribution valve remains the same in both positions of the bed or beds, with the distribution valve serving to switch the direction of the fluid flow through the bed in the unmagnetized and magnetized positions of the bed, so that there is essentially no dead volume of heat transfer fluid.

Claims

1. An active magnetic regenerator comprising:

(a) a magnet producing a magnetic field;

(b) a distribution valve having a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidably engaged to one another, the first valve member and the moving second valve member each having ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member;

(c) a magnetic regenerator bed including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the bed mounted to the moving second valve member of the distribution valve to move with it, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the bed and a port opening into a second side of the bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the bed; and

(d) a reciprocating drive connected to the moving second valve member to slide the moving second valve member and the regenerator bed mounted to it between a first position in which the regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet to a second position in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet.

2. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 1 wherein the regenerator bed is a first regenerator bed and including a second regenerator bed including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the second regenerator bed mounted to the moving second valve member of the distribution valve such that the two regenerator beds are spaced from each other, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the second regenerator bed and a port opening into a second side of the second regenerator bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the second regenerator bed, and wherein the drive moves the moving second valve member between the first position in which the first regenerator bed is outside the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is inside the magnetic field of the magnet and a second position in which the first regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

3. The active magnet regenerator of claim 1 wherein the magnet is formed of a solenoidal winding of superconductor, and including a dewar in which the solenoidal superconducting winding is held to cool the winding, and a central opening in the dewar extending through the solenoidal superconducting winding, the distribution valve and regenerator bed mounted thereto positioned within the opening in the dewar for movement of the moving second valve member by the drive from a position in which the regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field produced within the solenoidal winding to a position in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the solenoidal winding.

4. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 1 wherein the first valve member is formed as an elongated hollow inner tube having an outside surface and wherein the moving second valve member is formed as an elongated hollow tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the inner tube and is mounted to slide axially on the inner tube, the inner tube having an inner lumen divided into four quadrants to define four quadrant conduits and including two pairs of openings in the wall of the inner tube, one pair of openings communicating with two of the four quadrant conduits and located at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and a second pair of openings communicating with the other two quadrant conduits and located at a position within the magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the regenerator bed is mounted around the outer tube of the moving second valve member and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the pairs of openings in the inner tube such that the two ports in the moving second valve member are in communication with a first two of the quadrant conduits of the inner tube when the distribution valve is in a position with the regenerator bed outside the magnetic field and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member are in communication with the other two quadrant conduits of the inner tube when the distribution valve is in a position with the regenerator bed within the magnetic field of the magnet.

5. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 4 wherein the regenerator bed includes an outer cylindrical casing and end walls to define an annular enclosure between the walls of the casing, the end walls and the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the porous magnetocaloric material filling the annular enclosure.

6. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 5 wherein the two ports in the moving second valve member comprise slots formed through the wall of the outer tube of the moving second valve member at positions adjacent to the end walls of the casing of the regenerator bed.

7. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 5 wherein there are two regenerator beds having the same construction mounted at spaced positions on the outer tube of the moving second valve member, wherein the drive moves the moving second valve member between a first position in which a first of the beds is in the magnetic field and a second of the beds is outside the magnetic field of the magnet to a second position in which the first of the beds is outside of the magnetic field and the second of the beds is in the magnetic field, and including a third pair of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member located at positions outside of the magnetic field and opening into the same quadrants of the divided lumen of the inner tube of the first valve member as the other pair of openings that are also located in the inner tube at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

8. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 7 wherein the outer tube of the moving second valve member covers all of the pairs of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member at all positions of the moving second valve member, and including seals between the inner and outer tubes adjacent the openings in the inner tube to inhibit the flow of heat transfer fluid from the openings in the inner tube into the space between the inner and outer tubes.

9. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 8 wherein grooves are formed in the outside surface of the inner tube at positions on either side of the openings in the inner tube, and including O-rings mounted in the grooves that seal against the inner surface of the outer tube to provide the seals about each opening to inhibit fluid from flowing from the opening into the space between the inner and outer tubes while allowing the inner and outer tubes to slide with respect to each other.

10. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 9 wherein an indentation is formed about the circumference of the inner tube at the position of each opening in the inner tube so that fluid can flow to or from the opening about the entire circumference of the inner tube within the indentation.

11. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 4 wherein the lumen of the inner tube is divided into four quadrant conduits by straight intersecting walls extending axially through the inner tube and engaged with the cylindrical wall of the inner tube.

12. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 11 wherein the first valve member includes a manifold mounted to an end of the inner tube and having four chambers with each chamber in communication with one of the four quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube, and wherein the ports of the first valve member are formed as openings in the manifold leading to the four chambers within the manifold each of which is in communication with one of the quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube.

13. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 4 wherein the drive comprises an air cylinder having a shaft extending therefrom which is connected to the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the air cylinder drive operative to move the shaft thereof and the outer tube connected thereto between two positions, one position in which the regenerator bed is out of the magnetic field of the magnet and the other position, in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet.

14. An active magnetic regenerator comprising:

(a) a magnet producing a magnetic field;

(b) a distribution valve having a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidably engaged to one another, the first valve member and the moving second valve member each having ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member;

(c) a first regenerator bed and a second regenerator bed each including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the first and second regenerator beds mounted to the moving second valve member such that the two regenerator beds are spaced from each other, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the first bed and a port opening into a second side of the first bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the first bed, the moving second valve member also having a port opening into a first side of the second bed and a port opening into a second side of the second bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the second regenerator bed; and

(d) a reciprocating drive connected to the moving second valve member to slide the moving second valve member and the regenerator beds mounted to it between a first position in which the first regenerator bed is outside the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and a second position in which the first regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

15. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 14 wherein the first valve member is formed as an elongated hollow inner tube having an outside surface and wherein the moving second valve member is formed as an elongated hollow tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the inner tube and mounted to slide axially on the inner tube, the inner tube having an inner lumen divided into four quadrants to define four quadrant conduits and including three pairs of openings in the wall of the inner tube, two pairs of equally spaced openings communicating with two of the four quadrant conduits and located at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and a third pair of openings positioned between the other two pairs communicating with the other two quadrant conduits and located at a position within the magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the regenerator beds are mounted around the outer tube of the moving second valve member and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member communicating with the beds are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the pairs of openings in the inner tube such that in the first position of the distribution valve the ports in the moving second valve member opening into the first bed are in communication with a first two of the quadrant conduits of the inner tube and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member opening into the second bed are in communication with the other two quadrant conduits of the inner tube, and wherein in the second position of the moving second valve member the ports opening into the two beds are in communication with the quadrant conduits that they were not in communication with in the first position.

16. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 15 wherein each regenerator bed includes an outer cylindrical casing and end walls to define an annular enclosure between the walls of the casing, the end walls and the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the porous magnetocaloric material filling the annular enclosure.

17. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 16 wherein the two ports in the moving second valve member opening into each bed comprise slots formed through the wall of the outer tube of the moving second valve member at positions adjacent to the end walls of the casing of the regenerator bed.

18. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 15 wherein the outer tube of the moving second valve member covers all of the pairs of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member at all positions of the moving second valve member, and including seals between the inner and outer tubes adjacent the openings in the inner tube to inhibit the flow of heat transfer fluid from the openings in the inner tube into the space between the inner and outer tubes.

19. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 18 wherein grooves are formed in the outside surface of the inner tube at positions on either side of the openings in the inner tube, and including O-rings mounted in the grooves that seal against the inner surface of the outer tube to provide the seals about each opening to inhibit fluid from flowing from the opening into the space between the inner and outer tubes while allowing the inner and outer tubes to slide with respect to each other.

20. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 19 wherein an indentation is formed about the circumference of the inner tube at the position of each opening in the inner tube so that fluid can flow to or from the opening about the entire circumference of the inner tube within the indentation.

21. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 15 wherein the lumen of the inner tube is divided into four quadrant conduits by straight intersecting walls extending axially through the inner tube and engaged with the cylindrical wall of the inner tube.

22. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 21 wherein the first valve member includes a manifold mounted to an end of the inner tube and having four chambers with each chamber in communication with one of the four quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube, and wherein the ports of the first valve member are formed as openings in the manifold leading to the four chambers within the manifold each of which is in communication with one of the quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube.

23. The active magnetic regenerator of claim 15 wherein the drive comprises an air cylinder having a shaft extending therefrom which is connected to the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the air cylinder drive operative to move the shaft thereof and the outer tube connected thereto between two positions, the first position in which the first bed is out of the magnetic field of the magnet and the second bed is in the magnetic field and the second position, in which the first bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and the second bed is out of the magnetic field.

24. An active magnetic regenerator refrigeration apparatus comprising:

(a) a magnet producing a magnetic field;

(b) a distribution valve having a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidably engaged to one another, the first valve member and the moving second valve member each having ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member;

(c) a magnetic regenerator bed including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the bed mounted to the moving second valve member to move with it, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the bed and a port opening into a second side of the bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the bed;

(d) a reciprocating drive connected to the moving second valve member to slide the moving second valve member and the regenerator bed mounted to it between a first position in which the regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet to a second position in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet;

(e) a hot heat exchanger;

(f) a cold heat exchanger;

(g) conduits connected to the ports of the first valve member and to the hot and cold heat exchangers, the conduits directing heat transfer fluid in a circuit from the bed which is outside the magnetic field through the distribution valve to the cold heat exchanger and then back through the distribution valve to the bed that is in the magnetic field and then through the distribution valve to the hot heat exchanger and then back through the distribution valve to the bed that is outside of the magnetic field, the distribution valve directing the flow therethrough so that the circuit of flow through the conduits is maintained in the same direction in both positions of the distribution valve and with the direction of flow through each bed reversed in each position of the valve; and

(h) a pump connected in the conduits to drive heat transfer fluid through the hot and cold heat exchangers, the conduits and the distribution valve.

25. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 24 including a solenoid operated valve connected in a conduit leading from the pump and a controller connected to the drive and the solenoid valve to control the drive to switch the distribution valve at selected times and cause the distribution valve to dwell at its first and second positions for selected times, and to control the solenoid valve to block flow of heat transfer fluid from the pump when the distribution valve is being switched between its two positions and to open the solenoid valve to allow flow from the pump when the distribution valve is dwelling in its two positions.

26. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 25 including a solenoid valve connected around the pump and connected to the controller to be controlled to close when the distribution valve is dwelling in its two positions and to open when the distribution valve is being switched between its two positions.

27. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 24 wherein the regenerator bed is a first regenerator bed and including a second regenerator bed including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the second regenerator bed mounted to the moving second valve member such that the two regenerator beds are spaced from each other, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the second regenerator bed and a port opening into a second side of the second regenerator bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the second regenerator bed, and wherein the drive moves the moving second valve member between the first position in which the first regenerator bed is outside the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and a second position in which the first regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

28. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 24 wherein the magnet is formed of a solenoidal winding of superconductor, and including a dewar in which the solenoidal superconducting winding is held to cool the winding, and a central opening in the dewar extending through the solenoidal superconducting winding, the distribution valve and regenerator bed mounted thereto positioned within the opening in the dewar for movement of the moving second valve member by the drive from a position in which the regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field produced within the solenoidal winding to a position in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the solenoidal winding.

29. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first valve member is formed as an elongated hollow inner tube having an outside surface and wherein the moving second valve member is formed as an elongated hollow tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the inner tube and mounted to slide axially on the inner tube, the inner tube having an inner lumen divided into four quadrants to define four quadrant conduits and including two pairs of openings in the wall of the inner tube, one pair of openings communicating with two of the four quadrant conduits and located at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and a second pair of openings communicating with the other two quadrant conduits and located at a position within the magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the regenerator bed is mounted around the outer tube of the moving second valve member and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the pairs of openings in the inner tube such that the two ports in the moving second valve member are in communication with a first two of the quadrant conduits of the inner tube when the distribution valve is in a position with the regenerator bed outside the magnetic field and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member are in communication with the other two quadrant conduits of the inner tube when the valve is in a position with the regenerator bed within the magnetic field of the magnet.

30. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 29 wherein the regenerator bed includes an outer cylindrical casing and end walls to define an annular enclosure between the walls of the casing, the end walls and the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the porous magnetocaloric material filling the annular enclosure.

31. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 30 wherein the two ports in the moving second valve member comprise slots formed through the wall of the outer tube of the moving second valve member at positions adjacent to the end walls of the casing of the regenerator bed.

32. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 30 wherein there are two regenerator beds having the same construction mounted at spaced positions on the outer tube of the moving second valve member, wherein the drive moves the moving second valve member between a first position in which a first of the beds is in the magnetic field and a second of the beds is outside the magnetic field of the magnet to a second position in which the first of the beds is outside of the magnetic field and the second of the beds is in the magnetic field, and including a third pair of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member located at positions outside of the magnetic field and opening into the same quadrants of the divided lumen of the inner tube of the first valve member as the other pair of openings that are also located in the inner tube at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

33. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 32 wherein the outer tube of the moving second valve member covers all of the pairs of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member at all positions of the moving second valve member, and including seals between the inner and outer tubes adjacent the openings in the inner tube to inhibit the flow of heat transfer fluid from the openings in the inner tube into the space between the inner and outer tubes.

34. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 33 wherein grooves are formed in the outside surface of the inner tube at positions on either side of the openings in the inner tube, and including O-rings mounted in the grooves that seal against the inner surface of the outer tube to provide the seals about each opening to inhibit fluid from flowing from the opening into the space between the inner and outer tubes while allowing the inner and outer tubes to slide with respect to each other.

35. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 34 wherein an indentation is formed about the circumference of the inner tube at the position of each opening in the inner tube so that fluid can flow to or from the opening about the entire circumference of the inner tube within the indentation.

36. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 29 wherein the lumen of the inner tube is divided into four quadrant conduits by straight intersecting walls extending axially through the inner tube and engaged with the cylindrical wall of the inner tube.

37. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first valve member includes a manifold mounted to an end of the inner tube and having four chambers with each chamber in communication with one of the four quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube, and wherein the ports of the first valve member are formed as openings in the manifold leading to the four chambers within the manifold each of which is in communication with one of the quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube.

38. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 29 wherein the drive comprises an air cylinder having a shaft extending therefrom which is connected to the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the air cylinder drive operative to move the shaft thereof and the outer tube connected thereto between two positions, one position in which the regenerator bed is out of the magnetic field of the magnet and the other position, in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet.

39. An active magnetic regenerator apparatus comprising:

(a) a distribution valve having a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidably engaged to one another, the first valve member and the moving second valve member each having ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member;

(b) a first regenerator bed and a second regenerator bed each including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the first and second regenerator beds mounted to the moving second valve member such that the two regenerator beds are spaced from each other, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the first bed and a port opening into a second side of the first bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the first bed, the moving second valve member also having a port opening into a first side of the second bed and a port opening into a second side of the second bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the second regenerator bed; and

wherein the first valve member is formed as an elongated hollow inner tube having an outside surface and wherein the moving second valve member is formed as an elongated hollow tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the inner tube and mounted to slide axially on the inner tube, the inner tube having an inner lumen divided into four quadrants to define four quadrant conduits and including three pairs of openings in the wall of the inner tube, two pairs of equally spaced openings communicating with two of the four quadrant conduits and located at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and a third pair of openings positioned between the other two pairs communicating with the other two quadrant conduits and located at a position within the magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the regenerator beds are mounted around the outer tube of the moving second valve member and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member communicating with the beds are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the pairs of openings in the inner tube such that in the first position of the distribution valve the ports in the moving second valve member opening into the first bed are in communication with a first two of the quadrant conduits of the inner tube and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member opening into the second bed are in communication with the other two quadrant conduits of the inner tube, and wherein in the second position of the moving second valve member the ports opening into the two beds are in communication with the quadrant conduits that they were not in communication with in the first position.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the regenerator beds include an outer cylindrical casing and end walls to define an annular enclosure between the walls of the casing, the end walls, and the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the porous magnetocaloric material filling the annular enclosure.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the two ports in the moving second valve member opening into each bed comprise slots formed through the wall of the outer tube of the moving second valve member at positions adjacent to the end walls of the casing of the regenerator bed.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the outer tube of the moving second valve member covers all of the pairs of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member at all positions of the moving second valve member, and including seals between the inner and outer tubes adjacent the openings in the inner tube to inhibit the flow of heat transfer fluid from the openings in the inner tube into the space between the inner and outer tubes.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein grooves are formed in the outside surface of the inner tube at positions on either side of the openings in the inner tube, and including O-rings mounted in the grooves that seal against the inner surface of the outer tube to provide the seals about each opening to inhibit fluid from flowing from the opening into the space between the inner and outer tubes while allowing the inner and outer tubes to slide with respect to each other.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein an indentation is formed about the circumference of the inner tube at the position of each opening in the inner tube so that fluid can flow to or from the opening about the entire circumference of the inner tube within the indentation.

45. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the lumen of the inner tube is divided into four quadrant conduits by straight intersecting walls extending axially through the inner tube and engaged with the cylindrical wall of the inner tube.

46. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the first valve member includes a manifold mounted to an end of the inner tube and having four chambers with each chamber in communication with one of the four quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube, and wherein the ports of the first valve member are formed as openings in the manifold leading to the four chambers within the manifold each of which is in communication with one of the quadrant conduits of the divided lumen of the inner tube.

47. An active magnetic regenerator refrigeration apparatus comprising:

(a) a magnet producing a magnetic field;

(b) a distribution valve having a first valve member and a moving second valve member slidably engaged to one another, the first valve member and the moving second valve member each having ports by which heat transfer fluid may be provided to and received from the valve member;

(c) a magnetic regenerator bed including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the bed mounted to the moving second valve member to move with it, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the bed and a port opening into a second side of the bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the bed;

(d) a reciprocating drive connected to the moving second valve member to slide the moving second valve member and the regenerator bed mounted to it between a first position in which the regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet to a second position in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet;

(e) a hot heat exchanger;

(f) a cold heat exchanger for chilling a fluid;

(g) a pump;

(h) conduits connected to the ports of the first valve member, to the pump and to the hot and cold heat exchangers, the conduits directing a portion of heat transfer fluid in a circuit from the bed which is outside the magnetic field through the distribution valve then out of the distribution valve and back to and through the distribution valve to the bed that is in the magnetic field and then through the distribution valve to the hot heat exchanger and then back through the distribution valve to the bed that is outside of the magnetic field, the conduits also directing a portion of the fluid from the bed which is outside the magnetic field through the distribution valve and then through the cold heat exchanger to an input of the pump and then to the distribution valve, the distribution valve directing the flow therethrough so that the circuit of flow through the conduits is maintained in the same direction in both positions of the distribution valve and with the direction of flow through each bed reversed in each position of the valve, the pump connected in the conduits to drive heat transfer fluid through the hot and cold heat exchangers, the conduits and the distribution valve.

48. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 47 including a solenoid operated valve connected in a conduit leading from the pump and a controller connected to the drive and the solenoid valve to control the drive to switch the distribution valve at selected times and cause the distribution valve to dwell at its first and second positions for selected times, and to control the solenoid valve to block flow of heat transfer fluid from the pump when the distribution valve is being switched between its two positions and to open the solenoid valve to allow flow from the pump when the distribution valve is dwelling in its two positions.

49. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 48 including a solenoid valve connected around the pump and connected to the controller to be controlled to close when the distribution valve is dwelling in its two positions and to open when the distribution valve is being switched between its two positions.

50. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 47 wherein the regenerator bed is a first regenerator bed and including a second regenerator bed including material that exhibits the magnetocaloric effect that is porous and allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, the second regenerator bed mounted to the moving second valve member such that the two regenerator beds are spaced from each other, the moving second valve member having a port opening into a first side of the second regenerator bed and a port opening into a second side of the second regenerator bed so that fluid flowing between the ports flows through the magnetocaloric material of the second regenerator bed, and wherein the drive moves the moving second valve member between the first position in which the first regenerator bed is outside the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and a second position in which the first regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the magnet and the second regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

51. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 47 wherein the magnet is formed of a solenoidal winding of superconductor, and including a dewar in which the solenoidal superconducting winding is held to cool the winding, and a central opening in the dewar extending through the solenoidal superconducting winding, the distribution valve and regenerator bed mounted thereto positioned within the opening in the dewar for movement of the moving second valve member by the drive from a position in which the regenerator bed is outside of the magnetic field produced within the solenoidal winding to a position in which the regenerator bed is in the magnetic field of the solenoidal winding.

52. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 47 wherein the first valve member is formed as an elongated hollow inner tube having an outside surface and wherein the moving second valve member is formed as an elongated hollow tube having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the inner tube and mounted to slide axially on the inner tube, the inner tube having an inner lumen divided into four quadrants to define four quadrant conduits and including two pairs of openings in the wall of the inner tube, one pair of openings communicating with two of the four quadrant conduits and located at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet and a second pair of openings communicating with the other two quadrant conduits and located at a position within the magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the regenerator bed is mounted around the outer tube of the moving second valve member and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the pairs of openings in the inner tube such that the two ports in the moving second valve member are in communication with a first two of the quadrant conduits of the inner tube when the valve is in a position with the regenerator bed outside the magnetic field and wherein the ports in the moving second valve member are in communication with the other two quadrant conduits of the inner tube when the valve is in a position with the regenerator bed within the magnetic field of the magnet.

53. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 52 wherein the regenerator bed includes an outer cylindrical casing and end walls to define an annular enclosure between the walls of the casing, the end walls, and the outer tube of the moving second valve member, the porous magnetocaloric material filling the annular enclosure.

54. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 53 wherein the two ports in the moving second valve member comprise slots formed through the wall of the outer tube of the moving second valve member at positions adjacent to the end walls of the casing of the regenerator bed.

55. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 53 wherein there are two regenerator beds having the same construction mounted at spaced positions on the outer tube of the moving second valve member, wherein the drive moves the moving second valve member between a first position in which a first of the beds is in the magnetic field and a second of the beds is outside the magnetic field of the magnet to a second position in which the first of the beds is outside of the magnetic field and the second of the beds is in the magnetic field, and including a third pair of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member located at positions outside of the magnetic field and opening into the same quadrants of the divided lumen of the inner tube of the first valve member as the other pair of openings that are also located in the inner tube at a position outside of the magnetic field of the magnet.

56. The refrigeration apparatus of claim 55 wherein the outer tube of the moving second valve member covers all of the pairs of openings in the inner tube of the first valve member at all positions of the moving second valve member, and including seals between the inner and outer tubes adjacent the openings in the inner tube to inhibit the flow of heat transfer fluid from the openings in the inner tube into the space between the inner and outer tubes, wherein grooves are formed in the outside surface of the inner tube at positions on either side of the openings in the inner tube, and including O-rings mounted in the grooves that seal against the inner surface of the outer tube to provide the seals about each opening to inhibit fluid from flowing from the opening into the space between the inner and outer tubes while allowing the inner and outer tubes to slide with respect to each other.