Device for generating cold and heat by a magneto-calorific effect

• US 8,191,375 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haute Ecole D'Ingénierie et de Gestion Du Canton de VAUD
• Original Assignee: Haute Ecole D'Ingénierie et de Gestion Du Canton de VAUD
• Inventors: Sari, Osmann, Egolf, Peter W., Bozzini, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUKE, EMMANUEL E
• Application Number:
  US12/097,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20090151363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 62/3, 62/31, 62/37, 62/6, 623/242, 623/35, 624/34, 624/67
• 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

A device (10) for continuously generating cold and heat by a magnetic effect. The device includes a magnetic field generator (13), which is arranged in at least one crown segment and defines an annular space crossed by a circular coaxial part (11) provided with radial transverse cavities (31) and contains at least one type of magneto-calorific material. The inventive device also includes a circulating pump (27) for axially supplying a heat carrier to the cavities (31). A first collector (33) picks up the heat carrier, which passes through the radial cavities (31) in the area containing the magnetic field generator (13), and a second collector (34) picks up the heat carrier which passes through the radial cavities (31) in an area located outside of the magnetic field generator (13).

Claims

1. A device (10) for generating cold and heat by a magnetic effect, the device comprising:

at least one magnetic field generator (13;

130) being arranged in at least one crown segment and defining an annular space through which passes a coaxial circular element (11), the circular element being provided with transverse radial cavities (31) and containing at least one magneto-calorific material, the transverse radial cavities being arranged so as to convey a heat-carrying fluid in contact with the magneto-calorific material;

means for introducing the heat-carrying fluid in an axial direction into the coaxial circular element (11);

means for introducing the heat-carrying fluid along a radial direction into the transverse radial cavities (31);

the means for introducing the heat-carrying fluid in the axial direction into the coaxial circular element (11) and the means for introducing the heat-carrying fluid along the radial direction into the transverse cavities (31) comprising at least one fluid circulating element (27, 27a, 27b) arranged to circulate the heat-carrying fluid;

at least one first collector (33) arranged to receive the heat-carrying fluid after passing through the transverse radial cavities (31) into a zone containing the magnetic field generator (13); and

at least one second collector (34) arranged to receive the heat-carrying fluid after passing through transverse radial cavities (31) into a zone located outside the magnetic field generator (13) and the magnetic field generator (13;

130) is fixed and the coaxial circular element (11) with the transverse radial cavities (31) is rotated about an axis by a drive motor (M) which is mounted coaxially with the coaxial circular element (11).

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a means arranged to form a unit (40) which is arranged in series with at least one identical unit (50) to form a unit with greater power.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat-carrying fluid is a gas and the circulating element (27, 27a, 27b) of the heat-carrying fluid is a fan.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator (13) is in a semicircular crown and comprises a steel core (14) and one of a C-shaped and a U-shaped cross-section in which permanent magnets (15) are supported so as to form a closed magnetic field.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting mechanical assembly (12) with a fixed inner bell (20) arranged coaxially inside a rotating outer bell (21) coupled to the drive motor (M), the rotating coaxial element (11) being attached to the rotating outer bell (21).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the fixed inner bell (20) and the rotating outer bell (21) are joined by ball bearings (22 and 23).

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the fixed inner bell (20) and the rotating outer bell (21) form connection elements of the unit (40) and the identical unit (50).

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the supporting mechanical assembly (12) comprises a plate (17), a belt (18), a fixed table (19) and the fixed inner bell (20).

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a lower cylinder (24) which, together with the belt (18) and the fixed table (19), delimits a lower space (25).

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the lower space is divided mainly by three substantially radial partitions (41, 42, 43) and forms the means for introducing the heat-carrying fluid in the axial direction into the coaxial circular element (11).

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator (130) comprises an even number of magnetic elements in a form of crown segments, and the magnetic elements, two by two, form pairs and the magnetic elements of the same pair being diametrically opposite in relation to an axis of the magnetic field generator.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the crown segment elements of the same pair (131, 133;

132, 134) respectively generate magnetic fields of inverted polarity.