×

Thermal generator with magnetocaloric material

  • US 8,656,725 B2
  • Filed: 09/23/2009
  • Issued: 02/25/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A heat generator with a magnetocaloric material, the heat generator comprising:

  • at least one thermal flux generation unit (2, 102, 202) provided with at least one thermal module (3) containing a magnetocaloric element (4), crossed by a heat transfer fluid circulated according to an alternating movement on both sides of the magnetocaloric element (4);

    a magnetic arrangement (9, 24) being movable to subject alternately the magnetocaloric element (4) to a magnetic field variation and alternately create, in the magnetocaloric element (4), a heating cycle and a cooling cycle, generating creation of and then maintaining a temperature gradient between two opposite ends (7, 8) of the magnetocaloric element (4), alternating displacement of the heat transfer fluid being synchronized with the magnetic field variation;

    the thermal flux generation unit (2, 102, 202) comprising a field closing device (30, 31, 32) arranged to loop magnetic flux generated by the magnetic arrangement (9, 24);

    the magnetocaloric element (4) being integrated in a closed heat transfer fluid circulation circuit (6) which interconnects the two opposite ends (7, 8) of the magnetocaloric element (4), andthe closed heat transfer fluid circulation circuit (6) comprising a single means of displacement (5, 50, 60) of the heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric element (4) in both displacement directions;

    wherein the field closing device (30, 31, 32) is movable and comprises a control device (19, 192) for driving the means of displacement (5, 50, 60) of the heat transfer fluid.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×