Magnetic refrigerating device and magnetic refrigerating system

• US 8,935,927 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Tadahiko, Saito, Akiko, Kaji, Shiori
• Primary Examiner(s): Bauer, Cassey D
• Application Number:
  US13/079,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 62/31, 1/31
• 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 2321/002 by using magneto-caloric effects
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0022 with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

The magnetic refrigerating device according to one embodiment includes a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container that is filled with a magnetic material and that can move in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at the end of the magnetic material container. The magnetic refrigerating device also includes a magnetic-field applying/removing mechanism that is provided at the outside of the fixed container, and that can apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and can generate a magnetic torque to the magnetic material container in moving direction of the magnetic material container.

Claims

1. A magnetic refrigerating device comprising:

a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container filled with a magnetic material and being capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container; and

a permanent magnet provided at outside of the fixed container, the permanent magnet configured to move in a moving direction of the magnetic material container, the permanent magnet configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in the moving direction of the magnetic material container,

wherein the magnetic material is filled in the magnetic material container so that the refrigerant and the magnetic material relatively move with a movement of the magnetic material container.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet rotates about a rotation axis provided at the outside of the fixed container so that the permanent magnet becomes close to the fixed container and becomes away from the fixed container alternatively.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed container and the magnetic material container are made of a non-magnetic material.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a high-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to one end of the fixed container; and

a low-temperature-side heat exchange unit connected to the other end of the fixed container.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the magnetic material container are made of mesh-like partition plates.

7. A magnetic refrigerating device comprising:

a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container filled with a magnetic material capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container; and

a permanent magnet provided at outside of the fixed container, the permanent magnet configured to move in a moving direction of the magnetic material container, the permanent magnet configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in the moving direction of the magnetic material container,

wherein

the magnetic material is filled in the magnetic material container so that the refrigerant and the magnetic material relatively move with a movement of the magnetic material container,

wherein

a magnetic member is provided at an end of the magnetic material container.

8. A magnetic refrigerating device comprising:

a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container filled with a magnetic material capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container; and

an electromagnet provided at outside of the fixed container, the electromagnet configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in a moving direction of the magnetic material container,

wherein the magnetic material is filled in the magnetic material container so that the refrigerant and the magnetic material relatively move with a movement of the magnetic material container.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein both ends of the magnetic material container are made of mesh-like partition plates.

10. A magnetic refrigerating device comprising:

a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container filled with a magnetic material capable of moving in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at an end of the magnetic material container; and

an electromagnet provided at outside of the fixed container, the electromagnet configured to apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and to generate a magnetic torque in a moving direction of the magnetic material container,

wherein the magnetic material is filled in the magnetic material container so that the refrigerant and the magnetic material relatively move with a movement of the magnetic material container,

wherein a magnetic member is provided at an end of the magnetic material container.