Magnetocaloric refrigerator
First Claim
1. A magneto-caloric refrigerator (MCR) comprising:
- at least one magnetic caloric effect (MCE) disk, a plurality of heat commutators, and a thermal interface fluid (TIF);
a) said MCE disk comprising an MCE ring made of suitable MCE material and formed as an annular disk;
b) said heat commutators each being formed as an annular disk;
c) said heat commutators arranged substantially equally spaced on a common axis;
d) said MCE disks arranged to interspace said heat commutators,e) said MCE disks arranged to rotate about their axis of rotational symmetry and with respect to said commutators;
f) each said MCE ring being separated from adjacent heat commutator by an axial gap;
g) said TIF arranged to substantially fill said axial gap;
h) each said commutator comprising a thermally conducting core, a thermally insulating portion, and a permanent magnet; and
i) said permanent magnet arranged so that a rotation of said MCE ring cyclically exposes said MCE material to a sequence of (i) relatively low magnetic field, (ii) increasing magnetic field, (iii) strong magnetic field, and (iv) decreasing magnetic field.
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Abstract
The invention is for an apparatus and method for a refrigerator and a heat pump based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) offering a simpler, lighter, robust, more compact, environmentally compatible, and energy efficient alternative to traditional vapor-compression devices. The subject magnetocaloric apparatus alternately exposes a suitable magnetocaloric material to strong and weak magnetic field while switching heat to and from the material by a mechanical commutator using a thin layer of suitable thermal interface fluid to enhance heat transfer. The invention may be practiced with multiple magnetocaloric stages to attain large differences in temperature. Key applications include thermal management of electronics, as well as industrial and home refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning. The invention offers a simpler, lighter, compact, and robust apparatus compared to magnetocaloric devices of prior art. Furthermore, the invention may be run in reverse as a thermodynamic engine, receiving low-level heat and producing mechanical energy.
59 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A magneto-caloric refrigerator (MCR) comprising:
- at least one magnetic caloric effect (MCE) disk, a plurality of heat commutators, and a thermal interface fluid (TIF);
a) said MCE disk comprising an MCE ring made of suitable MCE material and formed as an annular disk; b) said heat commutators each being formed as an annular disk; c) said heat commutators arranged substantially equally spaced on a common axis; d) said MCE disks arranged to interspace said heat commutators, e) said MCE disks arranged to rotate about their axis of rotational symmetry and with respect to said commutators; f) each said MCE ring being separated from adjacent heat commutator by an axial gap; g) said TIF arranged to substantially fill said axial gap; h) each said commutator comprising a thermally conducting core, a thermally insulating portion, and a permanent magnet; and i) said permanent magnet arranged so that a rotation of said MCE ring cyclically exposes said MCE material to a sequence of (i) relatively low magnetic field, (ii) increasing magnetic field, (iii) strong magnetic field, and (iv) decreasing magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- at least one magnetic caloric effect (MCE) disk, a plurality of heat commutators, and a thermal interface fluid (TIF);
Specification