Heat pump with restorative operation for magneto caloric material
First Claim
1. A method of operating a heat pump system, the heat pump system comprising a heat transfer fluid, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and magneto caloric material having an original Curie temperature range, Δ
- TOC, the method comprising;
circulating the heat transfer fluid through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the magneto caloric material at a rate of flow;
heating the heat transfer fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger during the circulating;
cooling the heat transfer fluid flowing through the second heat exchanger during the circulating;
reducing the rate of flow of the heat transfer fluid to a lower rate of flow through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the magneto caloric material after the circulating has caused a degradation such that the magneto caloric material has a Curie temperature range different from the original Curie temperature range Δ
TOC;
cooling the heat transfer fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger after the reducing;
restoring the Curie temperature range of the magneto caloric material to the original Curie temperature range Δ
TOC; and
increasing the rate of flow of the heat transfer fluid after the restoring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat pump system is provided that uses MCM to provide for heating or cooling. The heat pump can include one or more stages of MCM, each stage having an original peak Curie temperature. In the event the magneto caloric response of one or more stages of MCM degrades, the present invention provides for operating the heat pump system so that one or more stages of MCM are held at a different temperature from the original peak Curie temperature so as to restore the MCM to its original peak Curie temperature or to within a certain interval thereof. The present invention can be used with e.g., an appliance, air-conditioning systems (heating or cooling), or other devices using such a heat pump system as well.
103 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of operating a heat pump system, the heat pump system comprising a heat transfer fluid, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and magneto caloric material having an original Curie temperature range, Δ
- TOC, the method comprising;
circulating the heat transfer fluid through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the magneto caloric material at a rate of flow; heating the heat transfer fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger during the circulating; cooling the heat transfer fluid flowing through the second heat exchanger during the circulating; reducing the rate of flow of the heat transfer fluid to a lower rate of flow through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the magneto caloric material after the circulating has caused a degradation such that the magneto caloric material has a Curie temperature range different from the original Curie temperature range Δ
TOC;cooling the heat transfer fluid flowing through the first heat exchanger after the reducing; restoring the Curie temperature range of the magneto caloric material to the original Curie temperature range Δ
TOC; andincreasing the rate of flow of the heat transfer fluid after the restoring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- TOC, the method comprising;
Specification