Apparatus and methods for cooling and liquefying a fluid using magnetic refrigeration
US6467274B2 · kind B2 · utility
71Cited by
9References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
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Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B30/00
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for magnetically cooling and liquefying a process stream include a plurality of active magnetic regenerative refrigerators (AMRRs) configured in parallel or in series and parallel. Active magnetic regenerative liquefiers (AMRLs) include such AMRRs and are configured to liquefy, for example, natural gas or hydrogen. In specific embodiments, a magnetic field is produced by hexagonally arrayed solenoids and magnetic refrigerants are selected to provide a thermal mass that is dependent on an applied magnetic field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.