Magnetic refrigeration system with unequal blows

US9927155B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Astronautics Corporation of America · US

Inventors

• Andre Michael Boeder · Monona, US
• Jeremy Jonathan Chell · Madison, US
• Steve Alan Jacobs · Madison, US
• John P. Leonard · Huntsville, US
• Jon Jay Auringer · Poynette, US
• Carl Bruno Zimm · Madison, US
• Bryant Wayne Mueller · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2014
• Grant date: Mar 27, 2018
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02B30/00
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A magnetic refrigeration apparatus includes beds of magnetocaloric material with a hot side and a cold side. The apparatus also includes a magnet to apply a magnetic field to the beds, a heat transfer fluid, a pump to circulate the heat transfer fluid, a hot side heat exchanger, a cold side heat exchanger, and a controller to control the flow of heat transfer fluid from the cold side to the hot side of the beds when the magnetic field on the beds is high at an average flow rate of ΦH for a duration ΔtH. The controller also controls the flow of heat transfer fluid from the hot side of the beds to the cold side of the beds when the magnetic field on the beds is low at an average flow rate of ΦC for a duration ΔtC, where ΔtC>ΔtH and ΦC<ΦH.