Magnetocaloric refrigerator

Patent · Tue Jan 28 04:00:00 EST 2020

OSTI ID:1632493

Vetrovec, Jan

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 magnetocaloric material to strong and weak magnetic field while switching heat to and from the material. Action of the heat switches is coordinated with the magnetic field strength to move heat up the thermal gradient. 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.

• Research Organization: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Washington, D.C. (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: SC0013769
• Assignee: Vetrovec, Jan, Larkspur, CO (United States))
• Patent Number(s): 10,544,965
• Application Number: 15/731,852
• OSTI ID: 1632493
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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