Bipolar pulse field for magnetic refrigeration

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869569

Lubell, Martin S ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN

A magnetic refrigeration apparatus includes first and second steady state magnets, each having a field of substantially equal strength and opposite polarity, first and second bodies made of magnetocaloric material disposed respectively in the influence of the fields of the first and second steady state magnets, and a pulsed magnet, concentric with the first and second steady state magnets, and having a field which cycles between the fields of the first and second steady state magnets, thereby cyclically magnetizing and demagnetizing and thus heating and cooling the first and second bodies. Heat exchange apparatus of suitable design can be used to expose a working fluid to the first and second bodies of magnetocaloric material. A controller is provided to synchronize the flow of working fluid with the changing states of magnetization of the first and second bodies.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5357756
• OSTI ID: 869569
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/62/505/
apparatus
bipolar
bipolar pulse
bodies
changing
concentric
controller
cooling
cycles
cyclically
demagnetizing
design
disposed
equal
equal strength
exchange
expose
field
fields
flow
fluid
heat
heat exchange
heating
influence
magnet
magnetic
magnetic refrigeration
magnetization
magnetizing
magnetocaloric
magnets
material
material disposed
opposite
opposite polarity
polarity
provided
pulse
pulse field
pulsed
pulsed magnet
refrigeration
refrigeration apparatus
respectively
steady
strength
substantially
substantially equal
suitable
synchronize