Magnetocaloric refrigerator

Title: Magnetocaloric refrigerator

Abstract

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.

Inventors:: Vetrovec, Jan

Issue Date:: 2020-01-28

Research Org.:: US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington DC (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1632493

Patent Number(s):: 10544965

Application Number:: 15/731,852

Assignee:: Vetrovec, Jan, Larkspur, CO (United States))

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION

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Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02B - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
Y02B30/00 - Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
F28F2013/008 - {Variable conductance materials

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
F25B2321/0022 - with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
F28D15/02 - in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes {

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
F25B2321/0021 - with a static fixed magnet
F25B21/00 - Machines, plant, or systems, using electric or magnetic effects {

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DOE Contract Number:: SC0013769

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 08/15/2017

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Formats


                    Vetrovec, Jan. Magnetocaloric refrigerator.  United States: N. p., 2020. 
        Web.

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                    Vetrovec, Jan. Magnetocaloric refrigerator.  United States.

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                    Vetrovec, Jan. Tue .  
        "Magnetocaloric refrigerator".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1632493.

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@article{osti_1632493,

  title        = {Magnetocaloric refrigerator},

  author       = {Vetrovec, Jan},

  abstractNote = {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.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2020},

  month        = {1}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Apparatus and methods for performing switching in magnetic refrigeration systems
patent, July 2003

Ghoshal, Uttam Shyamalindu
US Patent Document 6,588,216
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6588216

Magnetic refrigeration apparatus with heat pipes
patent, February 1987

Barclay, John A.; Prenger, Jr., F. Coyne
US Patent Document 4,642,994
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4642994

Magnetic air conditioner
patent, March 2017

Takahashi, Hidekazu; Tasaki, Yutaka; Yasuda, Yoshiteru
US Patent Document 9,599,374
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=9599374

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Title: Magnetocaloric refrigerator

Abstract

Citation Formats

Apparatus and methods for performing switching in magnetic refrigeration systems patent, July 2003

Magnetic refrigeration apparatus with heat pipes patent, February 1987

Magnetic air conditioner patent, March 2017

Apparatus and methods for performing switching in magnetic refrigeration systems
patent, July 2003

Magnetic refrigeration apparatus with heat pipes
patent, February 1987

Magnetic air conditioner
patent, March 2017