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 portions of an MCE material to strong and weak magnetic field while coordinating the heat flow between the exposed portions by heat bridges to move the heat up the thermal gradient. The invention may be practiced with multiple MCE material portions or segments 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:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- US Dept. of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1892934
- Patent Number(s):
- 11333414
- Application Number:
- 16/873,068
- Assignee:
- Vetrovec, Jan, Larkspur, CO (United States)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
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
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0013769
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 01/27/2020
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Vetrovec, Jan. Magnetocaloric refrigerator. United States: N. p., 2022.
Web.
Vetrovec, Jan. Magnetocaloric refrigerator. United States.
Vetrovec, Jan. Tue .
"Magnetocaloric refrigerator". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1892934.
@article{osti_1892934,
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 portions of an MCE material to strong and weak magnetic field while coordinating the heat flow between the exposed portions by heat bridges to move the heat up the thermal gradient. The invention may be practiced with multiple MCE material portions or segments 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 = {2022},
month = {5}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Apparatus and methods for performing switching in magnetic refrigeration systems using thermoelectric switches
patent, July 2003
- Ghoshal, Uttam Shyamalindu
- US Patent Document 6,595,004
Magnetic refrigeration apparatus with heat pipes
patent, February 1987
- Barclay, John A.; Prenger, F. Coyne
- US Patent Document 4,642,994