Active magnetic regenerator
Abstract
An apparatus and method for refrigeration are disclosed which provides efficient refrigeration over temperature ranges in excess of 20/sup 0/C and which requires no maintenance and is, therefore, usable on an unmanned satellite. The apparatus comprises a superconducting magnet which may be solenoidal. A piston comprising a substance such as a rare earth substance which is maintained near its Curie temperature reciprocates through the bore of the solenoidal magnet. A magnetic drive rod is connected to the piston and appropriate heat sinks are connected thereto. The piston is driven by a suitable mechanical drive such as an electric motor and cam. In practicing the invention, the body of the piston is magnetized and demagnetized as it moves through the magnetic field of the solenoid to approximate any of the following cycles or a condition thereof as well as, potentially, other cycles: Brayton, Carnot, Ericsson, and Stirling. Advantages of the present invention include: that refrigeration can be accomplished over at least a 20/sup 0/C scale at superconducting temperatures as well as at more conventional temperatures; very high efficiency, high reliability, and small size. (LCL)
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5740115
- Application Number:
- ON: DE82004463
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; MAGNETIC REFRIGERATORS; DESIGN; OPERATION; CRYOGENICS; GADOLINIUM COMPOUNDS; REGENERATORS; SPACE VEHICLES; SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS; THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES; VERY LOW TEMPERATURE; ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; ELECTROMAGNETS; EQUIPMENT; MAGNETS; RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS; REFRIGERATORS; SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES; VEHICLES; 420201* - Engineering- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
Citation Formats
Barclay, J A, and Steyert, W A. Active magnetic regenerator. United States: N. p., 1981.
Web.
Barclay, J A, & Steyert, W A. Active magnetic regenerator. United States.
Barclay, J A, and Steyert, W A. Tue .
"Active magnetic regenerator". United States.
@article{osti_5740115,
title = {Active magnetic regenerator},
author = {Barclay, J A and Steyert, W A},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for refrigeration are disclosed which provides efficient refrigeration over temperature ranges in excess of 20/sup 0/C and which requires no maintenance and is, therefore, usable on an unmanned satellite. The apparatus comprises a superconducting magnet which may be solenoidal. A piston comprising a substance such as a rare earth substance which is maintained near its Curie temperature reciprocates through the bore of the solenoidal magnet. A magnetic drive rod is connected to the piston and appropriate heat sinks are connected thereto. The piston is driven by a suitable mechanical drive such as an electric motor and cam. In practicing the invention, the body of the piston is magnetized and demagnetized as it moves through the magnetic field of the solenoid to approximate any of the following cycles or a condition thereof as well as, potentially, other cycles: Brayton, Carnot, Ericsson, and Stirling. Advantages of the present invention include: that refrigeration can be accomplished over at least a 20/sup 0/C scale at superconducting temperatures as well as at more conventional temperatures; very high efficiency, high reliability, and small size. (LCL)},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}