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  Hybrid magnetic refrigeratorUSPTO Application #: 20070240428Title: Hybrid magnetic refrigerator Abstract: A compact and highly efficient hybrid magnetic refrigerator includes a hybrid refrigerating apparatus wherein an evaporator of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle and a heat exchanger of a magnetic refrigeration cycle are thermally connected. The magnetic refrigeration cycle is provided with a magnetic refrigeration unit in which a magnetic substance dissipates and absorbs heat according to the increase and decrease of a magnetic field in order to heat and cool a refrigerant circulating in its vicinity. The heated refrigerant is cooled by the evaporator of the vapor compression refrigeration cycle and the cooled refrigerant is supplied to the heat exchanger cooling the outside air. (end of abstract)
Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. - Alexandria, VA, US Inventors: Akihiro Koga, Katsumi Hisano, Hideo Iwasaki, Akihiro Kasahara, Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Takuya Takahashi USPTO Applicaton #: 20070240428 - Class: 062003100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Refrigeration, Using Electrical Or Magnetic Effect The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070240428. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-095945, filed Mar. 30, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a compact size hybrid magnetic refrigerator. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Conventionally, a vapor compression refrigeration cycle has been generally utilized for a refrigerating apparatus for domestic, household and business use (refrigeration ability: around 0.1 to 1 kW). As is well known, this vapor compression refrigeration cycle is provided with a compressor to compress a refrigerant and an expansion valve to expand the refrigerant. A condenser to dissipate heat from the refrigerant and an evaporator to absorb heat in the refrigerant are arranged in the refrigerant channel between the compressor and the expansion valve. Accordingly, in this vapor compression refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant supplied from the compressor dissipates heat at the condenser. The refrigerant supplied from the condenser is expanded at the expansion valve and is supplied to the evaporator where heat is absorbed. The refrigerant is again supplied to the compressor and is compressed. The characteristics of this vapor compression refrigeration cycle are given as a temperature-entropy diagram (T-s diagram) and a compression-enthalpy diagram (p-h diagram), and a reversible cycle is explained in both diagrams. [0006] In addition, for special purposes limited to very low temperature environments, JP-A 2002-106999 discloses a magnetic refrigeration cycle utilizing a magnetic substance (so-called magnetic working material), which has an exothermic and endothermic effect according to the increase and decrease of a magnetic field. This magnetic refrigeration cycle is arranged with a superconducting magnet which applies a magnetic field in the refrigerant channel path between the heat exchangers, and a magnetic working material having magneto-caloric effect is taken in and out in this magnetic field. Accordingly, in this magnetic refrigeration cycle, by the operation of applying or eliminating a magnetic field to the magnetic working material, exothermic heat and endotherm from the magnetic working material are given to the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel path. The cooled refrigerant is supplied to a radiator, and the refrigerant given heat is supplied to an exhaust heat exchanger. The magnetic working material is not limited to a material that generates heat by the application of magnetic field and absorbs heat when a magnetic field is eliminated, but is known as a material that absorbs heat when a magnetic field is applied and generates heat when a magnetic field is eliminated. [0007] In recent years, demands for a refrigerating apparatus which is able to refrigerate down to a low temperature region (-30 degrees Celsius or lower), such as to preserve freshness of food products using quick freezing (-30 degrees Celsius or lower), is increasing for domestic, household and business use. However, conventionally, in order to realize a low temperature region (-30 degrees Celsius) for a vapor compression refrigeration cycle used generally in, such as, households, it is required to increase its compression ratio. By responding to such demand, a lubricant or coefficient of performance (COP) inside the refrigerating apparatus may deteriorate. Generally, a multistage compression and single stage expansion refrigerating cycle is employed as measures to prevent such occurrence. However, such measures are said to be unsuitable for domestic and household use due to the complexity of refrigerating system and the high-cost of such apparatus. [0008] On the other hand, the magnetic refrigeration cycle requires an extremely large increase and decrease of the magnetic field in order to generate a large difference in temperature in a magnetic refrigeration cycle using a magnetic substance having a known magneto-caloric effect. Accordingly, quite an ambitious and sophisticated apparatus likewise a superconducting magnet is required. In a low magnetic field, which can be realized by a permanent magnet, a magnetic substance being able to generate a large temperature difference is already developed, and a magnetic refrigeration cycle using such magnetic substance has been disclosed in JP-A 2002-106999 (KOKAI). BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid refrigerating apparatus comprising a vapor compression refrigeration cycle device in which a first refrigerant is circulated and a magnetic refrigeration cycle device in which a second refrigerant is circulated, [0010] the vapor compression refrigeration cycle device comprising: [0011] a compressor configured to compress the first refrigerant; [0012] a condenser configured to condense the first refrigerant supplied from the compressor to dissipate heat from the first refrigerant; [0013] an expansion valve configured to expand the first refrigerant supplied from the condenser; and [0014] an evaporator configured to evaporate the first refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve to absorb heat from the second refrigerant, the first refrigerant being supplied from the evaporator to the compressor; [0015] the magnetic refrigeration cycle device comprising: [0016] a pump configured to circulate the second refrigerant; [0017] a magnetic refrigeration unit including a magnet device configured to generate a magnetic field, a magnetic substance configured to dissipate or absorb heat in accordance with the increase and decrease of the magnetic field applied from the magnetic device, and a heat exchange structure having an endothermic part in which the second refrigerant is supplied and the magnetic substance absorbs heat from the second refrigerant; [0018] a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the first and second refrigerants, to which the second refrigerant is supplied, the first heat exchanger being thermally connected to the evaporator of the vapor compression refrigeration cycle, and the second refrigerant in the first heat exchanger being cooled by the evaporator; and [0019] a second heat exchanger configured to cool an atmosphere outside the second heat exchanger, the cooled second refrigerant being supplied to the second heat exchanger. [0020] Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid refrigerating apparatus comprising the vapor compression refrigeration cycle device in which a first refrigerant is circulated and a magnetic refrigeration cycle device in which a second refrigerant is circulated, [0021] the vapor compression refrigeration cycle device comprising: Continue reading... Full patent description for Hybrid magnetic refrigerator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hybrid magnetic refrigerator patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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