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Magnetic heat exchanging unit for magnetic refrigerator

Magnetic heat exchanging unit for magnetic refrigerator description/claims

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2006/004671, filed on Nov. 9, 2006, entitled “Magnetic Heat-Exchanging Unit for Magnetic Refrigerator,” which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Application No. KR 10-2005-0107307 filed on Nov. 10, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a magnetic heat exchange unit for a magnetic refrigerator including a magnet.

A conventional magnetic refrigerator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,560. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with the conventional magnetic refrigerator, while a heat transfer fluid 17 entering into a cold side inlet port 22 through a cold side inlet port pipe 21 flows to a hot side outlet port 34, the heat transfer fluid 17 absorbs a heat generated by a magnetocaloric effect of a magnetocaloric material 12 having a magnetic field applied thereto and exits to a hot side outlet port pipe 33 through a hot side outlet port ports 34 to cool the magnetocaloric material 12. A hot side sequentially passes the hot side outlet port pipe 33, a valve 71, a pump 60, and a hot heat exchanger 62 and flows into a magnetic heat exchange compartment 13. In a hot side inlet port pipe 31, the hot side is divided into the hot side inlet port pipe 31 and a cold side outlet port 23, and meets a cold side at a cold side outlet port pipe 24 and proceed to a valve 74. When the hot side moves from a hot side inlet port 32 to the cold side outlet port pipe 24, the hot side is cooled by passing the magnetocaloric material 12 already cooled by the hot side. The cold side that has passed through the valve 74 passes a cold heat exchanger 63 and flows to pipes 83 and 21 to repeat a cycle (a detailed description is omitted. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,560 for omitted reference numerals).

However, the conventional magnetic heat exchange unit 13 comprises a magnetic heat exchange compartment including a container containing the magnetocaloric material passing a flow of the heat transfer fluid.

When the heat transfer fluid enters through an inlet mesh, passes through the heat transfer fluid and exits via a outlet mesh, a separation of the heat transfer fluid in a form of a powder and the heat transfer fluid is established by the outlet mesh, thereby the heat transfer fluid is lost.

Moreover, the heat transfer fluid is accumulated at the outlet mesh which the exit of the heat transfer fluid according to an intensity of a flow of the heat transfer fluid to block the flow of the heat transfer fluid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic heat exchange unit for a magnetic refrigerator that prevents a loss of a heat transfer fluid and that allows the heat transfer fluid to flow smoothly.

In order to achieve the above-described object, there is provided a magnetic heat exchange unit, comprising: a container including an inlet port, an outlet port and a magnetic heat exchange chamber; a magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetic heat exchange chamber, the magnetocaloric material exchanging heat by allowing a flow of a heat transfer fluid to pass through; and a magnet for applying an attractive force to the magnetocaloric material.

In accordance with the magnetic heat exchange unit, the loss of the magnetocaloric material is suppressed by holding the magnetocaloric material with the magnet, thereby allowing the heat transfer fluid to flow smoothly.

The magnet may be attached to the container or may be disposed in the magnetocaloric material.

The magnetic heat exchange unit in accordance with the present invention may further comprise a mesh disposed at the inlet port and the outlet port, respectively to further prevent the loss of the magnetocaloric material.

In addition, it is preferable that the magnetocaloric material comprises a gadolinium.

According to present invention, a magnetic heat exchange unit for a magnetic refrigerator that prevents a loss of a heat transfer fluid and that allows the heat transfer fluid to flow smoothly can be provided.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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