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.

1 . 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, 
 the vapor compression refrigeration cycle device comprising:    a compressor configured to compress the first refrigerant;    a condenser configured to condense the first refrigerant supplied from the compressor to dissipate heat from the first refrigerant;    an expansion valve configured to expand the first refrigerant supplied from the condenser; and    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;    the magnetic refrigeration cycle device comprising:    a pump configured to circulate the second refrigerant;    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;    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    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.    
   
   
       2 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange structure have an exothermic part in which the second refrigerant is supplied and the magnetic substance dissipates heat into the second refrigerant.  
   
   
       3 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second refrigerant is supplied to the endothermic part after absorbing heat in the evaporator.  
   
   
       4 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the exothermic part is arranged so as to be close to the first heat exchanger  
   
   
       5 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the exothermic part is arranged at an upstream side of the second refrigerant in respect to the first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       6 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein an heat insulating unit is provided between the exothermic part and the endothermic part.  
   
   
       7 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange structure includes a first pipe in which the first refrigerant flows and a second pipe in which the second refrigerant flows, and the first and second pipes are embedded in the heat exchange structure to form the evaporator and the first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       8 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the second pipe is provided with a high-temperature side section in which the heated second refrigerant flows and a low-temperature side section in which the cooled second refrigerant flows, the high-temperature side section and the low-temperature side section are arranged in parallel, the heat exchange structure includes a tubular section which is arranged in the heat exchange structure so as to penetrate the high-temperature side section and the low-temperature side section of the second pipe for the second refrigerant to form a third heat exchanger, and the magnetic substance is arranged inside the tubular section.  
   
   
       9 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to shift the magnetic substance.  
   
   
       10 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor includes a piston configured to shift the magnetic material.  
   
   
       11 . 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, 
 the vapor compression refrigeration cycle device comprising:    a first channel in which the first refrigerant is circulated;    a compressor, provided in the first channel, configured to compress a first refrigerant;    an expansion valve, provided in the first channel, configured to expand the first refrigerant;    a condenser configured to dissipate heat from the first refrigerant, the condenser being provided in the channel between the compressor and the expansion valve; and    an evaporator configured to absorb heat from outside and transfer heat to the first refrigerant, the evaporator being provided in the channel between the expansion valve and the compressor;    the magnetic refrigeration cycle device comprising: a pump configured to circulate the second refrigerant; a branch unit configured to divide the second refrigerant supplied from the pump into second and third refrigerant channels;    a merging unit configured to merge the second and third refrigerant channels and return the second refrigerant through the second and third refrigerant channels to the pump;    a magnetic refrigeration unit including a heat exchange structure provided with endothermic and exothermic parts, a magnet device configured to apply magnetic field to either one of the endothermic part and the exothermic part, and a magnetic substance, which is shifted between the endothermic part and the exothermic part, configured to dissipate or absorb heat in accordance with the increase and decrease of the magnetic field applied from the magnetic device, the endothermic part being arranged in the second refrigerant channel to cool the second refrigerant and the exothermic part being arranged in the third refrigerant channel to heat the second refrigerant;    a first heat exchanger, configured to cool the second refrigerant, the first heat exchanger being provided in the second channel and thermally connected to the evaporator of the vapor refrigeration cycle, and the heated second refrigerant being supplied to the first heat exchanger; and    a second heat exchanger configured to cool atmosphere outside the second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger being provided in the first channel and the cooled second refrigerant being supplied to the second heat exchanger.    
   
   
       12 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the exothermic part is arranged so as to be close to the first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       13 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the exothermic part is arranged at an upstream side of the second refrigerant in respect to the first heat exchanger.  
   
   
       14 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein a heat insulating unit is provided between the exothermic part and the endothermic part.  
   
   
       15 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising an actuator configured to shift the magnetic substance.  
   
   
       16 . The hybrid refrigerating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the compressor includes a piston configured to shift the magnetic material.