Cooling system of an electromagnet assembly

Abstract

An assembly for a magnetocaloric refrigeration unit includes a magnetocaloric core. Electromagnetic coils may be wound around the magnetocaloric core. The assembly further includes one or more cooling structures to extract the waste heat generated from the electromagnet coils. In some embodiments, the assembly may include one or more magnetic yokes disposed at the longitudinal ends of the magnetocaloric core. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the magnetic yoke is provided with a micro-channel structure. In other embodiments, the assembly may include a coil housing disposed around the electromagnet coil. The coil housing includes cooling structures such as, but not limited to, a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, and a heat pipe structure.

1 . An assembly comprising:
 a magnetocaloric core;   at least one electromagnet coil wound around the magnetocaloric core; and   one or more magnetic yokes having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed at longitudinal ends of the magnetocaloric core, wherein at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface has disposed thereon a micro-channel structure, and wherein the magnetic yokes are thermally coupled to the electromagnet coil and are thermally isolated from the magnetocaloric core.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-channel structure comprises a non-magnetic material. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet coil is thermally isolated from the magnetocaloric core. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-channel structure comprises at least one of a spiral micro-channel, a radial micro-channel, and a plurality of closely disposed studs or pins. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprises a flow regulating module for regulating a coolant flow through the micro-channel structure. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnetic yokes comprise at least one of a plurality of fins disposed thereon, and one or more heat pipe structures coupled to the one or more magnetic yokes. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprises one or more coolant tubes thermally coupled to the electromagnet coil. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  further comprises a flow regulating module for regulating a coolant flow through the coolant tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7  further comprises one or more manifolds coupled to the coolant tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprises one or more manifolds coupled to the micro-channel structure. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cooling structure comprises at least one of a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, and a heat pipe structure. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly comprising:
 one or more magnetocaloric cores;   at least one electromagnet coil wound around the one or more magnetocaloric cores, wherein the one or more electromagnet coils are thermally isolated from the one or more magnetocaloric cores;   a coil housing disposed around the one or more electromagnet coils, the coil housing comprising a cooling structure disposed thereon, and wherein the coil housing comprises a magnetic material.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  further comprises one or more coolant tubes thermally coupled to the electromagnet coil. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  further comprises a flow regulating module for regulating a coolant flow through the coolant tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13  further comprises one or more manifolds coupled to the coolant tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cooling structure comprises at least one of a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, or a heat pipe structure. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a magnetocaloric heat pump comprising
 one or more magnetocaloric cores; 
 at least one electromagnet coil wound around the one or more magnetocaloric cores; and 
 an electromagnet cooling structure for extracting waste heat from the one or more electromagnet coils, thermally coupled to the at least one electromagnet coil and thermally isolated from the one or more magnetocaloric cores; 
   a source heat exchanger thermally coupled to the one or more magnetocaloric cores;   a sink heat exchanger thermally coupled to the one or more magnetocaloric cores;   an energizing module for supplying a time varying electrical current to the one or more electromagnet coils; and   a waste heat disposal module coupled to the electromagnet cooling structure for rejecting the waste heat to environment.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the electromagnet cooling structure comprises at least one of a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, and a heat pipe structure, disposed on at least one of a coil housing, and a magnetic yoke. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the electromagnet cooling structure comprises one or more coolant tubes thermally coupled to the at least one electromagnet coil. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the waste heat disposal module comprises:
 one or more manifolds coupled to the electromagnet cooling structure; and 
 a flow regulating module for regulating a coolant flow through the electromagnet cooling structure.