Combined-loop magnetic refrigeration system

Abstract

A magnetic refrigeration system having a magnetocaloric material for adjusting the temperature of a transfer fluid is disclosed. The magnetic refrigeration system includes tubing filled with the transfer fluid that flows in a first pass through a heat exchanger having a magnetocaloric material that is magnetized by one or more electromagnets and heats the transfer fluid. The magnetocaloric material is magnetized and demagnetized by one or more electromagnets controlled by a timer/controller device. A three-way solenoid valve controls the flow of heated transfer fluid from the heat exchanger and directs the heated transfer fluid to a warm heat exchanger for cooling of the transfer fluid. The cooled transfer fluid is then passed a second time through the heat ex changer in which the magnetocaloric material is demagnetized for further cooling of the cooled transfer fluid.

1 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 a transfer fluid that flows through a tubing in communication with a brazed heat exchanger, the brazed heat exchanger including alternating layers consisting of the tubing and a magnetocaloric material;   one or more electromagnets being operative for magnetizing and demagnetizing the magnetocaloric material, a controller device controls the operation of the one or more electromagnets such that the transfer fluid is heated in a first pass through the brazed heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material is magnetized by the one or more electromagnets and cooled in a second pass through the brazed heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material is demagnetized;   a warm heat exchanger in selective fluid flow communication with the brazed heat exchanger for transferring heat from the transfer fluid after the first pass of the transfer fluid through the brazed heat exchanger;   a cold heat exchanger cools a refrigerator cabinet when the transfer fluid flowing through the cold heat exchanger provides a cooling effect to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet after the second pass of the transfer fluid through the brazed heat exchanger; and   a three-way valve for directing the flow of transfer fluid from the brazed heat exchanger to either the warm heat exchanger during the first pass of the transfer fluid or the cold heat exchanger during the second pass of the transfer fluid as one cycle of the magnetic refrigeration system is completed.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer fluid is water, a water-ethylene glycol mixture, or a helium gas. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a circulation pump for circulating fluid flow of the transfer fluid through the tubing;   
     
     
         4 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetocaloric material generates a magnetocaloric effect when the one or more electromagnets magnetizes and demagnetizes the magnetocaloric material. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electromagnets generate a magnetic field in the range of between 0.5-10 Tesla. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way valve includes a cold fluidic outlet in selective fluid flow communication with the cold heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way valve includes a warm fluidic outlet in selective fluid flow communication with the warm heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one one-way valve for preventing flow of the transfer fluid directly from the warm heat exchanger to the cool heat exchanger 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration cabinet is exposed to an outside ambient temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 10 , wherein the ambient temperature is about 25 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer fluid is heated during the first pass to a temperature range of between 25.1-26.0 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer fluid is cooled during a second pass to a temperature range of between 24.0-24.9 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration cabinet is cooled down to a temperature range of between 19.0 to 23.0 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 A timer/controller component for controlling the operation of the three-way valve such that either the warm fluidic outlet is in fluid flow communication with the warm heat exchanger or the cold fluidic outlet is in fluid flow communication with the warm heat exchanger.   
     
     
         16 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 a transfer fluid that flows through a tubing in communication with a brazed heat exchanger, the brazed heat exchanger including alternating layers of the tubing and a magnetocaloric foam, the magnetocaloric foam containing a magnetocaloric material;   one or more electromagnets being operative for magnetizing and demagnetizing the magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetocaloric foam, a controller device controls the operation of the one or more electromagnets such that the transfer fluid is heated in a first pass through the brazed heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material in the magnetocaloric foam is magnetized by the one or more electromagnets and cooled in a second pass through the brazed heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material in the magnetocaloric foam is demagnetized;   a circulation pump for circulating fluid flow of the transfer fluid through the tubing;   a warm heat exchanger in selective fluid flow communication with the brazed heat exchanger for transferring heat from the transfer fluid after the first pass of the transfer fluid through the brazed heat exchanger;   a cold heat exchanger cools a refrigerator cabinet when the transfer fluid flowing through the cold heat exchanger provides a cooling effect to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet after the second pass of the transfer fluid through the brazed heat exchanger; and   a three-way valve for directing the flow of transfer fluid from the brazed heat exchanger to either the warm heat exchanger during the first pass of the transfer fluid or the cold heat exchanger during the second pass of the transfer fluid as one cycle of the magnetic refrigeration system is completed.   
     
     
         17 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 a transfer fluid that flows through a tubing in communication with a brazed heat exchanger, the brazed heat exchanger including an enclosure in communication with the tubing, the enclosure being filled with a magnetocaloric foam in which the transfer fluid flows through, the magnetocaloric foam containing a magnetocaloric material;   one or more electromagnets being operative for magnetizing and demagnetizing the magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetocaloric foam, a controller device controls the operation of the one or more electromagnets such that the transfer fluid is heated in a first pass through the brazed heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material in the magnetocaloric foam is magnetized and cooled in a second pass through the brazed heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material contained in the magnetocaloric foam is demagnetized;   a circulation pump for circulating fluid flow of the transfer fluid through the tubing;   a warm heat exchanger in selective fluid flow communication with the brazed heat exchanger for transferring heat from the transfer fluid after the first pass of the transfer fluid through the brazed heat exchanger;   a cold heat exchanger cools a refrigerator cabinet when transfer fluid flowing through the cold heat exchanger for provides a cooling effect to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet after the second pass of the transfer fluid through the brazed heat exchanger; and   a three-way valve for directing the flow of transfer fluid from the brazed heat exchanger to either the warm heat exchanger during the first pass of transfer fluid or the cold heat exchanger during the second pass of the transfer fluid as one cycle of the magnetic refrigeration system is completed.   
     
     
         18 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 a transfer fluid that flows through a tubing in communication with a coaxial heat exchanger, the coaxial heat exchanger including tubing defining an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube, wherein the outer tube is filled with a transfer fluid and the inner tube is filled with a magnetocaloric material;   one or more electromagnets being operative for magnetizing and demagnetizing the magnetocaloric material, a controller device controls the operation of the one or more electromagnets such that the transfer fluid is heated in a first pass through the coaxial heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material is magnetized by the one or more electromagnets and cooled in a second pass through the coaxial heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material is demagnetized;   a circulation pump for circulating fluid flow of the transfer fluid through the tubing;   a warm heat exchanger in selective fluid flow communication with the coaxial heat exchanger for transferring heat from the transfer fluid after the first pass of the transfer fluid through the coaxial heat exchanger;   a cold heat exchanger cools a refrigerator cabinet when the transfer fluid flowing through the cold heat exchanger provides a cooling effect to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet after the second pass of the transfer fluid through the coaxial heat exchanger; and   a three-way valve for directing the flow of transfer fluid from the coaxial heat exchanger to either the warm heat exchanger during the first pass of the transfer fluid or the cold heat exchanger during the second pass of the transfer fluid as one cycle of the magnetic refrigeration is completed.   
     
     
         19 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 a transfer fluid that flows through a tubing in communication with a U-tube heat exchanger, the U-tube heat exchanger including an enclosure that encases U-shaped tubing filled with a magnetocaloric material, a plurality of baffles being spaced within the enclosure to guide the flow of transfer fluid through the U-tube heat exchanger;   one or more electromagnets being operative for magnetizing and demagnetizing the magnetocaloric material, a controller controls the operation of the one or more electromagnets such that the transfer fluid is heated in a first pass through the U-tube heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material is magnetized by the one or more electromagnets and cooled in a second pass through the U-tube heat exchanger when the magnetocaloric material is demagnetized;   a circulation pump for circulating fluid flow of the transfer fluid through the tubing;   a warm heat exchanger in selective fluid flow communication with the U-tube heat exchanger for transferring heat from the transfer fluid after the first pass of the transfer fluid through the U-tube heat exchanger;   a cold heat exchanger cools a refrigerator cabinet when the transfer fluid flowing through the cold heat exchanger provides a cooling effect to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet after the second pass of the transfer fluid through the U-tube heat exchangers; and   a three-way valve for directing the flow of transfer fluid from the U-tube heat exchanger to either the warm heat exchanger during the first pass of the transfer fluid or the cold heat exchanger during the second pass of the transfer fluid as one cycle of the magnetic refrigeration system is completed.   
     
     
         20 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 a transfer fluid, that flows through a tubing in communication with a fluidized bed, the fluidized bed including a packed bed in communication with the tubing, the packed bed including membranes and a magnetocaloric material for mixing with the transfer fluid as the transfer fluid flows through the pack bed;   one or more electromagnets being operative for magnetizing and demagnetizing the magnetocaloric material; controls the operation of the one or more electromagnets such that the transfer fluid is heated in a first pass through the fluidized bed when the magnetocaloric material is magnetized by the one or more electromagnets and cooled in a second pass through the fluidized bed when the magnetocaloric material is demagnetized;   a circulation pump for circulating fluid flow of the transfer fluid through the tubing;   a warm heat exchanger in selective fluid flow communication with the fluidized bed for transferring heat from the transfer fluid after the first pass of the transfer fluid through the fluidized bed;   a cold heat exchanger cools with a refrigerator cabinet when the transfer flowing through the fluidized bed provides a cooling effect to the interior of the refrigerator cabinet after the second pass of the transfer fluid through the fluidized bed; and   a three-way valve for directing the flow of transfer fluid from the fluidized bed to either the warm heat exchanger or the cold heat exchanger after the second pass of the transfer fluid as one cycle of the magnetic refrigeration is completed.