Magnetic Heat Pump Apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a magnetic heat pump apparatus which solves a problem caused by the use of a rotary valve and which has improved efficiency. The magnetic heat pump apparatus includes magnetic working bodies 11 A and 11 B, which are provided with magnetic working substances 13 having a magnetocaloric effect and in which a heat transfer medium is circulated, permanent magnets 6 which change the size of a magnetic field to be applied to the magnetic working substances, displacers 8 which cause the heat transfer medium to reciprocate between a high-temperature end 14 and a low-temperature end 16 of each of the magnetic working bodies, and external heat transfer medium circulation circuits 27 and 28 which have external heat exchangers 19 and 22 and which circulate a second heat transfer medium. The external heat transfer medium circulation circuits cause heat exchange to be carried out between the second heat transfer medium and the heat transfer medium of each of the magnetic working bodies, and then circulate the second heat transfer medium which has been subjected to the heat exchange to external heat exchangers.

1 . A magnetic heat pump apparatus comprising:
 a magnetic working body which includes a magnetic working substance having a magnetocaloric effect and in which a heat transfer medium is circulated;   a magnetic field changing device which changes the size of a magnetic field to be applied to the magnetic working substance;   a displacer which reciprocates the heat transfer medium between a high-temperature end and a low-temperature end of the magnetic working body; and   an external heat transfer medium circulation circuit which has an external heat exchanger and which circulates a second heat transfer medium,   wherein the external heat transfer medium circulation circuit causes the second heat transfer medium and the heat transfer medium of the magnetic working body to carry out heat exchange, and circulates the second heat transfer medium that has been subjected to the heat exchange to the external heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic heat pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first external heat transfer medium circulation circuit which has the external heat exchanger on a heat dissipation side; and   a second external heat transfer medium circulation circuit which has the external heat exchanger on a heat absorption side,   wherein the first external heat transfer medium circulation circuit causes the second heat transfer medium and a heat transfer medium on a high-temperature end side of the magnetic working body to carry out heat exchange, and circulates the second heat transfer medium which has been subjected to the heat exchange to the external heat exchanger on the heat dissipation side, and   the second external heat transfer medium circulation circuit causes the second heat transfer medium and a heat transfer medium on a low-temperature end side of the magnetic working body to carry out heat exchange, and circulates the second heat transfer medium which has been subjected to the heat exchange to the external heat exchanger on the heat absorption side.   
     
     
         3 . The magnetic heat pump apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a high-temperature end side displacer provided on the high-temperature end side of the magnetic working body; and   a low-temperature end side displacer provided on the low-temperature end side of the magnetic working body,   wherein the high-temperature end side displacer and the low-temperature end side displacer are placed back to back.