Magnetocaloric device

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetocaloric device, comprising a field generator, arranged to provide a changing external magnetic field and a magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement. The magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement comprises a magnetocaloric element, wherein the magnetocaloric element comprises magnetocaloric material, and wherein the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement is arranged to be exposed to the changing external magnetic field of the field generator. Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the magnetocaloric device further comprises an insulating means wherein the insulating means is arranged such that the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement is hermetically surrounded by the insulating means.

1 . A magnetocaloric device, comprising:
 a field generator, arranged to provide a changing external magnetic field,   a magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement, comprising a magnetocaloric element, wherein the magnetocaloric element comprises magnetocaloric material, and wherein the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement is arranged to be exposed to the changing external magnetic field of the field generator,   wherein in that the magnetocaloric device further comprises:   an insulator, wherein the insulator is arranged such that the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement is hermetically surrounded by the insulator.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid directing system, comprising at least a first and a second channel, arranged to direct a fluid through the first channel to the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement and to direct the fluid through the second channel away from the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement, and wherein the insulator further comprise a flow-through for a passing of the fluid through the at least first and second channel.   
     
     
         3 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulator is an insulating casing, which is at least partly not in contact with the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement, and wherein the insulation casing is filled or adapted to be filled with an insulation. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulator is an insulating coating, which is completely in contact with the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 3 , wherein the insulation has a lower thermal conductivity than atmospheric air. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 3 , wherein the flow-trough is arranged to leave a gap between insulating casing and the at least first and second channel and wherein a sealing member is arranged to seal the gap. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a filling valve arranged at the insulating casing and configured to allow a filling of the insulating casing with the insulation.   
     
     
         8 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 3 , wherein the insulation is a dry gas. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 8 , wherein the dry gas comprises dry air and/or an inert gas, nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton or xenon. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , wherein a drying agent is provided in the insulator. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the field generator and the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement are both located in the insulator. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 11 , wherein all further parts of the magnetocaloric device are located in the insulator. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 11 , wherein the insulating casing is formed as an evacuable vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetocaloric device comprises a crankshaft, which is arranged and configured to move the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement and the field generator with respect to each other during an operation of the magnetocaloric device, and wherein the insulator allows an access to the crankshaft from an outer side of the insulating means. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 14 , wherein the crankshaft is arranged to leave a shaft gap between insulating casing and the crankshaft and wherein a shaft sealing member is arranged to seal the shaft gap. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetocaloric device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support structure, which is arranged to support the field generator and the magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement, and wherein the insulator allows an access to the support structure from the outer side of the insulator to allow an attaching of the magnetocaloric device to an external object.   
     
     
         17 . The magnetocaloric device according to claim, wherein the magnetocaloric device comprises at least one further magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement comprising a further magnetocaloric element, wherein the magnetocaloric element comprises magnetocaloric material, and wherein the further magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement is arranged to be exposed to the changing external magnetic field, and wherein a further insulator is provided such that the further magnetocaloric regenerator arrangement is located in the further insulator.