Abstract: A heat pump system includes a magneto-caloric material disposed within a chamber of a regenerator housing. A back iron extends between an outer magnet and an inner magnet in order to provide a flux path between the outer and inner magnets. At least a portion of the back iron extends between the outer and inner magnets along the radial direction and is not positioned coplanar with the inner and outer magnets in a plane that is perpendicular to the axial direction. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly includes a magneto-caloric cylinder with a plurality of magneto-caloric stages. Each of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages has a respective Currie temperature. The magneto-caloric cylinder has a length along an axial direction. The plurality of magneto-caloric stages is distributed along the length of the magneto-caloric cylinder. A plurality of thermal stages also has a length along the axial direction. The length of the plurality of thermal stages is less than the length of the magneto-caloric cylinder. The magneto-caloric cylinder is received within the plurality of thermal stages such that the magneto-caloric cylinder is movable along the axial direction relative to the plurality of thermal stages.

Abstract: A magnetic cooling apparatus includes first magnetic regenerators that pass a first heat transfer fluid and a first magnetocaloric material, second magnetic regenerators that pass a second heat transfer fluid having a relative lower freezing point than the first heat transfer fluid and a second magnetocaloric material having a relative lower Curie temperature than the first magnetocaloric material, a magnet that applies a magnetic field to the first magnetic regenerators and the second magnetic regenerators, a hot side heat exchanger allowing the first heat transfer fluid to emit heat, a cold side heat exchanger allowing the second heat transfer fluid to absorb heat, and an intermediate heat exchanger allowing the first heat transfer fluid flowing between cold sides of the first magnetic regenerators and the second heat transfer fluid passing through hot sides of the second magnetic regenerators to exchange heat with each other.

Abstract: An alloy made of heat treated material represented by Gd5(SixGe1?x)4 where 0.47?x?0.56 that exhibits a magnetic entropy change (??Sm) of at least 16 J/kg K, a magnetostriction of at least 2000 parts per million, and a magnetoresistance of at least 5 percent at a temperature of about 300K and below, and method of heat treating the material between 800 to 1600 degrees C. for a time to this end.

Abstract: Method of maintaining a superconducting cryolink at low temperature by a flow of liquid nitrogen produced by a liquefier feeding one end of a link section, wherein the section is fed by a single liquefier and nitrogen is drawn off from at least one intermediate point of the link section.

Abstract: Active magnetic regenerator and method using Gd.sub.5 (Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x).sub.4, where x is equal to or less than 0.5, as a magnetic refrigerant that exhibits a reversible ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic-II/ferromagnetic-I first order phase transition and extraordinary magneto-thermal properties, such as a giant magnetocaloric effect, that renders the refrigerant more efficient and useful than existing magnetic refrigerants for commercialization of magnetic regenerators. The reversible first order phase transition is tunable from approximately 30 K to approximately 290 K (near room temperature) and above by compositional adjustments. The active magnetic regenerator and method can function for refrigerating, air conditioning, and liquefying low temperature cryogens with significantly improved efficiency and operating temperature range from approximately 10 K to 300 K and above. Also an active magnetic regenerator and method using Gd.sub.5 (Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x).sub.

Abstract: The rotary dipole active magnetic regenerative refrigerator (10) of the present invention comprises a stationary first regenerative magnetic bed (12) positioned within a stationary first inner dipole magnet (14), a stationary second regenerative magnetic material bed (16) positioned within a stationary second inner dipole magnet (18), an outer dipole magnet (20) that rotates on a longitudinal axis and encloses the inner dipole magnets (14, 18), a cold heat exchanger (22), hot heat exchangers (24, 26), a fluid displacer (28), and connective plumbing through which a heat transfer fluid is conveyed.

Abstract: A superconductive apparatus including a superconductive member to be cooled, a cooling element which exhibits Peltier effect upon supply of electric power thereto such that the superconductive member is thermally coupled with a cooling portion of the cooling element and a container for accommodating the superconductive member and the cooling portion.