Abstract: A magnetic field generator (1) for a magnetocaloric thermal appliance comprising at least one magnetising structure (2) creating a constant magnetic field in at least one air gap (3) in which at least one magnetocaloric element (4) is arranged. The magnetising structure (2) comprises first (5) and second (6) magnetic poles arranged facing each other on each side of a symmetry plane (P) and each made up of an assembly of permanent magnets (7, 8) and of a ferromagnetic element (9). The magnetic field generator is characterised in that the ferromagnetic element (9) presents a face (F1) protruding with respect to the assembly forming the magnetic pole (5, 6) and the two ferromagnetic elements (9) of the magnetising structure (2) are arranged face to face with a distance forming the at least one air gap (3, 13, 23) of the magnetising structure (2).

Abstract: A magnetocaloric thermal appliance (10) comprising at least one thermal module (2) with at least one magnetocaloric element (3) in contact with a heat transfer fluid and at least one magnetic arrangement (4) arranged so as to create a magnetic field in a gap (6) defined by the magnetic arrangement (4). The gap (6) has two openings (7) enabling the passage of the thermal module (2) through the gap (6) by a relative movement between the magnetocaloric element (3) and the gap (6). The positions able to be taken by the magnetocaloric element (3), outside of the gap (6), define magnetocaloric region (8) in which the magnetocaloric region (8) is disposed in an enclosure delimited by the magnetic arrangement (4) comprising a body (11) forming deflector of the magnetic field able to capture and to lead towards the magnetic arrangement (4) flux of magnetic field that appears outside of the gap (6).

Abstract: A thermal generator (100) with at least one thermal module (110) comprising at least two magnetocaloric elements (111, 112). The thermal generator is characterized in that it comprises at least two magnetic assemblies (131, 132) in which one magnetic assembly (131, 132) subjects at least one magnetocaloric element (111, 112) of the thermal module (110) to alternate magnetic phases. The thermal generator is further characterized in that it comprises a thermally insulating body insulating the magnetic assemblies (131, 132) from each other and forming thermally insulated cells (141, 142) comprising one magnetic assembly (131, 132) and its corresponding magnetocaloric elements (111, 112).

Abstract: A method for generating a heat flow from a magnetocaloric element (1) comprising at least one magnetocaloric material (2) comprising a hot end (3) associated with a hot chamber (4) and a cold end (5) associated with a cold chamber (6), the method comprises magnetically and alternately activating and de-activating the magnetocaloric element (1) and circulating a heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric element (1) alternately towards the hot chamber (4) and the cold chamber (5) in synchronisation with the magnetic activation and de-activation phases. This method is characterized in that the method comprises reversing the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid during the magnetic activation and de-activation phases and also relates to a magnetocaloric heat generator implementing the method.

Abstract: A magnetocaloric heat generator (1) which comprises a driving mechanism (26) in fluidic connection with first and second ends (3 and 4) of a thermal module (2) via at least one heat exchange mechanism (7, 27) so that the heat transfer fluid circulates in a closed constant-volume fluidic circuit through the magnetocaloric heat generator (1).

Abstract: The magnetocaloric heat generator (1) comprises at least two magnetocaloric elements (2, 12) arranged in succession and making up at least two consecutive thermal stages crossed by separate heat transfer fluids and comprising each two opposite ends (3 and 4, 13 and 14), a magnetic arrangement intended for subjecting each magnetocaloric element (2, 12) to a variable magnetic field, alternately creating a heating cycle and a cooling cycle in each magnetocaloric element (2, 12), a mechanism (8) for circulating the heat transfer fluids through the magnetocaloric elements alternately towards one end and towards the opposite end and vice versa, in synchronisation with the variation of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetocaloric heat generator (10) comprising at least one magnetocaloric element (2) with a first and second ends (3, 4), a magnetic arrangement for subjecting the magnetocaloric element (2) to a variable magnetic field, alternately creating heating and cooling cycles in the magnetocaloric element (2), a mechanism for circulating a heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric element (2) alternately towards the first and second ends (3, 4) and vice versa in synchronisation with the variation of the magnetic field, and at least one energy exchange mechanism (15). This heat generator (10) is crossed in one direction by the heat transfer fluid entering the magnetocaloric element (2) through one of the ends (3, 4) during a heating or cooling cycle and to be crossed in the opposite direction by the heat transfer fluid exiting the magnetocaloric element (2) through the same end (3, 4) during the other cooling or heating cycle.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a thermal generator which is non-polluting, has very good energy efficiency, is of simple and economical design and uses little energy, at the same time as being capable of further development, flexible and modular. In this thermal generator (1), the thermal elements (3) composed of magneto-calorific material each comprises two separate collector circuits (31 and 32), a “hot” collector circuit connected to a hot heat transfer fluid circuit (51) and a “cold” collector circuit (32) linked to a cold heat transfer fluid circuit (52). The heat transfer fluid is made to move alternately in one or the other of the collector circuits (31 and 32) depending on whether or not the thermal elements (3) are subjected to the magnetic field generated by the magnets (40) moving in rotation around a central axis (B) with respect to the thermal elements (3).

Abstract: A thermal generator (1) comprises at least one thermal flow generation unit (2) that is provided with at least one thermal module (3) each containing a magnetocaloric member (4) through which a coolant flows. A magnetic arrangement (9) is actuated for alternatively subjecting each magnetocaloric member (4) to a variation in magnetic field, the alternating movement of the coolant is synchronized with the magnetic field variation, the magnetocaloric member (4) is integrated into a closed flow circuit (6) that connects the two opposite ends (7) of the magnetocaloric member (4), and the closed circuit includes a single element (5) for moving the coolant through the magnetocaloric member (4).

Abstract: A heat generator (1) comprises at least one thermal module (1?) which contains at least two adjacent magnetocaloric elements (2), and a common distribution chamber (3), associated with a heat transfer fluid circulation device (4), fluidly connects the adjacent magnetocaloric elements (2) with one another. Two end chambers (5, 6) are associated with a circulation means (7) and fluidly connected each with the two magnetocaloric elements (2) located at the hot end (9) and a cold (11) end of the thermal module (1). A magnetic arrangement of the heat generator (1) subjects each of the magnetocaloric element (2) to a variable magnetic field. The circulation mechanism (4), associated with the common distribution chamber (3), moves the heat transfer fluid simultaneously through the two adjacent magnetocaloric elements (2) in different circulation directions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat generator (10) comprising magnetocaloric elements (2) arranged on a circle around a central axis, a magnetic arrangement (3) made of alternating magnetized zones (4) and non magnetized zones (5), located inside the circle formed by the magnetocaloric elements (2), rotated around the central axis and co-operating with a field closing device (6) arranged to loop the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic arrangement to subject alternately the magnetocaloric elements (2) to a magnetic field variation and create alternately in each magnetocaloric element (2) a heating cycle and a cooling cycle, in synchronization with the circulation of at least one heat transfer fluid arranged to pass through the magnetocaloric elements (2) during the heating and cooling cycles, heat generator (1) characterized in that the field closing device (6) comprises a heat insulation means (9).

Abstract: A heat generator comprising at least one thermal module comprising a magnetocaloric element crossed by a heat transfer fluid and two hot and cold chambers arranged on each side of the magnetocaloric element and containing a displacement device for directing the heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric element. A magnetic arrangement creates a magnetic field variation in each magnetocaloric element. A device for driving the displacement device, according to reciprocating movement in the concerned chamber, to displace the heat transfer fluid in synchronization with the magnetic field variation. The drive device contains a closed fluid circuit which connects the hot and cold chambers in which a working fluid is driven by a suction and discharge device. At least one switching interface is synchronized with the magnetic arrangement for alternately connecting each hot and cold chamber to suction and discharge sides of the suction and discharge device and inversely.

Abstract: A magnetocaloric element (1) made by an alignment of at least two adjacent sets (MC1-10) of magnetocaloric materials having different Curie temperatures. The magnetocaloric materials within a same set (MC1-10) have the same Curie temperature. The sets (MC1-10) are arranged according to an increasing Curie temperature, and the magnetocaloric element (1) comprises elements (MA1-2) for initiating a temperature gradient between a hot end (6) and an opposed cold end (7) of the magnetocaloric element (1).

Abstract: A heat generator comprising a magneto-caloric material and a method for generating efficient and reliable thermies enabling of substantially limiting displaceable inert masses in order to produce a magnetic field variation required for obtaining a magneto caloric effect and usable by individuals and/or industries. The generator (10) comprises magneto caloric thermal elements (Ti) which are circularly arranged and crossed by conduits containing coolant flowing therethrough and magnetic elements (Gi) exposing the thermal elements (Ti) to a magnetic field action. The generator (10) also comprises magnetic divergence (mj) elements arranged between the thermal elements (Ti) and the magnetic elements (Gi) and coupled to displacement mechanism (not represented) for moving from one thermal element (Ti) to another thermal element (Ti+1) and initiating the magnetic flux variation in the thermal elements (Ti), thereby promoting the calorie and/or frigorie generation.

Abstract: The thermal flux generating device (10) with magnetocaloric material comprises an external cylindrical shell (11), made out of metal or any other adequate material, which delimits the inside of the device (10). Inside this shell (11), a rotor (12) is mounted coaxially which consists of a rotary magnetic arrangement, at least one roughly circular ring of elements (13) comprising at least one magnetocaloric material, this ring is positioned coaxially around the rotor (12) and a set of electric coils (14), with radial axes, evenly positioned around the rotor (12) and which make up a stator (15) electrically supplied so as to create a rotating field that rotationally drives the magnetic arrangement.

Abstract: The electric motor (10) of the rotary type comprises a circular peripheral frame (11) inside of which a stator (12) is mounted, and the stator (12) comprises electrical coils (13) having each an armature (13a) and a winding of conductive wires (13b). The electric motor (10) comprises equipment (14) which is movable in relation to the stator, this mobile equipment is in this case a rotor (15) arranged coaxially in relation to the stator (12). The rotor (15) comprises a set of electric coils (16) which are electromagnets. The armatures (13a) of the electric coils (13) and those of the electric coils (16) comprise advantageously at least one element out of reverse magnetocaloric material arranged so as to contribute to cooling of the electric motor.

Abstract: A generator comprising at least one thermal stage having magnetocaloric elements (2) arranged around an axis and a magnetic arrangement (3) supported by a drive shaft (30) that rotates about the axis to subject the elements to a variation in magnetic field. The generator comprises pistons (70) to force heat transfer fluid through the elements with the pistons being driven in reciprocating translation within chambers (73) by at least one cam (71) that is rotationally driven the drive shaft (30). The generator comprises a forced circulation unit (8a) having planet gears (80) arranged around the central axis, supported by the body (72) of the generator and meshing with an inner crown gear (81) integral with the cam (71). Each gear (80) forms a gear pump that mixes the heat transfer fluid and places the fluid in forced circulation in the tanks (74) and the chambers (73).

Abstract: A heat generator (1) comprising at least one thermal module (10) that comprises N adjacent magnetocaloric elements (2) arranged in a circle around a central axis (A) and subjected to a varying magnetic field caused by magnetic devices (3). The magnetocaloric elements (2) are associated with N pistons (40) subjected to an reciprocating translation movement by an actuating cam (70) to circulate the heat transfer fluid, contained in the thermal module (10), in two opposite directions, at the same time, so that a first fraction of the heat transfer fluid circulates towards a hot exchange chamber (5), through the magnetocaloric elements (2) and is subjected to a heating cycle, and a second fraction of the heat transfer fluid circulates towards a cold exchange chamber (6), through the magnetocaloric elements (2), and is subjected to a cooling cycle, and inversely. The exchange chambers (5, 6) are coupled with external circuits that use calories and frigories for heating, air-conditioning, tempering systems, etc.

Abstract: A gear pump capable of alternately distributing a fluid in two distinct utilization circuits without the need for a switch. The gear pump (1) comprises two fluid outlet ports (5, 6) connected to two fluid utilization circuits and linked to the discharge chamber (C) of the pump via an integrated commutation (7). These commutation (7) comprise two distribution circuits (50, 60), located in a fixed support plate (70), and two buffer channels (30, 40), located in the rotary toothed wheels (3), arranged so as to alternately open and close the distribution circuits according to a commutation cycle that approximately corresponds to the rotation of the toothed wheels over half a revolution.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for increasing the temperature gradient of a magneto-calorific thermal generator comprising magneto-calorific elements subjected to a magnetic field variation. At least one of a pre-heating and pre-cooling of the magneto-calorific elements (60) is carried out to modify the initial temperature before and/or during the magnetic field variation before reaching the maximum and/or minimum field value. The method and apparatus may be employed in heating, tempering, air conditioning, refrigeration and other industrial or domestic applications.