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.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for connecting thermal elements to one another and an external circuit in series, in parallel or according to a mixed configuration which limits the risk of leakage and the number of connections. The heat exchanger includes calorie-emitting and negative calorie-emitting thermal elements, and a conduit which passes through each of the thermal elements and has inlet and outlet orifices that are connected to one another and to at least one thermal fluid circuit by an interface plate. The interface plate includes two supply orifices and two discharge orifices for connecting the interface circuits to external hot and cold circuits for using the calories and the negative calories recovered from the thermal fluid.

Abstract: The thermal generator (1) which comprises at least one thermal module (10) constituted from many thermal elements (40), stacked and arranged in order to delimit channels therebetween for circulation of heat transfer fluid. These channels are divided into hot channels, in which the heat transfer fluid of the hot circuit flows, and cold channels, in which the heat transfer fluid of the cold circuit flows. The hot and cold channels are alternated between the thermal elements (40) and the thermal elements have fluid inlet and outlet orifices which communicate with one another so as to distribute the flow of heat transfer fluid of each hot and cold collector circuit, respectively, in the corresponding hot and cold channels.

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 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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for generating thermal units using magnetocaloric material, with low energy consumption, evolutive, of a simple design, reliable operation, which allows to generate thermal units in a cost effective way while at the same time removing the risks of thermal fluid leakage and limiting the number of mechanical parts. The device (1a) for generating thermal units using magnetocaloric material comprises a magnetic element (2a) coupled to a power supply (3a), a magnetocaloric element (4a), a circuit (5) for thermal exchange fluid in which one or more thermal exchange fluids are made to circulate by means of circulation (6), and two heat exchangers (7, 8). The power supply (3a) is set up to generate electric pulses so as to create an impulsive magnetic field that causes the heating and the cooling of the magnetocaloric element (4a) and hence of the thermal exchange fluid.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a compact, multi-purpose magneto-calorific thermal generator of high thermal efficiency, having a maximal heat exchange coefficient, while being simple to industrialise in order to respond to a wide range of both industrial and domestic applications.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for generating a thermal flux with a magneto-caloric material, which is non-polluting, effective, reliable, of simple design and simple to use, economical, compact, and can be used both in large-scale industrial installations and for domestic applications. The device (3) for generating thermal flux with a magneto-caloric material comprises two thermal flux generation units (30) arranged side by side and each provided with thermal bodies (31) containing a magneto-caloric element and arranged in line along two rows carried by rectilinear frames (306). The thermal bodies (31) are subjected in alternation to magnetic fields emitted by magnetic mechanism (303) in the shape of a U, positioned in a staggered arrangement on either side of two bars (304) which move in reciprocating rectilinear translation. The thermal bodies (31) have a through-channel containing a heat transfer fluid and connected to one or more heat transfer fluid circuits.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for generating thermal units using magnetocaloric material, with low energy consumption, evolutive, of a simple design, reliable operation, which allows to generate thermal units in a cost effective way while at the same time removing the risks of thermal fluid leakage and limiting the number of mechanical parts. The device (1a) for generating thermal units using magnetocaloric material comprises a magnetic element (2a) coupled to a power supply (3a), a magnetocaloric element (4a), a circuit (5) for thermal exchange fluid in which one or more thermal exchange fluids are made to circulate by means of circulation (6), and two heat exchangers (7, 8). The power supply (3a) is set up to generate electric pulses so as to create an impulsive magnetic field that causes the heating and the cooling of the magnetocaloric element (4a) and hence of the thermal exchange fluid.

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: The invention relates to 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 inventive 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 invention relates to a heat exchanger permitting, in an efficient, simple and reliable manner and for a moderate cost, the connection in series, in parallel or according to a mixed configuration of thermal elements to one another and to an external circuit while limiting the risks of leakage and the number of connections. The heat exchanger (1a) comprises calorie-emitting and negative calorie-emitting thermal elements (2a1, 2a2) each of which being passed through by a conduit whose inlet orifices (21) and outlet orifices (22) are connected to one another and to at least one thermal fluid circuit by an interface plate (3a) situated above a closing plate (5a) and defining two interface circuits (4a1, 4a2). The interface plate (3a) also comprises two supply orifices (31) and two discharge orifices (32) for connecting the interface circuits to two external circuits hot and cold suited for using the calories and the negative calories recovered from the thermal fluid.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for generating a thermal flux with a magneto-caloric material, which is non-polluting, effective, reliable, of simple design and simple to use, economical, compact, and can be used both in large-scale industrial installations and for domestic applications. The device (3) for generating thermal flux with a magneto-caloric material comprises two thermal flux generation units (30) arranged side by side and each provided with thermal bodies (31) containing a magneto-caloric element and arranged in line along two rows carried by rectilinear frames (306). The thermal bodies (31) are subjected in alternation to magnetic fields emitted by magnetic mechanism (303) in the shape of a U, positioned in a staggered arrangement on either side of two bars (304) which move in reciprocating rectilinear translation. The thermal bodies (31) have a through-channel containing a heat transfer fluid and connected to one or more heat transfer fluid circuits.

Abstract: Process of preparation of lignosulfonic acid derivatives, whereby, in a pressure and corrosion resistant closed container, the following steps are carried out:heating for 1 minute to 30 minutes, at temperatures within a range of 115.degree. C. to 160.degree. C., a mixture of a lignosulfonic acid aqueous solution having a pH value lower than 3, containing from 100 g to 600 g of the said acid per liter, with a multivalent-metals free oxidizing agent supplying from 0.5 g to 2 g oxgen per 100 g lignosulfonic acid to form a reaction mixture;neutralizing the reaction mixture with an alkaline solution having a pH value at least equal to 5, in order that the obtained transformed lignosulphonic acid, after concentration or desiccation in powder, may be directly used.