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 refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food cold side heat exchanger positioned within a cabinet at a fresh food chamber and a freezer cold side heat exchanger positioned within the cabinet at a freezer chamber. Working fluid is flowable through a caloric material within a regenerator housing. The refrigerator appliances also includes features for flowing the working fluid from the regenerator housing to the fresh food cold side heat exchanger and for separately flowing the working fluid from the regenerator housing to the freezer cold side heat exchanger.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump includes a plurality of elasto-caloric stages. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is distributed between along an axial direction within a chamber of a housing. Each elasto-caloric stage includes a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes. The plurality of elasto-caloric spokes extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump system includes a pump is operable to circulate a working fluid through a stage. The pump includes a motor. A cam is coupled to the motor such that the cam is rotatable by the motor. The cam has a non-circular outer profile surface. Each piston of a pair of pistons has a cam follower positioned on the non-circular outer profile surface of the cam.

Abstract: A method for forming a stabilized bed of magneto-caloric material is provided. The method includes aligning magneto-caloric particles within the casing while a magnetic field is applied to the magneto-caloric particles and then fixing positions of the magneto-caloric particles within the casing. A related stabilized bed of magneto-caloric material is also provided.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cold side heat exchanger positioned within a cabinet such that a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber are chillable with air from the cold side heat exchanger. A regenerator housing is connected to the cold side heat exchanger such that working fluid is flowable from the regenerator housing to the cold side heat exchanger. The working fluid is flowable through a caloric material within the regenerator housing. The refrigerator appliance also includes features for drawing the working fluid from the regenerator housing at a plurality of locations along the length of the caloric material.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a caloric heat pump with a regenerator housing that is rotatable about an axial direction. A caloric material is disposed within a chamber of the regenerator housing. The caloric material defines a plurality of channels that extend along the axial direction through the caloric material. The channels of the plurality of channels are spaced from one another along a circumferential direction within the caloric material. A working fluid is flowable through the plurality of channels between end portions of the regenerator housing. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A heat pump system that uses variable magnetization to control the amount of MCM subjected to a magnetic field is provided. More particularly, the amount of MCM subjected to a magnetic field can be selected based on the amount of refrigeration needed. As such, the heat pump system can be adjusted based on e.g., changes in ambient conditions, and the energy used in operating such a heat pump system can be conserved so as to increase energy efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cold side working fluid circuit that couples a cold side heat exchanger and a regenerator housing. A first hot side working fluid circuit couples a first hot side heat exchanger and the regenerator housing. A second hot side working fluid circuit couples a second hot side heat exchanger and the regenerator housing such that working fluid is flowable between the second hot side heat exchanger and the regenerator housing. An inlet of the second hot side working fluid circuit is positioned on the regenerator housing such that a temperature of the working fluid at the inlet of the second hot side working fluid circuit is greater than a temperature of the chilled chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber. The cabinet has a duct with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and outlet of the duct is contiguous with the chilled chamber of the cabinet such that air within the chilled chamber is flowable into the duct at the inlet of the duct and air within the duct is flowable into the chilled chamber at the outlet of the duct. A heat pump system is operable to cool the chilled chamber of the cabinet. The heat pump system includes a cold side heat exchanger in thermal communication with the air within the duct. The heat pump system also includes features for condensing water vapor from the air within the duct prior to the cold side heat exchanger.

Abstract: A pump for a heat pump system includes a piston having a cam follower positioned on a bearing surface of a cam. A casing includes a first casing portion and a second casing that are mounted to each other. A piston head of the piston is disposed within the first casing portion, and the piston extends through the second casing portion. A spring urges the cam follower of the piston towards the bearing surface of the cam.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food working fluid circuit and a freezer working fluid circuit. The fresh food working fluid circuit couples a fresh food cold side heat exchanger and a first chamber of a regenerator housing such that a first working fluid is flowable between the fresh food cold side heat exchanger and the first chamber. The freezer working fluid circuit couples the freezer cold side heat exchanger and a second chamber of the regenerator housing such that a second working fluid is flowable between the freezer cold side heat exchanger and the second chamber. A liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger connects the fresh food working fluid circuit and the freezer working fluid circuit for heat transfer between the first and second working fluid. A freezing temperature of the first working fluid is greater than a freezing temperature of the second working fluid.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a magneto-caloric heat pump includes a first frame that extends between first and third magnets and a second frame that extends between second and fourth magnets. Each of the first and second frames includes a series of metal layers arranged such that a thermal break is formed between adjacent metal layers in the series of metal layers.

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 caloric heat pump includes a plurality of elasto-caloric stages. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is distributed between along an axial direction within a chamber of a housing. Each elasto-caloric stage includes a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes. The plurality of elasto-caloric spokes extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction.

Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating and cooling a wash chamber of a tub. A field generator is positioned such that caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system. A pump circulates a heat transfer fluid between a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and the caloric material stages.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump system includes a pair of caps mounted to a regenerator housing. Each cap of the pair of caps defines an inlet and an outlet. The outlet of each cap of the pair of caps is positioned at a chamber of the regenerator housing. The inlet and outlet of each cap of the pair of caps defines an area in a respective plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The area of the inlet of each cap of the pair of caps is less than the area of the outlet of each cap of the pair of caps.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a caloric heat pump with a regenerator housing that is rotatable about an axial direction. A caloric material is disposed within a chamber of the regenerator housing. The caloric material defines a plurality of channels that extend along the axial direction through the caloric material. The channels of the plurality of channels are spaced from one another along a circumferential direction within the caloric material. A working fluid is flowable through the plurality of channels between end portions of the regenerator housing. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A conduction heat pump includes a first plate, a second plate and a third plate. The second plate includes a caloric material and is positioned between the first and third plates. The first, second and third plates of the conduction heat pump also includes features for conductively transferring heat from the third plate to the first plate during relative rotation between the second plate and the first plate.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump system includes a motor and a pair of non-circular gears meshed with each other. A first one of the pair of non-circular gears is coupled to a regenerator housing, and a second one of the pair of non-circular gears is coupled to the motor. The regenerator housing is rotatable with the motor through the pair of non-circular gears.