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: The present invention provides a regenerator having magneto caloric material (MCM) configured with flow channels for the passage of a heat transfer fluid through the MCM. The flow channels are created by positioning elongate elements of the MCM adjacent to each other. The elongate elements provide surface area necessary for heat transfer while the flow channels reduce the pressure drop incurred by the heat transfer fluid as it flows through the regenerator. The elongate elements can also be configured with MCM having different Curie temperatures (e.g., different Curie temperature ranges) in order to accommodate a variety of ambient conditions in which the regenerator may be used.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

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 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 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 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 heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A method for forming a caloric regenerator includes forming a first caloric material stage from a first plurality of caloric material layers by repeatedly laying down a first powder for each layer of the first plurality of caloric material layers, applying a first binder material onto the first powder for each layer of the plurality of first caloric material layers, and then fixing the layers of the first plurality of caloric material layers to one another. A second caloric material stage is formed in a similar manner. The first and second caloric material stages are stackable to form the caloric regenerator.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

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 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 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 heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

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.