ROTATION TYPE REGENERATOR AND MAGNETIC REFRIGERATOR USING THE REGENERATOR
The present invention relates to a regenerator using a rotation type magnet member and an active magnetic regenerator, and a magnetic refrigerator using the same.
Latest DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION Patents:
The present invention relates to a regenerator using a rotation type magnet member and an active magnetic regenerator (hereinafter referred to as “AMR”), and a magnetic refrigerator using the same.
BACKGROUND ARTA conventional active magnetic regenerator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,826,915. As shown in
As shown in
(On the other hand, as shown in
However, the inlet/outlet ports 18a and 18b are installed at a center portion of the container 12. Therefore, the heat transfer fluid does not Flow through an entire cross-section of the container 12, which renders the heat transfer fluid to flow through the magnetic refrigerant material 16 at the same spot, thereby making a smooth heat exchange difficult.
Technical SolutionIt is an object of the present invention to provide a regenerator and a magnetic refrigerator using the same wherein a heat transfer fluid is dispersed and flown through an entire the magnetic refrigerant material to obtain a superior heat exchange characteristic.
In order to achieve the above-described object, there is provided a rotational regenerator, comprising: a first AMR and a second AMR including a magnetocaloric material for passing through a flow of a heat transfer fluid, a magnet; and a magnet rotating assembly for applying or erasing a magnetic field by disposing the magnet at the first AMR or the second AMR, wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR comprises an AMR bed disposed in a lengthwise direction of a through-hole being filled up with the magnetocaloric material, and cold-side and hot-side AMR nozzles coupled to the AMR bed and connected to the through-hole, and wherein one of the AMR nozzles includes a distribution chamber for uniformly distributing the heat transfer fluid to an entirety of a cross-section of the through-hole.
There is also provided a magnetic refrigerator. comprising: a first AMR. and a second AMR including a magnetocaloric material for passing through a flow of a heat transfer fluid; a magnet; a magnetic rotating assembly for applying or erasing a magnetic field by disposing the magnet at the first AMR or the second AMR; and cold-side and hot-side heat exchangers thermally connected to the first AMR and the second AMR, wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR comprises an AMR bed disposed in a lengthwise direction of a through-hole being filled up with the magnetocaloric material, and cold-side and hot-side AMR nozzles coupled to the AMR bed and connected to the through-hole, and wherein one of the AMR nozzles includes a distribution chamber for uniformly distributing the heat transfer fluid to an entirety of a cross-section of the through-hole.
It is preferable that the magnet rotating assembly comprises a body for supporting the magnet disposed upper and lower sides of the first AMR or the second AMR, a rotating plate for supporting the body, and a rotational power transfer member for transferring a rotational power to the rotating plate, and wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR is supported in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a vertical tower.
It preferable that the distribution chamber is connected to a first end of the AMR nozzle, and an inlet/outlet is formed at a second end thereof, and wherein the inlet/outlet of the AMR nozzle is right-angled such that the inlet/outlet is on a same plane with the first AMR and the second AMR, thereby reducing a radius of a rotation by preventing an interference with the rotation of the magnet.
In addition, when the AMRs include plastic, a wide temperature slope is obtained by an adiabatic state.
Moreover, when a mesh and a packing are disposed between the AMR bed and the AMR nozzle, a leakage of the magnetocaloric material and the heat transfer fluid is prevented.
In addition, when the through-hole comprises an upper through-hole and a lower through-hole divided by a ribbed compartment, a distortion of the AMR bed due to a pressure of the heat transfer fluid is prevented.
Advantageous EffectsAs described above, the regenerator and the magnetic refrigerator using the same in accordance with the present invention have following advantages,
As a first advantage, since the magnetic refrigerator includes the distribution chamber having a size almost identical to that of the cross-section of the magnetocaloric material of the AMR bed, the heat transfer fluid flows uniformly throughout the magnetocaloric material, resulting in a suppression of the corrugation formed by partial flow thereof to improve the heat exchange efficiency.
As a second advantage, the heat exchange efficiency is improved by employing the rotational AMR cycle operation.
As a third advantage, the heat exchange efficiency is improved by employing the structure wherein the heat transfer fluid always passes through the magnetocaloric material.
As a fourth advantage, the leakage of the heat transfer fluid and the magnetocaloric material is prevented by using the mesh and the plastic packing.
As a fifth advantage, the heat exchange efficiency is doubled using the four AMR.
As a sixth advantage, an adiabatic state is achieved by employing the plastic AMR and by preventing an exposure of the magnetocaloric material to outside, resulting in the improvement of the heat exchange efficiency.
As a seventh advantage, since the through-hole of the AMR bed has the upper and the lower through-holes divided by the ribbed compartment, the distortion of a shape of the AMR due to the pressure of the heat transfer fluid is prevented. Even when the distortion occurs, the heat transfer fluid cannot bypass the magnetocaloric material due to the stricture of the distribution chamber, resulting in the high heat exchange efficiency.
As the eighth advantage, since the inlet/outlet of the AMR nozzle is right-angled to be on the same plane as the AMR such that the interference of the rotation of the magnet member occurring due to a size of a nipple for flowing the heat transfer fluid into the magnetocaloric material which is larger than a distance between the magnets is prevented and the radius of the rotation of is minimized to be used in the small space.
40,140: pump
60,160: cold-side heat exchangers
70,170: hot-side heat exchangers
100: regenerator
110 (110A, 110B): AMR
111: AMR bed
114: through-hole
115: mounting groove
120L: cold-side AMR nozzle connector
120H: hot-side AMR nozzle connector
121L: cold-side inlet
121H: hot-side inlet
123L: cold-side distribution chamber
123H: hot-side distribution chamber
150: tower
210: magnet member
211: magnet
213: body
230: rotating plate
M: mesh
R: ribbed compartment
S: packing
SOL1-SOL4: solenoid valves
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTIONThe above-described objects and other objects and characteristics and advantages of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.
As shown in
The AMR 110 comprises a first AMR 110A and a second AMR 110B. As shown in
A through-hole 114 to be filled up with the magnetocaloric material is formed in the AMR bed 111 along a lengthwise direction thereof. In addition, the cold-side AMR nozzle connector 120L and the hot-side AMR nozzle connector 120L are attached to the through-hole 114.
In addition, a cold-side inlet 121 L and a cold-side distribution chamber 123L are disposed at each end of the cold-side AMR nozzle connector 120L, and a hot-side inlet 121H and a hot-side distribution chamber 123H are disposed at each end of the hot-side AMR nozzle connector 120H. The distribution chambers 123L and 123H serve as a distribution chamber for uniform distribution through entire cross-section of a flow path of the through-hole 114. Therefore, a partial contact with the magnetocaloric material and a corrugated shape is minimized to improve the heat exchange efficiency since the heat transfer fluid proceeds at the cold-side inlet 121L or the hot-side inlet 121H at a sufficient velocity to be diffused at the distribution chambers 123L and 123H, thereby flowing through the entire the through-hole 114. In addition, the cold-side inlet 121L and the hot-side inlet 121H are connected to heat exchange tubes 132 and 134.
A plurality of the first AMR 110A are mounted at an opposing position, and a plurality of the second AMR 110B are mounted between the first AMR 110A, i.e. a cross structure.
Due to the cross structure, when an AMR bed 111A is in a magnet 211, an AMR bed 111 is position outside the magnet 211. A reason that a space exists between the AMR bed 111A and the AMR bed 111B is that the heat transfer fluid should not flow when the AMR bed 111 is outside the magnetic field. That is, the AMR bed 111B is cooled when the AMR bed 111A is heated.
Due to an above-described structure of the AMR 110, the heat transfer fluid always passes through the magnetocaloric material, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.
In addition, it is preferable that the AMR beds 111A and 111B or the entire AMR bed 111 comprises a plastic. The plastic has a large adiabatic effect and a wide temperature slope.
On the other hand, the through-hole 114 comprises an upper through-hole UP and a lower through-hole LP divided by a ribbed compartment R. The ribbed compartment R serves a function of a rib such that the ribbed compartment R prevents a distortion of the AMR bed 111 due to a pressure.
It is preferable that a mesh M and plastic packing S are mounted at a mounting groove 115 of the through-hole 114 in order to prevent a leakage of the magnetocaloric material and the heat transfer fluid.
The cold-side heat exchanger 160 and the hot-side heat exchanger 170 are thermally coupled to the AMR 110 through heat exchange tubes 132, 133, 134, 135 and 136. The flow of the heat transfer fluid is formed by a pump 140. In addition, a change of a direction of the heat transfer fluid is carried out by solenoid valves SOL1 through SOL4. Moreover, a bypass tube the bypass tube 137 is connected between an inlet and an outlet of the pump 140.
The magnet member 210 comprises the magnet 211 and a body 213 for supporting the magnet 211.
The magnet rotating assembly comprises a rotating plate 230 for supporting the magnet member 210 and a rotational power transfer member (not shown) tor transferring a rotational power to the rotating plate 230. The rotational power transfer member may be embodied various components such as a gear, a belt and a motor.
It is preferable that the AMR bed 111 is supported in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a vertical tower 150 such that the AMR bed 111 may move between the magnet 211.
It is preferable that the cold-side inlet 121L and the hot-side inlet 121H of the cold-side AMR nozzle connector 120L and the hot-side AMR nozzle connector 120L are right-angled toward a vertical tower 150 such that the cold-side inlet 12IL and the hot-side inlet 121H lie on a same plane as the AMR bed 111. This is to prevent an interference of a rotation of the magnet member occurring due to a size of a nipple for flowing the heat transfer fluid into the magnetocaloric material which is larger than a distance between the magnets. In addition, the magnet member 210 may be used in a small space when a radius of a rotation is minimized.
The cyclic operation of the magnetic refrigerator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
As shown
Therefore, the heat transfer fluid having the atmospheric temperature that has passed through the hot-side heat exchanger 170 is cooled by passing through the second AMIR 110B via the heat exchange tube 132, and the heat transfer fluid is cooled additionally by passing through the opposing second AMR 110B, thereby providing a dual-cooling effect. The temperature of the dual-cooled heat transfer fluid returns to the atmospheric temperature (actually, to a temperature a little lower than the atmospheric temperature) by passing through the cold-side heat exchanger 160 to be subjected to a first heating by passing through the first AMR 110A and to a second heating by passing through the opposing first AMR 110A. The heat transfer fluid that has passed through the opposing first AMR 110A is subjected to the dual-cooling and flows to the pump 140 through the heat exchange tube 134 and the heat exchange tube 135. The heat transfer fluid passes through the pump 140 and the hot-side heat exchanger 170 to return to the atmospheric temperature (actually, to a temperature a little higher than the atmospheric temperature). The heat transfer fluid is then enters the AMR 110B. The above-described process forms a single cycle.
As shown
As shown
As shown
Nine steps of
An advantage of the cycle of the magnetic refrigerator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention lies in that the heat exchange efficiency is improved by employing a structure wherein the heat transfer fluid directly passes through the magnetocaloric material, and the four AMRs 110 are connected for more magnetocaloric material, resulting in double cooling effects. In addition, the AMR includes the ribbed compartment which prevents the distortion of a shape of the AMR due to the pressure of the heat transfer fluid. Even when the distortion occurs, the heat transfer fluid cannot bypass the magnetocaloric material due to the structure of the distribution chamber, resulting in a high heat exchange efficiency. Moreover, while the AMR 110 having a shape of a simple plate, the AMR 110 provides the high efficiency and is formed in plastic for an easy molding.
In addition, since the magnetic refrigerator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a rotational AMR cycle operation, the high cooling effect is provided due to a temperature slope of a low temperature and a high temperature. As described above, the heat transfer fluid is dual-cooled by passing two AMRs, and dual-heated by passing two AMRs to provide twice the cooling efficiency.
Moreover, in accordance with a basic characteristic of the cycle, the heat transfer fluid flows from the cold-side to the hot-side when AMR enters into the magnet, and the heat transfer fluid does not flow in the AMR when the AMR moves out of the magnet. The heat transfer fluid flows from the hot-side to the cold-side when the AMR moves out of the magnet to be cooled.
In addition, since the hot-side heat exchanger is disposed at the outlet of the pump, the hot-side heat exchanger cools the heat transfer fluid heated by the pump to the atmospheric temperature prior to entering the AMR.
Moreover, the magnetocaloric material has a characteristic wherein the temperature thereof is changed when the magnetic field is applied. The magnetocaloric material 112 comprises a gadolinium (Gd) of a fine powder type. The gadolinium has pores having a high osmosis to the flow of the heat transfer fluid, and a superior absorption and emission of a heat.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYIn accordance to present invention, a regenerator and a magnetic refrigerator using the same wherein a heat transfer fluid is dispersed and flown through an entire the magnetic refrigerant material to obtain a superior heat exchange characteristic can be provided.
Claims
1. A rotational regenerator, comprising:
- a first AMR and a second AMR including a magnetocaloric material for passing through a flow of a heat transfer fluid;
- a magnet; and
- a magnet rotating assembly for applying or erasing a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material by disposing the magnet at the first AMR or the second AMR, wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR comprises an AMR bed disposed in a lengthwise direction of a through-hole being filled up with the magnetocaloric material, and cold-side and hot-side AMR nozzles coupled to the AMR bed and connected to the through-hole, and wherein at least one of the AMR nozzles includes a distribution chamber for uniformly distributing the heat transfer fluid to an entirety of a cross-section of the through-hole.
2. The rotational regenerator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the magnet rotating assembly comprises a body for supporting the magnet disposed upper and lower sides of the first AMR or the second AMR, a rotating plate for supporting the body, and a rotational power transfer member for transferring a rotational power to the rotating plate, and wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR is supported in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a vertical tower.
3. The rotational regenerator in accordance with claim 2, wherein the distribution chamber is connected to a first end of the AMR nozzle, and an inlet/outlet is formed at a second end thereof, and wherein the inlet/outlet of the AMR nozzle is right-angled such that the inlet/outlet is on a same plane with the first AMR and the second AMR.
4. The rotational regenerator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first AMR and the second AMR include plastic, respectively.
5. The rotational regenerator in accordance with claim 4, wherein the through-hole comprises an upper through-hole and a lower through-hole divided by a ribbed compartment.
6. The rotational regenerator in accordance with claim 5, wherein a mesh and a packing are disposed between the AMR bed and the AMR nozzle.
7. A magnetic refrigerator, comprising: wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR comprises an AMR bed disposed in a lengthwise direction of a through-hole being filled up with the magnetocaloric material, and cold-side and hot-side AMR nozzles coupled to the AMR bed and connected to the through-hole, and wherein one of the AMR nozzles includes a distribution chamber for uniformly distributing the heat transfer fluid to an entirety of a cross-section of the through-hole.
- a first AMR and a second AMR including a magnetocaloric material for passing through a flow of a heat transfer fluid;
- a magnet;
- a magnetic rotating assembly for applying or erasing a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material by disposing the magnet at the first AMR or the second AMR; and
- cold-side and hot-side heat exchangers thermally connected to the first AMR and the second AMR,
8. The magnetic refrigerator in accordance with claim 7, wherein the magnet rotating assembly comprises a body for supporting the magnet disposed upper and lower sides of the first AMR or the second AMR, a rotating plate for supporting the body, and a rotational power transfer member for transferring a rotational power to the rotating plate, and wherein each of the first AMR and the second AMR is supported in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a vertical tower.
9. The magnetic refrigerator in accordance with claim 8, wherein the distribution chamber is connected to a first end of the AMR nozzle, and an inlet/outlet is formed at a second end thereof, and wherein the inlet/outlet of the AMR nozzle is right-angled such that the inlet/outlet is on a same plane with the first AMR and the second AMR.
10. The magnetic refrigerator in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first AMR and the second AMR include plastic, respectively, and wherein a mesh and a packing are disposed between the AMR bed and the AMR nozzle.
11. The magnetic refrigerator in accordance with claim 10, wherein the through-hole comprises an upper through-hole and a lower through-hole divided by a ribbed compartment.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 29, 2009
Applicant: DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (Seoul)
Inventors: Seung Hoon Shin (Seoul), Dong Kwan Lee (Seoul)
Application Number: 12/307,876
International Classification: F25B 21/00 (20060101);