Thermal exchanging device

Abstract

A thermal exchanging device is provided to exchange heat with a hot heat source and a cold heat source. The thermal exchanging device includes a vacuum chamber, a working material capable of being excited magnetically, and a working fluid capable of undergoing a transition between two phase flows of liquid and vapor. The working fluid is provided in the chamber to communicate with the working material. When the working material is magnetically excited, the working fluid is configured to exchange heat with the cold heat source. Otherwise, the working fluid is configured to absorb heat from the hot heat source.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 61 / 245,441, filed on Sep. 24, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is in the technical field of a thermal exchanging device, more particularly to a magnetically driven thermal exchanging device utilizing a magneto-caloric material (MCM) to generate a two-phase flow of liquid and vapor by means of magnetization and demagnetization mechanism.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]A conventional thermal exchanging device that utilizes the magneto-calorific properties of certain materials, such as Gadolinium or certain alloys, has the particularity of heating up when a magnetic field is applied (magnetization process) and of cooling to a temperature lower than the initial temperature following the diminishing effect of the magnetic field (demagnetization process). For inst...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages by offering a magnetically driven thermal exchanging device that is simple in design while having an efficient and reliable performance.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, when the MCM is demagnetized, the magnetic moment of the MCM becomes randomized causing a disorder of the atoms to thereby absorb heat from outside of the MCM.

However, as the surface area of the MCM increases, the surface area of gaps or the pores of the MCM decreases, thereby limiting the amount of fluid to pass therethrough.

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