Cooling system of an electromagnet assembly

Abstract

An assembly for a magnetocaloric refrigeration unit includes a magnetocaloric core. Electromagnetic coils may be wound around the magnetocaloric core. The assembly further includes one or more cooling structures to extract the waste heat generated from the electromagnet coils. In some embodiments, the assembly may include one or more magnetic yokes disposed at the longitudinal ends of the magnetocaloric core. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the magnetic yoke is provided with a micro-channel structure. In other embodiments, the assembly may include a coil housing disposed around the electromagnet coil. The coil housing includes cooling structures such as, but not limited to, a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, and a heat pipe structure.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Embodiments presented herein relate generally to electromagnet assemblies, and more specifically to electromagnet assemblies for a magnetocaloric refrigeration system.[0002]Magnetocaloric refrigeration is based on alternate magnetization and demagnetization of a magnetocaloric material. While operating about Curie temperature, the magnetocaloric materials warm up when magnetized and cool down on demagnetization. A refrigerant may absorb heat from the magnetized magnetocaloric material and release the heat to the environment in one step of the refrigeration cycle. Similarly in another step of the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant may absorb heat from a refrigerated enclosure and release the heat to the demagnetized magnetocaloric material.[0003]In a magnetocaloric refrigeration unit, the alternate magnetization and demagnetization of the magnetocaloric material may be achieved by one or more electromagnets. Typically, the electromagnets generate heat by passing alt...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]An assembly for magnetocaloric cooling includes a magnetocaloric core, one or more electromagnet coil wound around the magnetocaloric core, and one or more magnetic yokes having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed at longitudinal ends of the magnetocaloric core. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the magnetic yokes has disposed thereon a micro-channel structure. The magnetic yokes are thermally coupled to the electromagnet coil and are thermally isolated from the magn

Problems solved by technology

The generated heat may cause reduce the life of the current carrying coils of the electromagnets.

However, excessive cooling of the electromagnets may take away heat from the magnetocaloric material, thus causing the temperature of the magnetocaloric material to fall below the Curie temperature.

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