Layered heat regenerator for room temperature magnetic refrigerator, room temperature magnetic refrigerator and heat exchange method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a layered regenerator for a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator, comprising: a regenerator body, a magnetic refrigerant, the magnetic refrigerant being arranged in the inner cavity of the regenerator body, and the magnetic refrigerant dividing the inner cavity into a first inner cavity and a second inner cavity; a hot inlet and a cold outlet being arranged at the left end of the regenerator body, the hot inlet being connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold outlet being connected to the second inner cavity; a hot outlet and a cold inlet being arranged at the right end of the regenerator body, the hot outlet being connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold inlet being connected to the second inner cavity. The present invention also discloses a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator and a heat exchange method for a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator. The present invention utilizes a magnetic refrigerant and a seal to divide the regenerator into two parts, completely separating the hot cycle and the cold cycle of the internal heat exchange fluid, thereby effectively improving the cooling effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of room-temperature magnetic refrigeration, and in particular relates to a stratified heat regenerator for a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator, a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator and a heat exchange method. Background Art

[0002] Room-temperature magnetic refrigeration is a solid-state refrigeration technology and a novel refrigeration technology. With the development of new materials and technologies, the development of room-temperature magnetic refrigeration technology has received widespread attention and achieved significant progress in the past decade or so. This technology meets the requirements of today's sustainable development era and is considered a green refrigeration technology with the potential to replace traditional refrigeration. Room-temperature magnetic refrigeration utilizes the magnetocaloric effect of magnetic refrigeration materials to achieve refrigeration. According to the principle of the magnetocaloric effect, magnetic refrigeration materials will heat up or cool down under the influence of a changing magnetic field, and the magnetocaloric effect of magnetic refrigeration materials reaches its maximum value near their Curie temperature.

[0003] A room-temperature magnetic refrigerator typically consists of a magnetic field system, a regenerator, a heat exchanger, a heat transfer fluid, and a driver. The regenerator is one of the key components of a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator. A room-temperature magnetic refrigerator typically uses active regenerative heat recovery (AMR) technology to achieve refrigeration. This technology requires the heat transfer fluid to flow through the regenerator, which is filled with magnetic refrigeration material, in both forward and reverse directions during magnetization and demagnetization, respectively. This creates a temperature gradient in the magnetic refrigerant inside the regenerator. This creates a high-temperature end and a low-temperature end at both ends of the regenerator, creating a large temperature difference between the two ends. This also creates a large temperature difference between the two ends of the heat transfer fluid, enabling refrigeration. By periodically magnetizing and demagnetizing the regenerator through a magnetic field and coordinating the reciprocating flow of the heat transfer fluid, a temperature gradient is formed inside the regenerator, creating a high-temperature end and a low-temperature end at both ends of the regenerator, achieving refrigeration.

[0004] Initially, the regenerator of a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator had a single inlet and outlet at each end, with both the hot and cold cycles flowing through the same inlet and outlet, resulting in a mixed flow of the heat exchange fluids. Later, it was proposed to have two ports at each end of the regenerator, one for each cold cycle and one for each hot cycle. At this point, although the cold and hot cycles were separated outside the regenerator, the heat exchange fluids inside the regenerator remained mixed. While the two inlets and outlets at each end of the regenerator were divided into cold and hot flow ports with fixed flow directions, and the external cold and hot cycles were also separated, improving the cooling effect, the heat exchange fluids still mixed inside the regenerator, which had a certain impact on the cooling effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a stratified regenerator for a room temperature magnetic refrigerator, a room temperature magnetic refrigerator and a heat exchange method, which uses a magnetic refrigerant and a seal to divide the regenerator into two parts, completely separate the hot cycle and the cold cycle of the internal heat exchange fluid, and effectively improve the refrigeration effect.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solutions used in the present invention are:

[0007] A stratified regenerator for a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator comprises: a regenerator body and a magnetic refrigerant. The magnetic refrigerant is arranged in the inner cavity of the regenerator body, and the magnetic refrigerant divides the inner cavity into a first inner cavity and a second inner cavity. A hot inlet and a cold outlet are provided at the left end of the regenerator body, the hot inlet is connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold outlet is connected to the second inner cavity. A hot outlet and a cold inlet are provided at the right end of the regenerator body, the hot outlet is connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold inlet is connected to the second inner cavity.

[0008] Furthermore, the outer shape of the regenerator body is cylindrical or square cylindrical, and the shape of the magnetic refrigerant is flat, comb-tooth, sawtooth or square wave.

[0009] A room-temperature magnetic refrigerator comprises: a regenerator body, a magnetic refrigerant, a magnet, a solenoid valve, a first drive pump, a second drive pump, a cold-end heat exchanger, a hot-end heat exchanger, and a buffer; the magnetic refrigerant is arranged in the inner cavity of the regenerator body, and the magnetic refrigerant divides the inner cavity into a first inner cavity and a second inner cavity; a hot inlet and a cold outlet are arranged at the left end of the regenerator body, the hot inlet is connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold outlet is connected to the second inner cavity; a hot outlet and a cold inlet are arranged at the right end of the regenerator body, the hot outlet is connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold inlet is connected to the second inner cavity A magnetic field cavity is axially arranged in the middle of the magnet, and the regenerator body is installed in the magnetic field cavity. The hot inlet, cold outlet, hot outlet and cold inlet are respectively provided with solenoid valves; the input port and output port of the cold end heat exchanger are respectively connected to the cold outlet and hot inlet through pipelines, and the first drive pump is arranged at the input port of the cold end heat exchanger; the input port and output port of the hot end heat exchanger are respectively connected to the hot outlet and cold inlet through pipelines, and the second drive pump is arranged at the input port of the hot end heat exchanger; the output ports of the cold end heat exchanger and the hot end heat exchanger are respectively provided with buffers.

[0010] A heat exchange method for a room temperature magnetic refrigerator, comprising:

[0011] When the magnetic refrigerant in the regenerator body is magnetized, the circulating fluid is heated by the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the hot inlet and hot outlet are opened, the solenoid valves at the cold inlet and cold outlet are closed, the second drive pump is started, the first drive pump is stopped, and the hot circulating fluid in the first inner cavity flows to the right and enters the hot end heat exchanger for heat exchange. After flowing through the hot end heat exchanger, the hot circulating fluid enters and is stored in the buffer on one side of the hot end heat exchanger;

[0012] When the magnetic refrigerant in the regenerator body is demagnetized, the circulating fluid is cooled by the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the cold inlet and cold outlet are opened, the solenoid valves at the hot inlet and hot outlet are closed, the first drive pump is started, and the second drive pump is stopped. The cold circulating fluid in the second inner cavity flows to the left and enters the cold end heat exchanger for heat exchange. After flowing through the cold end heat exchanger, the cold circulating fluid enters and is stored in the buffer on one side of the cold end heat exchanger.

[0013] Preferably, during the magnetization process of the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the cold inlet and cold outlet are closed and the circulating fluid is stationary; during the demagnetization process of the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the hot inlet and hot outlet are closed and the circulating fluid is stationary.

[0014] Preferably, during the operation of the room temperature magnetic refrigerator, a temperature gradient is gradually generated in the regenerator body through the reciprocating flow of the circulating fluid, and a temperature difference is generated at both ends of the regenerator body. The heat of the cold end heat exchanger is gradually transferred to the hot end through the circulating fluid, and the heat is discharged through the hot end heat exchanger to achieve cooling.

[0015] The technical effects of the present invention include:

[0016] The stratified regenerator for room temperature magnetic refrigerator of the present invention divides the internal space (inner cavity) into two parts, which are used for hot fluid circulation and cold fluid circulation respectively. Not only does it form separate flow of hot fluid and cold fluid outside the regenerator, but it also realizes separate flow of hot fluid and cold fluid inside the stratified regenerator for magnetic refrigerator, so that the flow direction of hot fluid and the flow direction of cold fluid are both directional, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0017] The present invention uses magnetic refrigeration medium to divide the inner cavity of the stratified regenerator for magnetic refrigerator into two parts, one part passes through the hot circulating fluid and the other part passes through the cold circulating fluid, so as to separate the hot fluid and the cold fluid inside the regenerator.

[0018] The stratified heat regenerator for a magnetic refrigerator of the present invention is provided with an outlet port and an inlet port at both ends, respectively. The outlet port and inlet port at one end are respectively a hot inlet and a cold outlet, while the outlet port and inlet port at the other end are respectively a hot outlet and a cold inlet, so that the heat cycle and the cold cycle of the heat exchange fluid outside the stratified heat regenerator for a magnetic refrigerator are completely separated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a stratified regenerator for a magnetic refrigerator according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2a This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a flat-plate-shaped magnetic refrigerant and a cylindrical regenerator body in the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2b This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium is comb-shaped and the regenerator body is cylindrical;

[0022] Figure 2c This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigerant is sawtooth-shaped and the regenerator body is cylindrical;

[0023] Figure 2d This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium is square-wave shaped and the regenerator body is cylindrical;

[0024] Figure 3a This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium is in the shape of a flat plate and the regenerator body is in the shape of a square cylinder;

[0025] Figure 3b This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium is comb-shaped and the regenerator body is square cylindrical;

[0026] Figure 3c This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium is in a sawtooth shape and the regenerator body is in a square cylindrical shape;

[0027] Figure 3d This is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium is in a square waveform and the regenerator body is in a square cylindrical shape;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a structural principle diagram of the magnetic refrigerator using a layered heat regenerator in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following description sufficiently illustrates specific embodiments of the invention to enable those skilled in the art to practice and reproduce the invention.

[0030] like Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the stratified heat regenerator for the magnetic refrigerator of the present invention.

[0031] A stratified regenerator for a room-temperature magnetic refrigerator comprises: a regenerator body 1 and a magnetic refrigerant 2. The magnetic refrigerant 2 is arranged in the inner cavity of the regenerator body 1, and the magnetic refrigerant 2 divides the inner cavity into a first inner cavity 11 and a second inner cavity 12. A hot inlet 13 and a cold outlet 14 are provided at the left end of the regenerator body 1. The hot inlet 13 is connected to the first inner cavity 11, and the cold outlet 14 is connected to the second inner cavity 12. A hot outlet 15 and a cold inlet 16 are provided at the right end of the regenerator body 1. The hot outlet 15 is connected to the first inner cavity 11, and the cold inlet 16 is connected to the second inner cavity 12.

[0032] The magnetic refrigerant 2 divides the inner cavity of the regenerator body 1 into a first cavity 11 and a second cavity 12. The arrows indicate the direction of fluid flow: a hot circulating fluid flows intermittently and unidirectionally through the first cavity 11, and a cold circulating fluid flows intermittently and unidirectionally through the second cavity 12. The term "intermittent" refers to the fact that during the magnetization and demagnetization of the magnetic refrigerant 2, either the hot circulating fluid or the cold circulating fluid is stationary. After the magnetic refrigerant 2 is magnetized, the hot circulating fluid in the first cavity 11 flows to the right, while the cold circulating fluid in the second cavity 12 is stationary. Conversely, after the magnetic refrigerant 2 is demagnetized, the cold circulating fluid in the second cavity 12 flows to the left, while the hot circulating fluid in the first cavity 11 is stationary.

[0033] like Figure 2aAs shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium 2 is flat and the regenerator body 1 is cylindrical; Figure 2b As shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium 2 is comb-shaped and the regenerator body 1 is cylindrical; Figure 2c As shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigerant 2 is sawtooth-shaped and the regenerator body 1 is cylindrical; Figure 2d As shown in FIG. 1 , it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium 2 is square-wave shaped and the regenerator body 1 is cylindrical.

[0034] The regenerator body 1 has a cylindrical shape, and the shape of the magnetic refrigerant 2 is a flat plate, a comb-tooth shape, a sawtooth shape or a square wave shape.

[0035] like Figure 3a As shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium 2 is in the shape of a flat plate and the regenerator body 1 is in the shape of a square cylinder; Figure 3b As shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigerant 2 is comb-shaped and the regenerator body 1 is square cylindrical; Figure 3c As shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigerant 2 is sawtooth-shaped and the regenerator body 1 is square cylindrical; Figure 3d As shown in FIG, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention in which the magnetic refrigeration medium 2 is square-wave-shaped and the regenerator body 1 is square-cylinder-shaped.

[0036] The regenerator body 1 has a square cylindrical shape, and the shape of the magnetic refrigerant 2 is a flat plate, a comb-tooth shape, a sawtooth shape or a square wave shape.

[0037] like Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a magnetic refrigerator using a layered regenerator in the present invention.

[0038] The room temperature magnetic refrigerator includes: a regenerator body 1, a magnetic refrigerant 2, a magnet 3, a solenoid valve 4, a first drive pump 5, a second drive pump 6, a cold-end heat exchanger 7, a hot-end heat exchanger 8, and a buffer 9; a magnetic field cavity is axially arranged in the middle part of the magnet 3, the regenerator body 1 is installed in the magnetic field cavity, and the hot inlet 13, the cold outlet 14, the hot outlet 15, and the cold inlet 16 are respectively provided with a solenoid valve 4; the input port and the output port of the cold-end heat exchanger 7 are respectively connected to the cold outlet 14 and the hot inlet 13 through pipelines, and the first drive pump 5 is arranged at the input port of the cold-end heat exchanger 7; the input port and the output port of the hot-end heat exchanger 8 are respectively connected to the hot outlet 15 and the cold inlet 16 through pipelines, and the second drive pump 6 is arranged at the input port of the hot-end heat exchanger 8; the output ports of the cold-end heat exchanger 7 and the hot-end heat exchanger 8 are respectively provided with buffers 9.

[0039] The heat exchange method of the room temperature magnetic refrigerator has the following specific steps:

[0040] Step 1: After the magnetic refrigerant 2 in the regenerator body 1 is magnetized, the circulating fluid is heated by the magnetic refrigerant 2, the solenoid valves 4 at the hot inlet 13 and the hot outlet 15 are opened, and the solenoid valves 4 at the cold inlet 16 and the cold outlet 14 are closed. The second drive pump 6 is started, and the first drive pump 5 is stopped. The hot circulating fluid in the first inner cavity 11 flows to the right and enters the hot end heat exchanger 8 for heat exchange. After flowing through the hot end heat exchanger 8, the hot circulating fluid enters and is stored in the buffer 9 on one side of the hot end heat exchanger 8;

[0041] Step 2: After the magnetic refrigerant 2 in the regenerator body 1 is demagnetized, the circulating fluid is cooled by the magnetic refrigerant 2, the solenoid valves 4 at the cold inlet 16 and the cold outlet 14 are opened, and the solenoid valves 4 at the hot inlet 13 and the hot outlet 15 are closed, the first drive pump 5 is started, and the second drive pump 6 is stopped. The cold circulating fluid in the second inner cavity 12 flows to the left and enters the cold end heat exchanger 7 for heat exchange. After flowing through the cold end heat exchanger 7, the cold circulating fluid enters and is stored in the buffer 9 on one side of the cold end heat exchanger 7.

[0042] During the magnetization process of the magnetic refrigerant 2, the solenoid valves 4 at the cold inlet 16 and cold outlet 14 are closed, and the circulating fluid remains stationary. During the demagnetization process of the magnetic refrigerant 2, the solenoid valves 4 at the hot inlet 13 and hot outlet 15 are closed, and the circulating fluid remains stationary. In other words, the first drive pump 5, the second drive pump 6, and the magnetic refrigerant 2 cease operation, and the circulating fluid in the regenerator body 1 remains stationary. Therefore, by dividing the internal cavity of the regenerator body 1 into two parts, the present invention not only completely separates the cold flow circulation and the hot flow circulation, improving heat exchange efficiency, but also effectively reduces its own energy consumption.

[0043] During the operation of the room-temperature magnetic refrigerator, the AMR technology gradually generates a temperature gradient in the regenerator body 1 through the reciprocating flow of the circulating fluid, resulting in a large temperature difference at both ends of the regenerator body 1. At the same time, the heat of the cold-end heat exchanger 7 is gradually transferred to the hot end through the circulating fluid, and the heat is discharged through the hot-end heat exchanger 8 to achieve cooling.

[0044] The terms used in the present invention are descriptive and exemplary, rather than restrictive. Since the present invention can be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or essence of the invention, it should be understood that the above embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Therefore, all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims or their equivalents are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A room temperature magnetic refrigerator, characterized in that: include: Regenerator body, magnetic refrigerant, magnet, solenoid valve, first drive pump, second drive pump, cold end heat exchanger, hot end heat exchanger, buffer; The magnetic refrigerant is arranged in the inner cavity of the regenerator body, and the magnetic refrigerant divides the inner cavity into a first inner cavity and a second inner cavity; the outer shape of the regenerator body is cylindrical or square cylindrical, and a hot inlet and a cold outlet are arranged at the left end of the regenerator body, the hot inlet is connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold outlet is connected to the second inner cavity; a hot outlet and a cold inlet are arranged at the right end of the regenerator body, the hot outlet is connected to the first inner cavity, and the cold inlet is connected to the second inner cavity; a magnetic field cavity is axially arranged in the middle of the magnet, and the regenerator body is installed in the magnetic field cavity, and the hot inlet, cold outlet, hot outlet and cold inlet are respectively provided with solenoid valves; the input and output ports of the cold-end heat exchanger are respectively connected to the cold outlet and hot inlet through pipelines, and a first driving pump is arranged at the input port of the cold-end heat exchanger; the input and output ports of the hot-end heat exchanger are respectively connected to the hot outlet and cold inlet through pipelines, and a second driving pump is arranged at the input port of the hot-end heat exchanger; buffers are respectively provided at the output ports of the cold-end heat exchanger and the hot-end heat exchanger.

2. The room temperature magnetic refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The shape of the magnetic refrigeration medium is flat, comb-tooth, sawtooth or square wave.

3. A heat exchange method using the room temperature magnetic refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: include: When the magnetic refrigerant in the regenerator body is magnetized, the circulating fluid is heated by the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the hot inlet and hot outlet are opened, the solenoid valves at the cold inlet and cold outlet are closed, the second drive pump is started, the first drive pump is stopped, and the hot circulating fluid in the first inner cavity flows to the right and enters the hot end heat exchanger for heat exchange. After flowing through the hot end heat exchanger, the hot circulating fluid enters and is stored in the buffer on the side of the hot end heat exchanger; during the magnetization process of the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the cold inlet and cold outlet are closed, and the circulating fluid is stationary; during the demagnetization process of the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the hot inlet and hot outlet are closed, and the circulating fluid is stationary; When the magnetic refrigerant in the regenerator body is demagnetized, the circulating fluid is cooled by the magnetic refrigerant, the solenoid valves at the cold inlet and cold outlet are opened, the solenoid valves at the hot inlet and hot outlet are closed, the first drive pump is started, and the second drive pump is stopped. The cold circulating fluid in the second inner cavity flows to the left and enters the cold end heat exchanger for heat exchange. After flowing through the cold end heat exchanger, the cold circulating fluid enters and is stored in the buffer on one side of the cold end heat exchanger.

4. The heat exchange method for a room temperature magnetic refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein: During the operation of the room-temperature magnetic refrigerator, the reciprocating flow of the circulating fluid gradually generates a temperature gradient in the regenerator body, and a temperature difference is generated at both ends of the regenerator body. The heat of the cold-end heat exchanger is gradually transferred to the hot-end through the circulating fluid, and the heat is discharged through the hot-end heat exchanger to achieve cooling.

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