Apparatus and method for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (100) and to a method (200) for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device. The apparatus (100) has a valve control unit (110), active magnetic regenerators (AMR) (121, 122, 131, 132) and temperature sensors (125, 135) which are connected to the valve control unit (110) and, at a measuring point, determine the temperature of a fluid which flows through the AMR (121, 122, 131, 132) and transmit said temperature to the valve control unit (110). The apparatus has inlet valves (111, 113) and outlet valves (112, 114) which control the flow of the fluid through the AMR (121, 122, 131, 132). The valve control unit (110) evaluates the transmitted temperatures and controls the valves (111, 112, 113, 114) in accordance therewith. The valves (111, 112, 113, 114) are controlled in such a manner that the difference between the temperatures determined at various measuring points is minimized. The corresponding method (200) is carried out with the apparatus (100).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Device and method for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device

[0003] The invention relates to a device and a method for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device.

[0004] For the purposes of this application, controlling a valve is primarily understood as influencing the valve switching time, i.e., the period of time the valve is open or closed. It is also conceivable, alternatively or additionally, to influence the speed of the opening and closing process.

[0005] The physical effects underlying a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device are the same for both heating and cooling modes. For clarity, the structure and mode of operation of the invention will be described in cooling mode. The invention is also suitable for implementing dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device in heating mode. In this case, the valve positions and, consequently, the fluid flow directions are adapted according to the magnetocaloric cycle.

[0006] In so-called magnetic cooling, the magnetocaloric effect is used to realize a cyclic process. A magnetocaloric material is alternately magnetized and demagnetized within a fluid-filled hydraulic circuit. The magnetocaloric material is surrounded by fluid, resulting in heat transfer between the two.

[0007] The temperature changes achievable with this effect are smaller at moderate magnetic fields than required in most everyday and industrial applications. To overcome this problem, the magnetocaloric material used is an Active Magnetic Regenerator (AMR). In this concept, the fluid flow direction is changed in rapid succession and synchronously with magnetization and demagnetization, thus continuously transporting heat through the hydraulic circuit, with the heat being dissipated at the appropriate points by a heat exchanger. The change in flow direction typically occurs at a frequency of 0.1–10 Hz, but higher or lower frequencies are also conceivable.A common implementation of this hydraulic switching process is the use of electromechanical valves that open and close based on the measured position of a rotating permanent magnet, thus reversing the flow direction in the AMR.

[0008] To maximize the efficiency of such a system, the valves within the hydraulic circuit must be precisely controlled. In particular, the net flow through an AMR should be as close to zero as possible to prevent warm fluid from reaching the cold side of the system, thus reducing cooling performance and efficiency. However, due to manufacturing tolerances or deposits, for example, the flow resistance is often not identical depending on the flow direction. This results in the undesirable effect described above when valve switching times are identical for both flow directions, since a larger amount of fluid flows through the AMR in the flow direction with lower flow resistance.

[0009] In certain applications, it is desirable to connect multiple AMRs in series to increase the achievable temperature range. In such arrangements, a non-zero net flow results in a large temperature difference in the various circuits within the overall system. This leads to mixing of the different temperature levels on the cold side, which impairs cooling performance even more than in a simpler system without series connection.

[0010] Devices and methods for minimizing the net flow through individual AMRs by controlling valves are known in the art.

[0011] In [1, 2], Eriksen et al. achieved an adjustment of the flow resistance using additional needle valves. The needle valves are attached to each AMR to create an additional, adjustable flow resistance and thus adjust the total resistance in each subcircuit of the hydraulic system. The disadvantage of this approach is that the needle valves create additional resistance, thus increasing energy consumption. Furthermore, manually adjusting all needle valves is laborious, as the pressure drop and flow rate must be measured for each hydraulic subcircuit.

[0012] In [3, 4], Masche et al. minimized the net flow through the valves of individual AMRs and increased the performance of the overall system by manually adjusting the opening duration of these valves once. The disadvantage of this solution is that the increased performance changes the overall temperature level on the cold side. The changed temperature level, in turn, changes the flow resistances. Due to the changed flow resistances, the newly set opening duration is no longer optimal. A further disadvantage arises when replacing an AMR or manufacturing multiple devices. The static setting requires a new determination of the control parameters for each AMR, each device, each combination of flow resistances, and each change to the hydraulic circuit.

[0013] Both solutions also share the disadvantage that changes in flow behavior during operation due to erosion, corrosion, material fatigue, or deposits, necessitating manual readjustment. This makes the methods inefficient and impractical, especially for on-site use at the customer's site.

[0014] The present invention was preceded by the inventors' consideration of controlling the valves by measuring the fluid volume flowing through the AMR in a cycle, thereby minimizing the net flow. This approach was tested but proved unsuccessful. A successful implementation of this method is not known. The technical difficulty lies in the insufficient speed and precision of fluid volume measurements. To control the valves sufficiently quickly and precisely, the measurements of economically viable flow sensors are neither fast nor precise enough.

[0015] The object of the present invention is to dynamically and reliably adjust the valve switching times in a hydraulic circuit of a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device. For this purpose, a suitable device and a method that can be implemented using the device are to be specified.

[0016] Solution

[0017] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the subject matter of the independent claims are characterized in the subclaims. The wording of all claims is hereby incorporated by reference into this description. The use of the singular is not intended to exclude the plural, which also applies in the reverse sense, unless otherwise disclosed. Individual method steps are described in more detail below. The steps do not necessarily have to be performed in the specified order, and the method to be described may also include additional, unmentioned steps.

[0018] With regard to the device, the object is achieved according to the invention by a device having the features of claim 1. Accordingly, a device for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and / or cooling device is provided, comprising a valve control unit and a plurality of active magnetic regenerators, wherein the active magnetic regenerators are designed such that a fluid can flow through them in a first and a second flow direction. The device further comprises a plurality of temperature sensors, wherein the temperature sensors are connected to the valve control unit and configured to determine the temperature of the fluid at a measuring point and to transmit the determined temperature to the valve control unit.The device also has inlet valves and outlet valves, wherein the inlet valves and outlet valves regulate the flow of fluid through the active magnetic regenerators and are configured to be controlled by the valve control unit. The valve control unit evaluates the transmitted temperatures and controls the inlet and outlet valves depending on the evaluation result. The inlet and outlet valves are controlled in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined at different measuring points is minimized.

[0019] The invention accordingly implements a combination of continuous temperature measurement and a dynamic control loop that continuously monitors and adjusts the valve switching times so that the temperatures, for example on the cold side of all hydraulic sub-circuits, are as identical as possible. The inlet and outlet valves can, for example, be implemented via a dedicated 2 / 2 inlet valve and a dedicated 2 / 2 outlet valve per active magnetic regenerator. Variants in which the inlet and outlet valves are implemented as 3 / 2 or 6 / 2 valves are also conceivable. Conceivable variants for this include, for example, two 3 / 2 valves per two active magnetic regenerators combined to form a regenerator pair, or a combination of a 3 / 2 valve with two check valves per active magnetic regenerator, or a 6 / 2 valve per regenerator pair, or combinations of the aforementioned variants.

[0020] The combination of precise temperature measurement and rapid adjustment of valve switching times also makes it possible to adjust the fluid temperature at each AMR during operation, thus preventing mixing of fluid quantities with different temperatures. This increases both the performance and efficiency of the magnetocaloric heating and cooling device. Avoiding mixing of fluid quantities with different temperatures by dynamically adjusting the valve switching times is particularly advantageous, especially in more complex arrangements such as series circuits, since without such adjustment, such series circuits would not be possible to implement efficiently in the first place. Dynamic valve control also makes it possible to replace AMRs without having to redetermine and adjust the other operating parameters.This is also advantageous in the production of magnetocaloric heating and cooling devices, as it eliminates the need to manually determine control parameters in order to achieve optimal operation of the magnetocaloric heating and cooling device.

[0021] If the measuring points are located at functionally identical inlets and outlets of different active magnetic regenerators, preferably at the same distance from the corresponding active magnetic regenerator, the evaluation of the transmitted temperatures can be carried out particularly easily. The symmetrical arrangement in the various parts of the hydraulic circuit relative to the corresponding active magnetic regenerators ensures particularly reliable comparability of the measured temperatures.

[0022] If several active magnetic regenerators are hydraulically connected in series, the achievable temperature range can be increased by dynamic valve control without impairing the cooling performance by mixing the temperature levels.

[0023] If the valve control unit features a PI controller and the intake and exhaust valves are electromechanical switching valves, the valve switching times can be adjusted particularly quickly. This allows for even higher frequencies for changing the flow direction.

[0024] If two active magnetic regenerators are hydraulically connected in series to form a regenerator pair and the device has a plurality of regenerator pairs, wherein the control of the inlet and outlet valves is carried out in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined in the area of ​​different regenerator pairs is minimized, the respective net flow through all regenerator pairs can be minimized simultaneously and particularly reliably.

[0025] If the active magnetic regenerators of a regenerator pair are connected to each other by two connecting lines and the fluid flows through only one of the connecting lines in each flow direction and the measuring points are arranged on connecting lines through which the fluid flows in the same direction, the temperature of the fluid at the measuring points can be measured particularly easily and precisely without the measurement being influenced by the direct environment of the measuring point or the complex attachment of a temperature sensor at a less suitable location being necessary.

[0026] If several regenerator pairs are hydraulically connected in parallel, the volume of fluid flowing through the hydraulic circuit can be increased while avoiding the mixing of fluid quantities with different temperatures, which also increases the amount of heat that can be dissipated by the magnetocaloric heating and cooling device.

[0027] If more than two active magnetic regenerators are hydraulically connected in series to form a regenerator cascade, the device comprising a plurality of regenerator cascades and the control of the inlet and outlet valves is carried out in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined in the region of different regenerator cascades is minimized, the temperature range can be further increased compared to devices with regenerator pairs without the cooling performance being impaired by mixing fluid quantities with different temperatures.

[0028] If two adjacent active magnetic regenerators within a regenerator cascade are connected to each other by two connecting lines and the fluid flows through only one of the connecting lines in each flow direction, with the measuring points being arranged on connecting lines through which the fluid flows in the same direction, the temperature of the fluid at the measuring points within the regenerator cascade can be measured particularly precisely without the measurement being influenced by the direct environment of the measuring point or the complex attachment of a temperature sensor at a less suitable location being necessary.

[0029] If several regenerator cascades are hydraulically connected in parallel, the volume of fluid flowing through the hydraulic circuit can be further increased while avoiding the mixing of fluid quantities with different temperatures, which also increases the amount of heat that can be dissipated by the magnetocaloric heating and cooling device.

[0030] If the device has a rotatable magnet, wherein the rotatable magnet enters into magnetic interaction with the active magnetic regenerators during operation, and the device further has a rotation angle sensor, wherein the rotation angle sensor is connected to the valve control unit and is designed to determine the rotation angle of the rotatable magnet and to transmit it to the valve control unit, and the valve control unit evaluates the transmitted rotation angle and, in addition to the result of the evaluation of the temperatures, also controls the inlet and outlet valves depending on the result of the evaluation of the rotation angle, the flow direction of the fluid can be changed particularly quickly and reliably synchronously with the magnetization and demagnetization.

[0031] The invention also relates to a magnetocaloric heating and / or cooling device with the aforementioned components, in particular a device for dynamic valve control.

[0032] The object is further achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 12, according to which a device according to one of claims 1 to 4 is provided. The temperature of the fluid is determined at several measuring points, and the determined temperatures are transmitted to the valve control unit. The transmitted temperatures are evaluated by the valve control unit, and the inlet and exhaust valves are controlled depending on the result of the evaluation such that the difference between the temperatures determined at different measuring points is minimized. Preferably, the difference between the temperatures determined at different measuring points is minimized by adjusting the valve switching times for each run of the magnetocaloric cycle.

[0033] If, in addition, a device according to one of claims 5 to 7 is provided and the inlet and outlet valves are controlled depending on the result of the evaluation in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined within different regenerator pairs is minimized, the respective net flow through all regenerator pairs can be minimized simultaneously and particularly reliably.

[0034] If, in addition, a device according to one of claims 8 to 10 is provided and the inlet and outlet valves are controlled depending on the result of the evaluation in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined within different regenerator cascades is minimized, the temperature range can be further increased compared to methods with devices with regenerator pairs, without the cooling performance being impaired by mixing the temperature levels.

[0035] If a device according to claim 11 is additionally provided and the angle of rotation of the rotatable magnet is determined, the determined angle of rotation is transmitted to the valve control unit, the transmitted angle of rotation is evaluated by the valve control unit, and the inlet and outlet valves are controlled both as a function of the result of the evaluation of the temperatures and as a function of the result of the evaluation of the angle of rotation, the flow direction of the fluid can be changed particularly quickly and reliably synchronously with the magnetization and demagnetization.

[0036] Furthermore, the features and advantages relating to the device can be transferred to the method and vice versa, so that further repetition is omitted at this point.

[0037] Character description

[0038] Further details and features will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the figures. The respective features can be implemented individually or in combination with one another. The possibilities for solving the problem are not limited to the exemplary embodiment. For example, range specifications always include all intermediate values ​​(not mentioned) and all conceivable sub-intervals. The exemplary embodiment is illustrated schematically in the figures. The same reference numerals in the individual figures designate identical or functionally identical elements, or elements that correspond to one another in terms of their functions.

[0039] In detail: Fig. 1 shows the schematic structure of a heating and cooling device with a device for dynamic valve control, the device being shown as part of a hydraulic circuit;

[0040] Fig. 2 shows the schematic structure of the heating and cooling device from Fig. 1 in an analogous manner, but during a different step of the magnetocaloric cycle.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention for dynamic valve control, designated as a whole by 100, in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device. The exemplary structure here is that of a magnetocaloric cooling and heating device in the "cooling" operating mode. The device is depicted as part of a hydraulic circuit through which a fluid flows. During operation, however, the fluid does not flow through the hydraulic circuit in the sense that a fluid particle continuously moves through the hydraulic circuit. Rather, due to the continuous change in flow direction described later, the distance traveled by a particle relative to a fixed point is very small. Ideally, a particle only oscillates around the fixed point, while heat successively migrates from right to left through the hydraulic circuit, relative to Fig. 1.In reality, it is rather the heat that is transported / pushed through the hydraulic circuit, while the fluid acts only as a heat accumulator or heat exchanger, but essentially does not flow in the conventional sense. For the sake of clarity and to avoid awkward phrasing, the following description nevertheless describes the fluid flow. This flow, however, is to be understood as explained above.

[0042] The magnetocaloric cooling and heating device can be conceptually divided into three parts. The left part comprises a pump and a container, while the middle part comprises the actual device 100. The right part consists of lines and a heat exchanger (HE), whereby an additional heat exchanger on the left side, e.g., between the container and the pump, is also conceivable. All three parts of the magnetocaloric cooling and heating device are part of a hydraulic circuit and are connected to one another by lines, with connection points between multiple lines represented by black circles. Within the device 100, two spatially separated active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 and 131, 132 are hydraulically connected in series, each forming a regenerator pair 120 and 130, respectively.

[0043] The active magnetic regenerators 121, 122, 131, 132 of each regenerator pair 120, 130 are interconnected via two connecting lines 123, 124 and 133, 134, respectively, through which the fluid can flow. Accordingly, in the regenerator pair 120, the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 are connected via the connecting lines 123, 124, while in the regenerator pair 130, the active magnetic regenerators 131, 132 are connected via the connecting lines 133, 134. The fluid flows through each of the connecting lines 123, 124 and 133, 134 in only one direction. To ensure this, the connecting lines 123, 124, 133, 134 are preferably each provided with a check valve. A measuring point is also provided on the connecting lines 124 and 134, at which a temperature sensor 125 or 135 measures the temperature of the fluid.

[0044] In practice, two active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 and 131, 132 are arranged opposite one another on a circle, thus forming one of the regenerator pairs 120 and 130, respectively. The schematic representation in Fig. 1 without a circle was chosen solely for clarity. In practice, the two regenerator pairs 120, 130 are arranged orthogonally to each other. At the center of the circle is a rotatable magnet 140, whose angle of rotation is determined by a rotation angle sensor 150. Due to the opposing pairwise arrangement of the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 and 131, 132, the magnetic field of the rotatable magnet 140 acts simultaneously and in the same way on the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 and 131, 132 of a regenerator pair 120, 130 at a corresponding angle of rotation. Accordingly, both active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 and 131, 132 are magnetized or demagnetized simultaneously.demagnetized. Due to the orthogonal arrangement on the circle, at a corresponding angle of rotation of the rotatable magnet 140, one of the regenerator pairs 120, 130 is magnetized while the other regenerator pair 120, 130 is demagnetized. It is also conceivable to arrange more than two regenerator pairs 120, 130 on the circle, with two of the regenerator pairs being arranged orthogonally to each other. For example, with four regenerator pairs, this would result in two crosses rotated by 45° relative to each other, the vertices of which all lie on the circle, with two active magnetic regenerators opposite each other forming a regenerator pair.

[0045] The active magnetic regenerator 121 is connected to the pump via an inlet valve 111 and to the container via an outlet valve 112. The active magnetic regenerator 131 is similarly connected to the pump via an inlet valve 113 and to the container via an outlet valve 114. The pump on the left side is used to pressurize the fluid. The container primarily serves to hold a sufficient amount of fluid to fill all cavities. It is conceivable that individual elements of the hydraulic circuit could be designed to be elastic.

[0046] The device 100 also has a valve control unit 110, which is connected to and controls the intake valves 111, 113 and the exhaust valves 112, 114. Controlling relates to the opening and closing of the valves, thereby adjusting the valve switching times. Thus, the valve control unit 110 lengthens or shortens the time intervals in which the valve is open or closed. Furthermore, the valve control unit 110 is connected to the temperature sensors 125, 135 and the rotation angle sensor 150.

[0047] In the hydraulic circuit, a fluid is pressurized with the help of the pump shown on the left and flows through the hydraulic circuit. The flow direction of the fluid is repeatedly reversed in rapid succession by appropriately controlling the inlet valves 111, 113 and the outlet valves 112, 114. Typical frequencies for reversing the flow direction are, for example, between 0.1 and 50 Hz. The reversal of the flow direction occurs synchronously with the magnetization and demagnetization of the magnetocaloric material within the active magnetic regenerators 120, 121, 131, 132. The magnetization and demagnetization is effected by the rotating magnet 140. To a first approximation, the switching times of the valves are therefore predetermined by the current angle of rotation of the rotating magnet 140.

[0048] The hydraulic circuit is designed such that both active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 and 131, 132 of a regenerator pair 120, 130 each undergo the same step of a magnetocaloric cycle. Such a magnetocaloric cycle can be conceptually divided into four steps, during which the inlet valves 111, 113 and the outlet valves 112, 114 are switched accordingly (Fig. 1 shows the position of the valves while the active magnetic regenerators 121 and 122 are in step 4, the "cold blow," while the active magnetic regenerators 131 and 132 are in step 2, the "hot blow"). The four steps of the magnetocaloric cycle are described below using the operating state illustrated in Fig. 1. Since the steps are carried out one after the other, it is marked at the appropriate place if the respective step is not visible in Fig. 1.Furthermore, one regenerator pair is always in the complementary state to the other. For example, if regenerator pair 130 is currently being magnetized (see step 1), regenerator pair 120 is currently being demagnetized, and vice versa. For clarity, only the state of the regenerator pair 120, 130 that is currently in the state shown in Fig. 1 or was one step prior to it is described below.

[0049] Step 1 (Magnetization, not shown in Fig. 1)

[0050] The active magnetic regenerators 131, 132 are simultaneously magnetized by the rotatable magnet 140, causing the magnetocaloric material to heat up due to the magnetocaloric effect and release heat to the surrounding fluid. As a result, the fluid within the active magnetic regenerators 131, 132 heats up.

[0051] Step 2 (“hot-blow”, is currently being performed by the active magnetic regenerators 131 and 132 in Fig. 1)

[0052] The fluid heated by magnetization in the active magnetic regenerators 131 and 132 flows from right to left through the two active magnetic regenerators 131, 132, as shown in Fig. 1, flowing through the connecting line 134. Valve 114 toward the container is open, while valve 113 for fluid coming from the pump is closed. The heated fluid flows accordingly toward the container.

[0053] Step 3 (demagnetization, not shown in Fig. 1)

[0054] Both active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 are simultaneously demagnetized by the rotating magnet 140, causing the magnetocaloric material to cool due to the magnetocaloric effect and absorb the heat from the surrounding fluid. As a result, the fluid within the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 cools.

[0055] Step 4 (“cold-blow” is currently being performed by the active magnetic regenerators 121 and 122 in Fig. 1)

[0056] The fluid cooled in the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 flows from left to right through the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122, as shown in Fig. 1, flowing through the connecting line 123. The cooled fluid flows into the heat exchanger and absorbs heat therein. The valve 111 for fluid coming from the pump is further rotated. In this state, the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 are currently undergoing the "hot-blow" step. The fluid heated in the active magnetic regenerators 121, 122 by prior magnetization flows from right to left as shown in Fig. 2, flowing through the connecting line 124. The portion of the fluid that has absorbed heat in the heat exchanger flows out of the heat exchanger accordingly. The valve 112 towards the container is open, the valve 111 for fluid coming from the pump is closed.The heated fluid flows accordingly towards the container.

[0057] The active magnetic regenerators 131, 132 are currently undergoing the "cold blow" step. The fluid cooled in the active magnetic regenerators 131, 132 flows from left to right through the active magnetic regenerators 131, 132, as shown in Fig. 2, flowing through the connecting line 133. A portion of the cooled fluid flows into the heat exchanger and absorbs heat there. The valve 113 for fluid coming from the pump is open, and the valve 114 toward the container is closed. The fluid flows accordingly from the pump into the active magnetic regenerators 131, 132.

[0058] If four additional active magnetic regenerators were arranged orthogonally to the four active magnetic regenerators shown in Fig. 1 and 2, so that an orthogonal cross was formed from four imaginary regenerator pairs facing each other (not shown in Fig. 1 or 2), two other active magnetic regenerators would go through the "hot blow" step and the two opposite active magnetic regenerators would go through the "cold blow" step when the magnet was rotated by 90°. This principle can be extended to an even higher number of active magnetic regenerators by further symmetrical arrangement, whereby the angle of rotation of the magnet required to change the steps within the magnetocaloric cycle decreases with the increasing number of active magnetic regenerators. Instead of a 2-pole magnet system shown in Figures 1 and 2, for example,4-pole magnet systems are also conceivable, in which the magnet only has to rotate by half the angle that a 2-pole magnet system would require in order to allow other active magnetic regenerators to go through the corresponding “hot-blow” or “cold blow” step.

[0059] List of reference symbols

[0060] 100 Device for dynamic valve control of a magnetocaloric heating and / or cooling device

[0061] 110 Valve control unit

[0062] 111 Inlet valve

[0063] 112 Exhaust valve

[0064] 113 Inlet valve

[0065] 114 Exhaust valve

[0066] 120 regenerator pair

[0067] 121 active magnetic regenerator

[0068] 122 active magnetic regenerator

[0069] 123 connecting line

[0070] 124 connecting line

[0071] 125 Temperature sensor

[0072] 130 regenerator pair

[0073] 131 active magnetic regenerator

[0074] 132 active magnetic regenerator

[0075] 133 connecting line

[0076] 134 connecting line

[0077] 135 Temperature sensor

[0078] 140 rotating magnet

[0079] 150 angle sensor

[0080] 200 procedures

[0081] List of non-patent literature

[0082] [1] D. Eriksen, K. Engelbrecht, CRH Bahl, R. Bjork, KK Nielsen, AR Insinga, N. Pryds, International Journal of Refrigeration 2015, 58, 14-21.

[0083] [2] D. Eriksen, K. Engelbrecht, CRH Bahl, R. Bjork, KK Nielsen, Appl. Thermal Closely. 2016, 103, 1-8.

[0084] [3] M. Masche, J. Liang, S. Dall'Olio, K. Engelbrecht, CRH Bahl, Applied Thermal Engineering 2021 , 199, 117569.

[0085] [4] M. Masche, J. Liang, K. Engelbrecht, CRH Bahl, Applied Thermal Engineering 2022, 204, 117947.

Claims

Claims 1. Device (100) for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric Heating and / or cooling device, wherein the device (100) comprises the following components: - a valve control unit (110); - a plurality of active magnetic regenerators (121 , 122, 131 , 132) wherein the active magnetic regenerators (121 , 122, 131 , 132) are designed such that they can be flowed through by a fluid in a first and a second flow direction; - a plurality of temperature sensors (125, 135), wherein the temperature sensors (125, 135) are connected to the valve control unit (110) and are configured to determine the temperature of the fluid at a measuring point and to transmit the determined temperature to the valve control unit (110), - Inlet valves (111 , 113) and outlet valves (112, 114), wherein the inlet valves (111 , 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114) regulate the flow of fluid through the active magnetic regenerators (121 , 122, 131 , 132) and are arranged to be controlled by the valve control unit (110); - and wherein the valve control unit (110) evaluates the transmitted temperatures and, depending on the result of the evaluation, controls the inlet valves (111 , 113) and exhaust valves (112, 114); - and wherein the control of the inlet valves (111 , 113) and the exhaust valves (112, 114) is carried out in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined at different measuring points is minimized.

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the measuring points are arranged at functionally identical inlets and outlets of different active magnetic regenerators (121, 122, 131, 132), preferably at the same distance from the corresponding active magnetic regenerator (121, 122, 131, 132).

3. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein several active magnetic regenerators (121, 122, 131, 132) are hydraulically connected in are connected in series; 4. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve control unit (110) has a PI controller; and wherein the inlet valves (111 , 113) and outlet valves (112, 114) are electromechanical switching valves.

5. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two active magnetic regenerators (121, 122, 131, 132) are hydraulically connected in series and form a regenerator pair (120, 130), wherein the device (100) has a plurality of regenerator pairs (120, 130); and wherein the control of the inlet valves (111, 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114) is carried out such that the difference between the temperatures determined in the area of ​​different regenerator pairs (120, 130) is minimized.

6. Device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the active magnetic regenerators (121, 122, 131, 132) of a regenerator pair (120, 130) are connected to each other by two connecting lines (123, 124, 133, 134), and wherein the fluid flows through only one of the connecting lines (123, 124, 133, 134) for each flow direction; and wherein the measuring points are arranged on connecting lines (123, 124, 133, 134) through which the fluid flows in the same direction.

7. Device (100) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein several regenerator pairs (120, 130) are hydraulically connected in parallel.

8. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein more than two active magnetic regenerators (121, 122, 131, 132) are hydraulically connected in series and form a regenerator cascade, wherein the device (100) has a plurality of regenerator cascades; and wherein the control of the inlet valves (111, 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114) is such that the difference between the values ​​in the range of different The temperatures determined by the regenerator cascades are minimized.

9. Device (100) according to claim 8, wherein two adjacent active magnetic regenerators (121, 122, 131, 132) within a regenerator cascade are connected to each other by two connecting lines (123, 124, 133, 134), and wherein the fluid flows through only one of the connecting lines (123, 124, 133, 134) for each flow direction; and wherein the measuring points are arranged on connecting lines (123, 124, 133, 134) through which the fluid flows in the same direction.

10. Device (100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein several regenerator cascades are hydraulically connected in parallel.

11. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a rotatable magnet (140), wherein the rotatable magnet (140) enters into magnetic interaction with the active magnetic regenerators during operation; and comprising a rotation angle sensor (150), wherein the rotation angle sensor (150) is connected to the valve control unit (110) and is configured to determine the rotation angle of the rotatable magnet (140) and transmit it to the valve control unit (110); and wherein the valve control unit (110) evaluates the transmitted rotation angle and, in addition to the dependence of the result of the evaluation of the temperatures, also depending on the result of the evaluation of the rotation angle, controls the inlet valves (111, 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114).

12. Method (200) for dynamic valve control in a magnetocaloric heating and cooling device comprising the following steps: - A device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4 is provided; - The temperature of the fluid is determined at several measuring points; - The measured temperatures are sent to the valve control unit (110) transmitted; - The transmitted temperatures are evaluated by the valve control unit (110); - The inlet valves (111 , 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114) are controlled depending on the result of the evaluation in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined at different measuring points is minimized.

13. Method (200) according to claim 12 with the following additional steps: - A device (100) according to one of claims 5 to 7 is provided; - The inlet valves (111 , 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114) are controlled depending on the result of the evaluation in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined within different regenerator pairs (120, 130) is minimized.

14. Method (200) according to claim 12 with the following additional steps: - A device (100) according to one of claims 8 to 10 is provided; - The inlet valves (111 , 113) and the outlet valves (112, 114) are controlled depending on the result of the evaluation in such a way that the difference between the temperatures determined within different regenerator cascades is minimized.

15. Method (200) according to any one of claims 12 to 14 comprising the following additional steps: - A device (100) according to claim 11 is provided; - The rotation angle of the rotatable magnet (140) is determined; - The determined rotation angle is transmitted to the valve control unit (110); - The transmitted rotation angle is evaluated by the valve control unit (110); - The intake valves (111, 113) and the exhaust valves (112, 114) are both controlled depending on the result of the temperature evaluation as well as depending on the result of the rotation angle evaluation.

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