Cooling device and a method for cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetocaloric cooling systems require large and heavy permanent magnets, leading to high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for extensive magnetic fields to achieve significant temperature changes, making them non-competitive with conventional cooling technologies.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus utilizing magnetocaloric materials that change temperature with external magnetic fields and applied pressure, exploiting thermal hysteresis to achieve periodic temperature changes without the need for large permanent magnets, using pressure rollers and magnetic units to induce phase transitions and concentrate magnetic fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If large permanent magnets are used to generate strong magnetic fields for magnetocaloric cooling, then the cooling effect is achieved, but the device becomes heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the magnetocaloric material by applying pressure in addition to magnetic fields. This parameter change (pressure application) modifies the magnetic properties and Curie temperature of the material, enabling stronger cooling effects with reduced magnetic field requirements, thus reducing the size and weight of permanent magnets needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material systems combining magnetocaloric materials with pressure-applying mechanisms. This composite approach integrates multiple functions (magnetic field generation and pressure application) into a unified system that achieves enhanced cooling performance without requiring oversized permanent magnets
2Temperature
If large permanent magnets are used to generate strong magnetic fields for magnetocaloric cooling, then the cooling effect is achieved, but the device becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By applying pressure to modify the magnetic properties and Curie temperature of the magnetocaloric material, the system achieves effective cooling with weaker magnetic fields. This reduces the quantity and size of permanent magnets required, directly lowering material costs and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces part of the purely magnetic system with a mechanical pressure application system. This substitution allows control of magnetic properties through mechanical means, reducing dependence on large permanent magnets and associated costs
3Loss of energy
If materials with high reversibility and minimal thermal hysteresis are used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the ability to exploit thermal hysteresis for enhanced cooling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pressure to dynamically control the thermal hysteresis properties of the magnetocaloric material. By adjusting pressure, the system can optimize the balance between reversibility and hysteresis effect, achieving enhanced cooling during phase transitions while maintaining acceptable energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic cycling between pressure application and magnetic field generation, exploiting the thermal hysteresis effect during phase transitions. This periodic action allows the material to undergo reversible phase changes that enhance cooling capacity while managing energy losses
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces costs and weight while increasing cooling efficiency by allowing for stronger magnetic fields and more effective temperature changes, enabling more efficient cooling without the need for large magnets.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetocaloric material (110) is characterized in that it changes its temperature when there is a change in an external magnetic field H and/or a change in applied pressure P
Implementation Method 2
The magnetocaloric material (110) has a first phase and a second phase, and phase transitions between the first phase and the second phase via thermal hysteresis are triggered by a change in the external magnetic field H and/or the pressure P
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling apparatus includes a magnetocaloric material, a magnetizing device, a converting device for applying pressure or tension to the magnetocaloric material, and a movement mechanism to move the magnetocaloric material. The magnetocaloric material changes its temperature when there is a change in an external magnetic field and when there is a change in an applied pressure. The movement mechanism moves the magnetocaloric material to expose it alternatingly to the external magnetic field and the change in pressure and to cause a periodic temperature change in the magnetocaloric material, whereby periods of lower temperature can be used for cooling.