Magnetic Cooling Structure for Stable Driving Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic refrigerating machines experience significant fluctuations in driving force due to air gaps between magnetic bodies, leading to increased motor size, energy consumption, noise, and vibration, which are undesirable for downsizing and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic cooling/heating apparatus with a heat transfer unit comprising alternately arranged magnetic bodies and heat-conductive parts, where a magnetically-permeable heat-insulating part with equivalent magnetic permeability blocks heat conduction between heat transfer devices, reducing the fluctuation in driving force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air gaps are formed between magnetic bodies to block heat conduction, then heat insulation is improved, but driving force fluctuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetically permeable heat-insulating part is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent heat transfer devices. This part serves dual functions: it blocks heat conduction between devices (reducing energy loss) while its high magnetic permeability allows magnetic field lines to pass through smoothly, preventing driving force fluctuation. The intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing a path for magnetic flux while blocking thermal conduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-insulating part is made of a composite material that combines magnetic permeability with heat insulation properties. This composite material allows the structure to simultaneously achieve thermal isolation and magnetic field continuity, resolving the conflict between heat blocking and driving force stability.
2Reliability
If motor capacity is increased to handle driving force fluctuation, then reliability is improved, but device size and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetically permeable heat-insulating part acts as a mediator that smooths the magnetic field distribution, reducing peak driving force requirements. This allows the motor to be sized for average rather than peak load, reducing both size and energy consumption while maintaining reliable operation.
3Reliability
If motor capacity is increased to handle driving force fluctuation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-insulating part with high magnetic permeability serves as a magnetic flux mediator that equalizes the magnetic field distribution across the air gap. This reduces the peak force requirements on the motor, allowing for a more compact motor design that is both simpler and more reliable.
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
The solution results in a smaller motor size, reduced energy consumption, enhanced energy efficiency, and decreased noise and vibration, enabling a more compact and efficient magnetic cooling/heating apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetically-permeable heat-insulating part that blocks heat conduction is formed between the heat transfer devices
Implementation Method 2
a magnetically-permeable heat-insulating part that has the equivalent magnetic permeability to that of the magnetic bodies
Implementation Method 3
there is a substance that exhibits so-called a magneto-caloric effect, in which when a magnetic field applied to the magnetic substance changes in magnitude, the magnetic substance changes its own temperature in accordance with the magnitude change of the magnetic field
Implementation Method 4
The rotation of the magnetic unit causes a magnetic field to be simultaneously applied to or removed from the positive and negative magnetic bodies
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem to be solved] To reduce the fluctuation in the driving force.[Means to solve Problem] A magnetic cooling/heating apparatus comprising: a heat transfer unit 1000A comprising a plurality of heat transfer devices 50-1, 50-2, . . . arranged in parallel at intervals, wherein the heat transfer device 50-1 comprises magnetic bodies 10A-10F with a magneto-caloric effect and heat-conductive parts 30A-30G that transfer the heat of the magnetic bodies 10A-10F, both of which are alternately arranged; a magnetic unit 2000A comprising a plurality of magnets 21A, 21C, . . . that are arranged so as to face against each of the magnetic bodies 10A-10F of the heat transfer unit 1000A and to selectively apply and remove the magnetic field to/from each of the magnetic bodies 10A-10F; and a motor 350 that moves at least one of the heat transfer unit 1000A and the magnetic unit 2000A facing each other, relative to each other in the direction in which the heat transfer devices 50-1, 50-2, . . . are arranged, wherein a magnetically-permeable heat-insulating part 60 that has the equivalent magnetic permeability to that of the magnetic bodies 10A-10F and blocks heat conduction is formed between the heat transfer devices 50-1, 50-2, . . . of the heat transfer unit 1000A.