Magnetic cooling/heating device
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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 and energy consumption, as well as noise and vibration issues.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic cooling/heating apparatus with a heat transfer unit comprising alternating magnetic bodies and heat-conductive parts, where a magnetically-permeable heat-insulating part with equivalent magnetic permeability is inserted between heat transfer devices to reduce driving force fluctuations, and a motor that drives either the heat transfer unit or magnetic unit relative to each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air gaps are formed between magnetic bodies to block heat conduction, then heat transfer efficiency 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 blocks heat conduction paths while its magnetic permeability allows magnetic field lines to pass through, thereby preventing driving force fluctuation caused by air gaps. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing thermal insulation without disrupting magnetic field continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-insulating part is designed with composite properties: it possesses both heat-insulating characteristics to block thermal conduction and high magnetic permeability to maintain magnetic field pathways. This composite material approach allows simultaneous achievement of efficient heat transfer (by blocking unwanted conduction) and stable driving force (by maintaining magnetic flux continuity).
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 invention converts the potentially harmful effect of magnetic field disruption at air gaps into a beneficial outcome. By placing magnetically permeable heat-insulating parts at these gaps, the design transforms what would be sources of driving force fluctuation (requiring larger motors) into elements that stabilize the magnetic field. This reduces motor capacity requirements while maintaining reliability, thereby lowering energy consumption.
3Loss of energy
If heat-conductive members are inserted and pulled out between magnetic bodies, then heat transfer capability is improved, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical insertion and extraction system of heat-conductive members with a stationary heat-insulating structure. The magnetically permeable heat-insulating part provides continuous thermal and magnetic field management without requiring mechanical movement. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical mechanisms while maintaining effective heat transfer control through the alternating arrangement of magnetic bodies and heat-conductive parts.
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 configuration minimizes driving force fluctuations, allowing for a smaller motor and reduced energy consumption, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing noise and vibration in the magnetic cooling/heating apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
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 2
The rotation of the permanent magnets and the heat-conductive members causes the heat generated by the magneto-caloric effect of the magnetic bodies to be transferred via the heat-conductive member in one direction in which the magnetic bodies are arranged
Implementation Method 3
A magnetically-permeable heat-insulating part that has the equivalent magnetic permeability to that of the magnetic bodies and blocks heat conduction is formed between the heat transfer devices of the heat transfer unit
Data Source
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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.