Magnetic refrigerating device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional magnetic refrigeration systems require high energy input for driving the magnetic material and heat exchanging fluid, suffer from heat loss during fluid switching, and have complex mechanisms that limit refrigeration cycle frequency.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic refrigeration device with two cylindrical AMR beds intersecting at the center, using magnetocaloric effect materials and driven by magnetic forces and resilience, with rotating permanent magnets to facilitate heat exchange and maintain refrigerant flow without external driving mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional magnetic refrigeration systems use external driving mechanisms to move magnetic material and heat exchanging fluid, then the refrigeration cycle can be driven, but high energy input is required and the mechanism becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigeration cycle frequencyVSAvoiddriving mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic material container serves itself by converting magnetic field changes into mechanical motion through magnetic torque. The elastic member provides self-return motion without external driving mechanisms, enabling the system to drive itself through the refrigeration cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

External mechanical driving mechanisms are replaced by magnetic field-based actuation. The magnetic field generating device applies magnetic torque to the magnetic material container, substituting mechanical pistons or motors with a magnetic actuation system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If conventional systems use switching mechanisms to alternate heat exchanging fluids, then the refrigeration cycle can proceed, but heat loss occurs during fluid switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigeration efficiencyVSAvoidheat loss during fluid switching
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanging fluid flows continuously through the magnetic material container without interruption or switching. The magnetic material moves back and forth within the continuous fluid stream, eliminating the need for fluid switching and associated heat losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of switching the heat exchanging fluid to drive the cycle, the invention inverts the approach by moving the magnetic material through the continuous fluid. This reverses the conventional paradigm and eliminates fluid switching losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If conventional magnetic refrigeration systems use external driving mechanisms, then the magnetic material can be moved, but high energy input is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic material movementVSAvoidenergy input for driving
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic material container converts magnetic field energy into mechanical motion automatically through magnetic torque. The elastic member stores and releases mechanical energy to return the container to its initial position, creating a self-driven system without external energy input for motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

External mechanical driving systems are replaced by magnetic field-based actuation. The magnetic field generating device directly acts on the magnetic material container, substituting high-energy mechanical motors with efficient magnetic actuation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 allows for efficient one-time magnetic field control, reduces the need for external driving mechanisms, simplifies the structure, and increases refrigeration cycle frequency by eliminating the need for external pumps and minimizing heat loss.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetocaloric effect given by a magnetic material is effectively propagated by a heat exchanging fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetocaloric effect: Magnetocaloric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the magnetic material container moves in the initial position by the resilience of the elastic member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

a heat exchanging fluid to drive a predetermined refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3163223B1Magnetic refrigerating device
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 NAT INST FOR MATERIALS SCI
  • EP3163223B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(E)
  • EP3163223B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4(B)
  • EP3163223B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is a magnetic refrigerating device with improved refrigerating capacity and refrigerating efficiency by way of improving the heat exchanging method between a magnetic material and a heat exchanging fluid and devising a magnetic field applying method. The magnetic refrigerating device comprises: a cylindrical active magnetic regenerator (AMR) bed that accommodates a refrigerant therein; two magnetic materials that are disposed in the AMR bed in the axial direction, that are configured to be movable in the axial direction of the AMR bed, and that are made of material having a magnetocaloric effect; at least two permanent magnets positioned to face the two magnetic materials in the AMR bed; a rotary shaft that is positioned between the two magnetic materials in the AMR bed and that is positioned between the at least two permanent magnets; and a magnetic rotary movement unit that rotationally moves the permanent magnets about the rotary shaft and that repeatedly moves the permanent magnets and the two magnetic materials closer together and farther apart in association with the rotational movement.