Magnetocaloric Module Circuits That Preserve Thermal Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetocaloric heat generators face inefficiencies due to thermal energy losses and the need for multiple pistons, which increase bulk and energy consumption, while also limiting the thermal gradient and requiring a large size, making them unsuitable for compact applications.
Innovation Solution
A magnetocaloric thermal generator design with two magnetocaloric modules connected by transfer circuits that maintain the temperature gradient and reduce the number of pistons by using a single-acting or double-acting piston system, allowing for controlled heat exchange without degrading efficiency and enabling compact integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If heat exchange is carried out with external applications (heating, refrigeration, air conditioning), then useful thermal power is provided, but thermal gradient within magnetocaloric materials is reduced and thermal energy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the heat transfer fluid circulation into separate cold circuit and hot circuit pathways, with dedicated heat exchangers for each magnetocaloric module. This segmentation allows independent temperature control and heat exchange optimization for each module, preventing thermal gradient degradation while maintaining useful thermal power output.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat exchangers serve as intermediary components between the magnetocaloric modules and external applications. These intermediaries enable controlled heat exchange with external environments while isolating the magnetocaloric materials from direct thermal contact that would degrade their thermal gradients, thus providing useful thermal power without energy loss.
2Ease of operation
If multiple pistons are used to move heat transfer fluid through each magnetocaloric module, then fluid circulation is achieved, but device bulk and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the fluid circulation control for multiple magnetocaloric modules into a single-piston architecture. The heat transfer fluid circulates through a unified system where one piston coordinates flow through both cold and hot circuits, reducing the number of pistons from multiple to one while maintaining effective fluid circulation control across all modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The single piston serves multiple functions by controlling heat transfer fluid circulation through both the cold circuit and hot circuit pathways. This universal component replaces what would traditionally require separate pistons for each module, reducing device complexity while maintaining operational effectiveness.
3Productivity
If multiple pistons are used to move heat transfer fluid, then complete fluid circulation is achieved, but the generator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple piston functions into a single-piston architecture that controls heat transfer fluid circulation through integrated cold and hot circuits. This merging reduces the generator's physical volume and component count while maintaining complete fluid circulation and heat transfer efficiency through optimized pathway design.
4Ease of manufacture
If thermal bridges are present in connected chambers, then structural integration is achieved, but heat exchange between chambers degrades generator efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts or removes thermal bridge pathways from the structural integration between cold and hot chambers. By eliminating direct thermal conduction paths between chambers of opposite polarity, the system prevents unwanted heat exchange that would degrade efficiency, while maintaining structural integration through alternative non-thermal pathways.
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 design enhances thermal efficiency by minimizing thermal losses and reducing the number of components, resulting in a more compact and energy-efficient magnetocaloric heat generator capable of maintaining temperature gradients and integrating into smaller spaces.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetocaloric heat generator contains magnetocaloric materials which have the ability to heat up under the action of a magnetic field and which cool down when that magnetic field is removed or reduced. This so-called magnetocaloric effect is exploited to produce a thermal gradient between the two ends called hot end and cold end of a thermal generator.
Implementation Method 2
the fluid leaving the magnetocaloric stage M1 has a temperature of 20 ° C, passes through the hot exchanger EC and reaches the piston P1 with a temperature for example of 18 ° C following the heat exchange carried out in the EC hot exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a magnetocaloric heat generator (1) comprising at least one assembly formed by at least two magnetocaloric modules (2, 3) through which a heat-transfer fluid flows. The generator is characterised in that: the cold ends (F2, F3) of the magnetocaloric modules (2, 3) are fluidly connected by a cold-transfer circuit (6); the hot ends (C2, C2) are fluidly connected by a heat-transfer circuit (7); the cold-transfer circuit (6) is arranged to modify the temperature of the above-mentioned heat-transfer fluid, such that the heat-transfer fluid leaving the cold end (F2, F3) of one of the magnetocaloric modules (2, 3) with an outlet temperature enters the cold end (F3, F2) of the other magnetocaloric module (3, 2) with an inlet temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the cold end (F3, F2); and the heat-transfer circuit (7) is arranged to modify the temperature of the heat-transfer fluid, such that the heat-transfer fluid leaving the hot end (C2, C3) of one of the magnetocaloric modules (2, 3) with an outlet temperature enters the hot end (C3, C2) of the other magnetocaloric module (3, 2) with an inlet temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the hot end (C3, C2).