Temperature control device, in particular vehicle temperature control device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature control devices using the magnetocaloric effect are limited by small temperature differences, requiring multi-stage processes to achieve significant temperature changes, making them complex and less efficient.
Innovation Solution
A temperature control device with a rotating magnetocaloric material body divided into alternating cooling and magnetic field heating areas, allowing for a multi-stage heat pump process with sequential heat transfer between adjacent sectors, utilizing a circulation system and magnet arrangements to generate a magnetic field for efficient heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multi-stage processes are used to achieve larger temperature changes, then temperature change capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control device is divided into multiple temperature control sectors (at least three) arranged circumferentially around the rotation axis. Each sector contains magnetocaloric material and can be independently controlled by separate magnet arrangements, enabling multi-stage temperature changes through sequential activation of different sectors while maintaining a compact single-unit structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet arrangements are activated in a sequential, periodic manner to produce alternating magnetic fields that cycle through different temperature control sectors. This periodic activation creates a cascading temperature change effect where heat transfer medium flows through sectors in sequence, accumulating temperature changes without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Temperature
If conventional cooling devices are used to achieve larger temperature differences, then temperature control capability is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes the magnetocaloric effect, which changes the temperature of magnetocaloric material in response to changes in magnetic field strength. By controlling the magnetic field parameters (strength, duration, sequencing) applied to different sectors, large temperature differences are achieved through cumulative thermal effects rather than requiring high-energy conventional compression cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer medium serves multiple functions: it absorbs heat from activated magnetocaloric material in one sector, transports it to the next sector, and releases heat when the material cools. This self-circulating thermal management system uses the magnetocaloric cycles themselves to drive heat transfer, reducing the need for additional energy-intensive cooling components.
3Device complexity
If simpler single-stage processes are used, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature change capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature control sectors with magnetocaloric material are merged into a single rotating assembly that functions as one integrated device. The sectors work in sequence within the same housing, allowing the device to achieve multi-stage temperature changes while maintaining a compact, simple overall structure rather than requiring multiple separate cooling units.
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 enables larger temperature changes with a simple and compact structure, enhancing efficiency by cascading temperature changes through alternating magnetic field interactions, particularly suitable for vehicle air conditioning applications.
Implementation Method 1
magnetocaloric material is alternately moved into and out of a magnetic field. When moving into the magnetic field, a spin alignment of the electrons of the magnetocaloric material takes place under the influence of the magnetic field. This spin alignment or alignment of the magnetic moments in the magnetic field has the consequence that the magnetic entropy decreases. Since the total entropy of the system cannot decrease, a thermal entropy manifested in a rise in temperature increases.
Implementation Method 2
If the magnetocaloric material is moved out of the magnetic field, the reverse process takes place. The temperature of a magnetocaloric material that is moved out of a magnetic field decreases.
Implementation Method 3
a heat transfer medium circulation from the magnetic field heating area of one of these tempering sectors to the cooling area of the other of these tempering sectors and from the cooling area of the other of these tempering sections to the magnetic field heating area of one of these temperature control sectors
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A temperature control unit, in particular a vehicle temperature control unit, comprises a temperature control body (28) through which and/or around which a heat transfer medium can flow and which is made of magnetocaloric material, preferably ring-like, a temperature control body receiving housing which accommodates the temperature control body (28) so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation and has a temperature control body receiving space, a plurality of successive ones in the circumferential direction Temperature control sectors (I, II, III, IV) each with a cooling area (30) and a magnetic field heating area (32) arranged in the circumferential direction next to the cooling area (30), with at least two adjacent temperature control sectors (I, II, III, IV) one Heat transfer medium circulation (40) from the magnetic field heating area (32) from one of these temperature control sectors (I, II, III, IV) to the cooling area (30) of the other of these temperature control sectors (I, II, III, IV) and from the cooling area (30 ) of the other of these tempering sectors (I, II, III, IV) to the magnetic field heating area (32) of one of these temperature control sectors (I, II, III, IV), with at least one temperature control sector (I, II, III, IV) having the cooling area (30) supplied by a heat input fluid for introducing heat into this temperature control sector (I, II, III, IV ) can flow through it and/or in at least one temperature control sector (I, II, III, IV) the magnetic field heating area (32) can be flowed through by a heat dissipation fluid for dissipating heat from this temperature control sector (I, II, III, IV).