MAGNETO CALORIC DEVICE WITH CONTINUOUS PUMP

摘要

A heat pump system having magneto caloric material positioned in a continuously rotating regenerator is provided. The magneto caloric material is staged so that as the regenerator is rotated, a portion of the material is cycled in and out of a magnetic field in a continuous manner. A heat transfer fluid is circulated through the magneto caloric material simultaneously along at least two paths to provide for the transfer of heat both to and from the material in a cyclic manner. The magneto caloric material may include zones having different temperature ranges of responsiveness to the magnetic field. An appliance using a heat pump system based on magneto caloric material is also provided.

主权项

1. A heat pump system, comprising:
a regenerator housing defining a circumferential direction and rotatable about an axial direction, the axial direction extending between a first end and a second end of the regenerator housing, the regenerator housing comprising a plurality of chambers with each chamber extending longitudinally along the axial direction between a pair of openings, the plurality of chambers arranged proximate to each other along the circumferential direction; a plurality of stages, each stage comprising magneto caloric material positioned within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the axial direction; a pair of valves comprising a first valve attached to the first end of the regenerator housing and a second valve attached to the second end of the regenerator housing, the first valve and second valve each comprising a plurality of apertures spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction with each aperture positioned adjacent to one of the pair of openings of one of the plurality of chambers; a magnetic element positioned proximate to the regenerator housing and extending along the axial direction, the magnetic element creating a magnetic field, the magnetic element positioned so that a subset of the plurality of stages are moved in and out of the magnetic field as the regenerator housing is rotated about the axial direction; and a pair of seals comprising a first seal positioned adjacent to the first valve and a second seal adjacent to the second valve such that the regenerator housing and the pair of valves are rotatable relative to the pair of seals, the first seal and the second seal each comprising a pair of ports positioned in an opposing manner relative to each other and also positioned so that each port can selectively align with at least one of the pair of openings of the plurality of chambers as the regenerator housing is rotated about the axial direction.