Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Atsushi Ogasahara

Shun Tonooka

Tetsuya Matsuda

Masaru Shinozaki

A magnetic refrigerator includes: a pipe through which a heat transport medium is transported between a high-temperature end and a low-temperature end through a magneto-thermal container; a pump to transport the heat transport medium through the pipe between the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end; a valve to switch the pipe between an opened state and a closed state; and a controller to control the valve to switch a transport path of the heat transport medium. The controller is configured to switch the transport path between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the magneto-thermal containers are connected in series between the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end to allow transport of the heat transport medium. In the second mode, the magneto-thermal containers are connected in parallel between the high-temperature end and the low-temperature end to allow transport of the heat transport medium.

Magnetic refrigerator with a plurality of magneto-thermal containers

A magnetic heat pump includes magnetocaloric members, an impeller, deformable members, a casing, an electric motor, and a magnetic field generator. The impeller has accommodation chambers. The deformable members face the accommodation chambers. The casing has an interior space accommodating the magnetocaloric members, the impeller, and the deformable members and allowing a heat transport medium to circulate, a first inlet, and a first outlet spaced apart from the first inlet in the circumferential direction. The magnetic field generator produces a magnetic field becoming stronger along the first direction, in a first region extending from the first inlet to the first outlet in the first direction in the interior space. The shapes of the deformable members individually change with the rotation. The volumes of the accommodation chambers individually increase and decrease with change in shape of the deformable members.

Magnetic heat pump and magnetic refrigeration cycle apparatus

A magnetic refrigeration device includes a magnetocaloric material, first piping, second piping, a magnetic field generating unit, and a switching unit. The first piping supplies a refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a first refrigerant direction. The second piping supplies the refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a second refrigerant direction. The magnetic field generating unit is capable of applying a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material. The switching unit switches between a first state and a second state in response to the magnetic field. In the first state, the refrigerant is supplied from the first piping to the magnetocaloric material. In the second state, the refrigerant is supplied from the second piping to the magnetocaloric material.

Magnetic refrigeration device and refrigeration cycle device

A magnetic field application device applying a magnetic field to a magnetocaloric material includes: a magnetic field generating component; a first yoke connected to both poles of the magnetic field generating component; and a second yoke movably disposed between a first position and a second position. A first closed magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic field generating component and the first yoke passes through a magnetic field application region in which the magnetocaloric material is accommodated. A second closed magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic field generating component, the first yoke, and the second yoke bypasses the magnetic field application region. Magnetic resistance of the second closed magnetic circuit when the second yoke is located at the second position is smaller than the magnetic resistance of the second closed magnetic circuit when the second yoke is located at the first position.

Magnetic field application device

A magnetic refrigeration device includes a magnetic heat container, a magnetic field generation device, a high temperature-side heat exchanger, a low temperature-side heat exchanger, and a pump. The magnetic heat container is filled with a magneto-caloric material. The pump is capable of transporting a heat transport medium in a reciprocable manner between the high temperature-side heat exchanger and the low temperature-side heat exchanger via the magnetic heat container. The magnetic heat container has a spiral shape extending in a spiral on an identical plane and allows the heat transport medium transported by the pump to flow along the spiral shape.

Magnetic refrigeration device

A magnetic refrigerator including an electromagnet for magnetic refrigeration. The electromagnet for magnetic refrigeration includes: a return yoke; at least one pair of opposite magnetic poles disposed inside the return yoke and spaced from each other by a gap; a pipe disposed in the gap to pass a heat transport medium therethrough; a magnetocaloric member disposed inside the pipe to exchange heat with the heat transport medium; and a coil to surround at least one of the paired opposite magnetic poles to generate a magnetic flux passing across the gap when the coil is energized.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Atsushi Ogasahara