JP5734991B2 - Magnetic refrigeration system - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a magnetic refrigeration system.

  In recent years, expectations for magnetic refrigeration have increased as one of environmentally friendly and highly efficient refrigeration technologies, and research and development of magnetic refrigeration technologies for room temperature regions have been activated.

  As one of the magnetic refrigeration technologies, the lattice entropy, which has been positioned as an impediment to magnetic refrigeration in the room temperature range, is used rather positively. There has been proposed an AMR (Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigeration) system that simultaneously bears a heat storage effect for storing cold heat generated by work.

  In the AMR system, for example, it is expected that a high refrigeration efficiency can be obtained as compared with a conventional refrigeration system using a compression cycle using Freon.

  However, development of magnetic refrigeration technology with higher refrigeration efficiency is desired from the viewpoint of energy saving. One way to improve the refrigeration efficiency is to increase the amount of heat transport from the magnetocaloric effect material to the heat transport medium.

JP 2010-25435 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to increase the refrigeration efficiency by increasing the amount of heat transport from the magnetocaloric effect material to the heat transport medium. Is to provide.

The magnetic refrigeration system of the embodiment has a heat transport medium inlet / outlet at both ends, a heat exchanger having a magnetocaloric material inside, a heat exchanger provided outside the heat exchanger, Magnetic field application / removal means for applying and removing a magnetic field, a low-temperature side heat exchanging unit connected to one inflow / outlet of the heat exchanger via a pipe and transporting cold from the heat exchanger, and the other of the heat exchanger A high temperature side heat exchanging part connected to the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger through which the heat is transported from the heat exchanger, and a medium moving mechanism for flowing the heat transport medium into and out of the heat exchanger through the inlet and outlet. ing. In the heat exchanger, a first region, a second region provided on one inflow / outlet side with respect to the first region, and a third region provided on the other inflow / outlet side with respect to the first region. The major axis is parallel to the streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium to the first region and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region in the first region. The pressure loss in the second and third regions when the plurality of plate-like magnetocaloric effect materials are filled and the heat transport medium passes is higher than the pressure loss in the first region.

It is a block diagram of the magnetic refrigeration system of 1st Embodiment. It is detail drawing of the heat exchanger of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the refrigerating cycle of 1st Embodiment. It is detail drawing of the heat exchanger of 2nd Embodiment. It is detail drawing of the heat exchanger of 3rd Embodiment. It is a conceptual perspective view of the magnetic refrigeration system of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure of the heat exchanger of the comparative example 1. It is a figure of the heat exchanger of the comparative example 2. It is a figure of the heat exchanger of the comparative example 3. It is a figure of the heat exchanger of the comparative example 4. It is a figure which shows the result of the comparative example 1, the comparative example 2, and Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the result of the comparative example 3, the comparative example 4, and Example 2. FIG.

(First embodiment)
The magnetic refrigeration system of the first embodiment includes a heat exchanger having an inflow / outlet of a heat transport medium at both ends, a magnetocaloric effect material inside, and a magnetocaloric effect provided outside the heat exchanger. Magnetic field application removing means for applying and removing the magnetic field to the material, a low temperature side heat exchanging unit connected to the inlet / outlet on the low temperature end side of the heat exchanger via a pipe, and transporting cold heat from the heat exchanger, The heat transport medium flows into and out of the heat exchanger through a high temperature side heat exchange section that is connected to the inflow / outlet on the high temperature end side of the heat exchanger via a pipe and transports the heat from the heat exchanger, and the inflow / outlet. A medium moving mechanism. In the heat exchanger, a first region, a second region provided on the low temperature end side with respect to the first region, and a third region provided on the high temperature end side with respect to the first region are provided. And the first region is filled with a magnetocaloric effect material, and the pressure loss in the second and third regions when the heat transport medium passes is higher than the pressure loss in the first region. ing.

  In the magnetic refrigeration system of the present embodiment, it is possible to rectify the flow of the heat transport medium in the heat exchanger by providing regions with high pressure loss at both ends in the heat exchanger. Therefore, the surface of the magnetocaloric effect material in the heat exchanger effectively contributes to heat exchange, and the amount of heat transport from the magnetocaloric effect material to the heat transport medium can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to provide a magnetic refrigeration system with improved refrigeration efficiency.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the magnetic refrigeration system of the present embodiment. The magnetic refrigeration system 100 includes a heat exchanger 1 having a magnetocaloric effect material inside, and a magnetic field application removing unit that is provided outside the heat exchanger 1 and applies and removes a magnetic field to and from the heat exchanger 1. Yes. The magnetic field application removing means includes a magnetic field generating means 2 that generates a magnetic field, and a magnetic field moving means 3 that changes the relative positions of the heat exchanger 1 and the magnetic field generating means 2. The magnetic field application / removal means applies and removes the magnetic field to the magnetocaloric effect material filled in the heat exchanger 1.

  Furthermore, the magnetic refrigeration system 100 includes a medium moving mechanism 4 that allows the heat transport medium to flow into and out of the heat exchanger 1, a high-temperature side heat exchange unit 5, and a low-temperature side heat exchange unit 6. And the heat exchanger 1 and the high temperature side heat exchange part 5, the heat exchanger 1 and the low temperature side heat exchange part 6, and the piping 7 which each connects the high temperature side heat exchange part 5 and the low temperature side heat exchange part 6 are provided.

  Here, the magnetic field generation means 2 plays a role of applying a magnetic field to the heat exchanger 1, and for example, a permanent magnet is used. As the permanent magnet, an NdFeB magnet, an SmCo magnet, a ferrite magnet, or the like can be used.

  In order to change the relative position of the heat exchanger 1 and the magnetic field generating means 2, the magnetic field moving means 3 plays a role of giving mechanical fluctuations to the magnetic field generating means 2, and for example, a motor can be used.

  Here, changing the relative position means that the heat exchanger 1 and the magnetic field generating means 2 are switched so that the area “ON” where the magnetic field generating means 2 covers the heat exchanger 1 and the area “OFF” where it is not covered are switched. This means changing the relative position. When in the region ON, a magnetic field is applied to the heat exchanger 1, and when in the region OFF, the magnetic field is removed.

  Here, although mechanical fluctuation is given to the magnetic field generating means 2 in FIG. 1, mechanical fluctuation may be given to the heat exchanger 1. In this case, the magnetic field moving means 3 is connected to the heat exchanger 1.

  The medium moving mechanism 4 that moves the heat transport medium into and out of the heat exchanger 1 plays a role of moving the heat transport medium contained in the heat exchanger 1. For example, a pump can be used.

  The high temperature side heat exchange section 5 is connected in series to the inflow / outflow port 50 b on the high temperature end side of the heat exchanger 1 via the pipe 7. And it plays the role which performs the heat exchange with the heat | fever supply destination, and the high temperature heat | fever (hot heat) conveyed with the heat transport medium from the heat exchanger 1. FIG. For example, air can be heated by exchanging heat between a high-temperature heat transport medium and air.

  The low temperature side heat exchanging unit 6 is connected in series with a pipe 7 to the inflow / outlet port 50a on the low temperature end side of the heat exchanger 1, and the low temperature heat (cold heat) transported from the heat exchanger 1 by a heat transport medium, Plays a role of heat exchange with the supplier. For example, air can be cooled by exchanging heat between a low-temperature heat transport medium and air.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the heat exchanger of the present embodiment. Here, the moving direction of the heat transport medium viewed macroscopically is defined as an x direction, and an arbitrary direction perpendicular thereto is defined as a y direction. In FIG. 1, a plurality of magnetocaloric effect materials 11 to be described later are arranged in parallel, and the parallel arrangement direction of the magnetocaloric effect materials is the x direction.

  The heat exchanger 1 is provided with an inlet / outlet for the heat transport medium 13 at both ends. That is, the inflow / outflow port 50a on the low temperature end side of the heat exchanger 1 and the inflow / outlet port 50b on the high temperature end side of the heat exchanger 1 are provided.

  The pipe 7 is connected to the inflow / outflow port 50a on the low temperature end side via the connection portion 12a. The piping 7 is connected to the inflow / outflow port 50b on the high temperature end side through the connection portion 12b.

  In the heat exchanger 1, a first region 21, a second region 20a provided on the low temperature end side with respect to the first region 21, and a third region provided on the high temperature end side with respect to the first region. A region 20b is provided. The first region 21 is filled with the magnetocaloric effect material 11. The second and third regions 20a and 20b are filled with magnetocaloric effect materials 10a and 10b.

  The external shape and internal shape of the heat exchanger 1 are not particularly limited, and an optimal shape may be selected according to the specifications. For example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape or a cylindrical shape can be employed. Further, it may be curved or bent.

  When the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows from the inflow / outflow port 50a, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50a, the second region 20a, the first region 21, the third region 20b, and the inflow. A flow that flows out of the heat exchanger 1 through the outlet 50b is formed.

  On the other hand, when the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows in from the inflow / outflow port 50b, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50b, the third region 20b, the first region 21, and the second region 20a. A flow that flows out of the heat exchanger 1 through the inflow / outflow port 50a is formed.

  The heat transport medium 13 may be a fluid, and for example, water or an aqueous ethylene glycol solution can be used. The magnetocaloric effect materials 10a, 10b, and 11 are made of a magnetic material containing, for example, Gd (gadolinium).

  The magnetocaloric effect materials 10a, 10b, and 11 of the present embodiment are not particularly limited. For example, a Gd compound in which various elements are mixed with Gd (gadolinium), an intermetallic material composed of various rare earth elements and transition metal elements, as long as it is a magnetic substance that exhibits a magnetocaloric effect. Magnetic particles such as a compound, Ni2MnGa alloy, GdGeSi compound, LaFe13-based compound, LaFe13H, R2Fe17-based compound (R is a rare earth element) can be used.

  In the second region 20a and the third region 20b, the magnetocaloric effect material 10a, the magnetocaloric effect material 10b, and the first region 21 are increased so that the pressure loss when the heat transport medium 13 permeates is higher. A magnetocaloric effect material 11 is arranged. Here, high pressure loss is defined by the pressure required for the heat transport medium 13 to pass through the second region 20a, the third region 20b, and the first region 21, and the heat in each region. The amount of pressure drop between the transport medium inflow portion and the outflow portion can be determined by measuring with a differential pressure gauge.

  The shape of the magnetocaloric effect materials 10a and 10b in the second region 20a and the third region 20b is a plurality of particulate materials in the present embodiment, but the pressure loss of the present invention is also applicable to other flat plate shapes. If it becomes the structure where becomes high, it will not be limited at all. The shape of the magnetocaloric effect materials 10a and 10b is preferably a particulate shape in order to obtain the effects of the present embodiment. The particulate material preferably has an aspect ratio of 5 or less of the major axis and minor axis of the particle, and more preferably spherical. By filling the magnetocaloric effect materials 10a and 10b, the second region 20a and the third region 20b are formed.

  On the other hand, the magnetocaloric effect material 11 has a major axis parallel to a streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 21 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region 21. Presents a certain shape. For example, it is a flat plate-like material.

  A plurality of magnetocaloric effect materials 11 are arranged in parallel with respect to a streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 21 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region 21. Thus, the first region 21 is formed.

Here, the streamline is defined as Y _{0, x} at the center point in the y direction, and the end point in the y direction (the point in contact with the wall surface of the heat exchanger 1) at the same x position as Y _{0, x} is Y _{r, x,} Y _-r, if you _{x, a, Y 0, x} and _{Y r,} the line distance between _x wrote a locus equal distance L1, _{and, Y 0, x} and _{Y- r,} the distance between _x It is defined by a line L2 depicting a locus that is equidistant. For example, when the cross section of the heat exchanger 1 is rectangular as shown in FIG. 2, L1 and L2 are parallel to the x-axis direction, and the magnetocaloric effect material 11 is arranged parallel to the x-axis direction.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the refrigeration cycle of the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the operating method of the magnetic refrigeration system of this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  When the magnetic field moving means 3 is operated in step S01 in the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the magnetic field generating means 2 is moved to an ON region that applies a magnetic field to the heat exchanger 1, the magnetocaloric effect included in the heat exchanger 1 is obtained. The material generates heat. This heat is absorbed by the heat transport medium 13 in contact therewith, and the temperature of the heat transport medium 13 rises.

  Next, in step S02, the medium moving mechanism 4 is operated to move the heat transport medium 13 to the high temperature heat exchanger 5 side by a predetermined stroke distance. Then, the heat transport medium 13 that has absorbed heat in step S01 is transported to the high temperature heat exchanger 5 side.

  Next, in step S03, the magnetic field moving means 3 is operated, and the magnetic field generating means 2 is moved to the OFF region away from the heat exchanger 1. Then, the magnetocaloric effect material contained in the heat exchanger 1 absorbs heat, absorbs heat from the heat transport medium 13 in contact therewith, and the temperature of the heat transport medium 13 decreases.

  Next, in step S04, the medium moving mechanism 4 is operated to move the heat transport medium 13 to the low-temperature heat exchanger 6 side by a predetermined stroke distance. Then, the heat transport medium 13 whose temperature has decreased in step S03 is transported to the low-temperature heat exchanger 6 side.

  By repeating the refrigeration cycle of steps S01 to S04 as described above, the temperature of the heat transport medium 13 flowing into the high temperature heat exchanger 5 is increased, and the temperature of the heat transport medium 13 flowing into the low temperature heat exchanger 6 is decreased. Therefore, heating heat can be used by extracting heat from the high temperature heat exchanger 5, and cooling heat can be used by extracting heat from the low temperature heat exchanger 6.

  Here, in order to increase the amount of heat of heating / cooling heat, the number of cycles (frequency) per unit time of the refrigeration cycle is increased. However, when the frequency is increased, the moving speed of the heat transport medium in steps S02 and S04 increases.

  When the moving speed increases, there is a problem that the pressure loss when moving the heat transport medium increases and the load of the medium moving mechanism 4 increases. When the medium moving mechanism 4 is moved using electricity as a drive source, an increase in the load leads to an increase in power consumption, which reduces the cooling / heating efficiency of the magnetic refrigeration system.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the magnetocaloric effect material 11 is long with respect to the streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 21 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region 21. Takes a shape with parallel axes. A plurality of magnetocaloric effect materials 11 are arranged in parallel with respect to a streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 21 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region 21. As a result, the first region 21 is formed. Since the major axis of the magnetocaloric effect material 11 is parallel to the streamline, the pressure loss can be greatly reduced.

  Here, it is most desirable that the major axis of the magnetocaloric effect material 11 is parallel to the streamline from the viewpoint of reducing pressure loss. However, even if it is not necessarily parallel, if the major axis is 30 degrees or less, preferably 10 degrees or less with respect to the streamline, the pressure loss can be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the first region 21 formed of the plate-like magneto-caloric effect material 11 whose major axis is parallel to the streamline, the contact area with the heat transport medium is different from that of the magneto-caloric effect material 11. For example, it decreases compared to the case of spherical particles.

  A decrease in the contact area with the heat transport medium causes a decrease in the amount of heat transport. In the present embodiment, the second region 20a and the third region 20b are filled with spherical magnetocaloric effect materials 10a and 10b. For this reason, the contact area with the heat transport medium flowing through the second and third regions 20a and 20b increases, and the amount of heat transfer per unit cycle can be increased.

  Moreover, in the heat exchanger 1, the diameter or area of the inflow / outflow port 50a and the inflow / outflow port 50b is smaller than the y-direction diameter or the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x direction in the heat exchanger. In other words, the size of the inlet / outlet port 50a and the inlet / outlet port 50b is smaller than the size in the direction perpendicular to the streamline inside the heat exchanger 1. That is, the area in which the transport medium flows is widened from the inlet / outlet port 50a and the inlet / outlet port 50b toward the inside of the heat exchanger 1.

  In such a case, the flow of the heat transport medium is disturbed particularly in the vicinity of the inlet / outlet ports 50a and 50b. When the flow of the heat transport medium is disturbed, the movement of the heat transport medium in the x direction becomes non-uniform. Therefore, the surface of the magnetocaloric effect material in the heat exchanger 1 cannot effectively contribute to heat exchange, resulting in a problem that the heat exchange amount is reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the second region 20a, which is the end of the heat exchanger 1, and the third region 20b are filled with the spherical magnetocaloric effect materials 10a and 10b, so that the inflow / outflow port 50a, It is possible to increase the pressure loss in the vicinity of 50b from the first region 21 and rectify the flow of the heat transport medium. By rectifying the second and third regions 20a and 20b, the heat transport medium moving in the x direction in the first region 21 flows uniformly in the y-axis direction. Therefore, the heat exchange amount between the magnetocaloric effect material 11 and the heat transport medium can be increased.

  As mentioned above, according to this Embodiment, the moving speed of a heat transport medium is accelerated | stimulated by reducing the pressure loss of the medium between heat exchanges which flows the inside of a heat exchanger in the 1st area | region 21. FIG. Further, the amount of heat transport from the magnetocaloric effect material to the heat transport medium is increased by increasing the pressure loss in the second and third regions 20a and 20b and allowing the heat transport medium to flow uniformly in the heat exchanger. Can be increased.

In the present embodiment, it is desirable that the first region occupies 50% or more of the volume in the heat exchanger 1 from the viewpoint of optimizing the pressure loss in the heat exchanger 1. Further, from the viewpoint of obtaining a sufficient rectifying action, it is desirable that the particle occupancy of the second and third regions 20a and 20b is 50% or more.

(Second Embodiment)
The magnetic refrigeration system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x direction of the heat exchanger is smaller at one end than at the other end. . Therefore, the description overlapping with that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the heat exchanger of the present embodiment. In the heat exchanger 101 of the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the x direction of the heat exchanger decreases from the end on the connection part 12a side to the end on the connection part 12b side.

  The magnetocaloric effect material 11 is a flat plate-like material, and a streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 21 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region 21. On the other hand, the 1st field 21 is formed by arranging two or more sheets in parallel.

  Note that, as in the present embodiment, the y-direction lengths of the second region 20a, the third region 20b, and the first region 21 are not constant, and the second region 20a is longer than the y-direction length of the second region 20a. In the case of the trapezoidal shape in which the y-direction length of the third region 20b is short, L1 and L2 are defined as shown in FIG.

  When the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows from the inflow / outflow port 50a, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50a, the second region 20a, the first region 21, the third region 20b, and the inflow. A flow that flows out of the heat exchanger 101 through the outlet 50b is formed.

  On the other hand, when the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows in from the inflow / outflow port 50b, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50b, the third region 20b, the first region 21, and the second region 20a. A flow that flows out of the heat exchanger 101 through the inflow / outflow port 50a is formed.

  During the operation of the magnetic refrigeration system, a temperature difference occurs in the heat exchanger, so that the physical properties, for example, the viscosity of the heat transport medium 13 may change between one end and the other end. Further, by changing the cross-sectional areas perpendicular to the X-axis direction at both ends of the heat exchanger, the change in viscosity of the heat transport medium 13 depending on the location in the heat exchanger causes the flow of the heat transport medium 13 in the heat exchanger. Even in the case where an effective influence is generated, it is possible to optimize the pressure loss in the second and third regions 20a and 20b. In the present embodiment, in addition to the effects described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
The magnetic refrigeration system of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the shape and arrangement of the magnetocaloric effect material in the heat exchanger are different. Therefore, the description overlapping with that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the heat exchanger of the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, the moving direction of the heat transport medium is defined as the x direction, and an arbitrary direction perpendicular to the moving direction is defined as the y direction.

  The heat exchanger 102 is provided with an inlet / outlet for the heat transport medium 13 at both ends. That is, an inlet / outlet port 50 a on the low temperature end side of the heat exchanger 102 and an inlet / outlet port 50 b on the high temperature end side of the heat exchanger 102 are provided.

  The pipe 7 is connected to the inflow / outflow port 50a on the low temperature end side via the connection portion 12a. The piping 7 is connected to the inflow / outflow port 50b on the high temperature end side through the connection portion 12b.

  In the heat exchanger 102, a first region 41, a second region 40a provided on the low temperature end side with respect to the first region 41, and a third region provided on the high temperature end side with respect to the first region. A region 40b is provided. The first region 41 is filled with the magnetocaloric effect material 31. The second and third regions are filled with magnetocaloric effect materials 30a and 30b.

  When the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows from the inflow / outflow port 50a, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50a, the second region 40a, the first region 41, the third region 40b, and the inflow. A flow out of the heat exchanger 102 is formed through the outlet 50b.

  On the other hand, when the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows in from the inflow / outflow port 50b, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50b, the third region 40b, the first region 41, and the second region 40a. A flow that flows out of the heat exchanger 102 through the inflow / outflow port 50a is formed.

  When the medium transport mechanism 4 is operated and the heat transport medium 13 flows from the inflow / outflow port 50a, the heat transport medium 13 includes the inflow / outflow port 50a, the second region 40a, the first region 41, the third region 40b, and the inflow. A flow out of the heat exchanger 102 is formed through the outlet 50b.

  The magnetocaloric effect materials 30a, 30b, and 31 are made of a magnetic material containing, for example, Gd (gadolinium). The magnetocaloric effect materials 30a, 30b, and 31 of the present embodiment are not particularly limited. For example, a Gd compound in which various elements are mixed with Gd (gadolinium), an intermetallic material composed of various rare earth elements and transition metal elements, as long as it is a magnetic substance that exhibits a magnetocaloric effect. It is possible to use magnetic particles such as a compound, a Ni2MnGa alloy, a GdGeSi compound, a LaFe13-based compound, and LaFe13H.

  The magnetocaloric effect material 30a and the magnetocaloric effect material 30b are, for example, flat plate materials having a rectangular cross section. The second and third regions 40a and 40b are formed by arranging a plurality of rectangular magnetocaloric effect materials 30a and 30b in parallel. The rectangular major axis direction of the magnetocaloric effect materials 30a and 30b may not be parallel to the x axis.

  On the other hand, the magnetocaloric effect material 31 is a flat plate whose major axis is parallel to the streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 41 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the region 41. Take a shape. A plurality of magnetocaloric effect materials 31 are arranged in parallel with respect to a streamline connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium 13 to the first region 41 and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region 41. Thus, the first region 41 is formed. In the present embodiment, the magnetocaloric effect material 31 in the first region 41 employs a configuration that is divided into two in the x direction. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. It is possible to appropriately adopt a configuration of division or more depending on the intended effect.

The minimum y-direction interval when a plurality of magnetocaloric effect materials 30a and 30b are arranged in parallel is Δδ _30a and Δδ _30b, and the minimum y-direction interval when a plurality of magnetocaloric effect materials 31 are arranged in parallel is Δδ ₃₁ . In this case, the magnetocaloric effect materials 30a, 30b, and 31 are arranged so as to satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2).

Δδ _30a <Δδ ₃₁ formula (1)
Δδ _30b <Δδ ₃₁ formula (2)

  By satisfying the relationship of the above formulas (1) and (2), the pressure loss in the second and third regions 40a and 40b becomes higher than the pressure loss in the first region 41.

  Furthermore, the second region 40a and the third region 40b are compared with the first region 41 so that the pressure loss when the heat transport medium 13 passes through the second region 40a and the third region 40 is higher. It is possible to adjust the occupation ratio of the magnetocaloric effect material in the heat exchanger 102 between 40b and the first region 41. Specifically, the length ratio in the x direction is adjusted.

  As described above, it is possible to rectify the flow of the heat transport medium in the vicinity of the inflow / outflow ports 50a and 50b connected to the connection portions 12a and 12b.

  By rectifying in the second and third regions 40a and 40b, the heat transport medium flowing in the first region 41 flows uniformly in the y direction, and the amount of heat exchange with the magnetocaloric effect material 31 can be increased. It becomes possible.

  The magnetocaloric effect materials 30a, 30b, 31 may be divided into a plurality of pieces in the x-axis direction as shown in FIG. 5 as long as the above conditions are satisfied. The heat conduction in the temperature gradient direction in the magnetocaloric effect material can be cut off by a plurality of divisions, and the magnetic refrigeration efficiency can be improved. In addition, there are advantages such as easy manufacture of the magnetocaloric effect material and easy bending and bending of the heat exchanger.

  As mentioned above, according to this Embodiment, the moving speed of a heat transport medium is accelerated | stimulated by reducing the pressure loss of the medium between heat exchanges which flows in the inside of a heat exchanger in the 1st area | region 41. FIG. Further, the amount of heat transport from the magnetocaloric effect material to the heat transport medium is increased by increasing the pressure loss in the second and third regions 40a and 40b so that the heat transport medium flows uniformly in the heat exchanger. Can be increased. In the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained in addition to the effects described above.

(Fourth embodiment)
The magnetic refrigeration system of the present embodiment is a magnetic refrigeration system including a plurality of heat exchangers.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual perspective view of the magnetic refrigeration system of the present embodiment. Four heat exchangers 1 as shown in FIG. 2 are formed on the same circumference. Further, two pairs of permanent magnets 60a and 60b are provided. The two permanent magnets 60a are fixed to the upper rotating plate 70a, and the two permanent magnets 60b are fixed to the lower rotating plate 70b.

  The upper rotating plate 70a and the lower rotating plate 70b are fixed to a rotating shaft 72 and configured to be rotatable in synchronization with the rotating shaft 72 as a center. With this rotation, the permanent magnets 60 a and 60 b repeatedly approach and leave the heat exchanger 1 to apply and remove the magnetic field to the heat exchanger 1. The rotation of the rotating shaft 72 is performed by a motor (not shown), for example.

  According to the present embodiment, by providing a plurality of heat exchangers 1, it becomes possible to increase the output of the magnetic refrigeration system. The plurality of heat exchangers 1 may be connected in series or connected in parallel.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific examples. The above embodiment is merely given as an example, and does not limit the present invention. Further, the constituent elements of the respective embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  For example, the magnetocaloric effect material has been described by taking the case of a particle shape and a plate shape as an example, but may be a cylindrical shape or a linear shape. In the case of a linear shape, for example, it may be meshed and stacked in the direction in which the refrigerant flows to fill the heat exchanger.

  In the embodiment, the case where the magnetocaloric effect material is filled in the second region and the third region has been described as an example. This form is desirable from the viewpoint of increasing the contact area with the heat transport refrigerant and improving the efficiency of the magnetic refrigeration system. However, the second region and the third region are not filled with the magnetocaloric effect material, but the first region is formed by inserting, for example, a metal mesh such as copper or aluminum or a ceramic having a honeycomb structure. The pressure loss may be higher than that.

  In the description of the embodiment, the description of the magnetic refrigeration system that is not directly necessary for the description of the present invention is omitted, but the elements related to the required magnetic refrigeration system are appropriately selected and used. be able to.

  In addition, all magnetic refrigeration systems that include the elements of the present invention and that can be appropriately modified by those skilled in the art are included in the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

  Examples will be described in detail below. A comparison was made between the amount of heat exchange in the heat exchanger and the pressure loss during movement of the heat transport medium by calculation. In Table 1, the experimental conditions of each example and comparative example are displayed. The weight used of the magnetocaloric effect material was the same in all examples and comparative examples.

Example 1
As a third embodiment, a heat exchanger having the characteristics of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 5 was used. The internal shape of the heat exchanger is a rectangular parallelepiped, and a flat plate made of a magnetocaloric effect material having an x-direction length of 100 mm, a y-direction length of 21 mm, and a z-axis direction length of 1 mm is arranged in the y-direction at the x-direction end of the rectangular parallelepiped. On the other hand, a total of 10 flat plates made of magnetocaloric effect material are arranged at 1 mm intervals in the y direction between the regions 40 a and 40 b arranged in parallel at intervals of 0.5 mm and the regions 40 a and 40 b. A region 41 arranged in parallel is provided. The length ratio of the regions 40a and 40b and the region 41 in the x-axis direction was set to be region 40a: region 41: region 40b = 3: 10: 3.

  Assuming that the heat transport medium is moved with a rectangular wave, a moving frequency of 1 Hz, and an amplitude of 0.01 m with respect to the heat exchanger, the pressure loss when the heat transport medium is moved at this moving speed, and heat The exchange amount was calculated. Water (25 ° C.) was used as the heat transport medium, and the heat exchange amount was assumed to be proportional to the contact area between water and the magnetocaloric effect material surface.

  Here, the heat exchange amount per unit pressure loss (= heat exchange amount / pressure loss) was used as an index indicating the magnetic refrigeration efficiency. The results are shown in FIG. The vertical axis is an arbitrary unit, which is a linear scale.

(Comparative Example 1)
A heat exchanger having the characteristics of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 7 was used. A total of 10 flat plates made of magnetocaloric material 80 having a thickness of 1 mm in the y direction and a height of 1 mm in the z direction are arranged in parallel in the rectangular parallelepiped at 1 mm intervals in the y direction. did.

  Conditions other than the above were calculated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in FIG.

(Comparative Example 2)
A heat exchanger having the characteristics of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 8 was used. In the central region of the rectangular parallelepiped in the x-axis direction, a total of 14 flat plates formed of the magnetocaloric effect material 80 are arranged in parallel in the y direction at intervals of 0.5 mm in the first region 41, and at both ends of the region 41. In addition, regions 40a and 40b were provided in which a total of 10 flat plates made of the magnetocaloric effect material 80 were arranged in parallel at 1 mm intervals in the y direction. The length ratio of the regions 40a and 40b and the region 41 in the x-axis direction was set to be region 40a: region 41: region 40b = 5: 6: 5.

  Conditions other than the above were calculated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in FIG.

(Example 2)
As the first embodiment, a heat exchanger having the characteristics of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 2 was used. The internal shape of the heat exchanger is a rectangular parallelepiped, and the regions 20a and 20b in which particles having a diameter of 1 mm formed of a magnetocaloric effect material are filled at a filling rate of 60% in the central region in the x-axis direction of the rectangular parallelepiped, and the regions 20a and 20b. In between, a total of 10 flat plates made of a magnetocaloric effect material parallel to the x-axis direction, having a thickness of 1 mm in the y direction and a height of 1 mm in the z direction are arranged in parallel at 1 mm intervals in the y direction. Region 21 was provided. The length ratio of the regions 20a and 20b and the region 21 in the x-axis direction was set to be region 20a: region 21: region 20b = 2: 5: 2.

  Conditions other than the above were calculated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in FIG. The vertical axis is an arbitrary unit, which is a linear scale.

(Comparative Example 3)
A heat exchanger having the characteristics of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 9 was used. Particles having a diameter of 1 mm formed of the magnetocaloric effect material 80 in a rectangular parallelepiped were filled at a filling rate of 60%.

  Conditions other than the above were calculated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in FIG.

(Comparative Example 4)
A heat exchanger having the characteristics of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 10 was used. A region 21 in which particles having a diameter of 1 mm formed of the magnetocaloric effect material 80 are filled at the end of the rectangular parallelepiped in the x-axis direction at a filling rate of 60%, and the outside of the region 21 is parallel to the x-axis direction and has a thickness in the y direction. Regions 20a and 20b in which a total of 10 plate-like materials made of magnetocaloric effect material 80 having a thickness of 1 mm and a height of 1 mm in the z direction are arranged in parallel at 1 mm intervals in the y direction are provided. The length ratio of the regions 20a and 20b and the region 21 in the x-axis direction was set to be region 20a: region 21: region 20b = 2.5: 4: 2.5.

  Conditions other than the above were calculated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in FIG.

  In Example 1, the heat exchange amount per unit pressure loss can be increased compared to Comparative Example 1. Moreover, the value was able to be raised also with respect to Comparative Example 2, and the effect could be confirmed by introducing the regions 40a and 40b having high pressure loss at the ends.

  In Example 2, the heat exchange amount per unit pressure loss can be increased compared to Comparative Example 3. Moreover, the value was able to be raised also with respect to Comparative Example 2, and the effect could be confirmed by introducing the regions 20a and 20b having high pressure loss at the ends.

  As described above, as a result of using the heat exchanger having the characteristics of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, an increase in the amount of heat transport from the magnetocaloric effect material to the heat transport medium and the pressure loss of the heat transport medium. It has been confirmed that the magnetic refrigeration efficiency can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger 2 Magnetic field generation means 3 Magnetic field movement means 4 Medium movement mechanism 5 High temperature side heat exchange part 6 Low temperature side heat exchange part 7 Piping 10a Magneto-caloric effect material 10b Magneto-caloric effect material 11 Magneto-caloric effect material 12a Connection part 12b Connection Part 13 heat transport medium 20a second region 20b third region 21 first region 30a magnetocaloric effect material 30b magnetocaloric effect material 31 magnetocaloric effect material 40a second region 40b third region 41 first region 50a Inlet / outlet 50b Inlet / outlet

Claims (5)

A heat exchanger having an inlet / outlet of a heat transport medium at both ends and a magnetocaloric effect material inside;
A magnetic field application removing means which is provided outside the heat exchanger and applies and removes the magnetic field to the magnetocaloric effect material;
A low temperature side heat exchange part connected to one inflow / outlet of the heat exchanger via a pipe, and from which the cold heat is transported,
A high-temperature side heat exchange unit connected to the other inflow / outlet of the heat exchanger via a pipe, and warm heat is transported from the heat exchanger;
A medium moving mechanism that allows the heat transport medium to flow into and out of the heat exchanger through the inflow and outlet,
In the heat exchanger, a first region, a second region provided on the one inflow / outlet side with respect to the first region, and a second inflow / outlet side with respect to the first region A flow region connecting the inflow surface of the heat transport medium to the first region and the outflow surface of the heat transport medium from the first region in the first region. Filled with a plurality of plate-like magnetocaloric effect materials whose major axes are parallel to the line, the pressure loss in the second and third regions when the heat transport medium passes is Magnetic refrigeration system characterized by higher than pressure loss. The magnetic refrigeration system according to claim 1, wherein the first region occupies a volume of 50% or more in the heat exchanger.   The magnetic refrigeration system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second and third regions are filled with a magnetocaloric effect material.   4. The magnetic refrigeration system according to claim 3, wherein the magnetocaloric effect material filled in the second and third regions is a plurality of particulate materials. The magnetocaloric effect material filled in the second and third regions is a plurality of plate-like materials having a space between the plate-like materials narrower than that of the first region. Magnetic refrigeration system.

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