# US 11,112,146 B2 · Heat pump and cascaded caloric regenerator assembly

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,112,146 B2
- Document ID: US11112146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/273,379
- Filed: 2019-02-12
- Published: 2020-08-13
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-12
- Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Goodman Schroeder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112146B2

## CPC

- F25B 21/00: Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
- F25D 11/00: Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25B 2321/0021: with a static fixed magnet
- F25B 2321/0022: with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet
- Y02B 30/00: Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A heat pump, as provided herein, may include a hot side heat exchanger, a cold side heat exchanger, a pump, and a caloric heat pump. The caloric heat pump may include a regenerator housing, a plurality of stages, and a field generator. The regenerator housing may extend along an axial direction between a first end portion of the regenerator housing and a second end portion of the regenerator housing. The plurality of stages may be arranged sequentially along the axial direction from the first end portion to the second end portion. The plurality of stages may be arranged so that caloric temperature peaks of the plurality of stages increase along the axial direction according to a predetermined, non-linear curve. The field generator may be positioned adjacent to the plurality of stages to subject the plurality of stages to a variable field generated by the field generator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heat pump system, comprising
a hot side heat exchanger;
a cold side heat exchanger;
a pump operable to flow a working fluid between the hot and cold side heat exchangers; and
a caloric heat pump comprising
a regenerator housing extending along an axial direction between a first end portion of the regenerator housing and a second end portion of the regenerator housing, the regenerator housing defining a chamber that extends longitudinally along the axial direction between the first and second end portions of the regenerator housing,
a plurality of stages positioned within the regenerator housing, the plurality of stages being arranged sequentially along the axial direction from the first end portion to the second end portion, each stage of the plurality of stages comprising a caloric material having a caloric temperature peak, the plurality of stages being arranged so that the caloric temperature peaks of the plurality of stages increase along the axial direction according to a predetermined, consistent, non-linear curve, and
a field generator positioned adjacent to the plurality of stages to subject the plurality of stages to a variable field generated by the field generator,
wherein the predetermined, consistent, non-linear curve defines a curvature ratio between −0.5 and 0.5 defined from the first end portion to the second end portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the field generator comprises a magnet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the field generator comprises an electromagnet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the field generator, the plurality of stages, or both, are configured for cycling the plurality of stages in and out of the variable field during operation of the heat pump.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the field generator is axially fixed at a predetermined position relative to the first end portion and the second end portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein each caloric material of the plurality of stages comprises a caloric temperature range, and wherein the caloric temperature ranges of the plurality of stages overlap between stages that are adjacent along the axial direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined, consistent, non-linear curve defines a curvature ratio between −0.1 and 0.1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein each stage of the plurality of stages defines a common axial length.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The heat pump system of claim 1, wherein one or more stages of the plurality of stages defines a discrete axial length that is unique from an axial length defined by another stage of the plurality of stages.

### Claim 10

A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a chilled chamber; and
a heat pump system operable to cool the chilled chamber, the heat pump system comprising
a cold side heat exchanger positioned at the chilled chamber;
a hot side heat exchanger positioned outside the chilled chamber;
a pump operable to flow a working fluid between the hot and cold side heat exchangers; and
a caloric heat pump comprising:
a regenerator housing extending along an axial direction between a first end portion of the regenerator housing and a second end portion of the regenerator housing, the regenerator housing defining a chamber that extends longitudinally along the axial direction between the first and second end portions of the regenerator housing,
a plurality of stages positioned within the regenerator housing, the plurality of stages being arranged sequentially along the axial direction from the first end portion to the second end portion, each stage of the plurality of stages comprising a caloric material having a caloric temperature peak, the plurality of stages being arranged so that the caloric temperature peaks of the plurality of stages increase along the axial direction according to a predetermined, consistent, non-linear curve, and
a field generator positioned adjacent to the plurality of stages to subject the plurality of stages to a variable field generated by the field generator,
wherein the predetermined, consistent, non-linear curve defines a curvature ratio between −0.5 and 0.5 defined from the first end portion to the second end portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the field generator comprises a magnet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the field generator comprises an electromagnet.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the field generator, the plurality of stages, or both, are configured for cycling the plurality of stages in and out of the variable field during operation of the heat pump.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the field generator is axially fixed at a predetermined position relative to the first end portion and the second end portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein each caloric material of the plurality of stages comprises a caloric temperature range, and wherein the caloric temperature ranges of the plurality of stages overlap between stages that are adjacent along the axial direction.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein the predetermined, consistent, non-linear curve defines a curvature ratio between −0.1 and 0.1.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein each stage of the plurality of stages defines a common axial length.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The refrigerator appliance of claim 10, wherein one or more stages of the plurality of stages defines a discrete axial length that is unique from an axial length defined by another stage of the plurality of stages.