Advanced multi-layer active magnetic regenerator systems and processes for magnetocaloric liquefaction
AssigneesBattelle Memorial Institute, Emerald Energy NW, LLC
InventorsJamie D. Holladay, Kerry D. Meinhardt, Evgueni Polikarpov, Edwin C. Thomsen, John Barclay
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Abstract
A process for liquefying a process gas that includes introducing a heat transfer fluid into an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator apparatus that comprises a single stage comprising dual multilayer regenerators located axially opposite to each other.
Claims14
A system comprising an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator apparatus that comprises a single stage comprising dual regenerators located axially opposite to each other, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a first active magnetic regenerative regenerator comprising 2 to 16 successive layers, wherein each layer comprises an independently compositionally distinct magnetic refrigerant material having an independent Curie temperature and wherein the first layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the highest Curie temperature and the last layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the lowest Curie temperature;
- a second active magnetic regenerative regenerator comprising 2 to 16 successive layers, wherein each layer comprises an independently compositionally distinct magnetic refrigerant material having an independent Curie temperature and wherein the first layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the lowest Curie temperature and the last layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the highest Curie temperature;
- at least one conduit fluidly coupled between the lowest Curie temperature layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator and the highest Curie temperature layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator;
- a single bypass flow heat exchanger (a) fluidly coupled to the lowest Curie temperature layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator and (b) fluidly coupled to a process gas source;
- and
- for each layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator and each layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator, an independent fluid conduit between an outlet of each layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator to an inlet of the corresponding Curie temperature layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator, except for the lowest Curie temperature layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator.
A system comprising at least two independent active magnetic regenerative refrigerator stages, wherein each independent stage comprises an apparatus that comprises a single stage comprising dual regenerators located axially opposite to each other, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a first active magnetic regenerative regenerator comprising 2 to 16 successive layers, wherein each layer comprises an independently compositionally distinct magnetic refrigerant material having an independent Curie temperature and wherein the first layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the highest Curie temperature and the last layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the lowest Curie temperature;
- a second active magnetic regenerative regenerator comprising 2 to 16 successive layers, wherein each layer comprises an independently compositionally distinct magnetic refrigerant material having an independent Curie temperature and wherein the first layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the lowest Curie temperature and the last layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator has the highest Curie temperature;
- at least one conduit fluidly coupled between the lowest Curie temperature layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator and the highest Curie temperature layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator;
- a single bypass flow heat exchanger (a) fluidly coupled to the lowest Curie temperature layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator and (b) fluidly coupled to a process gas source;
- and
- for each layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator and each layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator, an independent fluid conduit between an outlet of each layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator to an inlet of the corresponding Curie temperature layer of the second active magnetic regenerative regenerator, except for the lowest Curie temperature layer of the first active magnetic regenerative regenerator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.