Magnetic refrigeration device and refrigeration cycle device

A magnetic refrigeration device comprising:

• a magnetocaloric material;
• first piping to supply a refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a first refrigerant direction;
• second piping to supply the refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a second refrigerant direction different from the first refrigerant direction;
• a magnetic field generating unit capable of applying a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material, the magnetic field generating unit including a first magnetic field generating member including a first permanent magnet or a first electromagnet;
• a switching unit including a valve member to switch between a first state where the refrigerant is supplied from the first piping to the magnetocaloric material and a second state where the refrigerant is supplied from the second piping to the magnetocaloric material in response to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit;
• and
• the valve member includes a magnetic body containing a material identical to the magnetocaloric material.

A magnetic refrigeration device comprising:

• a magnetocaloric material;
• first piping to supply a refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a first refrigerant direction;
• second piping to supply the refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a second refrigerant direction different from the first refrigerant direction;
• a magnetic field generating unit capable of applying a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material, the magnetic field generating unit including a first magnetic field generating member including a first permanent magnet or a first electromagnet;
• a switching unit including a valve member to switch between a first state where the refrigerant is supplied from the first piping to the magnetocaloric material and a second state where the refrigerant is supplied from the second piping to the magnetocaloric material in response to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit;
• and a position changing member to move the first magnetic field generating member, wherein
• the first magnetic field generating member applies, in the first state, the magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material with the first magnetic field generating member placed at a first position adjacent to the magnetocaloric material,
• the first piping is connected to the magnetocaloric material at a first connection part,
• the second piping is connected to the magnetocaloric material at a second connection part,
• the first connection part and the second connection part are arranged in a line in a first direction in which the magnetocaloric material and the first magnetic field generating member are aligned in the first state,
• the valve member is movable between the first connection part and the second connection part so as to close the second connection part in the first state and to close the first connection part in the second state,
• the valve member includes a magnetic body,
• a second position is remote from the magnetocaloric material relative to the first position in a second direction intersecting the first direction,
• the first magnetic field generating member includes a first part to face the magnetocaloric material when placed at the first position and a second part to face the valve member when placed at the first position,
• the valve member holds the magnetic body inside and includes a main body made of a non-magnetic material, and
• the main body is longer in length in the second direction than the magnetic body.