Linearly-actuated magnetocaloric heat pump

A heat pump system, comprising:

• a cold side heat exchanger configured for heat removal from a first local environment;
• a hot side heat exchanger configured for heat delivery to a second local environment;
• a first pump for circulating a working fluid between the cold side heat exchanger and the hot side heat exchanger;
• a second pump for circulating a working fluid between the cold side heat exchanger and the hot side heat exchanger;
• and
• a heat pump in fluid communication with the cold side heat exchanger, the hot side heat exchanger, the first pump and the second pump, the heat pump comprising:
• a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly comprising a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet spaced apart along a vertical direction such that a gap is defined between the first magnet and the second magnet and a magnetic field is created in the gap;
• a regenerator housing, the regenerator housing comprising a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction;
• a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages comprising a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end;
• and
• a support frame, the support frame comprising an upper frame member and a lower frame member spaced apart along the vertical direction from the upper frame member, the support frame further comprising an adjustable intermediate member disposed between the upper frame member and the lower frame member, wherein the first magnet is connected to the upper frame member and the second magnet is connected to the lower frame member, and wherein adjustment of the adjustable intermediate member adjusts a length of the gap.