# US 2024/0200834 A1 · Device and Method for Magnetic Refrigeration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200834 A1 - Document ID: US20240200834A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/068,544 - Filed: 2022-12-20 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Chungwei Lin; Bingnan Wang; William Vetterling; Shun Tonooka; Atsushi Ogasahara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200834A1 ## CPC - F25B 21/00: Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects - F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect - F25B 2321/002: by using magneto-caloric effects - 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 - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A system for magnetic refrigeration is provided. The system includes a layered structure formed by a sequence of a plurality of magnetocaloric material (MCM) components interlinked with a sequence of a plurality of Peltier modules. Each Peltier module of the plurality of Peltier modules is sandwiched between two MCM components of the plurality of MCM components. The system further includes a power source configured to concurrently power each Peltier module in the sequence of the plurality of Peltier modules. Current in each powered Peltier module flows in a constant direction. The system further includes a magnetic source configured to apply spatially uniform magnetic field to the sequence of the plurality of MCM components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for magnetic refrigeration, comprising: a layered structure formed by a sequence of a plurality of magnetocaloric material (MCM) components interlinked with a sequence of a plurality of Peltier modules, wherein each Peltier module of the plurality of Peltier modules is sandwiched between two MCM components of the plurality of MCM components; a power source configured to concurrently power each Peltier module in the sequence of the plurality of Peltier modules, wherein current in each powered Peltier module flows in a constant direction; and a magnetic source configured to apply spatially uniform magnetic field to the sequence of the plurality of MCM components. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a first layer in the layered structure is a first MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components and a last layer in the layered structure is a last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein at least the first MCM component and the last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components possesses a porous structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein at least the first MCM component and the last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components is coupled to a cooling unit, wherein the cooling unit includes at least one of: a pipe, a working fluid and a heat exchanger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the first MCM component or the last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components receives air for cooling via a fan. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a second layer in the layered structure is a first Peltier module, a third layer in the layered structure is a second MCM component and a fourth layer in the layered structure is second Peltier module, and wherein the second MCM component is sandwiched between the first Peltier module and the second Peltier module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each MCM component of the plurality of MCM components is composed of a Gadolinium alloy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a number of the MCM components in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components is determined based on a required difference in temperature between a first MCM component and a last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each Peltier module of the plurality of Peltier modules includes an n-doped semiconductor electrically connected with a p-doped semiconductor arranged in parallel with the n-doped semiconductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the n-doped semiconductor and the p-doped semiconductor are at least one of: silicon based semiconductors or bismuth telluride based semiconductors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of each MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components is in a range of 0.1 centimeters (cm) to 1 cm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein an amount of the current provided to each powered Peltier module is determined based on a number of the MCM components, and a coefficient of performance associated with the layered structure, selected for the magnetic refrigeration. ### Claim 13 A method for magnetic refrigeration, comprising: forming a layered structure that includes a sequence of a plurality of magnetocaloric material (MCM) components interlinked with a sequence of a plurality of Peltier modules, wherein each Peltier module of the plurality of Peltier modules is sandwiched between two MCM components of the plurality of MCM components; concurrently powering each Peltier module in the sequence of the plurality of Peltier modules by using a power source, wherein current in each powered Peltier module flows in a constant direction; and applying spatially uniform magnetic field to the sequence of the plurality of MCM components, by using a magnetic source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein a first layer in the layered structure is a first MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components and a last layer in the layered structure is a last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein at least the first MCM component and the last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components possesses a porous structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a cooling unit to at least the first MCM component and the last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components, wherein the cooling unit includes at least: a pipe, a working fluid and a heat exchanger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving, by the first MCM component or the last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components, air for cooling via a fan. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein a second layer in the layered structure is a first Peltier module, a third layer in the layered structure is a second MCM component and a fourth layer in the layered structure is second Peltier module, and wherein the second MCM component is sandwiched between the first Peltier module and the second Peltier module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a number of the MCM components in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components based on a required difference in temperature between a first MCM component and a last MCM component in the sequence of the plurality of MCM components. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising determining an amount of the current provided to each powered Peltier module based on a number of the MCM components, and a coefficient of performance associated with the layered structure, selected for the magnetic refrigeration.