Magnetic refrigeration device

A magnetic refrigeration device comprising:

• a magneto-caloric material;
• a magnetic heat container in which the magneto-caloric material is held, the magnetic heat container being provided to form a flow path of a heat transport medium around the magneto-caloric material;
• and
• a magnetic field generation device that can apply magnetic field to the magneto-caloric material accommodated in the magnetic heat container and vary the magnetic field, wherein
• in a first state in which the magnetic field generation device applies the magnetic field to the magneto-caloric material accommodated in the magnetic heat container, the magnetic field passes through the magneto-caloric material accommodated in the magnetic heat container to form a first magnetic path,
• the magnetic heat container is a tubular member provided such that the heat transport medium flows inside the tubular member,
• the magnetic field generation device includes
• a magnet, and
• a drive unit to vary the magnetic field by changing a position of the magnet relative to the magnetic heat container between a first position and a second position,
• the magnetic heat container is provided with a recess in a cross-section orthogonal to a central axis of the magnetic heat container, the recess being recessed with respect to an outer circumferential surface of the magnetic heat container, the recess including a first opposed portion and a second opposed portion opposed to each other in a circumferential direction with respect to the central axis, and
• while the magnet is arranged at the first position with respect to the magnetic heat container, the magnet is accommodated in the recess, an N pole of the magnet is opposed to the first opposed portion, an S pole of the magnet is opposed to the second opposed portion. and the first magnetic path that passes through the magnet, the first opposed portion, the magneto-caloric material accommodated in the magnetic heat container, and the second opposed portion is formed.