Magnetic refrigeration apparatus with belt of ferro or paramagnetic material

An about 12 to about 77K refrigeration apparatus comprising:

• a belt disposed in a loop around at least two wheels, with at least one wheel being a drive wheel;
• ferromagnetic or paramagnetic porous material carried by said belt, said material comprising at least one substance, said substance having a Curie temperature between 15K and 85K;
• a magnetic field generating means disposed to produce a magnetic field surrounding at least one portion of said loop with said magnetic field essentially parallel to the direction of movement of said belt while said belt is in said magnetic field;
• means for driving said drive wheel;
• a fluid effective to transfer heat at temperatures between about 12 and about 85K;
• first and second higher temperature fluid manifolds directing said fluid from said first manifold adjacent to first edge of said material, through said material into said second manifold adjacent to second edge of said material, while said material is in a region of greater magnetic field;
• first and second lower temperature fluid manifolds directing said fluid from first manifold adjacent to said second edge of said material, through said material to said second manifold adjacent to said first edge of said material, while said material is in a region of lesser magnetic field;
• at least one thermal load exchange means;
• a heat rejection exchange means;
• and
• means for pumping and transporting fluid from said heat rejection exchange means through said first and second higher temperature manifolds to said thermal load exchange means, from said thermal load exchange means through said first and second lower temperature manifolds, then back to said heat rejection means.