Rotating magnet magnetic refrigerator

A heat transfer apparatus comprising:

• (a) an annular container having a central axis, and which includes a plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, each magnetic regenerator compartment containing magnetocaloric material that allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, and each magnetic regenerator compartment having a hot side and a cold side;
• (b) a magnet mounted for rotation about the central axis of the annular container, the magnet providing a magnetic field that at a first rotational position passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through a first magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments and passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through a second magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, wherein at a second rotational position the magnet passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment;
• (c) a hot heat exchanger;
• and
• (d) a valve having an axial port, a first radial port and a second radial port, the axial port of the valve connected by a first pipe to the hot heat exchanger, the first radial port of the valve connected by a second pipe to the hot side of the second magnetic regenerator compartment.

A heat transfer apparatus comprising:

• (a) an annular container having a central axis, and which includes a plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, each magnetic regenerator compartment containing magnetocaloric material that allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, and each magnetic regenerator compartment having a hot side and a cold side;
• (b) a magnet mounted for rotation about the central axis of the annular container, the magnet providing a magnetic field that at a first rotational position passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through a first magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments and passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through a second magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, wherein at a second rotational position the magnet passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment;
• (c) a cold heat exchanger;
• and
• (d) a valve having an axial port, a first radial port and a second radial port, the axial port of the valve connected by a first pipe to the cold heat exchanger, the first radial port of the valve connected by a second pipe to the cold side of the first magnetic regenerator compartment.

A heat transfer apparatus comprising:

• (a) an annular container having a central axis, and which includes a plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, each magnetic regenerator compartment containing magnetocaloric material that allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material, and each magnetic regenerator compartment having a hot side and a cold side;
• (b) a magnet mounted for rotation about the central axis of the annular container, the magnet providing a magnetic field that at a first rotational position passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through a first magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments and passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through a second magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, wherein at a second rotational position the magnet passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment;
• and
• (c) a valve having an axial port, a rotating inner assembly, and a plurality of radial ports, wherein the rotating inner assembly rotates to connect fluid flow between the axial port and one or more of the radial ports.

A heat transfer apparatus comprising:

• (a) a container forming at least a portion of an annulus having a central axis, and which includes a plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, each magnetic regenerator compartment containing magnetocaloric material that allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material;
• (b) a magnet mounted for at least partial rotation about said central axis, the magnet providing a magnetic field that at a first rotational position passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through a first magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments and passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through a second magnetic regenerator compartment in the plurality of magnetic regenerator compartments, wherein at a second rotational position the magnet passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment;
• and
• (c) a valve having a first port connected for fluid flow to the first magnetic regenerator compartment, a second port connected for fluid flow to the second magnetic regenerator compartment, and a common port, wherein the valve can be adjusted to connect fluid flow between the common port and one or more of the first port and the second port.

A method of transferring heat comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a container forming at least a portion of an annulus having a central axis and including a first magnetic regenerator compartment and a second magnetic regenerator compartment, wherein each magnetic regenerator compartment contains magnetocaloric material that allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material;
• (b) providing a magnet assembly movable about at least a portion of said container to a first magnet position and a second magnet position, wherein the magnet assembly at the first magnet position passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and a relatively low magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment, and wherein the magnet assembly at the second magnet position passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and a relatively high magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment;
• (c) providing a valve having a first port connected for fluid flow to the first magnetic regenerator compartment, a second port connected for fluid flow to the second magnetic regenerator compartment, and a common port, wherein the valve can be set to a first valve position and a second valve position, wherein the valve can be adjusted to connect fluid flow between the common port and one of the first port and the second port;
• and
• (d) moving the magnet assembly to the first magnet position and adjusting the valve to connect fluid flow between the common port of the valve and the first port of the valve.

A method of transferring heat comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a container forming at least a portion of an annulus having a central axis and including a first magnetic regenerator compartment and a second magnetic regenerator compartment, wherein each magnetic regenerator compartment contains magnetocaloric material that allows the flow of heat transfer fluid through such magnetocaloric material and wherein each magnetic regenerator compartment has a hot side and a cold side;
• (b) providing a magnet assembly movable about at least a portion of said container to a first magnet position and a second magnet position, wherein the magnet assembly at the first magnet position passes a relatively high magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and a relatively low magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment, and wherein the magnet assembly at the second magnet position passes a relatively low magnetic field strength through the first magnetic regenerator compartment and a relatively high magnetic field strength through the second magnetic regenerator compartment;
• (c) providing a heat transfer fluid;
• (d) moving the magnet assembly to the first magnet position;
• and then
• (e) passing a first portion of the heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric material of the first magnetic regenerator compartment from the cold side of the first magnetic regenerator compartment to the hot side of the first magnetic regenerator compartment while passing a second portion of the heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric material of the second magnetic regenerator compartment from the hot side of the second magnetic regenerator compartment to the cold side of the second magnetic regenerator compartment.