The present invention relates generally to an electromagnetic or magnetic induction furnace, cooler or magnetocaloric fluid heat pump. More specifically, the present invention discloses a magnetic induction furnace or cooler with varied rotating conductive plate configurations arranged in alternating fashion with either of a magnet or electromagnetic fixed array configured within a blower style housing. A side air intake is configured within the housing and operates to draw ambient air into the housing interior for heating and redirection via the conductive plates through a forward outlet.
The phenomena of magnetic or electromagnetic induction heating is well known in the prior art by which heat is generated in an electrically conductive object by the generation of eddy currents, also called Joule heating. The typical induction heater includes an electronic oscillator which passes a high frequency alternating current through an electromagnet. The eddy currents flowing through the resistance of a conductive metal placed in proximity to the magnet/electromagnet in turn heat it. Put another way, the eddy currents result in a high-frequency oscillating magnetic field which causes the magnet's polarity to switch back and forth at a high-enough rate to produce heat as byproduct of friction.
One known example of a prior art induction heating system is taught by the electromagnetic induction air heater of Garza, US 2011/0215089, which includes a conductive element, a driver coupled to the conductive element, an induction element positioned close to the conductive element, and a power supply coupled to the induction element and the driver. Specifically, the driver applies an angular velocity to the rotate the conductive element around a rotational axis. The power supply provides electric current to the induction element to generate a magnetic field about the induction element such that the conductive element heats as it rotates within the magnetic field to transfer heat to warm the cold fluid flow streams. The fluid flow streams are circulated about the surface of the conductive element and directed by the moving conductive element to generate warm fluid flow streams from the conductive element.
Also referenced is the centrifugal magnetic heating device of Hsu 2013/0062340 which teaches a power receiving mechanism and a heat generator. The power receiving mechanism further includes a vane set and a transmission module. The heat generator connected with the transmission module further includes a centrifugal mechanism connected to the transmission module, a plurality of bases furnished on the centrifugal mechanism, a plurality of magnets furnished on the bases individually, and at least one conductive member corresponding in positions to the magnets. The vane set is driven by nature flows so as to drives the bases synchronically with the magnets through the transmission module, such that the magnets can rotate relative to the conductive member and thereby cause the conductive member to generate heat.
The present invention discloses a fluid conditioning system including a housing within a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a rotating shaft extending within the housing and securing a conductive component exhibiting fluid flow redirecting vanes for communicating an inlet fluid flow with an outlet fluid flow. Either of magnets or electromagnets are arranged in a stationary array within said housing in proximity to said rotary conductive component. Upon rotating the conductive component relative to the magnetic plates, thermal conditioning of the fluid flow being generated from creation of high frequency oscillating magnetic fields and being conducted through said rotating component for outputting through the outlet of said housing.
Additional features include the provision of the fluid flow redirecting vanes associated with the rotating conductive component further including a first inner plurality of circumferentially arrayed vanes and a second outer plurality of circumferentially arrayed vanes. The fluid flow regulating baffles are further configured to disrupt continuous movement of airflow within the rotating conductive component during thermal conditioning and prior to exiting through the outlet.
The rotating conductive component may also include first and second spaced apart plates, these alternating with the magnets/electromagnets. The rotating conductive component may further be constructed of a first thermally conductive material and include a superheated core portion arranged closest to the magnets/electromagnets.
The core portion further includes a plurality of inserts of a second thermally conductive material interspersed with the first thermally conductive material in order to promote the occurrence of eddy currents in order to facilitate the creation of the high frequency oscillating magnetic fields. The fluid inlet further includes a pair of opposite side located inlets, a pair of end intake fluid warming component arranged in proximity to the side inlets prior to communicating the fluid flow to the spaced apart plates.
Alternatively, the fluid inlet further includes a plurality of slot shaped inlets extending circumferentially around a middle location of the housing, with a center intake fluid warming component arranged in proximity to the slot shaped inlets prior to communicating the fluid flow to the spaced apart plates. The first thermally conductive material further can include any metal or alloy, ceramic or any metal-ceramic composite material, graphite or combination thereof.
The second thermally conductive material further comprising any metal or alloy, ceramic or any metal-ceramic composite material or graphite or combination of such conductive materials. The rotating conductive may also include a core portion opposing the magnet/electromagnet array, the conductive component further including a second axial portion secured to the core portion.
Without limitation, the fluid flow redirecting vanes can further include opposing pluralities of the vanes arranged upon each of the core portion and the axially secured portion. The core portion may also include any of a magnetic flux heated metal or combination of metals. A plurality of heat sink inducing ribs may be integrated into the core portion in proximity to the fluid inlet. Other features include elongated and thermal resistor coils extending in any of horizontally, vertically, perimetral, or radial distributing fashion within the housing and across the core portion and axially secured portion, the coils following any of circumferential, polygonal, or other geometrical shape.
A combined layering of electric induction heating and magnetic induction heating aspects can be provided to accelerate a pre-heating operation. Other features include the fluid flow regulating baffles extending around the fluid flow redirecting vanes. Peltier elements or other thermoelectric generators can also be incorporated into the housing. Finally, the housing can include a pseudo cylindrical shape supported upon a pedestal portion.
Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
With reference to the attached illustrations, the present invention discloses in one non-limited application a magnetic or electromagnetic induction furnace, cooler or magnetocaloric fluid heat pump, an example of which is illustrated at 10 in
As further shown, the plates 40-46 each further incorporate a circumferential spaced plurality of magnets or electromagnets, respectively shown at 48, 50, 52 and 54. Also depicted are an additional opposite side wall array of ambient intake openings 16′, 18′, 20′, et seq. which correspond with those identified in
The conductive plate array illustrates the rotating plates 40 and 42 separated by a pair of outer end intake components 56 and 58 in combination with a central intake warmer component 60. The end intake components 56/58 each exhibit a reverse angled redirection passageway, see at 62 and 64 for end intake component 58, for preheating the intake fluid/air prior to the same being redirected by the rotating conductive plates 36/38.
Each of the conductive plates further incorporates a plurality of arcuate shaped redirecting vanes, see at 66, 68, 70, et seq. for plate 36 and further at 72, 74, 76, et seq., and which are depicted as arranged in circumferentially spaced and projecting fashion from each opposite surface of each of the plates 36/38. In combination with the other features of the plates 36/38, the vanes operate during rotation of the conductive plates to influence (push) the inductive heated air generated in the spaces between the magnet/electromagnet array and the rotating conductive plates resulting from the frictional heat generating forces resulting from varying/oscillating magnetic fields for delivery through the outlet 26 of the blower style housing 12.
In this manner, the core of the individual rotating plates 36 and 38 are caused to become heated (or superheated) to a desired temperature due to their positioned relationship with pairs of the individual magnet/electromagnet supporting plates 40/42, and 44/46, the cores in turn heating the intake fluid/air for concurrent redirection via the circumferential arranged vanes through the outlet 26.
In this fashion, the varying electromagnetic fields inductive heat the magnetic or electromagnetic plates owing to the alternating fields generated by the rotation of the proximate located metallic conductive plates 36′/38′, as well as the air or other fluid inducing and redirecting architecture of the conductive plates operating to concurrently draw outwardly and redirect the air or other fluid from the side or central (such as ambient or cold) fluid inlets identified in
With reference now to
With reference initially to
The inserts can further, without limitation, exhibit an elongated three dimensional rectangular shape such as in bar form and, in contrast to the main body of the core portion, can be provided as a separate material. In one non-limiting configuration, the main body can include any construction, with the inserts not-limited to any additional conductive or rare earth material.
In operation, the core portion of each of the plates 36/38 (
Proceeding to
As with
Referring now to
The construction of the rotating components 150/152 is further such that they can exhibit different thermal conductive material properties (similar to the discussion of
The axially joined mating component 152′, similar to that depicted in
Proceeding to
In combination with the assembled view of
Also depicted is an outer array of circulation baffles, see at 226, 228, 230, et seq., these configured around a corresponding axial joining component forming a portion of the rotating conductive array (see plate 232) for assisting in controlling both an outlet velocity and convection heat profile of the fluid within the housing. A core component 234 of the rotating conductive fan is further joined to the axial mating component 232 in similar fashion to that previously described, with each of joining components incorporating a similar opposing arrangement of vanes as described in the previous embodiments of
As further shown, the plates each further incorporate a circumferential spaced plurality of magnets/electromagnets, respectively shown at 272, 274, 276 and 278. Without limitation, the configuration and material selection for each of the magnetic and electromagnetic plates can again be selected from any material not limited to rare earth metals and alloys and which possesses properties necessary to generate adequate oscillating magnetic fields for inducing magnetic heating or cooling, such again resulting from the ability to either maintain or switch the magnet/electromagnet polarity at a sufficiently high rate in order for the generated friction to create the desired heat/cold profile. The conductive plates can be constructed of a ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic or diamagnetic material and, as understood, do not generate magnetic fields but are based on electromagnetic or magnetic induction such that they create eddy currents.
A pair of outer end intake components 280 and 282 are depicted in combination with a central intake warmer component 284. The end intake components 280/282 each exhibit a reverse angled redirection passageway, see at 286 and 288 for end intake components 280 and 282, for preheating the intake fluid/air prior to the same being redirected by the rotating conductive plates 260/262.
Each of the conductive plates further incorporates a plurality of arcuate shaped redirecting vanes, see at 290, 292, et seq., for plate 260 and further at 294, 296 et seq., for plate 262 and which are depicted as arranged in circumferentially spaced and projecting fashion from each opposite surface of each of the plates 260/262 (as previously with plates 36/38 in
In this manner, the core of the individual rotating plates 260/262 are caused to become heated (or superheated) to a desired temperature due to their positioned relationship with pairs of the individual magnet/electromagnet supporting plates 264/266, and 268/270, the cores in turn heating the intake fluid/air for concurrent redirection via the circumferential arranged vanes through the outlet 257.
As further shown, each of the end intake components 280/282 and central intake component 284 include pluralities of fluid flow interrupting and baffling components, see at as shown at 298 for selected intake component 280, which operate to interrupt the intake fluid flows 286/288 to allow for more controlled fluid passageway and resultant inductive heating prior to discharge by the rotating conductive elements through the outlet 257.
As previously described, other and additional envisioned applications can include adapting the present technology for use in magnetocaloric heat pump (MHG) applications, such utilizing a magneto-caloric effect (MCE) provide either of heating or cooling properties resulting from the magnetization (heat) or demagnetization (cold) cycles. The goal in such applications is to achieve a coefficient of performance (defined as a ratio of useful heating or cooling provided to work required) which is greater than 1.0. In such an application, the system operates to convert work to heat as well as additionally pumping heat from a heat source to where the heat is required (and factoring in all power consuming auxiliaries). As is further known in the relevant technical art, increasing the COP (such as potentially to a range of 2.0-3.5 or upwards) further results in significantly reduced operating costs in relation to the relatively small input electrical cost required for rotating the conductive plate(s) relative to the magnetic plate(s). Magnetic refrigeration techniques result in a cooling technology based on the magneto-caloric effect and which can be used to attain extremely low temperatures within ranges used in common refrigerators, such as without limitation in order to reconfigure the present system as a fluid chiller, air cooler, active magnetic regenerator or air conditioner.
As is further known in the relevant technical art, the magneto-caloric effect is a magneto-thermodynamic phenomenon in which a temperature change of a suitable material is again caused by exposing the material to a changing magnetic field, such being further known by low temperature physicists as adiabatic (defined as occurring without gain or loss of heat) demagnetization. In that part of the refrigeration process, a decrease in the strength of an externally applied magnetic field allows the magnetic domains of a magneto-caloric material to become disoriented from the magnetic field by the agitating action of the thermal energy (phonons) present in the material.
If the material is isolated so that no energy is allowed to (re)migrate into the material during this time, (i.e., again the adiabatic process) the temperature drops as the domains absorb the thermal energy to perform their reorientation. The randomization of the domains occurs in a similar fashion to the randomization at the curie temperature of a ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, except that magnetic dipoles overcome a decreasing external magnetic field while energy remains constant, instead of magnetic domains being disrupted from internal ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism, antiferromagnetism, (or either of paramagnetism/diamagnetism) as energy is added. Applications of this technology can include, in one non-limited application, the ability to heat a suitable alloy arranged inside of a magnetic field as is known in the relevant technical art, causing it to lose thermal energy to the surrounding environment which then exits the field cooler than when it entered.
Other envisioned applications include the ability to generate heat for conditioning any fluid (not limited to water) utilizing either individually or in combination rare earth magnets placed into a high frequency oscillating magnetic field as well as static electromagnetic field source systems including such as energized electromagnet assemblies which, in specific instances, can be combined together within a suitable assembly not limited to that described and illustrated herein and for any type of electric induction, electromagnetic and magnetic induction application. It is further envisioned that the present assembly can be applied to any material which is magnetized, such including any of diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic or antiferromagnetic materials without exemption also referred to as magnetocaloric materials (MEMs).
Additional factors include the ability to reconfigure the assembly so that the frictionally heated fluid existing between the overlapping rotating magnetic and stationary fluid communicating conductive plates may also include the provision of additional fluid mediums (both gaseous and liquid state) for better converting the heat or cooling configurations disclosed herein. Other envisioned applications can include the provision of capacitive and resistance (ohmic power loss) designs applicable to all materials/different configurations as disclosed herein.
The present invention also envisions, in addition to the assembly as shown and described, the provision of any suitable programmable or software support mechanism, such as including a variety of operational modes. Such can include an Energy Efficiency Mode: step threshold function at highest COP (at establish motor or other rotary inducing input drive rpm) vs Progressive Control Mode: ramp-up curve at different rpm/COPs).
Other heat/cooling adjustment variables can involve modifying the degree of magnetic friction created, such as by varying the distance between the conductive fluid circulating disk packages and alternating arranged magnetic/electromagnetic plates. A further variable can include limiting the exposure of the conductive fluid (gas, liquid, etc.,) to the conductive component/linearly spaced disk packages, such that a no flow condition may result in raising the temperature (and which can be controllable for certain periods of time).
As is further generally understood in the technical art, temperature is limited to Curie temperature, with magnetic properties associated with losses above this temperature. Accordingly, rare earth magnets, including such as neodymium magnets, can achieve temperature ranges upwards of 900° C. to 1000° C.
Ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials, such as again which can be integrated into the conductive plates, can include any of Iron (Fe) having a Curie temperature of 1043K (degrees Kelvin), Cobalt (Co) having a Curie temperature of 1400K, Nickel (Ni) having a Curie temperatures of 627K and Gadolinium (Gd) having a Curie temperature of 292K.
According to these teachings, Curie point, also called Curie Temperature, defines a temperature at which certain magnetic materials undergo a sharp change in their magnetic properties. In the case of rocks and minerals, remanent magnetism appears below the Curie point—about 570° C. (1,060° F.) for the common magnetic mineral magnetite. Below the Curie point—by non-limiting example, 770° C. (1,418° F.) for iron—atoms that behave as tiny magnets spontaneously align themselves in certain magnetic materials.
In ferromagnetic materials, such as pure iron, the atomic magnets are oriented within each microscopic region (domain) in the same direction, so that their magnetic fields reinforce each other. In antiferromagnetic materials, atomic magnets alternate in opposite directions, so that their magnetic fields cancel each other. In ferrimagnetic materials, the spontaneous arrangement is a combination of both patterns, usually involving two different magnetic atoms, so that only partial reinforcement of magnetic fields occurs.
Given the above, raising the temperature to the Curie point for any of the materials in these three classes entirely disrupts the various spontaneous arrangements, and only a weak kind of more general magnetic behavior, called paramagnetism, remains. As is further known, one of the highest Curie points is 1,121° C. (2,050° F.) for cobalt. Temperature increases above the Curie point produce roughly similar patterns of decreasing paramagnetism in all three classes of materials such that, when these materials are cooled below their Curie points, magnetic atoms spontaneously realign so that the ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, or ferrimagnetism revives. As is further known, the antiferromagnetic Curie point is also referenced as the Neel temperature.
Other factors or variable controlling the temperature output can include the strength of the magnets/electromagnets which are incorporated into the plates, such as again by selected rare earth magnets having varying properties or, alternatively, by adjusting the factors associated with the use of electromagnets including an amount of current through the coils, adjusting the core ferromagnetic properties (again though material selection) or by adjusting the cold winding density around the associated core.
Other temperature adjustment variables can include modifying the size, number, location and orientation of the assemblies (elongated and plural magnet/electromagnet and alternative conductive plates). Multiple units or assemblies can also be stacked, tiered or otherwise ganged in order to multiply a given volume of conditioned fluid which is produced.
Additional variables can include varying the designing of the conductive disk packages, such as not limited varying a thickness, positioning or configuration of a blade or other fluid flow redirecting profile integrated into the conductive plates, as well as utilizing the varying material properties associated with different metals or alloys, such including ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic and diamagnetic properties.
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. The detailed description and drawings are further understood to be supportive of the disclosure, the scope of which being defined by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims.
The foregoing disclosure is further understood as not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.
In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is to be considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms of disclosure herein shown and described are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes or steps may be substituted for those representatively illustrated and described herein. Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the disclosure. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.
Further, various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g., attached, affixed, coupled, connected, and the like) are only used to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and may not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinder references, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.
Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.
It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Additionally, any signal hatches in the drawings/figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically specified.
The present application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 62/912,679 filed Oct. 9, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62912679 | Oct 2019 | US |