• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A device for converting thermal energy into electrical energy by magnetocaloric effect that comprises a shaft (1) with respect to which a drum of magnets (11) and a drum of blades (12) that, in turn, consists of a cylinder (4) rotates made of a ferromagnetic material on which a plurality of sheets (5) of a material with magnetocaloric properties are arranged peripherally; in such a way that in a first operating mode as an electrical generator the reed drum (12) is integral with the shaft (1), while in a second operating mode as a mechanical generator the reed drum (12) rotates freely with respect to to the shaft (1) and to the drum of magnets (11). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
    公开号:ES2815626A1
    申请号:ES202130200
    申请日:2021-03-05
    公开日:2021-03-30
    发明作者:Ballester Pedro Penas；Garrido Francisco Javier Abad；Jerez Enrique Arias
    申请人:Emsc Global Water Solutions S L；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [0004] Technical field
    [0006] The present invention relates to a device that generates electrical or mechanical energy and, more specifically, to a device for electrical or mechanical generation from the thermal energy communicated to the device by conduction, convection or radiation.
    [0008] State of the art
    [0010] Today there is a wide variety of electrical generators that use thermal energy to convert it into electrical energy. For example, there are devices that need a hot bulb and a cold bulb (indirect conversion devices) and where a heat source at a certain temperature is necessary, as well as a cold source at a lower temperature, in such a way that it is necessary a fluid that goes from a high temperature to a lower temperature. This is the case of the mechanisms made up of a turbine plus a conventional electric generator, as well as certain thermoelectric mechanisms that use the passage of thermal energy to generate an electric current.
    [0012] However, other mechanisms that can convert thermal energy into electrical energy do not use two different temperatures, as they are capable of converting electrical energy from a heat source at a certain temperature. The best known case is that of thermocouples, in which the heat that hits a metal junction is automatically converted into electrical current. This form represents the ideal way to convert heat into electrical current, but it is not very efficient and has a capacity to generate very small electrical currents, insufficient in any case to be a source of electrical energy.
    [0014] The state of the art describes the use of two fluids at different temperatures to drive electrical generation mechanisms from thermal energy. East This is the case of magnetocaloric generators that use the magnetic properties of certain materials to pass to a magnetized or demagnetized state depending on the temperature.
    [0016] The magnetocaloric effect is a magneto-thermodynamic phenomenon in which a change in temperature in a material susceptible to it occurs when said material is exposed to a variable magnetic field. This is known as adiabatic de-magnetization. In this part of the refrigeration cycle, a decrease in the intensity of an externally applied magnetic field allows the magnetic domains of a magnetocaloric material to become disoriented by the magnetic agitation of the phonons present in the material. If the material is insulated in such a way that energy is not allowed to enter from the outside during said disorganization, the temperature decreases as a consequence of the absorption of heat by these domains.
    [0018] Some documents of the state of the art that describe the use of the magnetocaloric effect in the generation of electrical energy are described below.
    [0020] Document US 8,769,966 B2 describes a thermal generator with at least one thermal module comprising at least two magnetic assemblies in which a magnetic assembly subjects at least one magnetocaloric element of the thermal module to alternating magnetic phases. The thermal generator is further characterized in that it comprises a thermal insulating body that isolates the magnetic assemblies from each other and forms thermally insulated cells that comprise a magnetic assembly and its corresponding magnetocaloric elements.
    [0022] Patent US20100300118A1 describes a generator comprising at least one thermal stage having magnetocaloric elements arranged around an axis and a magnetic arrangement supported by a transmission shaft that rotates around the axis to subject the elements to a variation in the magnetic field. The generator comprises pistons for forcing the heat transfer fluid through the elements with the pistons driven in reciprocal translation within the chambers by at least one cam that is rotationally driven by the transmission shaft. The generator comprises a forced circulation unit having planetary gears arranged around the central axis, supported by the body of the generator and meshing with an inner crown gear integral with the cam. Each gear forms a gear pump that mixes the heat transfer fluid and places the fluid in forced circulation in the tanks and chambers.
    [0023] Patent CN102197502B refers to a thermal generator comprising at least one thermal module that includes at least two adjacent magnetocaloric elements, a common distribution chamber combined with a fluidly circulating refrigerant medium. connecting said magnetocaloric members to each other, and two end chambers also combined with a circulating medium and each one fluidly connected to the two magnetocaloric members located at the hot and cold ends of said thermal module, and a magnetic arrangement to subject each member magnetocaloric to a variable magnetic field, in which said heat generator is characterized in that said circulation means combined with said common distribution chamber move the refrigerant simultaneously through the two adjacent magnetocaloric members in different directions.
    [0025] Patent US20130106116A1 describes a thermomagnetic generator, which includes a switching valve, a plurality of magnetic circuit units, a coil and a plurality of inlet pipes connecting the magnetic circuit units to the switching valve. Each of the magnetic circuit units includes a magnetocaloric member. The switching valve repeatedly and alternately switches at a predetermined frequency to guide hot and cold fluids to the magnetic circuit units, so that the magnetocaloric members are magnetized and demagnetized, respectively, by the hot and cold fluids. The coil is coupled to at least one of the magnetic circuit units to obtain an induced voltage.
    [0027] Patent US20110192836A1 describes a heat generator comprising at least one thermal module comprising a magnetocaloric element traversed by a heat transfer fluid and two hot and cold chambers arranged on each side of the magnetocaloric element and containing a displacement device to direct the heat transfer fluid through the magnetocaloric element. A magnetic arrangement creates a magnetic field variation in each magnetocaloric element. A device for driving the displacement device, according to the reciprocating movement in the corresponding chamber, to displace the heat transfer fluid in synchronization with the variation of the magnetic field. The actuation device contains a closed fluid circuit connecting the hot and cold chambers in which a working fluid is propelled by a suction and discharge device.
    [0029] In the previous documents it is necessary two temperatures or two thermal sources. The device of claim 1, however, works with a single thermal source. The range Thermal will depend on the materials used. The use of a single thermal bulb makes it possible to work at room temperature, above or below.
    [0031] Explanation of the invention
    [0033] An object of the present invention is a mechanism that converts heat into electrical or mechanical energy by combining the magnetocaloric and thermoelectric effects, based on the combination of a circular or linear trajectory movement of one or more magnets or field-generating elements. close to one or more sheets of a material with magnetocaloric properties. This object is achieved with the device of claim 1. Particular solutions and preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
    [0035] More specifically, the device for converting thermal energy into electrical or mechanical energy by magnetocaloric effect is characterized in that it comprises an axis with respect to which a drum of magnets rotates and a drum of sheets which, in turn, consists of a cylinder of a ferromagnetic material. on which a plurality of sheets of a material with magnetocaloric properties are arranged peripherally; in such a way that in a first mode of operation as an electrical generator, the reed drum is integral with the axis, while in a second mode of operation as a mechanical generator, the reed drum rotates freely with respect to the axis and to the drum of magnets.
    [0037] The device of the invention converts the electrical energy generated in magnetocaloric sheets in circular motion through the coupling of the electrons in the magnetic field caused by the position of the magnets that generate the magnetic field with respect to the sheets of magnetocaloric material and the electric current that is generated in them. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to take advantage of the magnetocaloric capacity of ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, to create one-piece mechanical rotors. Finally, the invention proposes a device that, when coupled to machine shafts that generate internal heat, act as an electrical generator and as a cooler for the system in which they are coupled.
    [0039] Therefore, the device of the invention is a direct system for generating electrical energy from thermal energy without requiring the existence of two different temperatures or sources. The difference of the device that is proposed with the previous ones already known and existing is the possibility of generating large electrical currents and powers directly from a heat source and with very high yields. These performances exceed those of the thermal-electric machines described in the state of the art. In the invention, for its operation, it is only necessary that there is a source of heat and, therefore, it is not necessary that two fluids exist at different temperatures, and neither is the existence of a cold source necessary, as in state machines of technique.
    [0041] The magnetothermic effect implies that a molecule -which has this physical property- is capable of storing energy within itself depending on the orientation of its magnetic spin. Thus, for example, it is observed that, by varying the position of a magnetic field with respect to a molecule or crystalline structure with magnetocaloric properties, there is an absorption of heat from the outside towards the crystalline structure or an evacuation of heat from the crystalline structure. outward. If the heat evacuation effect occurs fast enough, it is observed that together with the heat electrons are expelled from the crystalline or molecular lattice due to the Thomson effect.
    [0043] However, if the polarity of the variable magnetic field only varies in the direction vector, but does not vary in polarity, it follows that -by Lorentz's law- the electrons evacuated from the crystal lattice -by the Thomson effect of the magnetocaloric effect- will tend to move all in the same direction or, at least, they will share a common vector component.
    [0045] Therefore, it can be deduced that the variation in the direction of a homopolar magnetic field (because the polarity never changes) in a cyclical way produces within a molecular structure (with magnetocaloric properties) the absorption and cyclical evacuation of heat within that molecular structure or crystalline.
    [0047] It also follows from this fact that the cyclical evacuation of heat from the molecular or crystalline structure causes the movement of electrons out of the crystalline or molecular structure in a cyclical manner. This movement of electrons is, in itself, an electric current that can be used as electrical energy, thus demonstrating the correct operation of the invention.
    [0049] Throughout the description and claims the word "comprise" and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical characteristics, additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge partly from the description and partly from the practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration, and are not intended to restrict the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.
    [0051] Brief description of the drawings
    [0053] A series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that expressly relate to an embodiment of said invention, which is illustrated as a non-limiting example thereof, will now be described very briefly.
    [0055] Figure 1 is a front longitudinal view of the described magnetocaloric thermal to electrical energy converter, for a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
    [0057] Figure 2 is a front longitudinal view of the magnet drum of the described magnetocaloric thermal to electrical energy converter, for a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
    [0059] Figure 3 is a front longitudinal view of the lamella drum of the described magnetocaloric thermal-to-electric energy converter, for a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
    [0061] Detailed explanation of an embodiment of the invention
    [0063] As can be seen in the attached figures, the following numerical references have been indicated in the device of the invention
    [0065] I. - Axis
    [0066] 3. - Magnets
    [0067] 4. - Iron cylinder or other ferromagnetic material
    [0068] 5. - Material sheets with magnetocaloric properties
    [0069] 6. - First bearing
    [0070] 7. - Second bearing
    [0071] I I. - Drum of magnets
    [0072] 12.- Reed drum
    [0073] With reference to the preferred embodiment of the device shown in the attached figures, the drum of magnets (11) is defined as an element that rotates with respect to the axis (1) and which houses at least two magnets (3) arranged angularly and equidistant from the axis. (1). In a particular embodiment of the invention, the magnets (3) are all placed with the same polarity.
    [0075] On the other hand, the drum of sheets (12) as a cylinder (4) of iron or other ferromagnetic material, where a plurality of sheets (5) of material with magnetocaloric properties are arranged peripherally, in a particular non-limiting embodiment, titanium. The function of the cylinder (4) made of iron or other ferromagnetic material is to confine the maximum possible density of magnetic flux inside it.
    [0077] The reed drum (12) has two basic operating modes: electrical generator and mechanical generator. In the case of operation as an electric generator, the reed drum (12) is integral with the shaft (1), while, in the case of operating as a mechanical generator, the reed drum (12) rotates freely with respect to the axis ( 1) and the drum of magnets (11).
    [0079] The sheets (5) that make up the drum of sheets (12) are elongated and narrow, in a preferred non-limiting embodiment, their dimensions are 10 mm wide, 0.3 mm thick and 300 mm long, in order to thus help and force the electrons to move in the desired direction. Each sheet (5) can be provided (or not) with a layer of aluminum or copper that serves to more efficiently collect the electrons that are evacuated from the crystalline structure with magnetocaloric properties.
    [0081] Finally, the shaft can be anchored to a multitude of different support structures or other shafts according to need, generally, through separate bearings (6,7) which, joined to sheets of resin or other material, as well as some connecting pillars, form the frame that supports the assembly.
    [0083] To explain the principle of operation of the device of the invention, we must consider that the sheets (5) of material with magnetocaloric properties have a non-homogeneous crystalline structure that is formed by a plurality of granules, as can be seen in the metallographs. Each grain is also made up of a hexagonal crystalline structure, where each atom has its own magnetic vector. The Orientation of the magnetic vector of each point of the crystalline or molecular structure of the sheets (5) will be influenced by the position of the magnets (3) of the drum of magnets (11).
    [0085] If we move the drum of magnets (11) by the action of an external force, the magnetic vectors at each point of the crystal structure also move. This implies that the thermal energy of each point of the crystalline structure undergoes a cyclical variation with respect to the cyclical variation of the position of the magnets. That is, there is a variation of positive and negative entropy.
    [0087] This variation in thermal energy necessarily entails a heat absorption and evacuation cycle at each point of the crystalline structure and, therefore, if the thermal energy is sufficient, an expulsion of electrons will occur during the evacuation cycle. by Thomson effect.
    [0089] The movement of the magnets (3) with respect to the sheets (5) produces a second effect on the electrons expelled from the crystalline structure. As there is a relative movement of the electrons with respect to the magnetic field generated by the magnets (3), applying Lorentz's Law it results that a force perpendicular to the magnetic field and the speed of the magnets appears in the electrons that "pushes" all of them electrons to move in the same direction, creating an electric current, which can be harnessed in different ways.
    [0091] Therefore, the main energy that is used in the generation of electrons is the thermal energy that is evacuated by the magnetocaloric effect from the crystalline structure of the material that makes up the sheets (5). But the mechanical energy that enters the mechanism through an external force that moves the magnets (3) with a certain speed is also at stake. This force is added to the thermal force of generation of electrons by pushing them in the vector direction resulting from Lorentz's Law.
    [0093] Therefore, it follows that there are two energy inputs (thermal energy to heat the sheets of magnetocaloric material and mechanical energy to move the drum of magnets) and a single energy output, is the one that the electrons drag with themselves during their movement. Therefore, the only energy output is the electrical energy produced in the sheets (5) with magnetocaloric properties.
    [0095] In the device of the invention, as described, there are rotating parts that are subject to friction and the consequent production of heat. This means that part of The mechanical energy that enters the system is transformed into heat due to friction, but this heat remains in the system and will be used to generate electrons from the crystalline structure of the sheets (5) with magnetocaloric properties. This effect represents the first main advantage of the system with respect to conventional mechanisms and is the theoretical potential it has to convert thermal energy into electrical energy with yields close to 100%.
    [0097] Another main advantage with respect to other thermoelectric generation systems is that in this mechanism there are parameters that can be varied and conditioned to achieve sufficient electrical generations for domestic, industrial, or any other use. These parameters would be the speed of rotation of the magnets (3), which would increase the energy converted per unit of time. Other parameters are: the size and quality of the sheets with magnetocaloric materials; the temperature to which the magnetocaloric sheets are subjected; and the sheets can be connected to each other in different ways to regulate the electrical energy generated.
    [0099] Furthermore, each magnetocaloric material has its own operating parameters: minimum operating temperature; maximum operating temperature; and / or amount of heat converted to electrical per cycle.
    [0101] This means that electrical generation mechanisms can be adapted for different operating temperatures, given the circumstance that electricity could be generated even with temperatures below zero or others considered as cold temperatures. To better understand this, we can see how these magnetocaloric materials are used to work even at temperatures close to absolute zero, since they are used to cool the helium and nitrogen that cools superconductors.
    [0103] The possibility exists of using the mechanism of the invention to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy. If the sheets (5) of magnetocaloric material are electrically connected with the drum of sheets (12), the electric current that goes up or down (depending on the case) through the sheets (5) interacts with the magnetic field of the magnets (3 ) and as a consequence of Lorentz's Law, a tangential force is produced on the blades (5) and the rotary movement of the blade drum (12) is generated.
    [0105] There is an alternative configuration for the case of using the magnetocaloric effect as a generator of mechanical rotation, since there are ferromagnetic and magnetocaloric materials at the same time, such as iron. This results in the construction of a heat engine not using the magnetocaloric blades (5) and making the cylinder (4) of ferromagnetic material of the reed drum (12) is made up of iron blades as occurs with the rotors of squirrel cage electric motors. If the reed drum (12) is replaced by a squirrel cage rotor, the same movement described above would occur.
    [0107] On the other hand, the device of the invention, by operating with the heat energy of a hot bulb, can also act as a refrigerator when it is properly inserted into a machine that generates heat and whose heat must be evacuated. The use of a squirrel cage rotor as an electric generator, by magnetocaloric effect according to the arrangements described above, can be used successfully as a cooler for electric motors.
    [0109] It is known that one of the main problems in electric motors is evacuation of the heat they generate (cooling) to prevent them from reaching excessive temperatures that would cause the degradation of electrical insulation and therefore their inability to function. For this reason, all electric motors have ventilation blades attached to the shaft to cause a forced air flow for cooling. Instead of these blades, the device of the invention can be placed integrally to the shaft of the electric motor to generate electric power while cooling the electric motor. Therefore, the applications of the present invention can be divided into its use for refrigeration or its use for electrical generation.
    [0111] These mechanisms can be coupled to any rotating element for cooling as well as energy recovery to increase its efficiency. Furthermore, the invention can be coupled to any generator to increase the resulting energy produced and improve efficiency.
    [0113] These mechanisms can function as an isolated unit without being coupled to a motor or generator to generate mechanical or electrical energy depending on the need and depending on the interface with the environment. For example, the mechanism can be provided with a crank to generate electrical energy when the crank is actuated manually, mechanically or by any means. The mechanism can also be equipped with a propeller so that a fluid, be it wind or water, for example, puts the generator into operation. Another application is as an element in the power transmission line of a shaft that only works in one direction. The transmission of motion (in case the mechanism is used to generate mechanical energy) is only produced from the magnet drum (11) towards the reed drum (12) and not in the opposite direction.
    [0115] Finally, among the main advantages of the invention, we can highlight:
    [0117] The magnetocaloric material is not subjected to a temperature difference, this simplifies the device since no elements are necessary to force a temperature difference to different elements of the mechanism.
    [0119] Magnetocaloric material does not have the need to change from magnetic phase to non-magnetic phase. This greatly increases the amount of magnetocaloric materials that can be used.
    [0121] The working temperature can be any depending on the material used.
    权利要求:
    Claims (4)
    [1]
    1.- A device that converts thermal energy into electrical or mechanical energy by magnetocaloric effect that is characterized by comprising:
    a shaft (1);
    a drum of magnets (11) rotatable with respect to the axis (1); Y
    a drum of sheets (12) which in turn consists of a cylinder (4) of a ferromagnetic material on which a plurality of sheets (5) of a material with magnetocaloric properties are arranged peripherally;
    in such a way that, in a first mode of operation as an electric power generator, the reed drum (12) is integral with the shaft (1), while a second mode of operation as a mechanical power generator, the reed drum (12) rotates freely with respect to the shaft (1) and the drum of magnets (11).
    [2]
    2. - The device of claim 1 where the drum of magnets (11) houses at least two magnets (3) arranged angularly and equidistant from the axis (1).
    [3]
    3. - A method of converting thermal energy into electrical energy by magnetocaloric effect executable in the device of any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that it comprises:
    arranging a drum of magnets (11) in such a way that it rotates with respect to an axis (1); and arranging concentrically with respect to the axis (1) a drum of sheets (12) on which a plurality of sheets (5) made of a material with magnetocaloric properties have been placed;
    a first operating mode as an electric power generator, where the reed drum (12) is integral with the shaft (1) while the magnet drum (11) rotates with respect to the shaft (1); and a second mode of operation as a mechanical energy generator, where the reed drum (12) rotates freely with respect to the axis (1) and the magnet drum (11) which, in turn, also rotates with respect to the axis (1 ).
    [4]
    4. - The method according to claim 3 comprising housing at least two magnets (3) arranged angularly and equidistant from the axis (1) in the drum of magnets (11).
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    同族专利:
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    ES2815626B2|2021-09-08|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US20080303375A1|2007-06-08|2008-12-11|David Reginald Carver|Device and Method for Converting Thermal Energy into Electrical Energy|
    RU2015142594A|2015-10-06|2017-04-10|Евгений Николаевич Мищенко|Device for the direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy|
    US20180066875A1|2016-09-02|2018-03-08|General Engineering & Research, L.L.C.|Solid state cooling device|
    CN112066591A|2020-08-31|2020-12-11|中国科学院理化技术研究所|Thermoelectric and electromagnetic composite refrigeration system|
    法律状态:
    2021-03-30| BA2A| Patent application published|Ref document number: 2815626 Country of ref document: ES Kind code of ref document: A1 Effective date: 20210330 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    ES202130200A|ES2815626B2|2021-03-05|2021-03-05|DEVICE CONVERTER THERMAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL ENERGY BY MAGNETOCALORIC EFFECT|ES202130200A| ES2815626B2|2021-03-05|2021-03-05|DEVICE CONVERTER THERMAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL ENERGY BY MAGNETOCALORIC EFFECT|
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