A magnetocaloric thermal apparatus (1) with a structure that rotates about a longitudinal axis (L), comprising a magnetic arrangement that defines at least two air gaps (E1, E2) parallel to each other and configured to create, in each of the air gaps, a magnetic field variable about the longitudinal axis (L). Two supports (S1, S2) carry magnetocaloric elements (2) and are positioned each in the midplane (P1, P2) of one of the air gaps. The magnetic arrangement and the supports are in relative movement with respect to one another and positioned angularly with respect to one another about the longitudinal axis (L) so as to generate a phase shift between the magnetic cycle undergone by the magnetocaloric elements (2) of one of the supports (S1) in one of the air gaps and the magnetic cycle undergone by the magnetocaloric elements of the other support (S2) in the other air gap.

System and method for generating and storing electricity by electromagnetic induction using a magnetic field modulated by the formation, dissipation, and movement of vortices produced by a vortex material such as a type II superconductor and further including a vortex flux generator in cryostat and a refrigerant compartment having bi-directionally thermal transfer to the vortex flux generator. Magnetic field modulation occurs at the microscopic level, facilitating the production of high frequency electric power. Generator inductors are manufactured using microelectronic fabrication, in at least one dimension corresponding to the spacing of vortices. The vortex material fabrication method establishes the alignment of vortices and generator coils, permitting the electromagnetic induction of energy from many vortices into many coils simultaneously as a cumulative output of electricity. A thermoelectric cycle is used to convert heat energy into electricity.

Features for distributing a sorber gas in cooling, heating or refrigeration systems with sorbers are disclosed. The sorbers may adsorb gas onto a sorbent material and desorb gas therefrom. Distribution of the gas to and from the sorber may be done with porous, rigid tubes. The tubes may be formed of composite material having pores. The pores may be implemented by flowing fluids through the composite material while the material cures. The sorbers may be reinforced with rods to provide greater strength and stability in load-inducing environments. The tubes may extend through the sorbent and thereby provide a channel for the gas to flow to and from the sorbent and the rest of the cooling, heating or refrigeration system.

An adsorber includes: a closed container in which an adsorption medium is included; an adsorption part that is provided in the closed container and includes an adsorbent, which adsorbs and desorbs the adsorption medium; and an evaporation/condensation part that is provided in the closed container and that exchanges heat between the adsorption medium and a heat exchanging medium, which is supplied from outside of the closed container, to evaporate and condense the adsorption medium. The evaporation/condensation part includes a heat transfer part that transfers heat of the heat exchanging medium to the adsorption medium. The heat transfer part is capable of holding the adsorption medium, an amount of which is capable of being adsorbed by the adsorbent of the adsorption part.

A machine for converting thermal energy originating from waste heat deposits into electrical energy. It uses the magnetic phase transition properties of certain materials when they are exposed to a temperature variation with respect to their Curie temperature. The machine includes a magnetothermal converter provided with a fixed stator provided with active elements made of the materials, and a mobile rotor provided with magnetic poles and non-magnetic poles. The machine includes a closed fluidic circuit of heat-transfer fluid, coupled with two thermal sources of different temperatures by means of heat exchangers and with the stator to transfer thermal energy collected in the active elements. A synchronization system makes it possible to expose the active elements to alternating thermal cycles to generate a permanent magnetic imbalance between the rotor and the stator, and generate a displacement of the rotor, creating mechanical energy that can be converted into electrical energy.

A cryostat system is kept at a cryogenic operating temperature without providing or supplying cryogenic fluids by a cryocooler. The cryostat system includes a superconducting magnet arrangement and a heat sink apparatus to prolong the time before the superconducting magnet arrangement quenches/returns to the normally conducting state if active cooling fails. The heat sink apparatus includes magnetocaloric material and is thermally connected to the superconducting magnet arrangement and/or to parts of the cryostat system through which ambient heat can flow to the superconducting magnet arrangement. In this way, the cryostat system can be operated in a truly “cryogen-free” manner while maintaining a sufficiently long time to quench in the event of potential operational malfunctions.

A combustion apparatus includes a burner (11), a heat exchanger (12) accommodated in a casing (20), an exhaust passage (22B) provided to one side surface side of the casing (20), and an exhaust resistance member (5) having a plurality of ventilation ports (50) through which combustion exhaust gas passes, wherein at least one part of the ventilation ports (50) has an elongated hole shape extending in the flow direction of the combustion exhaust gas from beneath the casing (20) to the exhaust passage (22B).

A dishwasher appliance includes a caloric heat pump system that is configured for heating and cooling a wash chamber of a tub. A field generator is positioned such that caloric material stages are moved in and out of a field of the field generator during operation of the caloric heat pump system. A pump circulates a heat transfer fluid between a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and the caloric material stages.

A refrigeration system includes a refrigeration circuit and a coolant circuit separate from the refrigeration circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a gas cooler/condenser, a receiver, and an evaporator. The coolant circuit includes a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a refrigerant circulating within the refrigeration circuit into a coolant circulating within the coolant circuit, a heat sink configured to remove heat from the coolant circulating within the coolant circuit, and a magnetocaloric conditioning unit configured to transfer heat from the coolant within a first fluid conduit of the coolant circuit into the coolant within a second fluid conduit of the coolant circuit. The first fluid conduit connects an outlet of the heat exchanger to an inlet of the heat sink, whereas the second fluid conduit connects an outlet of the heat sink to an inlet of the heat exchanger.

An electrode is embedded in a piece of ceramic material having a population of conduction band electrons. Applying a voltage bias to the electrode causes electrons to flow towards or away from the electrode to form a positively charged sheath either a distance apart from or adjacent the electrode, depending the polarity of the bias. The electron flow also forms a negatively charged sheath lying opposite the positively charged sheath, and an electrically neutral region lying between the two sheaths. Electromagnetic radiation impinging the ceramic material heats the ceramic where the radiation is absorbed by the electron population. As the incident radiation is absorbed in proportion to the electron density, heating is increased in the negatively charged sheath, relative to the other parts of the ceramic material. The location of heating is controlled by controlling the magnitude and polarity of the voltage bias.