A method of realizing a ferroic response is provided. The method includes applying a positive or negative conjugate field, which is of a first polarity, to a ferroic material to obtain a substantially minimized entropy of the ferroic material (301) and applying a slightly negative or a slightly positive conjugate field, which is of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, to the ferroic material to obtain a substantially maximized entropy of the ferroic material (302).

A method of realizing a ferroic response is provided. The method includes applying a positive or negative conjugate field, which is of a first polarity, to a ferroic material to obtain a substantially minimized entropy of the ferroic material (301) and applying a slightly negative or a slightly positive conjugate field, which is of a second polarity opposite the first polarity, to the ferroic material to obtain a substantially maximized entropy of the ferroic material (302).

The present disclosure describes a wafer cooling/heating system that includes a load-lock and a thermo module. The load-lock uses a level stream design to improve temperature uniformity across one or more wafers during a cooling/heating process. The load-lock can include (i) a wafer holder configured to receive wafers at a front side of the load-lock; (ii) a gas diffuser with one or more nozzles along a back side of the load-lock, a side surface of the load-lock, or a combination thereof; and (iii) one or more exhaust lines. Further, the thermo module can be configured to control a temperature of a gas provided to the load-lock.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (100) for magnetic cooling. The apparatus (100) includes a first region (110) for magnetizing two or more magnetic elements (120-1, 120-2, 120-3) of different sizes; two or more second regions (130-1, 130-2, 130-3); and two or more channels (140-1, 140-2, 140-3) having different sizes, wherein each channel of the two or more channels (140-1, 140-2, 140-3) connects the first region (110) and a respective second region of the two or more second regions (130-1, 130-2, 130-3), and wherein the two or more channels (140-1, 140-2, 140-3) are configured for a transport of the two or more magnetic elements (120-1, 120-2, 120-3) from the first region (110) to the two or more second regions (130-1, 130-2, 130-3).

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (100) for magnetic cooling. The apparatus (100) includes a first region (110) for magnetizing two or more magnetic elements (120-1, 120-2, 120-3) of different sizes; two or more second regions (130-1, 130-2, 130-3); and two or more channels (140-1, 140-2, 140-3) having different sizes, wherein each channel of the two or more channels (140-1, 140-2, 140-3) connects the first region (110) and a respective second region of the two or more second regions (130-1, 130-2, 130-3), and wherein the two or more channels (140-1, 140-2, 140-3) are configured for a transport of the two or more magnetic elements (120-1, 120-2, 120-3) from the first region (110) to the two or more second regions (130-1, 130-2, 130-3).

A multi-stage fluid conditioning system having a housing with a fluid inlet and outlet. A shaft extends within the housing and supports a first fan unit with a first magnet/electromagnet plate on an inlet side of said housing and a second fan unit with a second magnet/electromagnet supporting plate on an outlet side of the housing. Each of the first and second magnet/electromagnet supporting plates include at least one vane configured to direct fluid flow. The shaft rotates the plates in order to draw a fluid flow through the inlet and successively across the inlet and outlet sides for thermal conditioning resulting from creation of high frequency oscillating magnetic fields according to a succeeding conditioning operations before being outputted the conditioned fluid from the housing through the fluid outlet.

A multi-stage fluid conditioning system having a housing with a fluid inlet and outlet. A shaft extends within the housing and supports a first fan unit with a first magnet/electromagnet plate on an inlet side of said housing and a second fan unit with a second magnet/electromagnet supporting plate on an outlet side of the housing. Each of the first and second magnet/electromagnet supporting plates include at least one vane configured to direct fluid flow. The shaft rotates the plates in order to draw a fluid flow through the inlet and successively across the inlet and outlet sides for thermal conditioning resulting from creation of high frequency oscillating magnetic fields according to a succeeding conditioning operations before being outputted the conditioned fluid from the housing through the fluid outlet.

A fluid thermal conditioning (heating/cooling) system including a housing containing a fluid holding tank and having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. A drive shaft rotatably supports either of a conductive plate or a plurality of spaced apart magnetic or electromagnetic plates positioned within the housing. The conductive plate can be reconfigured as an elongated conductive component supported within the housing and including a plurality of individual plates which alternate in arrangement with axially spaced and radially supported magnetic/electromagnetic plates. Upon rotation of the shaft, an oscillating magnetic field is generated for thermally conditioning the fluid.

A fluid thermal conditioning (heating/cooling) system including a housing containing a fluid holding tank and having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. A drive shaft rotatably supports either of a conductive plate or a plurality of spaced apart magnetic or electromagnetic plates positioned within the housing. The conductive plate can be reconfigured as an elongated conductive component supported within the housing and including a plurality of individual plates which alternate in arrangement with axially spaced and radially supported magnetic/electromagnetic plates. Upon rotation of the shaft, an oscillating magnetic field is generated for thermally conditioning the fluid.

Apparatus and method for establishing a temperature gradient, comprising at least one gas-tight working space having a first boundary layer that is connected to a first electrode and a second boundary layer that is connected to a second electrode, wherein when an electric voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode in the working space, an electric field can be produced between the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface, and wherein a distance between the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface is less than 5000 nm, wherein the first boundary surface comprises at least one field-enhancement device, in particular a peak, so that if an electric voltage is applied to the electrodes, a field strength of the electric field in a region of the field-enhancement device is greater than an average field strength of the electric field in the working space.