A method for refrigeration through voltage-controlled entropy change includes applying a voltage signal to a piezoelectric material to generate strain in the piezoelectric material, generating strain in a magnetic material attached to the piezoelectric material, and generating a change in a temperature of the magnetic material in response to the strain in the magnetic material.

A heat pump is provided that uses multiple stages of MCMs to cause heat transfer between a heat receiving end and a heat transmitting end. Thermal blocks are placed along the direction of heat transfer at locations in the heat pump that preclude the transfer of heat in a direction from the heat transmitting end towards the heat receiving end. The heat pump can be, for example, part of a refrigeration loop or can be connected directly with the object for which heating or cooling is desired. An appliance incorporating such a heat pump is also provided.

A solid-state refrigeration device includes a solid-state cooler, first and second heat exchangers, a heat medium circuit, a reciprocating transport mechanism to transport a heat medium of the heat medium circuit, and an operation switching mechanism. The operation switching mechanism is configured to switch between a heating operation and a defrosting operation. In the heating operation, the heat medium heated by the solid-state cooler is caused to release heat in the first heat exchanger, and the heat medium cooled by the solid-state cooler is caused to absorb heat in the second heat exchanger. In the defrosting operation, the heat medium cooled by the solid-state cooler is caused to absorb heat in the first heat exchanger, and the heat medium heated by the solid-state cooler is caused to release heat in the second heat exchanger.

A solid-state refrigeration apparatus includes a housing, a force field modulator including an electromagnet, a heat medium conveyor including a pump, and a controller including a microcomputer and a memory. A heat dissipation operation of applying a predetermined force field to a solid-state refrigerant substance and moving a heat medium in a first direction in an internal flow path to convey warm thermal energy generated in the solid-state refrigerant substance to outside of the housing is performed. A heat absorption operation of applying a force field smaller than the predetermined force field or removing the predetermined force field and moving the heat medium in a second opposite direction in the internal flow path to convey cold thermal energy generated in the solid-state refrigerant substance to outside of the housing is performed. A heat exchange amount between the heat medium and the solid-state refrigerant substance is changeable.

A solid-state refrigeration apparatus includes a housing, a force field modulator including an electromagnet, first and second heat exchangers, a heat medium circuit, and a heat medium conveyor including a pump. The force field modulator induces a caloric effect by making a force field variation on a solid-state refrigerant substance in the housing. The solid-state refrigeration apparatus performs a heating operation and a defrosting operation. The solid-state refrigerant substance includes a plurality of substances having different temperatures at which a caloric effect is maximized. The plurality of substances are arranged in descending order of the temperature along the internal flow path. In the defrosting operation, a conveying direction of the heat medium in the internal flow path with respect to a phase of the force field variation is switched to a direction opposite to the heating operation.

A magnetic refrigeration device includes a magnetocaloric material, first piping, second piping, a magnetic field generating unit, and a switching unit. The first piping supplies a refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a first refrigerant direction. The second piping supplies the refrigerant to the magnetocaloric material in a second refrigerant direction. The magnetic field generating unit is capable of applying a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material. The switching unit switches between a first state and a second state in response to the magnetic field. In the first state, the refrigerant is supplied from the first piping to the magnetocaloric material. In the second state, the refrigerant is supplied from the second piping to the magnetocaloric material.

The invention is a modular magnetocaloric effect (MCE) temperature control system comprising a housing (100), an MCM stack (200), electromagnetic coils (300), a heat transfer system (400) with heat pipes (400) (e.g., 401, 402) and fins (500), a control system (700), baffles (600), an external fan (800), and an external power supply (900). Optional valves (400a) (e.g., 401a, 402a) enhance operational efficiency, making the system suitable for eco-friendly heating and cooling applications.

Provided is a magnetic refrigeration device, including a first assembly and a second assembly, herein the second assembly is an annular assembly, the first assembly is located on a radial outer side or a radial inner side of the second assembly, the first assembly is a first magnet assembly, the second assembly is provided with an air gap space capable of accommodating a magnetic working medium bed, the first assembly is configured to rotate relative to the second assembly, and directions of a magnetic line of force of the first magnet assembly are distributed in the circumferential direction of the annular second assembly.