Temperature regulation apparatus of magnetic thermal storage medium type and vehicle air-conditioning system

Abstract

A temperature regulation apparatus comprises an air path, a heat exchange path for a heat exchanging fluid, a magnetic thermal storage unit having a magnetic thermal storage medium which increases in temperature upon magnetization and decreases in temperature upon demagnetization, and a magnetic field generating unit for generating a magnetic field in the air path or the heat exchange path. The medium of the unit assumes one of a high temperature state and a low temperature state with the movement of the unit into the air path, and the other state with the movement of the unit into the heat exchange path. When the unit moves to the air path so the medium assumes the high temperature state, heat is radiated to the air, while when the unit moves to the air path so the medium assumes the low temperature state, heat is absorbed from the air.

1 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type comprising: 
 an air path ( 9 ) through which the air is allowed to flow;    a heat exchange path ( 14 ) through which a heat exchanging fluid is allowed to flow;    at least a magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) including a magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) which increases to high temperature due to the magneto-caloric effect when magnetized and decreases to low temperature when demagnetized; and    a magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) for generating a magnetic field in selected one of said air path ( 9 ) and said heat exchange path ( 14 );    wherein said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) is movable to said air path ( 9 ) and said heat exchange path ( 14 );    wherein with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said air path ( 9 ), said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is set in one of said high temperature state and said low temperature state depending on selected one of magnetization and demagnetization of said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ), while, with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said heat exchange path ( 14 ), said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is set in the other of said high temperature state and said low temperature state depending on selected one of magnetization and demagnetization of said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ); and    wherein, in the case where said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) moves to said air path ( 9 ) and said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is set in said high temperature state, heat is radiated to said air while in the case where said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) moves to said air path ( 9 ) and said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is set in said low temperature state, heat is absorbed from said air.    
   
   
       2 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) is arranged in said air path ( 9 ) and said heat exchanging path ( 14 ).    
   
   
       3 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) is adapted to move to selected one of said air path ( 9 ) and said heat exchange path ( 14 ).    
   
   
       4 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said heat exchanging fluid is the air, and said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) is integrated with a moisture absorber ( 12 ) for absorbing the moisture from the air.    
   
   
       5 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said air path ( 9 ), said heat exchange path ( 14 ), said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) and said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) are arranged in an automotive vehicle,    said apparatus further comprising a first outside air inlet ( 4 ) for introducing the air from outside said vehicle to said air path ( 9 ), an inside air path ( 5 ) for introducing the air in said vehicle to said air path ( 9 ), and a first inside-outside air switching door ( 6 ) arranged upstream of said air path ( 9 ) in the air flow for switching said outside air and said inside air, and    wherein the air flows into said air path ( 9 ) from said first outside air inlet ( 4 ) to thereby control the air condition in the compartments of said vehicle when said first inside-outside air switching door ( 6 ) turns to the outside air introduction side.    
   
   
       6 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a first blower ( 7 ) for sending a selected one of said outside air and said inside air to said air path ( 9 );    a second outside air inlet ( 29 ) for introducing the outside air to said heat exchange path ( 14 );    an inside air inlet ( 14   a ) for introducing the inside air to said heat exchange path ( 14 );    an air outlet ( 14   b ) for discharging the air from said heat exchange path ( 14 );    a second inside-outside air switching door ( 15 ) for switching between the inside air from said inside air inlet ( 14   a ) and the outside air from said second outside air inlet ( 29 ); and    a second blower ( 17 ) for sending a selected one of said outside air and said inside air from said heat exchange path ( 14 ) to said air outlet ( 14   b ).    
   
   
       7 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 6 , 
 wherein, said second blower ( 17 ) and said first blower ( 7 ) are arranged adjacently to each other.    
   
   
       8 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said air path ( 9 ) sets said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) in said low temperature state, and the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said heat exchange path ( 14 ) sets said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) in said high temperature state, and    wherein, with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said air path ( 9 ), said moisture absorber ( 12 ) is located upstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow and said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is located downstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow, while with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said heat exchange path ( 14 ), said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is located upstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow and said moisture absorber ( 12 ) is located downstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow.    
   
   
       9 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said air path ( 9 ) sets said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) in said high temperature state, and the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said heat exchange path ( 14 ) sets said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) in said low temperature state,    wherein with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said air path ( 9 ), said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is located upstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow and said moisture absorber ( 12 ) is located downstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow, while with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said heat exchange path ( 14 ), said moisture absorber ( 12 ) is located upstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow and said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is located downstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow.    
   
   
       10 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) and said moisture absorber ( 12 ) are accommodated in the same container.    
   
   
       11 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) includes a filter ( 11 ) for removing dust and dirt from the air.    
   
   
       12 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said air path ( 9 ), said filter ( 11 ) is located upstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow and said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is located downstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow, while with the movement of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) to said heat exchange path ( 14 ), said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) is located upstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow and said filter ( 11 ) is located downstream of said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) in the air flow.    
   
   
       13 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) includes a first magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ) and a second magnetic thermal storage unit ( 16 ),    wherein with the movement of one of said first magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ) and said second magnetic thermal storage unit ( 16 ) to said air path ( 9 ), the other of said first magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ) and said second magnetic thermal storage unit ( 16 ) moves to said heat exchange path ( 14 ), and    wherein said magnetic thermal storage medium ( 13 ) alternates between said high temperature state and said low temperature state in accordance with the movement of said first magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ) and said second magnetic thermal storage unit ( 16 ).    
   
   
       14 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said air path ( 9 ), said heat exchange path ( 14 ), said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) and said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) are arranged in a vehicle to cool a specific portion of the interior of said vehicle at least by the air passing through said air path ( 9 ).    
   
   
       15 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a boarding will confirming means ( 65 ) for confirming the will of a possible occupant outside a vehicle to board said vehicle,    wherein when a possible occupant is confirmed to board said vehicle by said means ( 65 ), said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) and said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) are activated.    
   
   
       16 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 announcing means ( 66 ) for detecting the control of the air-conditioning operation in said vehicle with said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) and said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) activated and announcing, externally to the vehicle, the information corresponding to said control of the air-conditioning operation.    
   
   
       17 . A temperature regulation apparatus of a magnetic thermal storage medium type according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 an air-conditioning unit ( 42 ,  43 ) including an evaporator activated by an internal drive source of the vehicle for cooling the air through a refrigerant,    wherein, upon detection that the air-conditioning capacity of said air-conditioning device is insufficient, said magnetic thermal storage unit ( 10 ,  16 ,  50 ) and said magnetic field generating means ( 27 ,  28 ,  37 ) are activated.