Thermal exchanging device

Abstract

A thermal exchanging device is provided to exchange heat with a hot heat source and a cold heat source. The thermal exchanging device includes a vacuum chamber, a working material capable of being excited magnetically, and a working fluid capable of undergoing a transition between two phase flows of liquid and vapor. The working fluid is provided in the chamber to communicate with the working material. When the working material is magnetically excited, the working fluid is configured to exchange heat with the cold heat source. Otherwise, the working fluid is configured to absorb heat from the hot heat source.

1 . A thermal exchanging device, comprising:
 a vacuum chamber;   a working material capable of being excited magnetically; and   a working fluid capable of undergoing a transition between two phase flows of liquid and vapor, the working fluid being provided in the chamber to communicate with the working material;   wherein when the working material is magnetically excited, the working fluid is configured to exchange heat with a relative cold heat source; and   wherein otherwise, the working fluid is configured to exchange heat with a relative hot heat source.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic-generating source to excite the working material. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a wick structure surrounding the working material in the chamber to facilitate flowing of the working fluid and the working material in the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a heating unit disposed on outer surface of the chamber and operable to exchange heat between the wick structure and the heat sources. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a thermal controlling unit having a switch switchable between a first position and a second position for controlling the flow direction of heat exchange between the heating unit and the heat sources, the first position being defined by a heat generation stage where heat is exchanged between the heating unit and the cold heat source, the second position being defined by a heat absorption stage where heat is exchanged between the heating unit and the hot heat source. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the thermal controlling unit further comprises a first port in contact with the heating unit, a second port in contact with the hot heat source, and a third port in contact with the cold heat source, one of the first and second positions is defined by selectively bridging the first port to one of the second and third ports. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switch is adapted to bridge the first and second ports upon demagnetization of the working material. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the switch is adapted to bridge the first and third ports upon magnetization of the working material. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 two heating units opposite to each other and respectively in thermally contact with the hot and cold heat sources;   a support member provided in the chamber to separate the chamber into two portions, and   an activation unit having one valve provided on the support member and operable to selectively close one of the two portions of the chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising two valves close to the two portions of the chamber respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 two heating units oppositing to each other and respectively in contacting with the hot and cold heat sources; and   an activation unit having two valves respectively provided on opposite sides of the working material.   
     
     
         12 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the working material is a porous magneto-caloric material with more than one Curie temperature, and the porous magneto-caloric material is a powder shape or a wire mesh shape. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the working material includes a plurality of stacked plates with gaps spaced therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the working material is a bulk material with holes disposed therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the working material is a bulk material with thin slits provided therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is water. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal exchanging device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid has more than one boiling point temperature.