Heat exchanger and magnetic refrigeration system

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a heat exchanger includes a container, and a plurality of heat exchange components. The container is fed with a heat transport medium. The plurality of heat exchange components is provided with a prescribed spacing inside the container. The plurality of heat exchange components is provided along a flowing direction of the heat transport medium so as not to overlap at least partly as viewed in the flowing direction of the heat transport medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a container to be fed with a heat transport medium; and   a plurality of heat exchange components provided with a prescribed spacing inside the container,   the plurality of heat exchange components being provided along a flowing direction of the heat transport medium so as not to overlap at least partly as viewed in the flowing direction of the heat transport medium.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a gap between the heat exchange components provided on a front side in the flowing direction of the heat transport medium is obstructed by the heat exchange component provided on a back side in the flowing direction of the heat transport medium. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange components include a magnetocaloric effect material. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein one of the plurality of heat exchange components is formed from the magnetocaloric effect material different from that of another of the plurality of heat exchange components. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange components are divided into multiple areas between the upstream side and the downstream side in the heat exchanger and each area is formed from the magnetocaloric effect material different from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the magnetocaloric effect material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Gd (gadolinium), a Gd compound, an intermetallic compound made of some rare earth elements and transition metal elements, a Ni 2 MnGa alloy, a GdGeSi compound, a LaFe 13 -based compound, and LaFe 13 H. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a circular cross-sectional shape or a rectangular cross-sectional shape as viewed in the flowing direction of the heat transport medium. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a cylindrical shape or a rectangular tubular shape. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange components are provided parallel to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange components are provided in a staggered lattice. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the heat exchange components have a strip shape, and   ratio of shortest side to longest side of the strip shape is 1:4 or more.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the heat exchange components have a strip shape, and   ratio of shortest side to longest side of the strip shape is 1:7 or more.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein cross-sectional shape of the plurality of heat exchange components is at least one selected from the group consisting of polygon, circle, and ellipse. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein arrangement pitch of the plurality of heat exchange components provided on both end sides of the container is smaller than arrangement pitch of the plurality of heat exchange components provided on a center side of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least some heat exchange components are connected to each other at one end portion. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the magnetocaloric effect material is selected based on Curie temperature. 
     
     
         17 . A magnetic refrigeration system comprising:
 the heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ;   a magnetic field changing section configured to change a strength of applied magnetic field to the heat exchanger; and   a heat transport section configured to feed the heat exchanger with the heat transport medium.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , a longest side of a heat exchange components is provided parallel to a direction of magnetic field. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the magnetic field changing section includes a permanent magnet.