Wire, heat exchanger, and magnetic heat pump device

Abstract

[Solving Means] An outer surface 121 of a wire 12A formed of a magnetocaloric material having a magnetocaloric effect partially has at least one of a concave portion 122 and a convex portion 123, the concave portion 122 is recessed in a radial direction of the wire 12A, and the convex portion 123 protrudes in the radial direction in a longitudinal direction of the wire 12A.

1 . A wire which is formed of a magnetocaloric material having a magnetocaloric effect, wherein
 an outer surface of the wire partially has at least one of a concave portion and a convex portion in a longitudinal direction of the wire,   the concave portion is recessed in a radial direction of the wire, and   the convex portion protrudes in the radial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The wire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the wire has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and   a cross-sectional shape at one position in the longitudinal direction and a cross-sectional shape at the other position in the longitudinal direction have a rotational symmetry relationship.   
     
     
         3 . The wire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the wire has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and   the wire is twisted in a circumferential direction of the wire.   
     
     
         4 . The wire according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the cross-sectional shape of the wire includes an oval shape, a semi-circular shape, or an n-polygonal shape (n is a natural number from 3 to 8).   
     
     
         5 . The wire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a cross-sectional shape at one position in the longitudinal direction and a cross-sectional shape at the other position in the longitudinal direction are different from each other.   
     
     
         6 . The wire according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a cross-sectional area at one position in the longitudinal direction and a cross-sectional area at the other position in the longitudinal direction are different from each other.   
     
     
         7 . The wire according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the wire has a columnar shape having at least one of the concave portion and the convex portion.   
     
     
         8 . The wire according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the wire has a columnar shape having at least one of the concave portion and the convex portion.   
     
     
         9 . The wire according to  claim 5 , wherein
 at least one of the concave portion and the convex portion includes at least one of a wall and a groove formed on an outer surface of the wire, and   an extending direction of at least one of the groove and the wall includes at least the circumferential direction of the wire as an element.   
     
     
         10 . The wire according to  claim 6 , wherein
 at least one of the concave portion and the convex portion includes at least one of a wall and a groove formed on an outer surface of the wire, and   an extending direction of at least one of the groove and the wall includes at least the circumferential direction of the wire as an element.   
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an assembly which is obtained by bundling the wires according to  claim 1 ; and   a casing which accommodates the assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A magnetic heat pump device comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger according to  claim 11 ;   a magnetic field changer configured to apply a magnetic field to the magnetocaloric material and change the magnitude of the magnetic field;   first and second external heat exchangers respectively connected to the heat exchanger through a pipe; and   a fluid supplier configured to supply a fluid from the heat exchanger to the first or second external heat exchanger in synchronization with the operation of the magnetic field changer.