COOLING DEVICE UTILIZING THERMOELECTRIC AND MAGNETOCALORIC MECHANISMS FOR ENHANCED COOLING APPLICATIONS

摘要

This invention relates to a cooling device which utilizes both thermoelectric and magnetocaloric mechanisms for enhanced cooling applications. The incorporation of a magnetocaloric mechanism into a thermoelectric device provides additional cooling on the cold side of the device, and may improve the device efficiency, which is useful for many industrial applications, including cooling of microelectronic devices. Embodiments of the invention provide a cooling device comprising a hot side, a cold side, at least one thermoelectric element, at least one magnetocaloric material, at least one permanent magnet, and at least one mechanical movement system. In some embodiments, the magnetocaloric component of the cooling device is optimized to provide enhanced cooling on the cold side of the cooling device.