Patent ID: 7644588

Claim:
A magnetic refrigerator, comprising: a magnetic heat exchange unit comprising a case housing a plurality of magnetocaloric material pieces for passing a flow of a heat transfer fluid, the magnetocaloric material pieces comprising gadolinium and including plate-shaped magnetocaloric material pieces arranged alternately with rows of rod-shaped magnetocaloric material pieces with gaps between adjacent plate-shaped pieces and rows of rod-shaped pieces, the rod-shaped pieces having a uniform cross-section in a lengthwise direction; a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to the magnetic heat exchange unit or erasing a magnetic field from the magnetic heat exchange unit; a hot heat exchange circulating member; a cold heat exchange circulating member divided from the hot heat exchange circulating member in relation to circulation of the heat transfer fluid; a first solenoid valve connected to a junction of an inlet port of the magnetic heat exchange unit, an outlet port of the hot heat exchange circulating member and an outlet port of the cold heat exchange circulating member; and a second solenoid valve connected to a junction of an outlet port of the magnetic heat exchange unit, an inlet port of the hot heat exchange circulating member and an inlet port of the cold heat exchange circulating member.