Magnetocaloric heat generator

1. A magnetocaloric heat generator ( 1 , 10 , 20 ) comprising:

at least one magnetocaloric unit ( 21 , 22 ) provided with at least one magnetocaloric material ( 3 ) in thermal contact with a heat transfer fluid (F) and at least one magnetic unit ( 41 , 42 ) capable of subjecting the magnetocaloric material ( 3 ) to a variable magnetic field,

wherein each unit ( 21 , 22 , 41 , 42 ) has a modular configuration and comprises at least one fitting form (E 1 , E 2 , E 3 , E 12 , E 13 ) in order to be assembled, without common assembly shaft, along a same median axis (M), with another unit ( 41 , 42 , 21 , 22 ) which comprises a complementary fitting form (E 1 , E 2 , E 3 , E 12 , E 13 ).

2. The generator according to claim 1 , wherein the generator further comprises a hydraulic unit ( 51 , 52 ) which includes at least a section of a circuit ( 6 ) for the heat transfer fluid (F) in thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material ( 3 ) and a driving system ( 81 , 82 ) for driving the heat transfer fluid (F), and the hydraulic unit ( 51 , 52 ) has a modular configuration and also comprise at least one fitting form (E 5 , E 6 , E 10 , E 11 ) which facilitates assembly, along the median axis (M), with another unit ( 21 , 22 , 41 , 42 ) provided with a complementary fitting form (E 4 ).

3. The generator according to claim 1 , wherein the generator further comprises at least one exchange unit ( 71 ) capable of carrying out heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid (F), in thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material ( 3 ), and an external fluid, and the exchange unit ( 71 ) has a modular configuration and comprises at least one fitting form (E 9 ) which facilitates assembly, along the median axis (M), with another unit ( 21 , 22 ) provided with a complementary fitting form (E 7 , E 8 ).

4. The generator according to claim 3 , wherein the exchange unit ( 71 ) comprises at least two portions of fluidic circuits ( 11 , 12 ), a first circuit portion ( 11 ) for the heat transfer fluid (F) in thermal contact with the magnetocaloric material ( 3 ) and a second circuit portion ( 12 ) for the external fluid, and the first and the second circuit portions ( 11 , 12 ) are in thermal contact with one another.

5. The generator according to claim 1 , wherein the fitting forms (E 1 , E 3 ; E 2 , E 3 ; E 4 , E 5 ; E 4 , E 10 ; E 4 , E 11 ; E 7 , E 9 ; E 8 , E 9 ; E 12 , E 3 ) cooperate to perform an axial positioning, along the median axis (M), and a radial positioning in a radial plane, perpendicular to the median axis (M), of the units ( 21 , 22 , 41 , 42 , 51 , 52 , 71 ) with respect to one another.

6. The generator according to claim 1 , wherein the fitting forms (E 5 , E 4 ; E 10 , E 4 ; E 11 , E 4 ; E 12 , E 3 ) cooperate to perform an axial positioning along the median axis (M), a radial positioning in a radial plane perpendicular to the median axis (M), and a rotational connection of the units ( 41 , 51 ; 41 , 52 ; 42 , 51 ) with respect to one another.

7. The generator according to claim 1 , wherein the generator comprises two magnetic units ( 41 , 42 ) mounted opposite to one another in order to form a magnetic gap ( 13 ),

the magnetocaloric material ( 3 ) of the magnetocaloric unit ( 21 , 22 ) is located in the magnetic gap ( 13 ),

the magnetic units ( 41 , 42 ) each comprise a part ( 14 ) with a material continuity at a level of the median axis (M),

the material is capable of conducing a magnetic field, and

the part ( 14 ) carries at least one magnetic assembly ( 15 ).

8. The generator according claim 7 , wherein the magnetic assembly ( 15 ) comprises at least one permanent magnet ( 16 ) and at least one pole piece ( 17 ).