Study on miniature pulse tube cryocooler for space application

✍ Scribed by J Liang; Y Zhou; W Zhu; W Sun; J Yang; S Li

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 322 KB
• Volume: 40
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/s0011-2275(00)00029-1

✦ Synopsis

Pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) is a new type of mechanical cryocooler with the potential of long-term operation in space. Theoretical and experimental studies are currently on the way in the Cryogenic Laboratory of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CL/CAS) in order to develop a 85 K/250 mW class pulse tube cryocooler to be used to cool space-borne infrared devices. A theoretical model is established based on the analyses of the thermodynamic behavior of gas parcels in oscillating ¯ow regenerators. It helps us to understand the cooler and can be used to study the in¯uence of DC ¯ow on the refrigeration performance. The ¯ow resistance of the regenerator is an important factor for the cooler performance. A test bench, including a hot-wire anemometer has been set up to investigate the ¯ow resistance characteristics of regenerators with oscillating ¯ow. The results of measurement are correlated and served for practical design. The Oxford type linear pressure wave generator with ¯exure bearings is also under development in CL/ CAS. The prototype miniature pulse tube cryocooler, driven by a linear pressure wave generator of 1X06 cm 3 maximum swept volume, provides at present 200 mW net cooling power at 81 K with 28.4 W input power. Improvements are being made to further increase the cooling power and reduce the input power.