Thermodynamic analysis of Collins helium liquefaction cycle

✍ Scribed by M.D. Atrey

• Book ID: 104111561
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 225 KB
• Volume: 38
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/s0011-2275(98)00110-6

✦ Synopsis

The present paper gives a thermodynamic analysis of the Collins helium liquefaction cycle with two reciprocating expanders. The results of the analysis make it clear that, for a given efficiency of expanders and effectiveness of heat exchangers, there exists an optimum mass flow fraction of total helium gas mass flow rate that should be diverted through the expanders for which liquid yield is maximum and net power input is minimum. The analysis quantitatively studies the effect of expander efficiency and heat exchanger effectiveness on the performance of the liquefier. It gives final steady state temperature distribution across the cycle, which is essential data for carrying out the preliminary design of various components in the cycle.