Helium dilution refrigeration system
Abstract
A helium dilution refrigeration system operable over a limited time period, and recyclable for a next period of operation. The refrigeration system is compact with a self-contained pumping system and heaters for operation of the system. A mixing chamber contains .sup.3 He and .sup.4 He liquids which are precooled by a coupled container containing .sup.3 He liquid, enabling the phase separation of a .sup.3 He rich liquid phase from a dilute .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He liquid phase which leads to the final stage of a dilution cooling process for obtaining low temperatures. The mixing chamber and a still are coupled by a fluid line and are maintained at substantially the same level with the still cross sectional area being smaller than that of the mixing chamber. This configuration provides maximum cooling power and efficiency by the cooling period ending when the .sup.3 He liquid is depleted from the mixing chamber with the mixing chamber nearly empty of liquid helium, thus avoiding unnecessary and inefficient cooling of a large amount of the dilute .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He liquid phase.
- Inventors:
-
- Darien, IL
- Naperville, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866714
- Patent Number(s):
- 4770006
- Assignee:
- Arch Development Corp. (Chicago, IL)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- helium; dilution; refrigeration; operable; limited; time; period; recyclable; operation; compact; self-contained; pumping; heaters; mixing; chamber; contains; liquids; precooled; coupled; container; containing; liquid; enabling; phase; separation; rich; dilute; he-; leads; final; stage; cooling; process; obtaining; temperatures; fluid; line; maintained; substantially; level; sectional; configuration; provides; maximum; power; efficiency; depleted; nearly; empty; avoiding; unnecessary; inefficient; amount; chamber contains; configuration provides; phase separation; liquid phase; time period; mixing chamber; container containing; liquid helium; provides maximum; final stage; helium dilution; dilution refrigeration; limited time; /62/
Citation Formats
Roach, Patrick R, and Gray, Kenneth E. Helium dilution refrigeration system. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Roach, Patrick R, & Gray, Kenneth E. Helium dilution refrigeration system. United States.
Roach, Patrick R, and Gray, Kenneth E. Fri .
"Helium dilution refrigeration system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866714.
@article{osti_866714,
title = {Helium dilution refrigeration system},
author = {Roach, Patrick R and Gray, Kenneth E},
abstractNote = {A helium dilution refrigeration system operable over a limited time period, and recyclable for a next period of operation. The refrigeration system is compact with a self-contained pumping system and heaters for operation of the system. A mixing chamber contains .sup.3 He and .sup.4 He liquids which are precooled by a coupled container containing .sup.3 He liquid, enabling the phase separation of a .sup.3 He rich liquid phase from a dilute .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He liquid phase which leads to the final stage of a dilution cooling process for obtaining low temperatures. The mixing chamber and a still are coupled by a fluid line and are maintained at substantially the same level with the still cross sectional area being smaller than that of the mixing chamber. This configuration provides maximum cooling power and efficiency by the cooling period ending when the .sup.3 He liquid is depleted from the mixing chamber with the mixing chamber nearly empty of liquid helium, thus avoiding unnecessary and inefficient cooling of a large amount of the dilute .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He liquid phase.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}