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Title: Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator

Abstract

A cryogenic refrigerator cools a heat source by cyclically concentrating and diluting the amount of [sup 3]He in a single phase [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He solution. The [sup 3]He in superfluid [sup 4]He acts in a manner of an ideal gas in a vacuum. Thus, refrigeration is obtained using any conventional thermal cycle, but preferably a Stirling or Carnot cycle. A single phase solution of liquid [sup 3]He at an initial concentration in superfluid [sup 4]He is contained in a first variable volume connected to a second variable volume through a superleak device that enables free passage of [sup 4]He while restricting passage of [sup 3]He. The [sup 3]He is compressed (concentrated) and expanded (diluted) in a phased manner to carry out the selected thermal cycle to remove heat from the heat load for cooling below 1 K. 12 figs.

Inventors:
;
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7116965
Patent Number(s):
US 5172554; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-679498
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2 Apr 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; HELIUM DILUTION REFRIGERATORS; DESIGN; CARNOT CYCLE; CRYOGENICS; HELIUM II; STIRLING CYCLE; SUPERFLUIDITY; WORKING FLUIDS; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FLUIDS; HELIUM 4; HELIUM ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LIGHT NUCLEI; NUCLEI; QUANTUM FLUIDS; REFRIGERATORS; STABLE ISOTOPES; THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES; 661210* - Cryogenics- (1992-)

Citation Formats

Swift, G W, and Kotsubo, V Y. Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Swift, G W, & Kotsubo, V Y. Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator. United States.
Swift, G W, and Kotsubo, V Y. 1992. "Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator". United States.
@article{osti_7116965,
title = {Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator},
author = {Swift, G W and Kotsubo, V Y},
abstractNote = {A cryogenic refrigerator cools a heat source by cyclically concentrating and diluting the amount of [sup 3]He in a single phase [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He solution. The [sup 3]He in superfluid [sup 4]He acts in a manner of an ideal gas in a vacuum. Thus, refrigeration is obtained using any conventional thermal cycle, but preferably a Stirling or Carnot cycle. A single phase solution of liquid [sup 3]He at an initial concentration in superfluid [sup 4]He is contained in a first variable volume connected to a second variable volume through a superleak device that enables free passage of [sup 4]He while restricting passage of [sup 3]He. The [sup 3]He is compressed (concentrated) and expanded (diluted) in a phased manner to carry out the selected thermal cycle to remove heat from the heat load for cooling below 1 K. 12 figs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7116965}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}