Helium dilution refrigeration system

Patent · Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7161790

Roach, P R; Gray, K E

A helium dilution refrigeration system operable over a limited time period, and recyclable for a next period of operation is disclosed. 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. 2 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: Arch Development Corp., Chicago, IL (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 4770006; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-045886
• OSTI ID: 7161790
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1 May 1987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
HELIUM DILUTION REFRIGERATORS
DESIGN
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
HELIUM DILUTION REFRIGERATION
HELIUM II
COOLING
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
HELIUM 4
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
QUANTUM FLUIDS
REFRIGERATION
REFRIGERATORS
STABLE ISOTOPES
661210* - Cryogenics- (1992-)