Thermal energy storage demonstration unit for Vuilleumier cryogenic cooler. Final report, 15 October 1976--31 July 1977

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6451675

Richter, R

A thermal energy storage unit for a High Capacity (Hi-Cap) Vuilleumier Cryogenic Cooler was designed, built and performance tested. The unit was specified to have a sufficient thermal energy storage capacity for supplying one hot cylinder of the Hi-Cap Cryogenic cooler for 18 minutes with 650W of power at a maximum power loss of 5 percent through the insulation. The discharge of the unit was to take place at a nominal temperature of 1250 F + or - 25 F. A thermal energy storage (TES) unit with the hot cylinder of the Vuilleumier cooler was designed with a total thermal capacity of 737100 joules. The thermal energy is stored in the form of latent heat of fusion in the eutectic salt composed of lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride and potassium fluoride. The unit was insulated with a multiple radiation shield super-insulation consisting of alternate layers of 0.020-inch thick Fiberfrax paper without binder and 0.001 to inch nickel foil. The insulation is maintained in a vacuum inside of an insulation container. The TES unit is instrumented for temperature control with two chromel alumel thermocouples. The single resistance temperature detector (RTD) failed during testing and is inoperative. All specified goals for the operation of the TES unit were achieved except for the maximum thermal loss through the insulation which exceeded the goal by 8W. This deviation could easily be corrected by interposing a condution insulation at the thermal ring of the unit. The report presents all pertinent design and fabrication information.

• Research Organization: Xerox Electro-Optical Systems, Pasadena, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6451675
• Report Number(s): AD-A-054466
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
420201 -- Engineering-- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
APPLIANCES
CRYOGENICS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
HEAT STORAGE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY
REFRIGERATORS
STORAGE
TESTING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMAL INSULATION