Superfluid stirling refrigerator: A new method for cooling below 1 Kelvin
We have invented and built a new type of cryocooler, which we call the superfluid Stirling refrigerator (SSR). The first prototype reached 0.6 K from a starting temperature of 1.2 K. The working fluid of the SSR is the {sup 3}He solute in a superfluid {sup 3}He--{sup 4}He solution. At low temperatures, the superfluid {sup 4}He is in its quantum ground state, and therefore is thermodynamically inert, while the {sup 3}He solute has the thermodynamic properties of a dense ideal gas. Thus, in principle, any refrigeration cycle that can use an ideal gas can also use the {sup 3}He solute as working fluid. In our SSR prototype, bellows-sealed superleak pistons driven by a room-temperature camshaft work on the {sup 3}He solute. Ultimately, we anticipate elimination of moving parts by analogy with pulse-tube refrigeration. 15 refs., 6 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6517083
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-90-3380; CONF-901029-2; ON: DE91002311; TRN: 91-000306
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 6. international cryocooler conference, Plymouth, MA (USA), 25-26 Oct 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
REFRIGERATORS
STIRLING CYCLE
DESIGN
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 4
HYDRODYNAMICS
SUPERFLUIDITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUID MECHANICS
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MECHANICS
NUCLEI
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
420201* - Engineering- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices