Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator

Patent · 22 December 1992

OSTI ID:7116965

Swift, G W; Kotsubo, V Y

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.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5172554; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-679498
• OSTI ID: 7116965
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661210* -- Cryogenics-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARNOT CYCLE
CRYOGENICS
DESIGN
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLUIDS
HELIUM 4
HELIUM DILUTION REFRIGERATORS
HELIUM II
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NUCLEI
QUANTUM FLUIDS
REFRIGERATORS
STABLE ISOTOPES
STIRLING CYCLE
SUPERFLUIDITY
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
WORKING FLUIDS