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:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7116965
- Patent Number(s):
- 5172554
- 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. Tue .
"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 = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1992},
month = {12}
}