Progress on a novel VM-type pulse tube cryocooler for 4 K

VM type pulse tube cryocooler is a new type pulse tube cryocooler driven by the thermal-compressor. This paper presented the recent experimental results on a novel single-stage VM type pulse tube cryocooler with multi-bypass. The low temperature double-inlet, orifice and gas reservoir, and multi-bypass were used as phase shifters. With the optimal operating frequency of 1.6 Hz and optimal average pressure of 1.4 MPa, a no-load temperature of 4.9 K has been obtained and 30 mW@5.6 K cooling power has been achieved. It was the first time for the single-stage VM-PTC obtaining liquid helium temperature reported so far. Moreover, it was also the first time for the multi-bypass being used in the low-frequency Stirling type pulse tube cryocooler.     

A novel coupled VM-PT cryocooler operating at liquid helium temperature

This paper presents experimental results on a novel two-stage gas-coupled VM-PT cryocooler, which is a one-stage VM cooler coupled a pulse tube cooler. In order to reach temperatures below the critical point of helium-4, a one-stage coaxial pulse tube cryocooler was gas-coupled on the cold end of the former VM cryocooler. The low temperature inertance tube and room temperature gas reservoir were used as phase shifters. The influence of room temperature double-inlet was first investigated, and the results showed that it added excessive heat loss. Then the inertance tube, regenerator and the length of the pulse tube were researched experimentally. Especially, the DC flow, whose function is similar to the double-orifice, was experimentally studied, and shown to contribute about 0.2 K for the no-load temperature. The minimum no-load temperature of 4.4 K was obtained with a pressure ratio near 1.5, working frequency of 2.2 Hz, and average pressure of 1.73 MPa.     

Advances on a cryogen-free Vuilleumier type pulse tube cryocooler

This paper presents experimental results and numerical evaluation of a Vuilleumier (VM) type pulse tube cryocooler. The cryocooler consists of three main subsystems: a thermal compressor, a low temperature pulse tube cryocooler, and a Stirling type precooler. The thermal compressor, similar to that in a Vuilleumier cryocooler, is used to drive the low temperature stage pulse tube cryocooler. The Stirling type precooler is used to establish a temperature difference for the thermal compressor to generate pressure wave. A lowest no-load temperature of 15.1 K is obtained with a pressure ratio of 1.18, a working frequency of 3 Hz and an average pressure of 2.45 MPa. Numerical simulations have been performed to help the understanding of the system performance. With given experimental conditions, the simulation predicts a lowest temperature in reasonable agreement with the experimental result. Analyses show that there is a large discrepancy in the pre-cooling power between experiments and calculation, which requires further investigation.     

斯特林型脉冲管制冷机的最新进展

介绍了斯特林型脉冲管制冷机在理论分析和实用化方面的进展。与斯特林制冷机相比 ,由于低温端没有运动部件 ,脉冲管制冷机在寿命、可靠性和振动等方面有明显的优势 ,同时直流现象的发现和对它的抑制 ,以及双向进气、长颈管等调相机构的应用 ,使得斯特林型脉冲管制冷机的效率也可以达到或超过斯特林制冷机 ,从而使斯特林型脉冲管制冷机在空间、红外器件和超导器件冷却等方面有广泛的应用     

热声驱动脉管制冷机的压力特性

自行研制了热声驱动脉管制冷机实验台,着重研究了热声驱动脉管制冷机的压力特性,明确了充气压力对超振温度、加热温度、制冷温度、压比及夺力振幅等的影响,实验表明,自行研制的热声压缩机在驱动脉管制冷机的情况下,仍可获１．０７以上的压比,基本可以满足驱动无阀型脉管制冷机的需要,在最近进行的实验中,以氮和氦作工质,分别获得了１９６Ｋ和１３８Ｋ的无负荷制冷温度,此外,本文还提出了进一步的改进方向。     

Study on a high frequency pulse tube cryocooler capable of achieving temperatures below 4 K by helium-4

High-frequency pulse tube cryocooler (HPTC) has advantages of compact structure, low vibration, high reliability and long operation time. In this study, Theoretical analysis and experimental tests have been conducted in four aspects based on a developed 4 K HPTC. Firstly, a compressor with larger power output capability was employed and the impedance match between the cold head and the compressor was discussed. Secondly, simply using inertance tube configuration to replace the traditional inertance tube-gas reservoir structure. Then, the type and the size of the regenerator materials working at 4–20 K have been experimentally optimized. Finally, the performance of double-inlet working at as low as 20 K has also been tested for the first time for the HPTC. The present prototype achieved a no-load temperature of 3.6 K, which is the lowest temperature record ever reported for HPTC using helium-4 as working gas. A cooling power of 6 mW/4.2 K was also obtained with 250 W input power and a precooling power of 12.1 W/77 K.     

Investigation on phase shifting for a 4 K Stirling pulse tube cryocooler with He-3 as working fluid

He-3 is generally recognized for its ability to provide more excellent thermophysical performance than He-4, especially in the 4 K temperature range. However, this was not always the case in our preliminary experiments on a three-stage Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler (SPTC). Our ongoing studies, as reported in this paper, demonstrate that the different working fluids also affect the performance through their phase shifting capability. This feature has been passed over in large part by researchers considering refrigerant substitution. Unlike previous theoretical analyses that focus primarily on regenerator losses, this report investigates the effects of the working fluid on the phase angle at the cold end in order to quantitatively reveal the relationship between the lowest attainable temperature and the cooling capacity. The analysis agrees well with our experimental results on a three-stage SPTC. While running with the operating parameters optimized for He-3, the lowest temperature of the SPTC decreased from 5.4 K down to 4.03 K. This is the lowest refrigeration temperature ever achieved with a three-stage SPTC.     

Innovative phase shifter for pulse tube operating below 10 K

Stirling type pulse tubes are classically based on the use of an inertance phase shifter to optimize their cooling power. The limitations of the phase shifting capabilities of these inertances have been pointed out in various studies. These limitations are particularly critical for low temperature operation, typically below about 50 K. An innovative phase shifter using an inertance tube filled with liquid, or fluid with high density or low viscosity, and separated by a sealed metallic diaphragm has been conceived and tested. This device has been characterized and validated on a dedicated test bench. Operation on a 50–80 K pulse tube cooler and on a low temperature (below 8 K) pulse tube cooler have been demonstrated and have validated the device in operation. These developments open the door for efficient and compact low temperature Stirling type pulse tube coolers. The possibility of long life operation has been experimentally verified and a design for space applications is proposed.     

脉管型斯特林制冷机的实验研究

对脉管型斯特林制冷机用于普冷的可行性进行了分析研究。用实验的方法对脉管到斯特林制冷机和单纯的斯特林制冷机的性能进行了对比，得出了在２４５Ｋ以上温区脉管型斯特林制冷机的性能优于单纯的斯特林制冷机的重要结论．对小孔和脉管长度变化对脉管型斯特林制冷机性能的影响进行了讨论．     

主动调相型脉管制冷机数值模拟与实验研究

设计了一台主动调相型斯特林脉管制冷机,采用线性压缩机作为脉管制冷机主动调相控制器(APC),连接于冷指热端出口。通过控制调相压缩机与驱动压缩机(PWG)间的位移相位角实现主动调相,从而调节质量流和压力波之间的相位关系,优化制冷性能。利用模拟软件进行数值模拟并进行实验研究。研究结果表明,定输入功下APC与PWG位移相位角为-110°及扫气容积比(PWG扫气容积/APC扫气容积)2.98时,无负载制冷温度最低,同时比卡诺效率最高,能够达到原惯性管型脉管制冷机同样的效率。     

A cryogen-free Vuilleumier type pulse tube cryocooler operating below 10 K

Vuilleumier (VM) type pulse tube cryocooler (PTC) utilizes the thermal compressor to drive the low temperature stage PTC. This paper presents the latest experimental results of a cryogen-free VM type PTC that operates in the temperature range below 10 K. Stirling type pre-coolers instead of liquid nitrogen provide the cooling power for the thermal compressor. Compared with previous configuration, the thermal compressor was improved with a higher output pressure ratio, and lead and HoCu₂ spheres were packed within the regenerator for the low temperature stage PTC for a better match with targeted cold end temperature. A lowest no-load temperature of 7.58 K was obtained with a pressure ratio of 1.23, a working frequency of 3 Hz and an average pressure of 1.63 MPa. The experimental results show good consistency in terms of lowest temperature with the simulation under the same working condition.     

Theoretical and experimental investigations on the three-stage Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler using cryogenic phase-shifting approach and mixed regenerator matrices

Theoretical analyses and experimental verification for a three-stage Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler (SPTC) expected to operate at 5–12 K are conducted. Cryogenic phase-shifting and mixed regenerator matrices are employed to improve the performance at the third stage. Simulations of the phase relationship, dynamic pressure and mass flow rate are presented with third-stage phase-shifters at 40 K, 50 K and 293 K, respectively. Mixed regenerator matrices of conventional stainless steel meshes and rare-earth materials such as Er₃Ni, HoCu₂ and Er_0.6Pr_0.4 are optimized theoretically. Different ratios and combinations are analyzed and compared, and the quantitative analyses by the entropy analysis are made. A three-stage SPTC without external precooling is developed based on the theoretical analyses, and experiments were conducted. The results show a good agreement between simulations and experiments. With an overall input electric power of 370 W, the three-stage SPTC has experimentally reached a no-load temperature of 6.82 K and achieved a cooling capacity of 112 mW at 10 K.     

Leakage effect analysis on the performance of a cylindrical adjustable inertance tube

The inertance tube plays a significant role in improving the performance of the Stirling type pulse tube cryocooler by providing the desired phase angle between the mass flow and pressure wave. The phase angle is highly depended on the inertance tube geometry, such as diameter and length. A cylindrical threaded root device with variable thread depth on the outer screw and inner screw creates an adjustable inertance tube whose diameter and length can be adjusted in the real time. However, due to its geometry imperfectness, the performance of this threaded inertance tube is reduced by the leaks through the roots between the two screws. Its phase angle shift ability is decreased by 30% with the leakage clearance thickness of 15.5 μm according to both the theoretical prediction and the experimental verification.     

基于传输管的三级级联脉管制冷机实验研究

为提高脉管制冷机制冷效率,通过引入一根特殊设计的传输管,将本应在前一级脉管制冷机脉管热端耗散声功回收,理论上多级级联脉管制冷机制冷效率可达卡诺效率。基于该理论,在已有两级级联脉管制冷机基础上串入第三级制冷机。实验结果显示,该三级级联脉管制冷机最高可获得253.6 W@233 K制冷量,较单级制冷机制冷效率增加39.9%,制冷效率进一步趋于卡诺效率。     

冷指尺寸对超高频微型脉冲管制冷机性能的影响分析

冷指是脉冲管制冷机的重要部件,其尺寸大小决定压缩机乃至制冷机整机的尺寸,其内部的功热转换效率和损失等会对制冷机的性能产生显著的影响.为满足脉冲管制冷机微型化的需求,必须提高制冷机频率、减小冷指尺寸,而冷指尺寸的缩小又会影响制冷机的性能.为了掌握冷指尺寸对制冷机性能的影响规律,利用SAGE软件对运行频率为130 Hz,直...     

Experimental results on V-M type pulse tube refrigerator

This article mainly introduces experimental results on a new type pulse tube refrigerator named as V-M type pulse tube refrigerator. The main difference from Stirling type or G-M type pulse tube refrigerator is that thermal compressor similar to that of a V-M cryocooler is used instead of mechanical compressor. By using temperature difference between room temperature and liquid nitrogen, pressure wave with high to low pressure ratio around 1.2 is obtained. This pressure wave is used to generate cooling effect at the cold end. With a 20 K pre-cooler, this machine reaches lowest temperature 5.25 K by using helium⁴ at 0.77 Hz, 19 bar charge pressure. DC flow plays an important role in our system. It not only influences the final obtainable lowest temperature, but also is used to increase cold end cool-down speed. Total volume of the V-M type pulse tube refrigerator is around 3.3 l. However, dead volume inside rotor housing occupies about 2.8 l and can be much reduced.     

A high efficiency coaxial pulse tube cryocooler operating at 60 K

In recent years, improved efficiency of pulse tube cryocoolers has been required by some space infrared detectors and special military applications. Based on this, a high efficiency single-stage coaxial pulse tube cryocooler which operates at 60 K is introduced in this paper. The cryocooler is numerically designed using SAGE, and details of the analysis are presented. The performance of the cryocooler at different input powers ranging from 100 W to 200 W is experimentally tested. Experimental results show that this cryocooler typically provides a cooling power of 7.7 W at 60 K with an input power of 200 W, and achieves a relative Carnot efficiency of around 15%. When the cooling power is around 6 W, the cryocooler achieves the best relative Carnot efficiency of around 15.9% at 60 K, which is the highest efficiency ever reported for a coaxial pulse tube cryocooler.     

A vibration free cryostat using pulse tube cryocooler

This paper introduces a new vibration free cryostat cooled by liquid helium and a 4 K pulse tube cryocooler. The cryogenic device mounts on the sample cooling station which is cooled by liquid helium. The boil off helium is recondensed by the pulse tube cryocooler, thus the cryostat maintains zero boil off. There is no mechanical contact between the cryogenic part of the cryocooler and the sample cooling station. A bellows is used to isolate the vibration which could transfer from the cryocooler flange to the cryostat flange at the room temperature. Any vibrations generated by the operation of the cryocooler are almost entirely isolated from the cryogenic device. The cryostat provides a cooling capacity of 0.65 W at 4.21 K on the sample cooling station while maintaining a vapor pressure of 102 kPa. The sample cooling station has a very stable temperature with oscillations of less than ±3 mK during all the operations. A cryogenic microwave oscillator has been successfully cooled and operated with the cryostat.     

液氦温区VM-PT制冷机气量分配特性研究

VM气耦合脉冲管制冷机(VM-PT)是一种新型的液氦温区制冷机,为探索两级气耦合复杂的机理,本文采用Sage软件构建了低温调相VM-PT制冷机的整机模拟程序,研究了运行频率、平均压力、毛细管长度以及Er3Ni填充长度等参数对两级气量分配的影响。数值结果表明运行频率、平均圧力、毛细管长度以及Er3Ni填充长度均会影响两级质量流的分配,进而影响制冷机的最低温度,权衡工质的做工能力以及蓄冷器损失两方面因素,该四个参数均存在一个最佳值。搭建了实验平台并对数值模拟进行了验证。在实验中通过优化毛细管和蓄冷器,在运行频率1.6 Hz、平均压力1.4 MPa、压比1.6的情况下得到了3.86 K的无负荷制冷温度,在4.2 K可提供约10 mW的制冷量。     

20K温区单级脉管制冷机漏热分析

漏热冷损是影响低温制冷机性能的一个重要因素.对1台工作在20 K温区的单级脉管制冷机进行了漏热计算,并对其进行了部分实验验证.结果表明:在系统总漏热中,脉管和回热器的壁面轴向导热所占的比例最大.