US 10,126,023 B2Granted

Multistage pulse tube coolers

AssigneeThe Aerospace Corporation

InventorSidney W. K. Yuan

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Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a pulse tube cooler. The pulse tube cooler may comprise a fluid compressor, a first regenerator, a first pulse tube, a first reservoir, a second regenerator, a second pulse tube, and a second reservoir. The first end of the first regenerator may be in fluid communication with the fluid compressor. The cold end of the first pulse tube may be in fluid communication with the second end of the first regenerator. The first reservoir may be in fluid communication with the hot end of the first pulse tube. The first end of the second regenerator may be in fluid communication with the cold end of the first regenerator. The cold end of the second pulse tube may be in fluid communication with the second end of the second regenerator. The cold end of the first pulse tube and the hot end of the second pulse tube may be in fluid communication with one another through the second reservoir.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A pulse tube cooler, the pulse tube cooler comprising:

a fluid compressor;
a first regenerator having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first regenerator is in fluid communication with the fluid compressor;
a first pulse tube having a cold end and a hot end, wherein the cold end of the first pulse tube is in fluid communication with the second end of the first regenerator;
a first reservoir in fluid communication with the hot end of the first pulse tube;
a second regenerator having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second regenerator is in fluid communication with the cold end of the first pulse tube;
a second pulse tube having a cold end and a hot end, wherein the cold end of the second pulse tube is in fluid communication with the second end of the second regenerator;
a second reservoir comprising a first opening and a second opening;
a first fluid path comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first fluid path is directly attached to the second reservoir at the first opening, and wherein the second end of the first fluid path is directly attached to the cold end of the first pulse tube;
and
a second fluid path separate from the first fluid path and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second fluid path is directly attached to the second reservoir at the second opening, and wherein the second end of the second fluid path is directly attached to the hot end of the second pulse tube.

7 more elements

A pulse tube cooler, the pulse tube cooler comprising:

a fluid compressor;
a first regenerator having a first end and a second end, wherein the pulse tube cooler comprises a fluid path between the first end of the first regenerator and the fluid compressor;
a first pulse tube having a cold end and a hot end, wherein the pulse tube cooler comprises a fluid path between the cold end of the first pulse tube and the second end of the first regenerator;
a first reservoir, wherein the pulse tube cooler comprises a fluid path between the first reservoir and the hot end of the first pulse tube;
a second regenerator having a first end and a second end, wherein the pulse tube cooler comprises a fluid path between the first end of the second regenerator and the second end of the first regenerator;
a second pulse tube having a cold end and a hot end, wherein the pulse tube cooler comprises a fluid path between the cold end of the second pulse tube and the second end of the second regenerator;
a second reservoir comprising a first opening and a second opening;
a first fluid path comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first fluid path is directly attached to the second reservoir at the first opening, and wherein the second end of the first fluid path is directly attached to the cold end of the first pulse tube;
and
a second fluid path separate from the first fluid path and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second fluid path is directly attached to the second reservoir at the second opening, and wherein the second end of the second fluid path is directly attached to the hot end of the second pulse tube.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/626,596Filed 19 Feb 2015
Published: US 2016/0245553 A125 Aug 2016
Granted: 13 Nov 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F25B 9/10
Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point: with several cooling stages
F25B 9/145
Characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle: pulse-tube cycle
F25B 2309/1408
Compression machines, plants or systems characterised by the cycle used: pulse-tube cycles with pulse tube having U-turn or L-turn type…
F25B 2309/1419
Compression machines, plants or systems characterised by the cycle used: pulse-tube cycles with pulse tube having a basic pulse tube refrigerator…