US 11,333,406 B2 · Regenerator for a cryo-cooler that uses helium as a working gas

Abstract

A regenerator of a cryo-cooler uses helium both as a working gas and as a heat storage material. The regenerator includes cells whose exterior sides form flow channels through which the working gas flows. Each cell has connected first and second cavities enclosed by a heat-conductive cell wall. The cavities contain helium that is used to store heat. Each cells is shaped as a disk. The working gas flows both through the flow channels and around the regenerator so as to exchange heat with the helium in the cavities via the heat conducting cell wall. Each cell has a pressure-equalizing opening through the cell wall whose diameter is smaller than the thickness of the cell wall. The diameter of the pressure-equalizing opening is dimensioned to permit the pressure of the helium contained in the cell to change by a maximum of 20% during any working cycle of the cryo-cooler.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A regenerator of a cryo-cooler that uses helium both as a working gas and to store heat, comprising:

a cell wall of a first cell;
a first cavity of the first cell;
and
a second cavity of the first cell, wherein the cell wall has an exterior side and an inner side, wherein the cell wall is heat conductive, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are connected to each other such that helium flows between the first cavity and the second cavity during operation of the regenerator, wherein the exterior side of the cell wall forms a flow channel through which the working gas flows during operation of the regenerator, wherein helium contained in the first cavity and the second cavity stores heat during operation of the regenerator, wherein the first cell has a pressure-equalizing opening that connects the inner side and the exterior side of the cell wall, and wherein during operation of the regenerator helium flows through the pressure-equalizing opening so as to equalize a pressure of the helium in the first cavity, a pressure of the helium in the second cavity, and a pressure of the helium used as a working gas on the exterior side of the cell wall.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Regenerator for a cryo-cooler that uses helium as a working gas

Life of this patent

Regenerator for a cryo-cooler that uses helium as a working gas

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20