Secondary pulse tubes and regenerators for coupling to room temperature phase shifters in multistage pulse tube cryocoolers
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology
InventorsRay Radebaugh, Isaac Garaway, Peter E. Bradley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Pulse tube refrigeration or cooling systems are described which utilize a secondary regenerator or a secondary pulse tube. Use of such a secondary regenerator or pulse tube enables a commercially available pressure oscillator to be incorporated in the cooling system. The commercially available oscillator can be operated at room temperature or approximately so.
Claims20
A pulse tube refrigeration system comprising:
- a compressor;
- a regenerator in fluid communication with the compressor;
- a pulse tube defining a cold end and a warm end, the regenerator being in fluid communication with the cold end of the pulse tube;
- and
- a secondary component selected from (i) a secondary regenerator and (ii) a secondary pulse tube, wherein the secondary component is in fluid communication with the warm end of the pulse tube;
- and
- an expander in fluid communication with the secondary component.
A pulse tube cooling system comprising:
- at least one of (i) a cryocooler and (ii) a compressor, and a pulse tube in fluid communication with the at least one of (i) the cryocooler and (ii) the compressor, the pulse tube having a cold end and a warm end;
- an ambient temperature phase shifter component;
- and
- a secondary component selected from (i) a secondary regenerator and (ii) a secondary pulse tube, the secondary component in fluid communication with, and disposed between, the warm end of the pulse tube and the phase shifter component.
A method for using a phase shifter at ambient temperature in a multistage pulse tube cooling system, the pulse tube cooling system including a compressor, a regenerator, a pulse tube having a cold end and a warm end, and the phase shifter, the method comprising:
- providing a secondary component selected from (i) a secondary regenerator and (ii) a secondary pulse tube;
- establishing fluid communication between the secondary component and the warm end of the pulse tube;
- whereby upon operation of the cooling system, the phase shifter is at ambient temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.