Reciprocating rapid cooldown loop for cryogenic devices

Abstract

Cryogenic systems that provide stronger heat transfer between thermalization stages in cryogenic stages compared to conventional systems. The stronger heat transfer can reduce the cooldown time of the cryogenic systems herein compared to conventional systems. The cryogenic systems may include a reciprocating rapid cooldown loop configured to exchange volumes of fluid between different cryogenic stages of the system. The exchanged fluid may be configured to exchange heat between these different stages of the system. This heat exchange allows the lower temperature stages of cryogenic systems to perform initial cooling using the more powerful coolers of the higher temperature stages of the systems. The reciprocating cooldown loop may selectively transfer fluid between a pulse tube cryocooler and other colder stages of the cryogenic system, allowing the powerful pulse tube cryocooler to assist the colder stages of the system, reducing the time required for the initial cooldown of the system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.