Variable phase shift devices for pulse tube coolers
AssigneeThe Aerospace Corporation
InventorsSidney W. K. Yuan, David G. T. Curran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments are directed to pulse tube coolers having flow resistance devices that are variable within the thermodynamic cycle of the pulse tube. An example pulse tube may comprise a compressor, a regenerator, a reservoir and a pulse tube. A working fluid may be positioned within the regenerator, pulse tube and reservoir. Further, a variable phase control device may be positioned in a fluid path between the pulse tube and the reservoir. The pulse tube cooler may also comprise a control circuit. The control circuit may be programmed to vary a characteristic of the variable phase control device based on the position of the pulse tube cooler in its thermodynamic cycle.
Claims23
A pulse tube cooler comprising:
- a compressor;
- a regenerator having a first end and a second end, wherein the regenerator is in fluid communication with the compressor at the first end;
- a pulse tube having a cold end and a hot end, wherein the pulse tube is in fluid communication with the regenerator at the cold end;
- a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is in fluid communication with the pulse tube at the hot end of the pulse tube;
- a working fluid positioned within the regenerator, the pulse tube, and the reservoir;
- and
- a variable phase control device positioned in a fluid path between the hot end of the pulse tube and the reservoir, the pulse tube cooler having a thermodynamic cycle defined by the flow of working fluid into and out of the regenerator, pulse tube and reservoir;
- and
- a control circuit in communication with the variable phase control device, wherein the control circuit is programmed to vary a characteristic of the variable phase control device based on the position of the pulse tube cooler in its thermodynamic cycle.
A method of operating a pulse tube cooler, the method comprising:
- varying a characteristic of a variable phase control device based on the position of the pulse tube cooler in a thermodynamic cycle of the pulse tube cooler, wherein the thermodynamic cycle is defined by the flow of a working fluid into and out of a regenerator, a pulse tube and a reservoir of the pulse tube cooler, and wherein the variable phase control device is positioned between a pulse tube of the pulse tube cooler and a reservoir of the pulse tube cooler.
A computer readable medium comprises instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
- vary a characteristic of a variable phase control device based on the position of the pulse tube cooler in a thermodynamic cycle of the pulse tube cooler, wherein the thermodynamic cycle is defined by the flow of a working fluid into and out of a regenerator, a pulse tube and a reservoir of the pulse tube cooler, and wherein the variable phase control device is positioned between a pulse tube of the pulse tube cooler and a reservoir of the pulse tube cooler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.