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Long transfer lines enabling large separations between compressor and coldhead for high-frequency acoustic-Stirling ("pulse-tube") coolers.

Author(s) : SPOOR P. S., COREY J. A.

Summary

One of the chief advantages of Joule-Thomson or Gifford-McMahon cooling systems over the more recently developed acoustic Stirling variety (e.g. high-frequency "pulse-tube" coolers) is the large separation distance between the compressor and coldhead. Long, flexible transfer lines typically connect the two components. This permits insertion of the coldhead into locations where the complete system would never fit, and isolates the coldhead from the vibrations of the compressor. High-frequency "split" Stirling and acoustic Stirling systems are not uncommon, but the separation distance is usually quite small, with a significant penalty on system efficiency. The usual approach has been to minimize the "dead volume" in the transfer line, making it relatively short and very small diameter. Recently, we have explored a different approach, using a fairly large transfer line diameter to lower the flow velocity (and hence the viscous loss), and increasing the length to over 1meter, to allow these coolers to be used in the same applications as J-Ts and GMs. For small systems, this means using slightly larger compressor pistons to create the extra volume flow.

Details

  • Original title: Long transfer lines enabling large separations between compressor and coldhead for high-frequency acoustic-Stirling ("pulse-tube") coolers.
  • Record ID : 2008-1077
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 2006/06/14
  • Source: Source: Proc. 14th int. Cryocooler Conf., Annapolis, MD
    225-230; fig.; phot.; tabl.

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