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Thermoacoustic expansion valve: a new type of expander to enhance performance of recuperative cryocooler systems.

Author(s) : HU Z.

Summary

The development of a new type of valve-like expander is described. Referred to as a thermoacoustic expansion valve (TEV), the intended application is low-cooling-capacity recuperative cryocooler systems. TEVs use acoustic wave systems created from a pressure drop to extract heat out of the cold region without using any moving parts. They may be used to replace J-T valves in a Joule-Thomson or sorption cryocooler system, or in a variety of hybrid systems that incorporate a J-T cold stage with a regenerative cryocooler. Initial experimental results have shown that miniature TEVs can combine the reliability advantages of a J-T expander with the improved performance merits of turbo-Brayton expansion components. Thus, they can potentially improve the efficiency and reduce mass flow of low cooling capacity recuperative coolers by combining the advantages of no moving parts and energy extraction at the cold end for increased thermodynamic efficiency.

Details

  • Original title: Thermoacoustic expansion valve: a new type of expander to enhance performance of recuperative cryocooler systems.
  • Record ID : 2008-1075
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 2006/06/14
  • Source: Source: Proc. 14th int. Cryocooler Conf., Annapolis, MD
    429-436; fig.; phot.; tabl.; 15 ref.

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