1. Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China 2. Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
The high-frequency pulse tube cryocooler (HPTC) has been attracting increasing and widespread attention in the field of cryogenic technology because of its compact structure, low vibration, and reliable operation. The gas-coupled HPTC, driven by a single compressor, is currently the simplest and most compact structure. For HPTCs operating below 20 K, in order to obtain the mW cooling capacity, hundreds or even thousands of watts of electrical power are consumed, where radiation heat leakage accounts for a large proportion of their cooling capacity. In this paper, based on SAGE10, a HPTC heat radiation calculation model was first established to study the effects of radiation heat leakage on apparent performance parameters (such as temperature and cooling capacity), and internal parameters (such as enthalpy flow and gas distribution) of the gas-coupled HPTC. An active thermal insulation method of cascade utilization of the cold energy of the system was proposed for the gas-coupled HPTC. Numerical simulations indicate that the reduction of external radiation heat leakage cannot only directly increase the net cooling power, but also decrease the internal gross losses and increase the mass and acoustic power in the lower-temperature section, which further enhances the refrigeration performance. The numerical calculation results were verified by experiments, and the test results showed that the no-load temperature of the developed cryocooler prototype decreased from 15.1 K to 6.4 K, and the relative Carnot efficiency at 15.5 K increased from 0.029% to 0.996% when substituting the proposed active method for the traditional passive method with multi-layer thermal insulation materials.
H Dang, D Bao, Z Gao, et al.. Theoretical modeling and experimental verifications of the single-compressor-driven three-stage Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler. Frontiers in Energy, 2019, 13(3): 450–463 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-018-0569-8
2
S A El-Ghafour, M El-Ghandour, N N Mikhael. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of stirling engine. Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 180: 533–549 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.10.103
3
B Caetano, I Lara, M Borges, O R Sandoval, et al.. A novel methodology on beta-type Stirling engine simulation using CFD. Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 184: 510–520 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.01.075
T Nast, J Olson, P Champagne, et al.. Development of a 4.5 K pulse tube cryocooler for superconducting electronics. In: AIP Conference Proceedings. American Institute of Physics, 2008, 985 (1): 881–886
K Narasaki, S Tsunematsu, K Kanao, et al.. Mechanical coolers operating below 4.5 K for space application. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2006, 559(2): 644–647 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2005.12.196
8
P E Bradley, R Radebaugh, I Garaway, et al.. Progress in the development and performance of a high frequency 4 K Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Cryocooler Conference, 2011, 16: 27–33
9
B Wang, Z Gan. A critical review of liquid helium temperature high frequency pulse tube cryocoolers for space applications. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 2013, 61: 43–70 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2013.05.001
10
R Radebaugh, Y Huang, A O'Gallagher, et al.. Calculated regenerator performance at 4 K with helium-4 and helium-3. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering 53, Chattanooga, TN, Melville, 2008, 985: 225–234 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2908551
11
Q Cao, Z Li, M Luan, et al.. Investigation on precooling effects of 4 K Stirling-type pulse tube cryocoolers. Journal of Thermal Science, 2019, 28(4): 714–726 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-019-1168-7
12
L Qiu, Q Cao, X Zhi, et al.. A three-stage Stirling pulse tube cryocooler operating below the critical point of helium-4. Cryogenics, 2011, 51(10): 609–612 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2011.07.007
13
X Zhi, L Han, M Dietrich, et al.. A three-stage Stirling pulse tube cryocooler reached 4.26 K with He-4 working fluid. Cryogenics, 2013, 58: 93–96 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2013.09.009
14
L Qiu, L Han, X Zhi, et al.. Investigation on phase shifting for a 4 K Stirling pulse tube cryocooler with He-3 as working fluid. Cryogenics, 2015, 69: 44–49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2015.04.002
15
L Chen, X Wu, J Wang, et al.. Study on a high frequency pulse tube cryocooler capable of achieving temperatures below 4 K by helium-4. Cryogenics, 2018, 94: 103–109 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2018.08.002
16
X Liu, L Chen, X Wu, et al.. Attaining the liquid helium temperature with a compact pulse tube cryocooler for space applications. Science China. Technological Sciences, 2020, 63(3): 434–439 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-019-1471-7
17
L Qiu, X Zhi, L Han, et al.. Performance improvement of multi-stage pulse tube cryocoolers with a self-precooled pulse tube. Cryogenics, 2012, 52(10): 575–579 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2012.05.002
18
X Pang, X Wang, W Dai, et al.. Numerical study of a 10 K two stage pulse tube cryocooler with precooling inside the pulse tube. IOP Conference Series. Materials Science and Engineering, 2017, 171(1): 012071
19
H Dang, D Bao, T Zhang, et al.. Theoretical and experimental investigations on the three-stage Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler using cryogenic phase-shifting approach and mixed regenerator matrices. Cryogenics, 2018, 93: 7–16 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2018.05.005
X Pang, X Wang, W Dai, et al.. Theoretical and experimental study of a gas-coupled two-stage pulse tube cooler with stepped warm displacer as the phase shifter. Cryogenics, 2018, 92: 36–40 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2018.03.008
X Wu, L Chen, X Liu, et al.. An 80 mW/8 K high-frequency pulse tube refrigerator driven by only one linear compressor. Cryogenics, 2019, 101: 7–11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2019.05.006
26
L Chen, X Wu, X Liu, et al.. Numerical and experimental study on the characteristics of 4 K gas-coupled Stirling-type pulse tube cryocooler. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2018, 88: 204–210 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2018.01.010
27
R Radebaugh. Thermodynamics of regenerative refrigerators. In: Ohtsuka T, Ishizaki Y, eds. Generation of Low Temperature and Its Application, 2003: 1–20
28
D Gedeon. Sage User’s Guide: Stirling, Pulse-Tube and Low-T Cooler Model Classes. Gedeon Associates, Athens, OH, USA, 2014
29
Y Wu. Theoretical and experimental study on a single stage pulse tube cryocooler operating at 120 Hz (in Chinese). Dissertation for Master’s Degree. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University, 2010 (in Chinese)
30
L Wang. Theoretical and experimental investigations on the geometrical parameters and key structures of high frequency pulse tube cryocoolers. Dissertation for Doctoral Degree. Shanghai: Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2012 (in Chinese)
31
J Zheng, L Chen, X Liu, et al.. Thermodynamic optimization of composite insulation system with cold shield for liquid hydrogen zero-boil-off storage. Renewable Energy, 2020, 147: 824–832 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.09.078