US3696626A - Cryogenic refrigeration device - Google Patents

Cryogenic refrigeration device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3696626A
US3696626A US888542A US3696626DA US3696626A US 3696626 A US3696626 A US 3696626A US 888542 A US888542 A US 888542A US 3696626D A US3696626D A US 3696626DA US 3696626 A US3696626 A US 3696626A
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United States
Prior art keywords
gas
refrigerator
thermal energy
closure means
space
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Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US888542A
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English (en)
Inventor
Alexander Daniels
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US Philips Corp
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US Philips Corp
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/14—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G1/00—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants
    • F02G1/04—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type
    • F02G1/043—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
    • F02G1/044—Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants of closed-cycle type the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines having at least two working members, e.g. pistons, delivering power output
    • F02G1/0445—Engine plants with combined cycles, e.g. Vuilleumier
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02G—HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02G2250/00—Special cycles or special engines
    • F02G2250/18—Vuilleumier cycles

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A thermodynamic, regenerative-cycle refrigerating device including a compression space, a cooler, a regenerator and a cold finger formed as a cylinder with a displacer movable therein for defining an expansion space, the cold produced being transferred from the expansion space primarily through a thin cap at the end of the cylinder.
  • the freezer is formed as a massive end plate that encompasses the end of the expansion cylinder remote from the compression space and a cylindrical skirt part that extends axially along the length of this cylinder, contacting a major part of the expansion cylinders outer surface, particularly the part defining the expansion space.
  • This freezer member generally made of copper for its good heat transfer properties, comprises a substantially large mass that must be cooled itself, before it can be an efficient conducting path for the transfer of cold.
  • the cooperating displacer has a lower part containing a regenerator, an upper part, and gas flow ducts from the regenerator exiting between the upper and lower parts through the displacer side wall, whereby expanding gas will flow first along the side of the upper part adjacent the freezer, and then to the expansion space.
  • the present invention comprises a structure significantly different from all known prior art refrigerators operating on a thermodynamic, regenerative cycle, and in using this invention the cool-down period to reach operating temperature is greatly reduced over known devices. This has been achieved by a simplification of the refrigerator structure, namely the elimination of the freezer, which is the element that consumes so much time to cool-down during the start-up period of operation. More specifically, the new refrigerator is a V regenerative-cycle apparatus having a housing defining therein interconnected compression and expansion chambers of variable volume and different average temperatures, and a regenerator between the chambers.
  • a cold finger portion of the housing is formed as a cylindrical body having a first end in communication with the compression chamber and, a remote end with the reciprocally movable displacer therein, defining the expansion chamber. Also provided is a means closing and sealing the remote end, with the cold produced being transferred out of the expansion chamber substantially entirely through the end closure, which preferably is a thin, flat cap defining a circular surface area.
  • the surface area of the cap at the end of the expansion cylinder is sufficient for the transfer of cold from the expansion space, and accordingly, that the additional surface area of prior art freezers along the side walls of the expansion cylinder, is unnecessary.
  • the elimination of metal forming the freezers side walls reduces the available surface areas for cold transfer and corresponding rate of cold transfer from the expansion space, the reduced mass of metal has nevertheless resulted in the significant and unexpected great reduction in cool-down time.
  • the new refrigerators reached operating temperature in a very short time, as much as three times faster than in comparable prior art machines. Furthermore, these new devices were able to continue transferring adequate quantities of cold through the thin closure means as was required.
  • the present invention has particularly good applicability in small machines where the ratio of expansion-cylinder surface area to expansion volume is greater than in large machines. Furthermore this invention is applicable in various other regenerative-cycle devices such as those designated Gifford-McMahon, Vuilleumier, and Solvay.
  • FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a prior art device including a standard freezer
  • FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 1 is provided disclosing a partial view of a typical prior art regenerative cycle refrigerator 10.
  • the housing 11 has compression piston 12 reciprocally movable therein, defining the variable volume compression chamber 13, which is surrounded by an air-cooled cooler 14.
  • a cylindrical cold-finger 15 having one end in communication with the compression space, extends upward as shown, and is sealed at the top by freezer 16 having head part 17 and sleeve or skirt part 18.
  • the cold-finger and the reciprocally movable displacer 19 therein define the variable volume expansion space 20.
  • the compression piston 13 and the displacer 19 are driven, out-of-phase with each other, respectively by rods 21 and 22 connected to a drive means not shown.
  • regenerator 23 Disposed within the center part of the displacer 19 is a regenerator 23; however the invention is equally applicable to a device having an alternative form of regenerator external of the displacer.
  • ducts 25 Spaced between upper part 19a of the displacer and the regenerator 23 are ducts 25 exiting at the side wall of the displacer, and through which the working gas passes into the annular space 25a and thence to expansion chamber 20, with the cold produced in the annular space and in this chamber being transferred via the contacting wall surfaces of the freezers cylindrical skirt part 18 extending axially along the cold-finger, and its circular head part 17.
  • FIG. 2 discloses one preferred embodiment 10a of the present invention, which is similar to FIG. 1, as regards the housing, piston, displacer, regenerator, and cooler; however, the freezer 16 (FIG. 1) has been eliminated.
  • a thin cap 26 formed basically as a disc closes and seals the top end of the cold-finger 15. Consistent with the invention concept of minimizing the mass about the expansion space for optimizing cool-down time, the cap 26 has a nominal thickness, sufficient only to withstand the internal pressure and maintain the seal of the cold-finger. In the device shown, the cap thickness is about 0.1 inches, in refrigerator having a displacer stroke of about 0.3 inches and diameter of about 0.4 inches.
  • the surface area operable to transfer cold out of the expansion space is merely the circular area under capv 26, defined by [1rD /49 in contrast to the much greater area in the prior art defined by [1rD /4] plus the additional area of sleeve 18, [rrDX sleeve length].
  • the preferred displacer has an internal regenerator 23 and duct apertures 25b in the end plates 25c and oriented for the gas to flow axially into the expansion space. This displacer eliminates a certain volume of dead space occupied by upper part 19a of the prior art displacer, allowing a reduction in size and mass of this component.
  • thermodynamic, regenerative-cycle refrigerator operable to cool a compressible gas which gas can then receive thermal energy from a mass to be cooled
  • the refrigerator having a housing, a piston reciprocally movable in the housing and defining a variable volume compression space, a cold-finger comprising a cylindrical member with a first end in communication with the compression space and a remote end, a displacer reciprocally movable in said member and defining therein a variable volume expansion space of lower average temperature than the compression space, and means for driving the piston and displacer, a regenerator disposed between the compression and expansion spaces, with said compressible gas disposed within said spaces and cyclically moved therebetween, the gas being expanded and cooled in the expansion space, and closure means closing and sealing said remote end and thus defining a boundary of the expansion space, the thermal energy being transferrable into the cooled gas within the expansion space substantially entirely through said closure means.
  • thermodynamic, regenerative-cycle refrigerator operable to cool a compressible gas which gas can then receive thermal energy from a mass to be cooled
  • the refrigerator having a housing, a piston reciprocally movable in the housing and defining a variable volume compression space, a cold-finger comprising a cylindrical member with a first end in communication with the compression space and remote end, a displacer reciprocally movable in said member and defining therein a variable volume expansion space of lower average temperature than the compression space, and means for driving the piston and displacer, a regenerator disposed between the compression and expansion spaces, with said compressible gas disposed within said spaces and cyclically moved therebetween, the gas being expanded and cooled in the expansion space, and closure means closing and sealing said remote end and thus defining a boundary of the expansion space, the thermal energy being transferrable into the cooled gas within the expansion space substantially entirely through said closure means
  • the said closure means has a thermal energy transfer surface defined generally as a circular area bounding only one end of said member wherein the
  • thermocynamic cycle is a Stirling cycle
  • closure means further comprises a flange for securely engaging the closure means to the remote end of said member, the flange being short relative to the length of said cylindrical body.
  • thermodynamic, regenerative-cycle refrigerator operable to cool a compressible gas which gas can then receive thermal energy from a mass to be cooled
  • the refrigerator having a housing, a piston reciprocally movable in the housing and defining a variable volume compression space, a cold-finger comprising a cylindrical member with a first end in communication with the compression space and a remote end, a displacer reciprocally movable in said member and defining therein a variable volume expansion space of lower average temperature than the compression space, and means for driving the piston and displacer, a regenerator disposed between the compression and expansion spaces, with said compressible gas disposed within said spaces and cyclically moved therebetween, the gas being expanded and cooled in the expansion space, and closure means closing and sealing said remote end and thus defining a boundary of the expansion space, the thermal energy being transferrable into the cooled gas within the expansion space substantially entirely through said closure means, wherein the said closure means has a thermal energy transfer surface defined generally as a circular area bounding only one end of said member,
  • thermodynamic regenerative-cycle refrigerator operable to cool a compressible gas which gas can then receive thermal energy from a mass to be cooled
  • the refrigerator having a housing, a piston reciprocally movable in the housing and defining a variable volume compression space, a cold-finger comprising a cylindrical member with a first end in communication with the compression space and a remote end, a displacer thermal energy being transferrable into the cooled gas within the expansion space substantially entirely through said closure means, wherein the said closure means has a thermal energy transfer surface defined generally as a circular area bounding only one end of said member, the refrigerator having a refrigeration output or thermal energy absorption power of approximately 1 watt, and a cool-down time from about 300 K. to 77 K. of less than 4 minutes.
  • thermodynamic regenerative-cycle refrigerator operable to cool a compressible gas, which gas can then receive thermal energy from a mass to be cooled
  • the refrigerator operable with first means providing a compressed working medium
  • the refrigerator having a housing including a cold-finger which comprises a cylindrical member having a first end in communication with the compressed medium and remote end, a displacer reciprocally movable in the member and defining at the remote end of the member a variable volume expansion space having lower average temperature than said medium in the first means, second means for driving said displacer, a reg enerator connected between he'first means and he expansion chamber, and'closure means closing and sealing the remote end of the member, the refrigeration produced such that thermal energy transferrable from said mass into the expansion chamber substantially entirely through said closure means.
  • sai closure means has a thermal energy transfer surface defined generally as a circular area bounding only one end of said member.
  • thermodynamic cycle is the Stirling cycle.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Pistons, Piston Rings, And Cylinders (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
US888542A 1969-12-29 1969-12-29 Cryogenic refrigeration device Expired - Lifetime US3696626A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US88854269A 1969-12-29 1969-12-29

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US3696626A true US3696626A (en) 1972-10-10

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Country Status (8)

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US (1) US3696626A (fr)
BE (1) BE760940A (fr)
CA (1) CA919928A (fr)
DE (1) DE2063556C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2074400A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1340080A (fr)
NL (1) NL7018702A (fr)
SE (1) SE353386B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3536710A1 (de) * 1985-10-15 1987-04-23 Schneider Christian Dipl Ing Waermewandler und verfahren zu seinem betrieb
FR2723435A1 (fr) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-09 Hughes Aircraft Co Systeme de refroidisseur cryogenique a bout froid soude
CN103527345A (zh) * 2013-11-06 2014-01-22 大连宏海新能源发展有限公司 斯特林发动机内部循环工质气体增压设备

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10088203B2 (en) * 2009-06-12 2018-10-02 Raytheon Company High efficiency compact linear cryocooler

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1675829A (en) * 1923-04-02 1928-07-03 Gas Res Co Heat engine
US3117414A (en) * 1961-07-14 1964-01-14 Wisconsin Alumni Res Found Thermodynamic reciprocating apparatus
US3218815A (en) * 1964-06-17 1965-11-23 Little Inc A Cryogenic refrigeration apparatus operating on an expansible fluid and embodying a regenerator
US3303658A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-02-14 Little Inc A Vented seal for air refrigerator
US3314244A (en) * 1966-04-26 1967-04-18 Garrett Corp Pulse tube refrigeration with a fluid switching means
US3530681A (en) * 1968-08-05 1970-09-29 Hughes Aircraft Co Hydraulically driven cryogenic refrigerator

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1675829A (en) * 1923-04-02 1928-07-03 Gas Res Co Heat engine
US3117414A (en) * 1961-07-14 1964-01-14 Wisconsin Alumni Res Found Thermodynamic reciprocating apparatus
US3218815A (en) * 1964-06-17 1965-11-23 Little Inc A Cryogenic refrigeration apparatus operating on an expansible fluid and embodying a regenerator
US3303658A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-02-14 Little Inc A Vented seal for air refrigerator
US3314244A (en) * 1966-04-26 1967-04-18 Garrett Corp Pulse tube refrigeration with a fluid switching means
US3530681A (en) * 1968-08-05 1970-09-29 Hughes Aircraft Co Hydraulically driven cryogenic refrigerator

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3536710A1 (de) * 1985-10-15 1987-04-23 Schneider Christian Dipl Ing Waermewandler und verfahren zu seinem betrieb
FR2723435A1 (fr) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-09 Hughes Aircraft Co Systeme de refroidisseur cryogenique a bout froid soude
CN103527345A (zh) * 2013-11-06 2014-01-22 大连宏海新能源发展有限公司 斯特林发动机内部循环工质气体增压设备
CN103527345B (zh) * 2013-11-06 2015-06-17 大连宏海新能源发展有限公司 斯特林发动机内部循环工质气体增压设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2063556C3 (de) 1978-04-13
FR2074400A5 (fr) 1971-10-01
DE2063556A1 (de) 1971-07-15
NL7018702A (fr) 1971-07-01
DE2063556B2 (de) 1977-08-25
CA919928A (en) 1973-01-30
SE353386B (fr) 1973-01-29
BE760940A (fr) 1971-06-28
GB1340080A (en) 1973-12-05

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