cryocooler SHIs (Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.) Cryogenic Group has developed a new, single-stage GM cryocooler, Model RDK-500B.
It is suitable for use in strong magnetic fields and optimized for
relatively cold temperatures(2030 K). 2030 K was determined to be the ideal temperature range, based on the current state of commercially available, practical HTS materials. The specific heat of helium, especially at return pressure, is large at 2030 K temperature. Optimized regenerator materials are required to increase heat capacity in this temperature range in order to achieve a large cooling capacity. Typical single-stage GM regenerator designs use bronze screens in the upper/warm end of the regenerator and lead spheres in the lower/cold end . Lead is typically added, since bronze based materials have almost no specific heat in the desired 2030 K temperature range.
However, new regulations are gathering international
momentum, which serve to restrict the use of substances deemed to be potentially damaging to the environment.
The RDK-500B was designed with these new material
restrictions in mind. Bismuth spheres were selected as a viable alternative to lead. Unfortunately, the specific heat of bismuth is less than lead in the desired temperature range (2030 K). As a result, SHI needed to consider additional efficiency improvements to offset the losses associated with changing from lead to bismuth without having to change size of cryocooler. It include, optimized the clearance between cylinder and displacer to minimize the sum of shuttle heat loss and pumping heat loss. Experimental result 1. Wide range cooling power curve PV work increases with 60 Hz power frequency due to the increased helium flow rate and higher cold head operating speed.
2. Orientation dependence
Heat irruption to the expansion volume and shuttle heat loss
increases because convection flow is generated in the clearance between cylinder and displacer. These are thought to be due to performance decrement. It is demonstrated that the maximum decreasing rate of cooling power is 24% with result from calculation based on amount of temperature increase. 3. Vibration & Sound pressure level The averaged sound pressure level is around 79 dBA. That of existing 2 stage 4 K GM cryocooler, RDK-408D3 is around 67 dBA. The major reason to be louder is to use higher output power compressor.
The maximum acceleration is around 2530 m/s2 during 1
cycle. 1 cycle is about 0.83 s at 60 Hz. References Development of a large cooling capacity single stage GM cryocooler K. Yamada Cryogenics Division, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., 2-1-1, Yato-cho, Nishitokyo-city, Tokyo 188-8585, Japan