An experimental investigation of the pulse tube cryocooler
An experimental investigation of the pulse tube cryocooler
The pulse tube is a new and promising cryocooler the development of which has been hindered by a lack of understanding of the complicated nature of its operation. This research is an investigation of pulse tube performance: a consideration of the agreements and contentions of the existing theoretical models; an evaluation of these models both conceptually and experimentally; and an independent analysis of the pulse tube cooler in light of the results of a substantial experimental investigation.
The investigation of the existing theoretical models highlighted the lack of experimental verification available. Certain of the theoretical concepts encountered are difficult to reconcile with the practical system, such as phase, and others appeared irrelevant to the typical pulse tube cooler, such as thermoacoustics. A fundamentally important second law analysis of the pulse tube, absent from previous research, was undertaken and this questioned the apparently anomalous conclusion of some researchers that the heat absorbed equals the heat rejected in the pulse tube. The role of the aftercooler heat exchanger in some models was also questioned, regarding the necessity of a work input to the pulse tube itself and the likelihood of sufficient heat rejection through dissipation at the orifice.
The aim of the experimental investigation was to isolate the effects of individual system variables, in particular frequency, on the cooler performance and to obtain comparable results for different pulse tube designs. This was achieved with a compressor-driven system, constructed and operated as a basic, orifice and double inlet pulse tube cooler, over a broader range of frequencies than has been achieved with a similar system. The results illustrated the role of the different system variables, and also the significant influence of losses on performance. The importance of the work input to the pulse tube was emphasised by the superior performance of the double inlet pulse tube. Additional evaluation of the existing theories was possible with the experimental results, but no one existing theory was conclusively supported.
University of Southampton
1998
Evans, Bethan Edith
(1998)
An experimental investigation of the pulse tube cryocooler.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The pulse tube is a new and promising cryocooler the development of which has been hindered by a lack of understanding of the complicated nature of its operation. This research is an investigation of pulse tube performance: a consideration of the agreements and contentions of the existing theoretical models; an evaluation of these models both conceptually and experimentally; and an independent analysis of the pulse tube cooler in light of the results of a substantial experimental investigation.
The investigation of the existing theoretical models highlighted the lack of experimental verification available. Certain of the theoretical concepts encountered are difficult to reconcile with the practical system, such as phase, and others appeared irrelevant to the typical pulse tube cooler, such as thermoacoustics. A fundamentally important second law analysis of the pulse tube, absent from previous research, was undertaken and this questioned the apparently anomalous conclusion of some researchers that the heat absorbed equals the heat rejected in the pulse tube. The role of the aftercooler heat exchanger in some models was also questioned, regarding the necessity of a work input to the pulse tube itself and the likelihood of sufficient heat rejection through dissipation at the orifice.
The aim of the experimental investigation was to isolate the effects of individual system variables, in particular frequency, on the cooler performance and to obtain comparable results for different pulse tube designs. This was achieved with a compressor-driven system, constructed and operated as a basic, orifice and double inlet pulse tube cooler, over a broader range of frequencies than has been achieved with a similar system. The results illustrated the role of the different system variables, and also the significant influence of losses on performance. The importance of the work input to the pulse tube was emphasised by the superior performance of the double inlet pulse tube. Additional evaluation of the existing theories was possible with the experimental results, but no one existing theory was conclusively supported.
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Published date: 1998
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Local EPrints ID: 463516
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/463516
PURE UUID: 4ff9de8a-7dd4-4903-9f73-205493719119
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 20:52
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 20:52
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Author:
Bethan Edith Evans
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