Progress of A Low Pressure Mixed-Gas Joule-Thomson Micro-Cryocooler - Summary of Performance with 5 and 3 Component Mixtures

Published

July 22, 2010

Author(s)

Peter E. Bradley, M.-H Lin, Ray Radebaugh, Marcia L. Huber, Y.C. Lee

Abstract

Mixed-refrigerants offer greater minimum enthalpy difference for lower pressure ratios than pure gases such as Nitrogen or Neon. Two such mixtures, (5- and a 3-component) were employed in a compact Joule-Thomson microcryocooler (MCC). The 5-component mixture was optimized to obtain ~80 K, while the 3-component mixture was optimized to obtain 140 K for pressure ratios up to 16:1 (same cold head/heat exchanger configuration). The 5-component mixture demonstrated long term stable temperatures of 140 K while achieving transient temperatures to 76 K whereas, the 3-component mixture attained temperatures of ~120K. Experimental performance of the MCC is presented in this paper.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the Twenty-Third International Cryogenic Engineering Conference and International Cryogenic Materials Conference 2010

Conference Dates

July 19-23, 2010

Conference Location

Wroclaw

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Cryocooler, Joule-Thomson, low pressure ratio, micro-cryocooler, minimum enthalpy difference, mixed-refrigerant

Citation

Bradley, P. , Lin, M. , Radebaugh, R. , Huber, M. and Lee, Y. (2010), Progress of A Low Pressure Mixed-Gas Joule-Thomson Micro-Cryocooler - Summary of Performance with 5 and 3 Component Mixtures, Proceedings of the Twenty-Third International Cryogenic Engineering Conference and International Cryogenic Materials Conference 2010, Wroclaw, -1 (Accessed October 11, 2025)