• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.901-907
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• 2000

The conceptual determination of mixed-refrigerant (MR) for a closed Joule-Thomson cryocooler is described in this paper. The thermodynamic cycle design was mainly considered to develop a cryocooler by using a compressor of domestic air-conditioning unit. The target cooling performance of the designed cryocooler is 10 W around 70 K with less than 5 kJ/kg enthalpy rise. The systematic approach of choosing a proper refrigerant among 20 different kinds of mixture for such cryogenic temperature was introduced in detail. The main components of the cryocooler are compressor, evaporator, oil separator, after-cooler, counterflow heat exchanger, and J-T expansion device. Due to the limitation of the compressor operation range, the temperature after the compression was limited below $117^{\circ}C$ (390 K) and the temperature before compression was restricted above $5^{\circ}C$ (278 K). 20 atm of discharging pressure (high pressure) and less than 3 atm suction pressure (low pressure) were the design conditions. The inlet temperature of a counterflow heat exchanger in the high Pressure side was about 300 K. The proper composition of the mixed refrigerant for the designed J-T cryocooler is 15% mol of$ N_2, 30% mol of $CH_4,\; 30% mol\; of C^2H^ 6,\; 10%\; mol\; of\; C_3H_8\; and \;15%\; mol\; of\; i-C_4H_10$.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.38-42
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• 2008

Miniature J-T cryocooler using nitrogen or argon has been widely adopted in cooling infrared sensor for space/military application and cryosurgery. Argon or nitrogen, however, has relatively low specific cooling power compared to nitrous oxide, but the ultimate operating temperature is much lower than nitrous oxide. On the other hand, nitrous oxide has large specific cooling power, but the operating temperature is limited to its boiling point (>183K). To compromise the different characteristics of these gases, the performance of miniature J-T cryocooler using argon and nitrous oxide mixture is investigated in this paper. Three different compositions of mixture (25/75, 50/50, and 75/25 molar fraction) are blended and tested. The results are compared with the experiments of pure argon and pure nitrous oxide. The experimental results show some encouraging potentiality of mixed refrigerant J-T cryocooler. The critical clogging problem, however, was observed with argon and nitrous oxide mixture, and the lowest achievable temperature with this mixture was limited to the freezing point of nitrous oxide. The paper discusses detailed clogging process of the mixture and suggests an alternative.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2160-2164
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• 2008

Miniature Joule-Thomson cryocoolers have been widely used for rapid cooling of infrared detectors, probes of cryosurgery, thermal cameras, missile homing head and guidance system, due to their special features of simple configuration, compact structure and rapid cool-down characteristics. The cool-down time, the temperature at the cold end, the running time and the gas consumption are the important indicators of the performance of the J-T cryocooler. In this study, the initial cool-down stages of the J-T cryocooler were investigated by numerical simulations. The results show the effects of the initial charging pressures of gas on the cool-down time and the temperature at the cold end and the gas consumptions.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.64-68
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• 2001

An experimental study on the Joule-Thomson cryocooler with the mixed refrigerant (MR) is described in this paper, J-T refrigeration experiment was performed with a single stage regular air-conditioning compressor The mixed refrigerant in the experiment was composed of 75% mol fraction of $N_2$. 30% moi fraction of CH$_4$. 30% moi fraction of $C_2$H$_{6}$. 10% mot fraction of $C_3$H$_{8}$ and 15% mot fraction of iso-C$_4$H$_{10}$. Oil mist in the MR stream could be eliminated completely by the glass microfiber filter. Since a single stage compressor that had been designed thor R22 is not appropriate for high Pressure ratio of the mixed refrigerant especially during the transient period. two modifications were incorporated to regular J-T refrigeration cycle. First. a Portion of the MR was by-passed at the inlet of the heat exchanger and transferred directly to 7he suction of the compressor in the modified system. Second, a buffer volume was Prepared to change the mass flow rate of refrigerant. The pressure ratio in J-T expansion device was relieved at the beginning of the operation due to the by-Pass scheme. but it gradually decreased during the transient Process as some of the MR component condensed at low temperature. The buffer volume at the suction side was used to increase the MR gas density in the system after the transient cool-down period. Form the experiment with the modified system, the refrigerator could reach the lowest temperature of -152$^{\circ}C$ without cooling load. and about -15$0^{\circ}C$ with 5 W of cooling load . . . .

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2006

A closed-loop cryogenic cooling system for high field magnets is presented. This design is motivated by our recent development of cooling system for 21 tesla Fourier Transform ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) superconducting magnets without any replenishment of cryogen. The low temperature superconducting magnets are immersed in a subcooled 1.8 K bath, which is connected hydraulically to the 4.2 K reservoir through a narrow channel. Saturated liquid helium is cooled by Joule-Thomson heat exchanger and flows through the JT valve, isenthalpically dropping its pressure to approximately 1 6 kPa, corresponding saturation temperature of 1.8 K. Helium gas exhausted from pump is now recondensed by two-stage cryocooler located after vapor purify system. The amount of cryogenic Heat loads and required mass flow rate through closed-loop are estimated by a relevant heat transfer analysis, from which dimensions of JT heat exchanger and He II heat exchanger are determined. The detailed design of cryocooler heat exchanger for helium recondensing is performed. The effect of cryogenic loads, especially superfluid heat leak through the gap of weight load relief valve, on the dimensions of cryogenic system is also investigated.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.122-126
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• 2006

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigation on heat generation of a bulk HTS for application to a 100 kWh Superconductor Flywheel Energy Storage System(SFES) bearing. An experimental device is manufactured to reproduce varying magnetic field conditions that a bulk HTS may experience during the operation of the 100 kWh SFES. The bulk HTS is directly cooled by a cryocooler while the heat is generated by the eddy currents created by varying magnetic fields induced by a coil. In order to design the cryocooling system for the 100 kWh SFES project, a preliminary experiment to investigate the actual cooling load variation under AC magnetic field has been carried out. In the experiment, two different copper holders were designed and tested. Several temperature sensors were installed on each component of the assembly and the temperatures were measured for several operating conditions of the 100 kWh SFES. The experimental investigation on the thermal response of the bulk HTS and its holder is considered to be a valuable step fur the successful materialization of a large-scale SFES.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07b
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• pp.1252-1254
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• 2005

High Tc superconducting(HTS) model coil was prepared. Current-voltage(I-V) characteristic curves of model coil, sub-coils and joints were investigated at 77K and other some temperatures. Cooling system for characteristics measurement was made by using G-M cryocooler. At 77K, quench current(Iq) of model coil was 43.9A and the lowest Iq of sub-coils was 38.8A. At 55K, sub coil SP #06 was 106A. So, 100A was chosen as the operating current at 55K with margin. Joule heat of model coil was 0.65W at 100A, operating current and 58K. Joint resistances between sub-coils were about $70n{\Omega}$ at 77K and about $30n{\Omega}$ at 55K.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-5
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• 2020

Heart consists of myocardium cells and the electrophysiological activity of the cells generate magnetic fields. By measuring this magnetic field, magnetocardiogram (MCG), functional diagnosis of the heart diseases is possible. Since the strength of the MCG signals is weak, typically in the range of 1-10 pT, we need sensitive magnetic sensors. Conventionally, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID)s were used for the detection of MCG signals due to its superior sensitivity to other magnetic sensors. However, drawback of the SQUID is the need for regular refill of a cryogenic liquid, typically liquid helium for cooling low-temperature SQUIDs. Efforts to eliminate the need for the refill in the SQUID system have been done by using cryocooler-based conduction cooling or use of non-cryogenic sensors, or room-temperature sensors. Each sensor has advantage and disadvantage, in terms of magnetic field sensitivity and complexity of the system, and we review the recent trend of MCG technology.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.27-31
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• 2004

This paper describes the development and fabrication of a high temperature superconducting motor which consists of HTS rotor and air-core stator. The machine was designed for the rated power of 100hp at 1800 rpm. The HTS field windings are composed of the double-pancake coils wound with AMSC's SUS-reinforced Bi-2223 tape conductor. These were assembled on the support structure and fixed by a bandage of glass-fiber composite. The cooling system is based on the heat transfer mechanism of the thermosyphon by using GM cryocooler as cooling source. The cold head is in contact with the condenser of a Ne-filled thermosyphon. The rotor assembly was tested independently at the stationary state and combined with stator. Characteristic parameters such as reactances, inductances, and time constants were determined to obtain a consistent overview of the machine operation properties. This motor has met all design parameters by demonstrating HTS field winding, cryogenic refrigeration systems and an air-core armature winding cooled with air. The HTS field winding could be cooled down below 30K. No-load test of open-circuit characteristics(OCC) and short-circuit characteristics(SCC) and load test with resistive load bank were conducted in generator mode. Maximum operating current of field winding at 30K was 120A. From OCC and SCC test results synchronous inductance and synchronous reactance were 2.4mH, 0.49pu, respectively. Efficiency of this HTS machine was 93.3% in full load(100hp) test. This paper will present design, construction, and basic experimental test results of the 100hp HTS machine.