Skip to main content
Log in

Superfluid Joule–Thomson Refrigeration, a New Concept for Cooling Below 2 Kelvin

  • Published:
Journal of Low Temperature Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new type of sub-Kelvin refrigerator, the superfluid Joule–Thomson refrigerator is discussed. The refrigerator uses the circulation of the 3He component of a liquid 3He–4He mixture through a throttle to provide cooling to temperatures of 0.5 K. A simple analytical model is developed to predict the cooling power for this refrigerator as function of temperature. In addition, cooling power predictions are made using the equations of state of Radebaugh. The models are compared and discussed. This refrigerator can provide cooling in a microgravity environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. V. Kotsubo and G. W. Swift, Superfluid Stirling-cycle refrigeration below 1 Kelvin, J. Low Temp. Phys. 83, 217 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. Watanabe, G. W. Swift, and J. G. Brisson, Measurements with a recuperative super-fluid Stirling refrigerator, in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, P. Kittel (ed.), v. 41, Plenum, NY (1996), pp. 1527-1533.

    Google Scholar 

  3. See for example: A. Patel and J. G. Brisson, Experimental performance of a single stage superfluid Stirling refrigerator, J. Low Temp. Phys. 111, 201 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  4. J. Lee and F. Sears, Thermodynamics An Introductory Texts for Engineering Students, Addison Wesley, Reading, MA (1963), p. 235.

    Google Scholar 

  5. I. M. Khalatnikov, An Introduction to the Theory of Superfluidity, W. A. Benjamin, Inc., New York (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  6. F. A. Staas and A. P. Severijns, Vorticity in He II and its application in a cooling device, Cryogenics (1969), pp. 422-426.

  7. J. G. Brisson, Cold-cycle dilution refrigeration, J. Low Temp. Phys. 111, 181 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. G. Brisson and A. B. Patel, A simple model for a superfluid Stirling refrigerator at high operating temperature, J. Low Temp. Phys. 116, Nos. 5/6, 443 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. G. M. Kuerten, C. A. M. Castelijns, A. T. A. M. de Waele and H. M. Gijsman, Thermodynamic properties of liquid 3He-4He mixtures at zero pressure for temperatures below 250 mK and 3He concentrations below 8%, Cryogenics 25, 419-442 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  10. A. Th. A. M. de Waele and J. G. M. Kuerten, Thermodynamics and hydrodynamics of 3He–4He mixtures, in Progress in Low Temperature Physics, Vol. 13, D. F. Brewer (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam (1992), p. 174.

  11. See for example: E. A. Guggenhiem, Thermodynamics, An Advanced Treatment for Chemists and Physicists, 4th ed., North Holland, Amsterdam (1959), p. 213.

  12. R. Radebaugh, Thermodynamic properties of 3He-4He solutions with applications to the 3He-4He dilution refrigerator, NBS Tech. Note 362 (1967), pp. 136-137.

    Google Scholar 

  13. C. Ebner and D. O. Edwards, The low temperature thermodynamic properties of super-fluid solutions of 3He in 4He, Phys. Reports 2C, 77 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ashok Patel and J. G. Brisson, Experimental evaluation of a single stage superfluid Stirling refrigerator using a large plastic recuperator, J. Low Temp. Phys. 118, 1 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  15. F. Pobell, Matter and Methods at Low Temperatures, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (1996), p. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  16. G. K. White, Experimental Techniques in Low Temperature Physics, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK (1979), p. 309.

    Google Scholar 

  17. J. M. Smith and H. C. Van Ness, Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 4th ed., McGraw–Hill, New York (1987), p. 304.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brisson, J.G. Superfluid Joule–Thomson Refrigeration, a New Concept for Cooling Below 2 Kelvin. Journal of Low Temperature Physics 120, 151–168 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004617104729

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004617104729

Keywords

Navigation