Chapter 50 - Design and test of a 80 K miniature pulse tube cryocooler

Abstract

This chapter explores the workings of a 80 K miniature pulse tube cryocooler. The pulse tube cryocooler is designed to provide 0.5 W of cooling power at 80 K with input electrical power less than 40 W. The cryocooler system incorporates a compressor with U-shaped pulse tube configuration. A computer simulation program based on the theory of thermodynamic non-symmetry is developed for performance predictions, optimizations, and as a guide for system design. Compactness, low cost, lightweight, high performance, and high reliability are required. Based on the demands, U-shaped miniature PTCs are designed, fabricated, and tested. The design and the test results of the PTCs are presented. The lowest temperature of 59.3 K has been achieved and the PTC can provide a cooling capacity of 0.5 W at 80 K with an input electric power of 54.3 W. But the cooling capacity at 80 K with 40 W of input electrical power is not sufficient. Dimensions of the pulse tube and the regenerator are optimized further by experimental methods. The double inlet valve and the inertance tube are both used for phase shifting.