Modeling, simulation and test of the heat flow in a liquid nitrogen cryostat for Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract

In this work, we present a heat flow analysis for a conceptual design of an open cycle liquid nitrogen cryostat with application in Mössbauer spectroscopy. Initially, we made a study of the different configurations of Dewar type cryostats reported in the literature. These configurations are based on existing designs and the Mössbauer spectrometer requirements of the Instrumentation and Spectroscopy Laboratory at Universidad EAFIT in Medellín. From this study, we establish our own conceptual design. A first heat flow analysis in stationary state was calculated to obtain the dimensions of the reservoir vessel. The heat flow model obtained predicted an adequate evaporation time of the liquid nitrogen for the acquisition of Mössbauer spectra. For this model we employed the Fourier’s law, the heat flow by radiation in grey bodies and the properties of 304 stainless steel, 6061 aluminium alloy and OFHC copper. In consequence, the mechanical design of the cryostat was defined and the new heat loads associated with it were added to the initial model. Finally, the prototype was built, the model was tested and some final corrections were made.