Work and heat flows in a pulse-tube refrigerator

Abstract

This paper reports a study on the role of heat exchange between the gases in the pulse tube and the tube wall in a pulse-tube refrigerator. To this end, the work flow going through the pulse tube without heat exchange is experimentally studied by mounting a piston on the hot end of the pulse tube. Refrigeration power is found to increase as the work flow reaching the hot-end piston increases. On the contrary, the heat flow released into a room temperature environment decreases as the work flow increases. This suggests that the work flow becomes more important as the refrigeration power increases.