Joule-Thomson Effect Research Articles

Improvement of the two-stage Stirling cooler below 20K

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI) supplies 4K-class and 1K-class cooler for space use. The 4K-class and 1K-class cooler consists of Joule-Thomson (JT) cooler and two-stage Stirling cooler as a pre-cooler. To improve the cooling capacity of 4K-class and 1K-class coolers, we are developing the cooling capacity of two-stage Stirling cooler below 20K. The performance of the two-stage Stirling cooler essentially depends on the volumetric heat capacity of its regenerator. We investigated new materials which has higher volumetric heat capacity than stainless steel used in current model, and succeeded improve the cooling capacity of the two-stage Stirling cooler. This paper describes the numerical estimation and the results of cooling tests of the two-stage Stirling cooler using new materials.

Advanced ice lithography system using a micro-machined Joule-Thomson cooler

This study introduces a novel ice lithography system integrated with a low-vibration micro-machined Joule-Thomson cooler. Ice lithography is an eco-friendly method for high-resolution nanofabrication on delicate substrates and requires to operate below 130 K in the vacuum of a microscope chamber. Previously, liquid nitrogen rather than cryocoolers was used to cool the system due to its low vibration, but it is both bulky and costly. To overcome these challenges, this study employs a low-vibration micro-machined cooler in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for ice lithography. The design and methodology of the system are described in detail. The results show that the substrate can reach a temperature of 105 K within 30 minutes with a measured mechanical vibration of less than 10 nm, enabling high-resolution nanofabrication. As proof of concept, the system successfully fabricates nanoscale patterns on a silicon wafer. This low-vibration cooling system has great potential for use in cryogenic electron microscopes (cryo-EMs) in the future.

Low-temperature photoluminescence measurement with a micromachined Joule-Thomson cooler

This study evaluates the effectiveness of micromachined Joule-Thomson (MJT) cooling for photoluminescence (PL) materials. Achieving low temperatures is crucial for enhancing PL performance in semiconductors. However, the commonly used liquid nitrogen (LN2) cryostats require frequent refills, hindering their long-term operation. The MJT cooler offers a potential solution by enabling integration with devices and longer operating time. To validate its effectiveness, this study conducted low-temperature PL measurements using a nitrogen MJT cooler. A MAPbI3 thin film was used as the characterization sample owing to its clear PL mechanism. The experiment successfully preserved its temperature-dependent PL property, with an observed orthorhombic phase-change phenomenon between 155-165 K. Furthermore, the system demonstrated short cool-down time (<1 h), minimal temperature impact from laser stimulus (<±0.1 K), sample storage stability, and low coolant consumption.

Influences of distributed J-T effect on the performance of mixed-refrigerant Joule-Thomson refrigeration cycle

In a mixed-refrigerant Joule-Thomson (MRJT) cycle, the working fluid usually produces a throttling effect in the expansion element. However, the high-pressure flow in the recuperator could also generate a throttling effect due to the narrow channels, i.e., the distributed Joule-Thomson effect (DJTE). Previously published studies indicated that the cooling performance of cryocoolers would be improved by DJTE accompanying the heat recovery process. However, most of the current research on this phenomenon is focused on the heat transfer characteristics of the cryocooler itself, with a lack of research on the effect of DJTE on the cycle performance in much detail.Therefore, a detailed investigation of the influence pattern of DJTE on the cycle performance is carried out by combining with the exergy analysis. The simulation is conducted under three quintessential conditions of the recuperator. The results indicate that it is possible to manipulate the DJTE to maintain satisfactory cycle performance under specific conditions. In addition, at a constant minimum temperature difference in the recuperator, the maximum achievable DJTE is closely related to the isothermal throttling effect of the mixed refrigerant. The conclusions of this paper clarify the effect and the application value of DJTE on the cycle efficiency, which provide a reference for determining reasonable operating conditions and ensuring the cycle efficiency in practical applications.

Joule–Thomson expansion of Bardeen black hole with a cloud of strings

This study focuses on the newly suggested Bardeen BH concept with a cloud of strings around it. Isenthalpic curves in the [Formula: see text] plane are explored concurrently with the investigation of the Joule–Thomson coefficient and inversion temperature. A comparison between the behavior of the BH and the Van der Waals fluid is made in order to shed light on the system and clarify its similarities and differences. A crucial component of our research entails determining corrected entropy in order to comprehend thermal fluctuations. Based on corrected entropy, the thermal stability debate shows that there is no fluctuation when it comes to small BHs. Additionally, we investigate the energy emission process from the Bardeen BH solution with a cloud of strings in order to clarify this important thermodynamic feature.

Regulation of the interaction of heat exchange and throttling effect for a Joule-Thomson cooler with rectangular microchannels

Applying microchannels in Joule-Thomson (J-T) coolers can enhance precooling. The regulation of heat transfer and throttling is crucial to lower the cold terminal temperature Tcold.The present cooler with rectangular microchannels served as the prototype. The experiments were carried out under 4, 5 and 6 MPa, with Ar and N2 as the refrigerants. The cooler can achieve the lowest cold terminal temperature (Tcold, 194.9 K) at 6 MPa. Then, the mathematical model was verified. The analysis showed that under the premise of constant total length and working condition, the precooled temperature before throttling could be reduced, and finally, the Tcold could be reduced. There are two ways to regulate. On the one hand, extending the recuperative structure (CFHX)’s length and reducing the length and cross-sectional flow area of the throttling structure (THR). This regulation increased the heat exchange per unit mass qm and the integral throttling effect ΔTjt in each section and finally reduced the Tcold. When the length of THR was decreased to 15 mm, and the end of THR reached the chocked flow, the Tcold reached the lowest value of 166.3 K. On the other hand, when fins were added in CFHX, THR became shorter. This method enhanced the precooling at the expense of pressure drop in CFHX. When the fins’ number raised from 0 to 6, Tcold declined. When the number is 6, the Tcold decreased by 7.7 K. As the number went on rising, the performance eventually deteriorated.

Design and performance analysis of a Joule-Thomson cryocooler systems

The aim of the work is to develop a mathematical model which has capability to analyses the design parameters as a function of operations conditions for single and multi-stage Joule Thomson Cryocooler System JTCS. The operations conditions are inlet and outlet pressure, precooling temperature, and mass flow rate. The design parameters are expansion device (length, diameter, and Joule Thomson coefficient), heat exchanger (length, diameter, and effectiveness) and gas type (nitrogen, oxygen, and argon). Theoretical results for nitrogen, oxygen, and argon at initial pressure of 25 MPa, initial temperature of 20ºC, indicate that the final temperature equal to (-16.46ºC, −37.34ºC and −56.75ºC) respectively at single stage JTCS. It also shows the possibility of decreasing the final temperature to (-194ºC, −180.9ºC and −183.8ºC) respectively at multistage JTCS. The experimental rig has been constructed for satisfying mathematical model. The experimental results for nitrogen gas show a temperature drop of 6.5ºC when the initial pressure and temperature were 3 MPa and 20ºC respectively. Theoretical results were validated using experimental measurements on the other hand. The computer program has been built to carry out the analysis required for solving the parameters of JTCS under different operations conditions with good agreement compared to recent published researchers.

Observation of the Fermionic Joule-Thomson Effect.

We report the first observation of the quantum Joule-Thomson (JT) effect in ideal and unitary Fermi gases. We study the temperature dynamics of these systems while they undergo an energy-per-particle conserving rarefaction. For scale-invariant systems, whose equations of state satisfy the relation U∝PV, this rarefaction conserves the specific enthalpy, which makes it thermodynamically equivalent to a JT throttling process. We observe JT heating in an ideal Fermi gas, a direct consequence of Pauli blocking. In a unitary Fermi gas, we observe that the JT heating is marginal in the temperature range 0.2≲T/T_{F}≲0.8 as the repulsive quantum-statistical effect is lessened by the attractive interparticle interactions.

Thermodynamic modelling, testing and sensitive analysis of a directly pressurized hydrogen refuelling process with a compressor

This paper presents the development of a thermodynamic model for the hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) to simulate the process of refuelling, which involves the transfer of hydrogen gas from a high-pressure storage tank to the onboard tank of a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). This model encompasses the fundamental elements of an HRS, which consists of a storage tank, compressor, piping system, heat exchanger, and an on-board vehicle tank. The model is implemented and validated using experimental data from SAE J2601. Various simulations are conducted to assess the impact of the Joule-Thomson effect and compression on the temperature of hydrogen flow, specifically focusing on an average pressure rate of 18 MPa/min. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to examine the impact of pressure variations in the storage tank (10–90 MPa) and the initial pressure within the vehicle tank (5–35 MPa), as well as variations in ambient temperature (0–40 °C). The study revealed that the energy consumption in the cooling system surpasses the average power consumption in the more advantageous scenario of 60 MPa by a range of 36% to over 220% when the pressure in the storage system drops below 30 MPa. Furthermore, it was noted that the impact of ambient temperature is comparatively less significant when compared to the initial pressure of the vehicle's tank. The impact of an ambient temperature change of 10 °C on the final temperature of a hydrogen vehicle is found to be approximately 2 °C. Similarly, a variation in the initial vehicle pressure of 10 MPa results in a modification of the final hydrogen vehicle temperature by approximately 8.5 °C.

Dynamic Budget Throttling in Repeated Second-Price Auctions

In today's online advertising markets, a crucial requirement for an advertiser is to control her total expenditure within a time horizon under some budget. Among various budget control methods, throttling has emerged as a popular choice, managing an advertiser's total expenditure by selecting only a subset of auctions to participate in. This paper provides a theoretical panorama of a single advertiser's dynamic budget throttling process in repeated second-price auctions. We first establish a lower bound on the regret and an upper bound on the asymptotic competitive ratio for any throttling algorithm, respectively, when the advertiser's values are stochastic and adversarial. Regarding the algorithmic side, we propose the OGD-CB algorithm, which guarantees a near-optimal expected regret with stochastic values. On the other hand, when values are adversarial, we prove that this algorithm also reaches the upper bound on the asymptotic competitive ratio. We further compare throttling with pacing, another widely adopted budget control method, in repeated second-price auctions. In the stochastic case, we demonstrate that pacing is generally superior to throttling for the advertiser, supporting the well-known result that pacing is asymptotically optimal in this scenario. However, in the adversarial case, we give an exciting result indicating that throttling is also an asymptotically optimal dynamic bidding strategy. Our results bridge the gaps in theoretical research of throttling in repeated auctions and comprehensively reveal the ability of this popular budget-smoothing strategy.

Investigating the influence of Joule-Thomson cooling on hydrate reformation near the wellbore

Hydrate reformation, caused by the Joule-Thomson effect (JTE) during depressurization, poses a major obstacle to efficient gas production. This study examines the impact of the JTE on hydrate reformation near the wellbore during depressurization, focusing on the influences of gas-to-water ratio, depressurization range, and permeability. The results indicate that JTE significantly contributes to a gradual temperature decrease, leading to hydrate reformation. Reformed hydrates, potentially saturating up to 80%, initially appear near the wellbore then move away due to intense depressurization that eroded their inner surface, creating a moving low-permeability barrier that obstructs fluid flow and reduces gas-water production rates. Formations with higher permeability and gas saturation experience intensified JTE, leading to faster temperature drops, shorter hydrate reformation times, and quicker expansion of secondary hydrate bands. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of wellbore heating to mitigate hydrate reformation. Wellbore heating is found to be more effective in low-permeability formations, but only within a 0.5 m radius near the wellbore in high-permeability formations. This research suggests narrower depressurization ranges to prevent hydrate reformation and indicates the limited impact of wellbore heating on enhancing gas production. The findings have significant implications for preventing hydrate reformation near the wellbore and improving hydrate production efficiency.

Performance test results of a helium Dewar for the Resolve instrument onboard the XRISM

The X-ray imaging and spectroscopy mission (XRISM) is an X-ray astronomy satellite developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to explore the evolution of the universe and its physical phenomena as the replacement for ASTRO-H. One of the primary scientific instruments of the XRISM is the Resolve, which utilizes an X-ray microcalorimeter array. This detector array is required to be cooled down to 50 mK using a complex cryogenic system with a multistage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) developed by NASA and a cryogenic system developed by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI). The cryogenic system is required to cool the heat sink of the ADR to a temperature below 1.5 K in orbit for at least 3 years. To meet the specific requirements, we developed a hybrid cryogenic system consisting of a liquid helium tank, a 4K Joule–Thomson cooler, and two two-stage Stirling coolers. As a result, the specific requirements were verified by ground tests. This paper describes the design, including the major changes from ASTRO-H, fabrication, and results of the ground tests of the helium Dewar of the Resolve instrument.

Investigations on the throttling process of 3He in a dilution refrigerator used for cooling superconducting quantum chips

With the rapid progress of the superconducting quantum computing technology, the cryogenic technology capable of providing appropriate cooling in the millikelvin temperature region is desirable. The cryogen-free dilution refrigerator featuring high reliability, long lifetime, and continuous cooling has become one of the most promising cryocooler candidates for this purpose. As one of the key components of the dilution refrigerator, the impedance component is used to control the flow and to liquefy 3He, which is crucial to achieving the millikelvin temperature. In this paper, a throttling model is proposed to analyze the dilution cycle and to eventually improve the refrigeration performance, which focuses on the influences of the complex physical properties of 3He and the dilution cycle from the subcooled state to saturation state. The effects of the inlet pressure and inlet temperature on the flow rate are studied, and the energy conversion on the throttling process is discussed. It indicates that the throttling model can reasonably predict the flow rate under different inlet pressure and inlet temperature and is helpful to the design and optimization of the millikelvin cryogen-free dilution refrigerator.

Critical behavior and Joule-Thomson expansion of charged AdS black holes surrounded by exotic fluid with modified Chaplygin equation of state* *Supported by the Doctoral Foundation of Zunyi Normal University of China (BS [2022]07, QJJ-[2022]-314), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12265007, 12264061). The research partially was supported by the Long-Term Conceptual Development of a University of Hradec Králové

By considering the concept of a unified single fluid model, referred to as modified Chaplygin gas (MCG), which amalgamates dark energy and dark matter, we explore the thermodynamic characteristics of charged anti-de Sitter (AdS) black holes existing in an unconventional fluid accompanied by MCG. To accomplish this objective, we derive the equations of state by regarding the charge as a thermodynamic variable. The effects of MCG parameters on the critical thermodynamic quantities ( , , ) are examined, followed by a detailed analysis of the diagram. To provide a clearer explanation of the phase transition, we present an analysis of the Gibbs free energy. It is important to note that if the Hawking temperature exceeds the critical temperature, a distinct pattern is observed known as swallowtail behavior. This indicates that the system undergoes a first-order phase transition from a smaller black hole to a larger one. The critical exponent of the system is found to be in complete agreement with that of the van der Waals fluid system. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of MCG parameters and black hole charge on Joule-Thomson (J-T) expansion in the extended phase space. The J-T coefficient is examined to pinpoint the exact region experiencing cooling or heating, and the observation reveals that the presence of negative heat capacity results in the occurrence of a cooling process. The impact of MCG on the inversion curve of charged black holes exhibits a striking resemblance to that observed in most multi-dimensional black hole systems. In addition, it is worth noting that certain parameters exert a significant influence on the ratio . For specific values of the MCG parameters, the ratio is consistent with the charged AdS black hole. The parameters γ and β have a non-negligible effect on the isenthalpic curve.

Joule Thomson expansion, Maxwell equal area law and topological interpretation of Phantom RN AdS black holes

This paper is devoted to study the thermodynamic topological defects, Joule–Thomson (J−T) and Maxwell’s equal area law of Phantom RN AdS black holes (BHs). The inversion temperatures and inversion curves are obtained and by using the isenthalpic curves in the temperature–pressure (T−P) plane to locate the cooling and heating regions. Using Maxwell’s equal-area law, we select different independent conjugate variables to study the phase transitions of Phantom RN AdS BHs. We find that phase transition rely on the electric potential and horizon radius of the BH when its charge is constant. Phase transition of Phantom RN AdS BH are proportional to the ratio of event horizon to its cosmological constant, where the latter is assumed to be constant. Moreover, we consider the Phantom RN AdS BH as defects with a topological nature within thermodynamic domain and examine the local and global topology by computing the winding numbers at the defects, which concludes that the overall topological charge is either equal to 0 or 1.

Permeance of Condensable Gases in Rubbery Polymer Membranes at High Pressure.

The gas transport properties of thin film composite membranes (TFCMs) with selective layers of PolyActive™, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and polyoctylmethylsiloxane (POMS) were investigated over a range of temperatures (10-34 °C; temperature increments of 2 °C) and pressures (1-65 bar abs; 38 pressure increments). The variation in the feed pressure of condensable gases CO2 and C2H6 enabled the observation of peaks of permeance in dependence on the feed pressure and temperature. For PDMS and POMS, the permeance peak was reproduced at the same feed gas activity as when the feed temperature was changed. PolyActive™ TFCM showed a more complex behaviour, most probably due to a higher CO2 affinity towards the poly(ethylene glycol) domains of this block copolymer. A significant decrease in the permeate temperature associated with the Joule-Thomson effect was observed for all TFCMs. The stepwise permeance drop was observed at a feed gas activity of p/po ≥ 1, clearly indicating that a penetrant transfer through the selective layer occurs only according to the conditions on the feed side of the membrane. The permeate side gas temperature has no influence on the state of the selective layer or penetrant diffusing through it. The most likely cause of the observed TFCM behaviour is capillary condensation of the penetrant in the swollen selective layer material, which can be provoked by the clustering of penetrant molecules.

Dynamic mode characteristics of flow instabilities in a single-stage compressor under different throttling processes

To investigate the influence of throttling processes on dynamic characteristics of compressor stability, the rotating stall development of National Aeronautics and Space Administration Stage 35 was simulated with full-annulus Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes under different throttling processes. The numerical methods were verified. By combining Dynamic Mode Decomposition and flow field evolution research, the flow structures and dynamic characteristics of “critical mass flow” under different throttling processes were deeply studied; the flow mechanism of flow instabilities under different throttling processes was explored. It is found that the “critical mass flow” corresponds to the beginning of a rapid decrease in mass flow, mainly characterized by shock forward movement and a larger range of spillage flow. Around “critical mass flow,” if the throttle is still tightening, it presents stall pattern 2; otherwise, it presents stall pattern 1. During the pre-stall, both patterns are dominated by tip clearance vortex (TCV)-shock interference. Stall inception disturbance is generated from TCV-shock interference; pattern 1 presents a single disturbance, while pattern 2 presents multiple disturbances. Subsequently, the TCV-shock interference gradually weakens. The single stall disturbance of pattern 1 gradually develops and stabilizes. The multiple stall disturbances in pattern 2 undergo processes including fusion and disappearance, ultimately developing into a single stall cell. During the stable stall, the throttling processes have no significant impact on the speed of the stall cell, and the flow in the un-stalled region is basically consistent with the speedline. However, the tighter the throttle is, the larger the stalled region, and the weaker the flow capacity of the un-stalled region.

Numerical investigation of the aerodynamic performance and loss mechanism in a low bypass ratio variable cycle engine fan

The aerodynamic performance of the variable cycle engine fan changes sharply during mode transition. Investigating the variations of flow structure and understanding the loss mechanism are helpful in providing guidance for the fan design. Three-dimensional models of single bypass and double bypass compression systems are established, and static pressure is applied at the bypass stream outlet to simulate the opening of the mode selection valve. The characteristic band of variable cycle engine fan is obtained by gradually increasing the bypass stream pressure while maintaining specific values for the core stream pressure. Results show that the overall performance of the double bypass configuration, without bypass recirculation, is almost identical to that of the conventional single bypass configuration during the throttling process. With the increase in bypass pressure, the shock wave and the trajectory of tip leakage vortex gradually move forward, thereby increasing the blockage region induced by the interaction between the shock and tip leakage vortex. In addition, the performance of fan with reverse flow is also calculated. The recirculation causes the operating point to move closer to the stability limit, reducing the isentropic efficiency. Additionally, the recirculation changes the radial distribution of axial velocity and total pressure, leading to inlet distortion in the core driven fan stage. Furthermore, the loss mechanism is clarified by modeling the splitter and conducting entropy generation analysis. The sharp expansion of bypass stream could cause severe flow separation, and reducing the curvature of casing can effectively suppress the viscous shear loss.

Amended FRW universe: thermodynamics and heat engine

Thermodynamics of non-flat Amended Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (AFRW) universe with cosmological constant as thermodynamic pressure is studied. The unified first law of thermodynamics, the Clausius relation and the gravity equations yield entropy on the dynamic apparent horizon. Temperature, volume, pressure, enthalpy, Gibb’s free energy and Helmholtz’s free energies, and specific heat capacity with constant pressure of the universe are calculated in terms of surface area of dynamic apparent horizon. The study shows a non-negative Joule–Thomson coefficient, indicating the cooling nature of the AFRW universe. Inversion pressure and inversion temperature are expressed in terms of the surface area of the apparent horizon. Finally, the thermodynamical AFRW universe is considered as a heat engine. Work done for the Carnot engine is derived with maximum efficiency, and a new engine is also considered for which the work done, and its efficiency are calculated for AFRW universe.

Regulation of throttling distribution and characteristic analysis for a microchannel Joule-Thomson (J-T) cooler

Miniature J-T coolers are applied extensively in electronic devices, cryosurgery and infrared detectors. The utilization of microchannels in miniature J-T coolers can induce a noticeable pressure drop through the recuperative structure, leading to modifications in the refrigeration mechanism. This study delves into the performance and coupling mechanism of throttling and heat exchange. Herein, a microchannel cooler with a noticeable throttling effect throughout the refrigeration process serves as a prototype. The mathematical model is proved with the experiments, thereby exposing limitations in the improvement of the throttling mechanism and the thermodynamic process. The analysis reveals that the backflow exhibits a significant pressure reduction (ΔPl); thus, the utilization ratio of the throttling effect is low. Additionally, further optimization of the thermodynamic process is possible by regulating throttling distribution. The performance and coupling mechanism of throttling and heat exchange with constant working conditions are investigated. The findings reveal that an optimal ratio of ΔPl (14.3 %) yields the lowest cold terminal temperature, which is reduced by up to 38.9 K. In this case, the J-T efficiency and the effectiveness of the recuperative process are observed to peak at 56.7 % and 83.8 %, respectively, indicating the optimal use of the throttling effect and interaction effects. The analysis also suggests that the thermodynamic process has been improved.