Ultraminiature Vuilleumier Refrigeration System.
Abstract
This report describes the development of an ultraminiature, Vuilleumier (VM) cycle, cryogenic refrigeration system for infrared type systems. The refrigerator that was designed and fabricated is a liquid cooled machine producing 0.75 watt of refrigeration at 77 K in an ambient environment of 80 F. The system consists of the refrigerator, a solid state electronic temperature controller, and an auxiliary cooling supply. Major design objectives were to make the refrigerator as small as possible and adaptable to gimbaled applications. The refrigerator consists of a small thermal compressor, which would normally be mounted off-gimbal, and a pneumatically driven expander, which would normally be mounted on-gimbal. A single capillary line (0.030-inch I.D. x 12-inch length) connects the two elements. The compressor weighs less than 4 lb and fits in an envelope 2 inches in diameter x 3.4 inches long; the expander weighs less than 0.05 lb and fits in an envelope 0.75 inch in diameter x 1.6 inches long. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0917677
Entities
People
- Robert L. Berry
Organizations
- Hughes Aircraft Company