Helium phase separation refrigerator

A combined helium-3/helium-4 refrigerator utilizing phase separation enables continuous operation with reduced helium-3 usage, addressing the limitations of existing systems by achieving efficient and cost-effective cooling for quantum technologies.

WO2026125942A1 Publication Date: 2026-06-18ZERO POINT CRYOGENICS INC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
ZERO POINT CRYOGENICS INC
Filing Date
2025-01-02
Publication Date
2026-06-18

AI Technical Summary

⚠Technical Problem

Current helium-3 refrigerators are either one-shot systems or complex and expensive, and there is a need for a continuous, cost-effective helium-3 refrigerator that can operate with minimal helium-3 usage.

⚗Method used

A cryogenic refrigerator that combines helium-3 and helium-4 pumping circuits into a single system, utilizing phase separation to achieve continuous operation by partially liquefying a helium-3/helium-4 mixture, allowing for efficient evaporation cooling and separation into helium-3 rich and dilute phases.

🎯Benefits of technology

The system achieves continuous cooling with reduced helium-3 consumption, similar base temperatures, and comparable cooling power to existing helium-3 refrigerators, while minimizing complexity and cost, making it suitable for quantum technologies.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A cryogenic refrigerator uses a mixture of helium-3 and helium-4. Gaseous helium is pumped from a reservoir containing a liquid mixture of helium-3 and helium-4 to cause cooling and a phase separation into an upper helium-3 rich phase which floats at the top for further evaporation and a lower dilute phase below the helium-3 rich phase. This separation enables operation at temperatures typical of a helium-3 refrigerator while initial liquefaction of the mixture is easier than liquefaction of pure helium-3 and can use a smaller amount of helium-3. Embodiments of the refrigerator can provide continuous cooling.
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