Composite Cold Storage Material for Vibration-Resistant Cryogenic Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic refrigerators face challenges in maintaining high thermal efficiency and reliability due to the brittleness of ceramic magnetic cold storage material particles, which are prone to damage from mechanical vibration, leading to reduced refrigeration capacity and increased helium consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cold storage material comprising a rare earth oxysulfide and a garnet-type rare earth oxide with a specific X-ray diffraction peak intensity ratio, combined with aluminum oxide, which enhances both the volume specific heat and strength of the material, thereby improving refrigeration capacity and long-term reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ceramic magnetic cold storage material particles are used to achieve high volume specific heat, then refrigeration capacity is improved, but the material is prone to damage from mechanical vibration due to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of ceramic magnetic cold storage material particles (providing high volume specific heat) embedded in a metal matrix (providing mechanical strength and vibration resistance). This composite structure allows the material to simultaneously achieve high refrigeration capacity and resistance to mechanical damage from vibration during refrigerator operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cold storage material particles are used to improve refrigeration capacity, then thermal efficiency is improved, but particle damage leads to increased helium consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The metal-matrix composite structure protects the ceramic magnetic particles from breaking down during vibration, preventing fine particle generation that would otherwise increase helium gas consumption. The composite maintains particle integrity while preserving the high thermal efficiency benefits of the ceramic magnetic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal matrix acts as a protective cushioning medium that absorbs mechanical stress and vibration before it can damage the ceramic magnetic particles. This beforehand protection prevents particle fragmentation and the subsequent increase in helium consumption that would result from damaged particles.
3Quantity of substance
If ceramic magnetic cold storage material is used to enhance refrigeration capacity, then volume specific heat increases, but long-term reliability decreases due to vibration-induced damage
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure combines the high volume specific heat advantage of ceramic magnetic materials with the mechanical durability of metal matrices. This allows the cold storage material to maintain its refrigeration performance over long operational periods without degradation from vibration-induced particle damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention avoids the need to replace cold storage material due to vibration damage by embedding it in a durable metal matrix. The metal matrix effectively extends the service life of the ceramic magnetic particles, preventing them from becoming the limiting factor in long-term reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed cold storage material achieves high volume specific heat and strength, ensuring improved refrigeration capacity and reliability by maintaining thermal efficiency and reducing helium consumption.
Implementation Method 1
cold is generated by heat exchange between the cold storage material and helium gas passing through the cold storage device
Implementation Method 2
a cryogenic refrigerator having high performance and high reliability has become indispensable
Implementation Method 3
the expanded working medium flows in the opposite direction in the cold storage device and receives the thermal energy from the cold storage material
Data Source
AI summary
A cold storage material of an embodiment includes a rare earth oxysulfide containing a rare earth element, a garnet-type rare earth oxide containing a rare earth element and Al, and an aluminum oxide, and a ratio of X-ray diffraction peak intensity of the garnet-type rare earth oxide to X-ray diffraction peak intensity of the rare earth oxysulfide is 0.1% or more and 40% or less.