Linear Cryocooler Compression Port for Direct Heat Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cryocoolers face inefficiencies and potential catastrophic failures due to poor thermal paths from the compression chamber to the heat sink, leading to reduced thermodynamic efficiency and increased risk of thermal expansion-induced contact between moving surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A linear cryocooler design with a sealed housing that includes a compressor and displacer, featuring a port in the compression chamber to directly reject heat from the working gas through the housing, providing a more direct thermal path to the heat sink, thereby improving thermodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional thermal paths are used from compression chamber to heat sink, then the structure is simpler, but thermodynamic efficiency is reduced and thermal expansion-induced contact between moving surfaces occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat rejection function from the conventional indirect thermal path and creates a direct thermal path by providing ports in the compression chamber that allow heat to be rejected directly through the housing to the heat sink, eliminating intermediate thermal resistance elements and improving thermodynamic efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ports as intermediary structures in the compression chamber that facilitate direct heat transfer from the compressed gas to the housing and subsequently to the heat sink, serving as a thermal mediator that reduces thermal resistance without adding mechanical complexity
2Loss of energy
If direct thermal path through housing is implemented, then thermodynamic efficiency improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing ports at specific locations in the compression chamber where thermal transfer is most effective, and by using selective plating or coating on the compression chamber walls to enhance thermal conductivity at critical heat transfer zones without requiring uniform high-precision manufacturing throughout the entire housing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the compression chamber by providing ports and potentially modifying material properties through plating or coating, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining acceptable manufacturing tolerances through parameter optimization rather than extreme precision requirements
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
This design achieves a minimum 10× improvement in heat rejection efficiency, reducing the temperature rise from the heat sink to the compression chamber, and is expected to provide a 20% efficiency improvement over conventional designs for low power applications, making it enabling for high power applications as well.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor having a compressor piston that is movable within a compression chamber
Implementation Method 2
the compression chamber includes a port, wherein the port is configured to allow rejection of heat due to compression of a working gas by the compressor directly through the sealed housing
Implementation Method 3
a displacer having a displacer piston operable to move within a displacer cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A method of removing heat due to compression of a working gas from a linear cryocooler is disclosed. The cryocooler includes a sealed housing, a displacer including a displacer piston and a displacer cylinder, and a compressor all arranged within the housing. The compressor includes a compressor piston that is movable within a compression chamber. The method includes providing a port in the compression chamber to remove heat from the compression chamber due to the compression of the working gas to the housing prior to entering the displacer piston.