Integral Inertance Tube Container for Low-Vibration Cryocooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulse tube cryocooler systems face challenges in achieving temperatures lower than 80K due to vibration issues in the inertance tube, which affects the cyclical pressure and mass flow of gas.
Innovation Solution
A container with an integral inertance tube positioned within the wall, featuring a fluid conduit that extends through the wall thickness in a helical or nested profile configuration, providing structural support and minimizing material wastage while reducing vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inertance tube is positioned outside the container wall, then it provides necessary inertial effect to the cyclically moving gas, but it generates vibration that affects the cyclical pressure and mass flow
Solution Approach 1:
The inertance tube is nested within the container wall thickness, positioned inside the wall structure rather than externally. This nesting approach allows the inertance tube to maintain its functional length for providing inertial effect while being contained within the wall, thereby reducing vibration and improving pressure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertance tube is repositioned from an external linear arrangement to an internal configuration that extends through the wall thickness in a helical or nested profile. This dimensional change within the wall structure achieves both vibration reduction and maintained functional performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fluid conduit extends through the wall in a straight line, then it provides simple fluid passage, but it results in material wastage and reduced structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid conduit is configured with a helical or curved profile instead of a straight line, extending through the wall thickness in a nested configuration. This curved path reduces material wastage during manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity and providing adequate fluid passage.
3Strength
If the container wall thickness is increased to provide structural support, then it enhances container strength, but it increases the overall size of the system
Solution Approach 1:
The inertance tube and fluid conduit are nested within the existing wall thickness, utilizing the wall structure itself to house these components. This approach provides necessary structural support without requiring additional wall thickness, thereby maintaining compact system size while ensuring adequate strength.
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 solution enables a compact pulse tube refrigerator system that achieves lower temperatures by reducing inertance tube vibration, enhancing structural strength and gas containment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an inertance tube offering restriction and inertial effect to the cyclically moving gas, fluidly connected to the pulse tube; and a container (often referred to as a 'reservoir') fluidly connected to the inertance tube, for storing a volume of gas. The combined effect of the inertance tube and the reservoir shifts the phase of the cyclical pressure relative to the mass flow.
Data Source
AI summary
A container is described having a wall with a thickness defined by inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface defining an internal cavity for receiving fluid, the container having an opening through which fluid can enter/exit the container, said opening being connected to a fluid conduit at least a length of which extends through the wall in between the inner and outer surfaces thereof which exits through the inner surface to communicate with the internal cavity. Also described is a pulse tube refrigerator/cryocooler system including such a container.