Regenerator Material Layout for Higher Cryogenic Temperature Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing regenerative refrigerators face limitations in enhancing refrigeration performance, particularly in achieving a higher temperature profile within the regenerator to improve cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a regenerative refrigerator design that incorporates a first regenerative material with a specific heat capacity smaller than lead within a specific temperature range, combined with a second regenerative material at a lower temperature side, and a temperature rising member to selectively increase the temperature profile in the regenerator, optimizing the position of the interface between these materials to enhance refrigeration capacities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If lead is used as the regenerative material, then the regenerator has high heat storage capacity, but the temperature profile in the predetermined temperature range (5K-20K) is lower than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The regenerator is divided into multiple sections along the flow direction, with each section filled with different regenerative materials having different specific heat capacities. This local differentiation allows the temperature profile to be optimized in specific regions (5K-20K range) while maintaining overall heat storage capacity, directly resolving the contradiction between temperature profile and refrigeration performance
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single material (lead), the invention employs a composite structure with multiple regenerative materials (including but not limited to lead, bismuth, tin, silver, copper, aluminum, and their alloys) arranged in different sections. This composite approach enables simultaneous optimization of heat storage capacity and temperature profile characteristics, achieving both high refrigeration performance and desired temperature distribution
2Productivity
If the temperature profile in the regenerator is increased, then the refrigeration performance is improved, but the amount of refrigerant gas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the regenerative materials by selecting materials with different specific heat capacities for different sections. This parameter optimization allows the temperature profile to be increased in the 5K-20K range without proportionally increasing the total refrigerant gas amount, as the heat storage is more efficiently distributed across the temperature gradient
Solution Approach 2:
By applying local quality differentiation through sectioned regenerative materials, the temperature profile enhancement is concentrated in the critical 5K-20K range where it most effectively improves refrigeration performance, rather than uniformly increasing temperature throughout the entire regenerator which would require more refrigerant gas
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 configuration increases the refrigeration performance by raising the temperature profile in the regenerator, reducing the amount of refrigerant gas and enhancing cooling efficiency, while maintaining the regenerating effect across the temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
a regenerative refrigerator including an expander which includes a regenerator (70) including a regenerative material (62, 66) and an expansion space (26) for expanding a refrigerant gas flowing in the regenerator (70)
Implementation Method 2
an expansion space (26) for expanding a refrigerant gas flowing in the regenerator (70)
Data Source
AI summary
A regenerative refrigerator includes an expander which includes a regenerator including a regenerative material and an expansion space for expanding a refrigerant gas flowing in the regenerator, the regenerator being configured such that a temperature profile at a predetermined temperature range in the regenerator is selectively higher than a case when lead is used as the regenerative material.