Silver Oxide Regenerator Material for High Specific Heat Cryocooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current regenerative cryocoolers using materials like Bi and Sn compounds have insufficient specific heat at low temperatures, leading to inferior cooling properties compared to Pb-based systems, and require materials with high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength for efficient heat transfer and diffusion.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic regenerator material comprising silver oxide with a molar ratio of silver to oxygen atoms between 1.0 and 4.0, preferably 1.8 to 3.2, which provides high specific heat, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength, optimized through specific composition and crystal structure combinations of silver oxides like Ag2O and Ag3O, and a sintered bulk body form for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Pb is used as regenerator material, then cooling properties are improved, but environmental burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material composition parameters by using silver oxide with controlled oxygen content (molar ratio of Ag to O atoms between 1.0 and 4.0) to achieve the desired specific heat capacity while eliminating toxic Pb. This parameter optimization allows the material to match or exceed Pb's thermal performance without environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material design by combining silver oxide with specific crystal structures and controlling oxygen stoichiometry to create a material that integrates multiple desirable properties: high specific heat, high thermal conductivity, and high mechanical strength, while being environmentally benign.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If Bi, Sn or their compounds are used as substitutes for Pb, then environmental burden is reduced, but specific heat at low temperatures becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the oxygen content parameter in silver oxide (molar ratio of Ag to O atoms between 1.0 and 4.0) to precisely control the specific heat capacity. By adjusting this compositional parameter, the material achieves high specific heat at low temperatures while maintaining environmental friendliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality optimization by controlling the oxygen distribution and crystal structure at the atomic level within the silver oxide lattice. This local structural control enables enhanced specific heat capacity in the cryogenic temperature range while maintaining overall material stability and environmental compatibility.
3Use of energy by moving object
If regenerator material has high thermal conductivity, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but mechanical strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite material design with silver oxide in specific crystal structures that inherently provide both high thermal conductivity and high mechanical strength. The controlled oxygen stoichiometry creates a robust lattice structure that simultaneously enables efficient heat diffusion and resists mechanical degradation during reciprocating motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes local atomic arrangement and crystal structure in the silver oxide material to create regions with enhanced thermal conductivity while maintaining overall structural integrity. The controlled oxygen content creates a lattice configuration that facilitates phonon transport while preserving mechanical 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 silver oxide regenerator material achieves superior specific heat and thermal conductivity, supporting improved refrigeration performance and mechanical stability, while being environmentally friendly and suitable for cryogenic temperature ranges.
Implementation Method 1
rapid heat transfer from gas to the regenerator material is desired. Thus, efficient heat transfer between the gas and regenerator material, and heat diffusion in the regenerator material are important
Implementation Method 2
appropriate regenerator materials are used in consideration of their temperature dependences of specific heat
Implementation Method 3
the regenerator material is required to have high thermal conductivity. Further, in the case of Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers and Stirling cryocoolers, regenerators themselves filled with regenerator materials also move reciprocally
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
According to a variation, a cryogenic regenerator material contains a silver oxide. A molar ratio of silver atoms to oxygen atoms contained in the cryogenic regenerator material: Ag/O is 1.0 or more and 4.0 or less. The cryogenic regenerator material contains at least one selected from AgO, Ag2O and Ag3O as the silver oxide.