Abstract: A system and method for extraction of cannabis oil from cannabis plant materials by further reducing the temperature of the extraction system effluent, which may be a mixture of solvent, the desired cannabinoids, and/or the undesired non-polar extracted waste from the plant material. This invention improves the extraction process by: 1) enhancing the rapid filtering of the waste material from the process stream, speeding up the overall process, and 2) improving the quality of the product, yielding a purer extract as evidenced, in part, by its lighter (yellow/gold) color as compared to less-pure green/brown extracts.

Abstract: A system and method for extraction of cannabis oil from cannabis plant materials by further reducing the temperature of the extraction system effluent, which may be a mixture of solvent, the desired cannabinoids, and/or the undesired non-polar extracted waste from the plant material. This invention improves the extraction process by: 1) enhancing the rapid filtering of the waste material from the process stream, speeding up the overall process, and 2) improving the quality of the product, yielding a purer extract as evidenced, in part, by its lighter (yellow/gold) color as compared to less-pure green/brown extracts.

Abstract: A multi-stage cryocooler has three or more stages, including an active first stage and passive second and third stages. The active stage may include a Stirling expander, and the passive second and third stages may be pulse tube coolers. The cryocooler may provide cooling at three different temperatures. The coldest cooling temperature may be at or below 10 K, and may be at or below 5 K. The system may provide cooling at such low temperatures while still operating at a relatively high frequency, for example, at a frequency of at least about 20 Hertz.

Abstract: A cryocooler is disclosed which includes a reservoir (11), an electrochemical cell or proton conductive membrane (PCM) compressor (12) coupled to a source of AC current, and a gas expander in the form of a pulse tube expander module (13). The compressor (12) includes a proton conductive membrane (17) positioned between a pair of electrically conductive electrodes (18) and (19). The pulse tube expander module 13 includes a regenerator (21), a pulse tube (22), and in inertance tube (23). The regenerator (21) has a heat rejection part or aftercooler (25) and a cooling part or cold heat exchanger (26). The pulse tube (22) includes a heat rejection portion or hot heat exchanger (27).

Abstract: A multi-stage cryocooler includes a concentric second-stage pulse tube expander in which a pulse tube is located within a second-stage regenerator. In one embodiment, an inner wall of the regenerator also functions as an outer wall of the pulse tube. In another embodiment, there is an annular gap between an inner wall of the regenerator and an outer wall of the pulse tube. The gap may be maintained at a low pressure, approaching a vacuum, by placing the gap in fluid communication with an environment around the cryocooler, such as the low-pressure environment of space. The integrated second-stage structure, with the pulse tube within the annular regenerator, provides several potential advantages over prior multi-stage cryocooler systems.

Abstract: A regenerative refrigeration system includes one or more control devices that utilize micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Such MEMS devices may be small in size, on a scale such that it can be introduced into a refrigeration system, such as a cryocooler, without appreciably affecting the size or mass of the refrigeration system. Through the use of MEMS devices, dynamic control of the system may be achieved without need for disassembly of the system or making the system bulky. Suitable regenerative refrigeration systems for use with the MEMS devices include pulse tube coolers, Stirling coolers, and Gifford-McMahon coolers.

Abstract: A two-stage hybrid cryocooler includes a first-stage Stirling expander having a first-stage regenerator having a first-stage-regenerator inlet and a first-stage-regenerator outlet, and a second-stage pulse tube expander. The second-stage pulse tube expander includes a second-stage regenerator having a second-stage regenerator inlet in gaseous communication with the first-stage regenerator outlet, and a second-stage regenerator outlet, and a pulse tube having a pulse-tube inlet in gaseous communication with the second-stage regenerator outlet, and a pulse-tube outlet. The second-stage regenerator and the pulse tube together provide a first gas-flow path between the first-stage regenerator and the pulse-tube outlet. A pulse tube pressure drop structure has a pulse-tube-pressure-drop inlet in gaseous communication with the pulse-tube outlet, and a pulse-tube pressure-drop outlet, and a gas volume is in gaseous communication with the pulse-tube pressure-drop outlet.