Gas Compression, Heat Regeneration And Expansion, E.g., Stirling Cycle Patents (Class 62/6)
  • Publication number: 20040025518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cold component of a cryogenic cooler, in particular, for cooling electronic components. It is necessary to minimize the thermal resistance between the cooling medium (11) and the external wall surface on the front face of the cold end of the cold finger (3), in order to achieve an effective cooling of the electronic component. One possibility is the physical enlargement of the outer wall surface of the front face. The surfaces involved in heat transfer may be effectively increased in size with an almost unchanged volume of the expansion chamber, whereby the inner side of the heat transmitter (10) and the end of the regenerator (5) facing the heat transmitter (10) are ribbed such that the ribs (9, 13) intermesh with each other in the end position of the regenerator (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ingo Ruehlich
  • Patent number: 6688113
    Abstract: A regenerator material for use inside a displacer of a Stirling cycle cryocooler includes a plurality of circular disks formed from a synthetic felt that is preferably polyester. The plurality of disks have an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the displacer. The plurality of circular disks form a stack within the displacer. The regenerator material minimizes operational variation between different cryocoolers. In addition, the regenerator material can be easily filled into the cryocooler displacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace Y. Kunimoto, Arturo Soto
  • Patent number: 6688112
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigeration device employs a gas-vapor mixture as the working fluid. As a result, the refrigeration device operates according to a modified thermoacoustic refrigeration cycle that adds a condensation-vaporization cycle to the thermoacoustic cycle. The resulting modified refrigeration cycle increases the efficiency of heat transport by harnessing the translational motion of the vapor, as well as the usual acoustic oscillations, to transport the heat energy from one end of a thermal stack to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: University of Mississippi
    Inventors: Richard Raspet, William V. Slaton, Craig J. Hickey, Robert A. Hiller, Henry E. Bass
  • Patent number: 6688116
    Abstract: An ion beam producing device employing a refrigeration system to provide the cooling for a superconducting compression magnet at a trap core of an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) without the use of cryogenic liquid gases. The elimination of cryogenic cooling gases, such as liquid helium, is effectuated by the incorporation of cryo-refrigerators having highly thermally conductive cryo-heads, and a super-conducting, solid lead arrangement for energizing the compression magnet, the leads producing little or no heat within the cold shield. The reduction or elimination of use of liquid cooling-gases significantly reduces the size and operating cost of the electron beam source/trap system. A magnetic field line guide-field reduces magnet field-line interference otherwise risked by the reduction in size of the electron beam device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Physics & Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dieter H. G. Schneider, Joseph W. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20040020218
    Abstract: Equipment for cooling an HTS receive coil (4) in an MRI scanner to a temperature below the transition temperature of the HTS comprises a refrigeration unit such as a Stirling cooler (1) the cold head (2) of which is connected by a non-metallic thermally conductive rod (3) to the receive coil (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Neil McNeill Alford
  • Patent number: 6684637
    Abstract: A heat exchanger in which a fluid and a surface transfer thermal energy effectively with a smaller pressure drop than is conventionally realized. In a preferred embodiment, gas at one end of a piston flows into a piston chamber and passes radially through a plurality of axial slots formed through the piston sidewall and into a gap between the piston sidewall and the surface of the housing in which the piston slidably mounts. Between each pair of through-slots, longer axial slots are formed that extend only partially through the sidewall radially, and almost the entire length of the piston. Thus, around the circumference of the piston the slots alternate in structure between through-slots and longer slots. Gas that enters the gap through the through-slots flows circumferentially through the gap and into the longer slots. The gas exits the longer slots at the opposite end of the piston from the first gas space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Beale
  • Publication number: 20040011060
    Abstract: A pulse tube cryocooler where conditions under which a difference in refrigeration output due to an installation posture can be reduced as compared with conventional pulse tube cryocoolers and where the refrigeration efficiency of the cryocooler is improved, and the refrigeration output can be raised. The pulse tube cryocooler may have a regenerator coupled to a compressor through a heat radiation part and an internal regenerating agent, with the compressor repeatedly feeding and suctioning a working gas, a pulse tube coupled to the regenerator through a cooling part, and a buffer tank coupled to the pulse tube through a heat radiation part and an inertance tube. A ratio of a space volume of the pulse tube to a space volume of the regenerator may be between 0.75 to 1.5. When a diameter of a circle having an area equal to an inner cross section of the regenerator is made an inner diameter, a value obtained by dividing a length of the regenerator by a square of the inner diameter may be between 0.11 to 0.26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Kamoshita, Yukio Yasukawa
  • Patent number: 6679066
    Abstract: A part of a refrigerant in the low-temperature state is circulated by a cryogenic cooling system for superconductive electric machines comprising a refrigerant transfer system and circulation means for internal circulation within the cryogenic area, thereby enabling improvement in the cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Funayama, Kazuhiro Nomi
  • Patent number: 6676772
    Abstract: The magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration of the present invention is characterized by exhibiting, in a certain temperature region, preferably, only in part of a temperature region from 200 K to 350 K, an inflection point at which a second order differential coefficient of a magnetization curve changes from positive to negative with respect to a magnetic field, within the range of this magnetic field formed using a permanent magnet unit. This magnetic material of the present invention can generate a low temperature by using a relatively low magnetic field, by transferring the entropy between the electron spin system and the lattice system near the temperature at which an inflection point appears on the magnetization curve. Examples of the magnetic material meeting this condition are La(Fe,Si)13, (Hf,Ta)Fe2, (Ti,Sc)Fe2, and (Nb,Mo)Fe2, each containing 50 to 60 atomic % of transition metals such as Fe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akiko Saito, Tadahiko Kobayashi, Takao Sawa, Masashi Sahashi
  • Patent number: 6675588
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus driven by a Stirling cooler and having reduced internal vibrations. The apparatus may include an insulated enclosure. The enclosure may define an opening from the inside to the outside. A heat-conducting member may be disposed within the enclosure and in alignment with the opening. The apparatus may further include a Stirling cooler. The Stirling cooler may be selectively connectable to the heat-conducting member. A cushioning member may be disposed between the heat-conducting member and the enclosure, such that vibrations from the Stirling cooler to the enclosure are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Arthur G. Rudick
  • Publication number: 20040000151
    Abstract: To provide a preserving system capable of re-using vaporized nitrogen, and moreover, capable of always cooling the specimens at a predetermined temperature or lower. The preserving system comprising a cylinder and the preserving vessel which is supplied with liquid nitrogen from this cylinder, is provided with a Stirling refrigerator and a condensing chamber arranged outside of said preserving vessel, and the gas phase part of this condensing chamber is made to communicate with that of said preserving vessel and also the liquid phase part is made to communicate with that of said preserving vessel, and further the cooling part of said Stirling refrigerator is arranged in said condensing chamber, therefore, the nitrogen vaporized in the preserving vessel is cooled by the cooling part of the Stirling refrigerator in the condensing chamber and liquefied again, and so this liquid nitrogen can be reused for cooling the preserving vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Biomedical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Takemasa
  • Publication number: 20040000150
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigerator having a relatively small size which utilizes one or more piezoelectric drivers to generate high frequency sound within a resonator at a frequency of between about 4000 Hz and ultrasonic frequencies. The interaction of the high frequency sound with one or more stacks create a temperature gradient across the stack which is conducted through a pair of heat exchangers located on opposite sides of each stack. The stack is comprised of an open-celled material that allows axial, radial, and azimuthal resonance modes of the resonator within the stack resulting in enhanced cooling power of the thermoacoustic refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Orest G. Symko, Ehab Abdel-Rahman, DeJuan Zheng, Thierry Klein
  • Publication number: 20040000149
    Abstract: A high-frequency, low-temperature regenerator (12). The regenerator (12) includes a substrate (50) having rare earth material (52) disposed thereon. In a specific embodiment, the substrate (50) has channels or pores (54) therethrough or therein to facilitate gas flow through the regenerator (12). The substrate (50) is constructed from a material, such as polyimide, polyester, or stainless steel, which is sufficient to define the geometry of the regenerator (12). The rare earth material (52) is selected and deposited on the substrate (50) in a layer (52) having thermal penetration depth that is greater than the thickness of the layer (52). The thermal penetration depth is sufficiently high to enable all of the rare earth material (52) to contribute to thermal regeneration at an operating frequency of 30 Hz. In the illustrative embodiment, the thickness of the substrate (50) is less than or equal to approximately 0.001 inches. The layer of rare earth material (52) is approximately 0.0002 inches thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Carl S. Kirkconnell, Volkan Ozguz
  • Patent number: 6666033
    Abstract: An orifice pulse tube refrigerator uses flow resistance, compliance, and inertance components connected to a pulse tube for establishing a phase relationship between oscillating pressure and oscillating velocity in the pulse tube. A temperature regulating system heats or cools a working gas in at least one of the flow resistance and inertance components. A temperature control system is connected to the temperature regulating system for controlling the temperature of the working gas in the at least one of the flow resistance and inertance components and maintains a control temperature that is indicative of a desired temporal phase relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gregory W. Swift, John J. Wollan
  • Patent number: 6663351
    Abstract: A compressor includes a cylinder block having a compression chamber therein, a piston arranged in the compression chamber which reciprocates up and down, and a driving mechanism which drives the piston. The driving mechanism includes an elastic member whose peripheral portions are fixed to the cylinder block so as to allow the elastic member to oscillate up and down, and whose center portion is attached to the piston, and one or more piezoelectric actuators that are arranged on the elastic member. In response to a power, one or more piezoelectric actuators repeatedly deform and apply an exciting power to the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Man Joo
  • Publication number: 20030226364
    Abstract: An orifice pulse tube refrigerator uses flow resistance, compliance, and inertance components connected to a pulse tube for establishing a phase relationship between oscillating pressure and oscillating velocity in the pulse tube. A temperature regulating system heats or cools a working gas in at least one of the flow resistance and inertance components. A temperature control system is connected to the temperature regulating system for controlling the temperature of the working gas in the at least one of the flow resistance and inertance components and maintains a control temperature that is indicative of a desired temporal phase relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory W. Swift, John J. Wollan
  • Patent number: 6658862
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device is formed with a resonator system defining at least one region of high specific acoustic impedance in an acoustic wave within the resonator system. A plurality of thermoacoustic units are cascaded together within the region of high specific acoustic impedance, where at least one of the thermoacoustic units is a regenerator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gregory W. Swift, Scott N. Backhaus, David L. Gardner
  • Patent number: 6655154
    Abstract: An operation method and an operation apparatus for multi-system refrigerators, and a refrigerating apparatus. When gas compressed by a single compressor is supplied to a plurality of refrigerators through valves provided for the individual refrigerators, the opening/closing frequencies of the individual valves are slightly shifted to one another. As a result, with a simple constitution, the performances of the individual refrigerators are balanced without observing valve timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignees: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, LTD, Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Funayama, Hidekazu Tanaka, Hisashi Yamamoto, Kazutoshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030213251
    Abstract: In an expander in a pulse tube cooling stage of a cooling system which pulse tube cooling stage comprises a pressure generator, a pulse tube cooling unit connected to the pressure generator and including a regenerator and a pulse tube with a heat exchanger arranged therebetween and a buffer volume in communication with the pulse tube and an expander arranged functionally between the pulse tube and the buffer volume, the expander includes capillary flow passages consisting of a material with high heat conductivity for dissipating heat from the gas flowing through the capillary flow passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Albert Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20030209015
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor for a refrigerator using a linear motor, in which a capacitance is varied according to a variation of a driving load, thereby improving a driving efficiency of the compressor. To this end, the apparatus for controlling a driving of a reciprocating compressor for a refrigerator using a linear motor comprises a first capacitor for attenuating an inductance of a coil wound on a motor; a second capacitor connected to the first capacitor in parallel; and a relay connected to the second capacitor in series to be turned on/off; and a microcomputer for outputting a control signal to turn on/off the relay according to the driving load of the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Gye-Young Song
  • Patent number: 6644038
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigeration system wherein the pulse tube working gas is cooled to a defined first stage temperature and is brought to a defined second stage temperature by operation of a regenerator and pulse tube, which are in flow communication through a cold heat exchanger, prior to providing refrigeration to a high temperature superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Acharya, Bayram Arman, John Henri Royal, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
  • Patent number: 6640552
    Abstract: A system for providing refrigeration to a superconducting device wherein a cooling fluid is cooled by receiving refrigeration from one or more cryocoolers and then is warmed by indirect heat exchange with ballast liquid thereby providing cooling to the ballast liquid prior to providing refrigeration to the superconducting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryce Mark Rampersad, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Barry Alan Minbiole, Arun Acharya
  • Patent number: 6640553
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigeration system, having a pulse generator, a regenerator and a pulse tube, comprising a work transfer tube interposed between the pulse generator and the regenerator wherein the work transfer tube has a cross section at the end proximate the pulse generator which differs from the cross sectional area proximate the regenerator, enabling a reduction in heat transfer due to streaming within the work transfer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Kotsubo, Bayram Arman, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Arun Acharya
  • Publication number: 20030200755
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator comprises a fixed pressure casing (3) containing cold parts and a removable pressure casing (2) containing serviceable parts. The fixed pressure casing (3) and the removable pressure casing (2) are coupled together via a joining member (1). During cooling operation the joining member (1) is arranged such that refrigerant fluid flows between the fixed and the removable casings. During servicing the joining member is arranged to cut off flow of refrigerant fluid between the fixed and removable casings, such that refrigerant in the fixed casing is trapped and parts in the removable casing are accessible for servicing. After servicing, substantially pure refrigerant fluid is pumped into the removable casing (2), the fixed and removable casings are re-joined and the joining member (1) is arranged such that refrigerant fluid flows between the casings again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Roger Artindale Heron, Peter Derek Daniels, David Michael Crowley
  • Patent number: 6637211
    Abstract: An oscillating-wave engine or refrigerator having a regenerator or a stack in which oscillating flow of a working gas occurs in a direction defined by an axis of a trunk of the engine or refrigerator, incorporates an improved heat exchanger. First and second connections branch from the trunk at locations along the axis in selected proximity to one end of the regenerator or stack, where the trunk extends in two directions from the locations of the connections. A circulating heat exchanger loop is connected to the first and second connections. At least one fluidic diode within the circulating heat exchanger loop produces a superimposed steady flow component and oscillating flow component of the working gas within the circulating heat exchanger loop. A local process fluid is in thermal contact with an outside portion of the circulating heat exchanger loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gregory W. Swift, Scott N. Backhaus
  • Publication number: 20030196441
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device is formed with a resonator system defining at least one region of high specific acoustic impedance in an acoustic wave within the resonator system. A plurality of thermoacoustic units are cascaded together within the region of high specific acoustic impedance, where at least one of the thermoacoustic units is a regenerator unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory W. Swift, Scott N. Backhaus, David L. Gardner
  • Publication number: 20030192322
    Abstract: One embodiment of a spring with an integral dynamic gas seal according to the present invention includes a spring with a pair of spaced-apart ends and a spring body extending therebetween. The spring body includes a perimeter wall formed of a first material and extending in a longitudinal direction. The wall has a plurality of openings defined therein. The openings are provided in a plurality of transverse tiers. Each tier includes a plurality of separate openings each extending along a portion of the perimeter. The openings in each tier are spaced apart so as to define a post between each adjacent opening such that each tier includes a plurality of posts. The openings in each tier are staggered with respect to the openings in adjacent tiers such that each of the openings in each tier overlie one of the posts in an adjacent tier. A closure member closes each of the openings such that the spring body is sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Steven L. Garrett
  • Publication number: 20030192323
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a thermoacoustic device has a complaint enclosure which includes a rigid portion and a compliant portion. The compliant portion includes an oscillating member and a flexure seal with a pair of ends and a flexure body extending between the ends. One of the ends is sealed to the rigid portion and the other end is sealed to the oscillating member. The flexure seal has an average cross-sectional area and an end-to-end equilibrium length. A flexure volume is defined as the product of the average cross-sectional area and the end-to-end equilibrium length. A thermal core is disposed in the complaint enclosure and includes at least a first and a second heat exchanger. A working volume of gaseous working fluid fills the complaint enclosure. The working volume of gaseous working fluid has an equilibrium pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Mathew E. Poese, Robert W. M. Smith, Ray S. Wakeland, Steven L. Garrett
  • Publication number: 20030192324
    Abstract: A thermocoustic device includes a housing with a thermal core supported in the housing and having a first and a second surface. The thermal core includes a first heat exchanger defining the first surface of the thermal core and a second heat exchanger defining the second surface of the thermal core. A main chamber is in fluid communication with the first surface of the thermal core and a secondary multiplier chamber is in fluid communication with the second surface of the thermal core. A working volume of a gaseous working fluid fills the main chamber, the multiplier chamber, and the thermal core at a pressure. An equilibrium pressure is defined as the pressure of the working volume of gaseous working fluids with the thermoacoustic device is in a non-operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Robert W. M. Smith, Matthew E. Poese, Steven L. Garrett, Ray S. Wakeland
  • Publication number: 20030188541
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine for acoustically driving a thermal exchange includes a hollow drive tube, a heat transfer medium, an acoustic resonator, and a first thermal element. The hollow drive tube partially contains the heat transfer medium and is connected to and opens into the acoustic resonator. The acoustic resonator is adapted to store acoustic energy and deliver at least one acoustic wave to the heat transfer medium. The first thermal element includes a first channel and a first working fluid. The first channel is positioned to cross and open into the hollow drive tube, at least partially contains the first working fluid, and is sized to decrease the propagation of the at least one acoustic wave within the first channel. The first thermal working fluid is adapted to interact with and undergo thermal exchange with the heat transfer medium by conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Howard
  • Patent number: 6629418
    Abstract: Disclosed are two-stage inter-phasing pulse tube refrigerators with and without shared buffer volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: SHI-APD Cryogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Lin Gao, Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 6625992
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system is configured to control the flow of a heat transfer fluid through a remote thermal load, such as a superconducting magnet or rotor. The cryogenic cooling system includes a refrigerator including a cryogenically cooled surface and a cryogenic fluid transport device disposed for circulating a heat transfer fluid between the cryogenically cooled surface and the remote thermal load. The cryogenic fluid transport device advantageously serves as device for providing the necessary mechanical force necessary to move the heat transfer fluid from the cryogenically cooled surface (e.g., end of a cryocooler) to the remote thermal load. Thus, unlike conventional cooling arrangements the heat transfer fluid does not require a phase change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Maguire, Peter M. Winn, Ahmed Sidi-Yekhlef, Jie Yuan
  • Patent number: 6622491
    Abstract: In a periodically operating refrigeration machine which includes a thermal performance amplifier based on the known pulse tube process, the thermal performance amplifier includes a compression arrangement with a first heat exchanger for transferring heat to the environment a regenerator, a second heat exchanger supplying heat to the performance amplifier, a pulse tube, and a third heat exchanger for removing heat which is disposed adjacent a pulse tube cooler. The pulse tube cooler also includes a regenerator, a heat exchanger and a pulse tube, another heat exchanger and an expander all sized for an optimal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventor: Albert Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20030172658
    Abstract: A ring-shaped jacket is fitted around the warm section of a Stirling refrigerating device, and a cylindrical heat-rejecting heat exchanger is disposed around the body of the Stirling refrigerating device with a gap secured in between. The jacket and the heat-rejecting heat exchanger are connected together with a pipe to form a closed circuit, and a refrigerant is circulated through the closed circuit. This allows the heat in the warm section to be transferred by the refrigerant, permitting efficient heat rejection from the heat-rejecting heat exchanger. Thus, the desired cold is obtained stably from the cold section of the Stirling refrigerating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Kazushi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6619046
    Abstract: The pulse tube 59 of a pulse tube refrigerator is equipped with a thin liner 80 of low thermal mass and in poor thermal contact with pulse tube 59. One surface of liner 80 may be furnished with indented recesses 86, making the recessed portions of the liner thinner than the remainder of the material of liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Matthew P. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20030163996
    Abstract: An apparatus for extracting cooling power from helium flowing through a cooling system regenerator includes a heat exchanger disposed within the regenerator capable of extracting cooling power from the helium and a thermal link coupled to the heat exchanger for thermally coupling the heat exchanger with a component. A method of extracting cooling power from helium in a regenerator includes flowing the helium through a first portion of the regenerator, flowing the helium through a heat exchanger disposed between the first portion and a second portion of the regenerator to transfer heat from the heat exchanger to the helium, and transferring heat from a component via a thermal link to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Alain Ravex
  • Patent number: 6612117
    Abstract: A heat pump system 160 contains a hydristor pump/motor 162 in fluid and thermodynamic communication with a first heat exchanger 172 communicating with a relatively warm reservoir 174, and a second heat exchanger 176 thermodynamically communicating with a relatively cold reservoir 178, whereby the hydristor 162 and the first and second heat exchangers 172 and 176 are integral to and in fluid communication with a closed compressible fluid loop 164.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas E. Kasmer
  • Patent number: 6604364
    Abstract: A method for operating a thermoacoustic engine which produces acoustic energy which may be used to generate refrigeration wherein energy delivery fluid from a hot energy source, which provides heat to the thermoacoustic engine, is used to provide heat to a first heat sink such as a Kalina cycle and then at a lower temperature to a second heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bayram Arman, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, John Henri Royal
  • Patent number: 6604363
    Abstract: A method for matching an acoustic load and an acoustic driver in a resonant acoustic system, and the acoustic system so formed. The load and driver may be independently designed. The invention provides, inter alia, a matching volume positioned between the acoustic driver and load that is substantially greater than a stroke volume of the driver. The matching volume is sized such that, in combination with the moving mass, the characteristic stiffness of the acoustic driver and the characteristic load impedance, a resulting pressure wave produces an operating resonant frequency substantially equal to the preferred operating frequency of the load. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a stroke volume of the acoustic driver can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignees: Clever Fellows Innovation Consortium, Mesoscopic Devices
    Inventors: John A. Corey, Jerry Martin
  • Patent number: 6598406
    Abstract: A piston includes a circumferential groove having a seal ring and spring mounted within the groove. The spring exerts an axial force on the seal ring thereby preventing motion of the seal ring within the groove. Preferably, the spring in a wave spring, wherein small changes in deflection of the wave spring produces small changes in the load generated by the spring on the seal ring. The seal ring has at least one radial spring ring mounted within the seal ring to create a radial force on the seal ring. The piston can also include a sleeve that mounts to the piston body, the sleeve forming a wall of the groove. The piston can be a displacer mounted within a cylinder of a refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Russell M. Sylvia
  • Patent number: 6595006
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a miniature thermodynamic device that can be constructed using standard micro-fabrication techniques. The device can be used to provide cooling, generate power, compress gases, pump fluids and reduce pressure below ambient (operate as a vacuum pump). Embodiments of the invention relating to the production of a cooling effect and the generation of electrical power, change the thermodynamic state of the system by extracting energy from a pressurized fluid. Energy extraction is attained using an expansion process, which is as nearly isentropic as possible for the appropriately chosen fluid. An isentropic expansion occurs when a compressed gas does work to expand, and in the disclosed embodiments, the gas does work by overcoming either an electrostatic or a magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Technology Applications, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack H. Thiesen, Gary S. Willen, Robert A. Mohling
  • Patent number: 6595007
    Abstract: A Stirling refrigerating machine, comprising a regenerator provided in a flow path for a working medium reciprocating between an expansion space and a compression space formed in a cylinder, wherein a flow strengthener making uniform the flow of the working medium passing through the regenerator is provided on one or both of the expansion and compression space sides of the regenerator, whereby, because the nonuniformity of the flow of the working medium passing through the regenerator is improved, a regenerated heat exchanging efficiency can be increased, and thus the performance of the refrigerating machine can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinsuke Amano
  • Patent number: 6588224
    Abstract: A system for generating refrigeration wherein a hot process fluid is used to drive a thermoacoustic engine and residual heat from the process fluid is used to desorb refrigerant from a high pressure absorbent heat pump solution with the resulting refrigerant expanded to generate refrigeration prior to being reabsorbed by the absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bayram Arman, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, John Henri Royal, Arun Acharya
  • Patent number: 6589366
    Abstract: Method of making an active magnetic refrigerant represented by Gd5(SixGe1−x)4 alloy for 0≦x≦1.0 comprising placing amounts of the commercially pure Gd, Si, and Ge charge components in a crucible, heating the charge contents under subambient pressure to a melting temperature of the alloy for a time sufficient to homogenize the alloy and oxidize carbon with oxygen present in the Gd charge component to reduce carbon, rapidly solidifying the alloy in the crucible, and heat treating the solidified alloy at a temperature below the melting temperature for a time effective to homogenize a microstructure of the solidified material, and then cooling sufficiently fast to prevent the eutectoid decomposition and improve magnetocaloric and/or the magnetostrictive and/or the magnetoresistive properties thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl A. Gschneidner, Jr., Alexandra O. Pecharsky, Vitalij K. Pecharsky
  • Patent number: 6581389
    Abstract: A refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a cabinet and a refrigeration deck slidably positioned within the cabinet. The refrigeration deck may include a Stirling cooler unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Arthur G. Rudick
  • Patent number: 6584332
    Abstract: An electronic equipment includes one or more electronic devices, a cold stage, and a cold insulation member. The one or more electronic devices perform a predetermined operation within a predetermined temperature range. The cold stage cools down the one or more electronic devices to a predetermined operational temperature at which the one or more electronic devices is operable. The phase transition temperature of the cold insulation member is in a range between the predetermined operational temperature and an upper limit of the predetermined temperature range. The cold insulation member is arranged adjacent to the one or more electronic devices, and retains the temperature of the one or more electronic devices within the predetermined temperature range. At least one electronic devices over which the cold insulation member is arranged is partially formed from a material which is in a superconductive state at the predetermined operational temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yoshitake, Wataru Hattori
  • Patent number: 6578364
    Abstract: A mechanical resonator for a thermoacoustic device having a compressible fluid contained within a housing, the housing having a pair of heat exchangers and a thermodynamic medium therebetween. The resonator includes a member for mimicking dynamic conditions at a position of the housing; and a linear suspension element suspending the member in the housing. The mechanical resonator saves length and eliminates high-velocity flow losses. A transducer may also be mounted with the mechanical resonator to derive power in another form from the system, for example, electricity, or introduce power into the system. In combination, the transducer and mechanical resonator allow for cool-side driving of a thermoacoustic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Clever Fellows Innovation Consortium, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Corey
  • Patent number: 6574968
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigerator having a relatively small size which utilizes one or more piezoelectric drivers to generate high frequency sound within a resonator at a frequency of between about 4000 Hz and ultrasonic frequencies. The interaction of the high frequency sound with one or more stacks create a temperature gradient across the stack which is conducted through a pair of heat exchangers located on opposite sides of each stack. The stack is comprised of an open-celled material that allows axial, radial, and azimuthal resonance modes of the resonator within the stack resulting in enhanced cooling power of the thermoacoustic refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: University of Utah
    Inventors: Orest G. Symko, Ehab Abdel-Rahman, DeJuan Zhang, Thierry Klein
  • Publication number: 20030101733
    Abstract: A cooler box includes a box member that has a hermetically closable cooling chamber formed inside it and that insulates heat and a cooling device that cools the interior of the cooling chamber. The cooling device is a Stirling-cycle refrigerator. Here, using a Stirling-cycle refrigerator as the cooling device helps realize a cooler box that can be operated from an easily available low-capacity, inexpensive power supply and that can cool a to-be-cooled article to a low temperature comparable with that produced by a freezer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ogura, Jin Sakamoto, atsuko Sakai
  • Publication number: 20030101734
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigeration device employs a gas-vapor mixture as the working fluid. As a result, the refrigeration device operates according to a modified thermoacoustic refrigeration cycle that adds a condensation-vaporization cycle to the thermoacoustic cycle. The resulting modified refrigeration cycle increases the efficiency of heat transport by harnessing the translational motion of the vapor, as well as the usual acoustic oscillations, to transport the heat energy from one end of a thermal stack to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
    Inventors: Richard Raspet, William V. Slaton, Craig J. Hickey, Robert A. Hiller, Henry E. Bass