Abstract: A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump. The four-process cycle can be drawn out to provide a low demand condition by causing both displacers to remain stationary for a period of time. The four processes in which one of the displacers is commanded to move are separated by periods of inactivity in which both displacers remain stationary.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigerator includes at least one pair of pulse combustion tubes (10), preferably Rijke tubes, each tube (10) having a pair of spaced-apart Stirling engines (12), coupled together but with no separating membrane therebetween.

Abstract: A rotary valve mechanism of a cryocooler includes a valve rotor and a valve stator. A rotor recessed portion is formed such that the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with a stator recessed portion at a first opening degree at a second phase of a valve rotation. The valve rotor includes a first rotor communication groove and/or a second rotor communication groove formed in the valve rotor such that the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with the stator recessed portion at an opening degree which is smaller than the first opening degree at a first phase preceding the second phase, and/or the valve stator includes a stator communication path formed in the valve stator such that the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with the stator recessed portion at an opening degree which is smaller than the first opening degree at the first phase preceding the second phase.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a regenerator, a low-temperature end heat exchanger, a pulse tube, a high-temperature end heat exchanger, and a phase adjustment mechanism, connected in that order. A draft tube is provided inside the regenerator, paralleling the regenerator's axis, and the draft tube can extend into the low-temperature end heat exchanger.

Abstract: A cooler operating on the Stirling cycle, of the type including a compressor with a compression piston moving in a compression cylinder, a regenerator with a regeneration piston moving in a regeneration cylinder, a driving crankshaft including a crank pin that can rotate with respect to the compression cylinder and/or the regeneration cylinder, and a compression connecting rod, including a head mounted on the front pin and a foot articulated on the compression piston, the regeneration piston being connected to the crankshaft by a link element including at least three rigid adjacent sections connected by at least two spring-type connecting rods.

Abstract: A system for converting heat to kinetic energy is disclosed. The system may include a heat source, bimetallic bands and wheels that may support the bimetallic bands. The bimetallic bands may be heated by the heat source and may rotate the wheels. The rotation of the wheels may then be used to convert the kinetic energy to power.

Abstract: A pulse-tube cryocooler includes a compressor piston that is axially aligned with a pulse tube. The compressor piston is an annular piston that has a central hole around its axis. An inertance tube, connected to one end of the pulse tube, runs through the central hole in the compressor piston. The cryocooler also includes a balancer that moves in opposition to the compressor piston, to offset the forces in moving the compressor piston. The balancer may also be axially aligned with the pulse tube, the annular piston, and the inertance tube. The alignment of the compressor piston, the pulse tube, and the inertance tube aligns the forces produced by movement of fluid within the cryocooler.

Abstract: A cooler operating according to the Stirling cycle, including a housing including a compression cylinder and a regeneration cylinder, a movable compression piston and a movable regeneration piston, that can move in translational motion in the compression cylinder and in the regeneration cylinder, a driving crankshaft, including a rotating crank pin, and two connecting rods coupled to the compression piston and the regeneration piston, the connecting rods being coupled to the rotating crank pin, a fluid flow duct for circulating fluid, connecting the compression cylinder and the regeneration cylinder, one end of the fluid flow duct being disposed on the regeneration piston, and the fluid flow duct including a deformable pipe that is deformed in accordance with the movement of the compression piston and/or of the regeneration piston.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a separator tank, a heat exchanger, a compressor-less heat separator, and a fluid cooler. The separator tank separates a first refrigerant into a vapor component and a liquid component. The heat exchanger is exposed to a load. The heat exchanger uses the liquid component of the first refrigerant to remove heat from a space proximate the load. The space includes at least one of a refrigeration unit and walk-in cooler or freezer. The compressor-less heat separator extracts heat from the vapor component of the first refrigerant and uses electrical power to move the heat to a second refrigerant. The fluid cooler removes heat from the second refrigerant.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may include a heat exchange surface partially coated with a heat-conducting layer. The heat exchange surface may include a plurality of contact regions coated with the heat-conducting layer and a plurality of insulating regions that are not coated with the heat-conducting layer. The heat exchange surface may further include a degree of coverage of the heat-conducting layer that varies to compensate at least one of at least one hot spot and at least one cold spot. The at least one hot spot and the at least one cold spot may be included within at least one of the heat exchange surface and a plurality of energy storage elements of an energy store that contacts the heat exchange surface.

Abstract: A rotary valve mechanism includes a valve stator having a stator recessed portion and a valve rotor having a rotor recessed portion. The rotor recessed portion is formed in the valve rotor such that a rotor-recessed-portion front edge line passes through a stator-recessed-portion front edge line and the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with the stator recessed portion at a first phase of rotary-valve-mechanism rotation, and a rotor-recessed-portion rear edge line passes through a stator-recessed-portion rear edge line and the rotor recessed portion is fluidally separated from the stator recessed portion at a second phase thereof, and a shape of the rotor-recessed-portion front edge line coincides with a shape of the stator-recessed-portion front edge line such that the rotor-recessed-portion front edge line overlaps the stator-recessed-portion front edge line at the first phase.

Abstract: A cryostat arrangement has an outer jacket, a first tank with a first cryogen, and a second tank with a second liquid cryogen which boils at a higher temperature than the first cryogen. The first tank comprises a neck tube, whose hot upper end is connected to the outer jacket at ambient temperature and whose cold lower end is connected to the first tank at a cryogenic temperature. The arrangement uses a riser pipe protruding into the second tank through which the second liquid cryogen can flow out of the second tank and into a first heat exchanger in thermal contact with the neck tube. An outflow line is provided through which second cryogen evaporating from the first heat exchanger can flow out and into an optional second heat exchanger. It is thus possible to greatly reduce heat input from the neck tube into the first tank.

Abstract: A rotary valve mechanism of a cryocooler includes a valve rotor and a valve stator. A rotor recessed portion is formed such that the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with a stator recessed portion at a first opening degree at a second phase of a valve rotation. The valve rotor includes a first rotor communication groove and/or a second rotor communication groove formed in the valve rotor such that the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with the stator recessed portion at an opening degree which is smaller than the first opening degree at a first phase preceding the second phase, and/or the valve stator includes a stator communication path formed in the valve stator such that the rotor recessed portion fluidally communicates with the stator recessed portion at an opening degree which is smaller than the first opening degree at the first phase preceding the second phase.

Abstract: A thermo-acoustic engine and/or cooler is provided and includes an elongated tubular body, multiple regenerators disposed within the body, multiple heat exchangers disposed within the body, where at least one heat exchanger is disposed adjacent to each of the multiple regenerators, multiple transducers axially disposed at each end of the body, and an acoustic wave source generating acoustic waves. At least one of the acoustic waves is amplified by one of the regenerators and at least another acoustic wave is amplified by a second one of regenerators.

Abstract: A helium management control system for controlling the helium refrigerant supply from a common manifold supplies cryogenic refrigerators with an appropriate helium supply. The system employs sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators depending on the computed aggregate cooling demand of all of the cryogenic refrigerators. An appropriate supply of helium is distributed to each cryopump by sensing excess and sparse helium and redistributing refrigerant accordingly. If the total refrigeration supply exceeds the demand, or consumption, excess refrigerant is directed to cryogenic refrigerators which can utilize the excess helium to complete a current cooling function more quickly.

Abstract: In a cryocooler, a displacer includes an internal space, and a working gas flows through the internal space. A cylinder reciprocally accommodates the displacer, and an expansion space for the working gas is formed between the cylinder and a bottom portion of the displacer. A plurality of annular protruding portions are provided on a bottom surface of the expansion space such as to form a multiplex structure. A plurality of annular recessed portions are provided on the bottom portion of the displacer such as to receive the plurality of annular protruding portions.

Abstract: An NMR analysis device and a method for operating an NMR analysis device (7) including a circuit having an NMR analysis probe (9) and a cryostat (8) linked by a cryogenic line (16), includes a step of configuration of this circuit through which fluid flows (M0 to M9) circulate, said configuration step comprising an implementation of different modes of operation of the device (7), according to the activation/deactivation of redirection elements (VC1, VC2, VC3, VC4) and/or of the configuration in closed/open mode of looping elements (A1 to A11) of this circuit.

Abstract: A refrigerating machine having a detachable Hall element is provided with a cold heat exchange mechanism. The cold-heat exchange mechanism is driven by a driving assembly to generate a low temperature cooling zone at one end of the cold heat exchange mechanism. The driving assembly is composed of at least one rotor and a stator. After the power is input, the rotor can rotate a shaft to drive the cold-heat exchange mechanism to work. The driving assembly further has at least one Hall element and a circuit board on which the Hall element is mounted. Therefore, when the Hall element is damaged, the circuit board can be easily removed for replacement or repair.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic heating device capable of effectively utilizing streaming, and including a prime mover in a first pipeline that forms a loop line, and a heating device in a second pipeline that forms another loop line. The first and second pipelines are connected to each other via a branch pipeline. A branch pipeline on the prime mover side and the second pipeline on the heating device side are positioned adjacent to each other, and a low-temperature side heat exchanger of the heating device is integrally formed with or held in contact with the branch pipeline on the prime mover side.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine is provided that uses acoustic energy to operate a piston in a double-acting action. The acoustic energy is amplified as a sound wave travels through the thermoacoustic engine. The amplified acoustic energy is extracted and converted into usable electrical energy.

Abstract: A disclosed regenerative refrigerator including a regenerator filled with a regenerative material for accumulating cooling of a refrigerant gas, wherein the regenerator is divided into a central region and a peripheral region on a cross-sectional face of the regenerator, and a specific heat of the central region is larger than a specific heat of the peripheral region.

Abstract: In a cryocooler for developing coldness of 4 K or lower by expanding helium, an expander expands high-pressure helium. A compressor compresses low-pressure helium returned from the expander, to generate high-pressure helium, and supplies the high-pressure helium to the expander. When helium temperature in the expander is 2.17 K or lower, the pressure of the low-pressure helium is equal to or higher than pressure given by a curve, in a helium state diagram in which the horizontal axis is temperature and the vertical axis is pressure, along which helium's volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is 0.

Abstract: A cryogen cooling system to cool a superconducting magnet is disclosed herein utilizing embedded vertical tubing with a large heat exchanging surface area. The tubing encompasses the magnet which is further surrounded by a 4 Kelvin thermal shield for extended ride-through. In one embodiment, the system is a hyperpolarizer having an internal high-pressure gas storage for quench gas and to initiate cool-down. Aspects of the invention utilize a minimal volume of pressurized gas, for example, four (4) liters of pressurized gaseous helium in a 150 mL liquid helium system. As such, the prior vent stack has been removed, along with the helium vessel and quench paths/ducts. The method of using the system is further simplified during ramping while the cool-down process utilizing liquids supplied from external dewars has been eliminated. Significant advantages include reducing the helium volume (and cost associated therewith) and allowing for a hermetically sealed vacuum system that is leak-proof.

Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) comprising a pedestal head and a regenerator tube assembly is provided having particular application in cooling a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system. The PTR comprises a pedestal head and at least one cooled stage, the at least one cooled stage being mounted to a distal end, with respect to the pedestal head, of each of an associated regenerator tube and an associated pulse tube, the associated regenerator tube and associated pulse tube together providing pressurized coolant gas to the at least one cooled stage, wherein the associated regenerator tube and the associated pulse tube are elongate along substantially parallel axes; and further arranged, wherein, the displacements of the distal ends of each of the associated regenerator tube and the associated pulse tube in response to the cyclical changes in coolant pressure, are substantially the same when the pulse tube refrigerator is in use.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a pulse tube cooler. The pulse tube cooler may comprise a fluid compressor, a first regenerator, a first pulse tube, a first reservoir, a second regenerator, a second pulse tube, and a second reservoir. The first end of the first regenerator may be in fluid communication with the fluid compressor. The cold end of the first pulse tube may be in fluid communication with the second end of the first regenerator. The first reservoir may be in fluid communication with the hot end of the first pulse tube. The first end of the second regenerator may be in fluid communication with the cold end of the first regenerator. The cold end of the second pulse tube may be in fluid communication with the second end of the second regenerator. The cold end of the first pulse tube and the hot end of the second pulse tube may be in fluid communication with one another through the second reservoir.

Abstract: A temperature control unit includes a temperature control body made of magnetocaloric material and elongated in a longitudinal direction (L), through which or/and around which heat transfer medium can flow. A magnetic field arrangement (16) has magnetic field heating areas (22) arranged following one another in a shifting direction (V) and cooling areas (24) between the magnetic field heating areas (22). A plurality of heat transfer medium flow zones (Zi) following one another in the longitudinal direction (L) are provided with the temperature control body (14). At least two heat transfer medium flow zones (Zi) adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction (L) of the temperature control body provide a heat transfer medium circulation sector (I, II, III, IV). Heat input fluid, flowing relative to heat transfer medium flow zones (Z1), feed heat in and heat discharge fluid flowing relative to heat transfer medium flow zones (Z8) discharging heat.

Abstract: A modular power conversion system and power electronics enabling any power production device or entity to connect to any load or electrical grid including, but not limited to, electricity conversion between low level producer(s) such as a diesel or gas generator, Stirling engine, wind turbine or photovoltaic array, to a consumer such as a commercial or residential building, either directly or via the grid, is disclosed. The modular power conversion system including hardware and software power electronics designed as a modular power stage aggregating different power production entities, transmission systems, consumption and loads as well as energy storage is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inertance tube for a pulse tube cryogenic cooler which can be tuned to optimize performance. Apertures in the inertance tube fluidly communicate the inertance tube with a fluid reservoir. The effective length of the inertance tube is changed by alternatively closing or opening the apertures. Changing the effective length of the inertance tube causes a phase shift between the mass flow of and pressure waves in the enclosed working fluid which, in turn, changes the acoustic power. The cooling load capacity of the pulse tube cryogenic cooler is a function of the acoustic power. Controlling the phase angle improves the cooler's Carnot efficiency.

Abstract: A heat transfer device is presented and more particularly a beverage cooling assembly comprising: one or more container holders with each having a first and a second wall with a chamber therebetween, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet and otherwise sealed, through which a circulating fluid is pumped from a reservoir, such as an ice chest; a reservoir adapter attached to the drain outlet of the ice chest and to a supply line, or a pump that is attached to the supply line that is attached to the inlet of the one or more containers, the first wall and a second wall forming a double-walled cylinder with a pocket for a beverage container. The circulating fluid is returned from the outlet of one or more container holders through a return line to the reservoir adapter and then connected to a long line placed through the reservoir adapter and then through the drain outlet of the ice chest, returning the circulating fluid to the reservoir away from the drain outlet.

Abstract: A method of removing heat due to compression of a working gas from a linear cryocooler is disclosed. The cryocooler includes a sealed housing, a displacer including a displacer piston and a displacer cylinder, and a compressor all arranged within the housing. The compressor includes a compressor piston that is movable within a compression chamber. The method includes providing a port in the compression chamber to remove heat from the compression chamber due to the compression of the working gas to the housing prior to entering the displacer piston.

Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator includes a compressor, a regenerator to which a refrigerant gas is discharged from the compressor and from which the refrigerant gas returns to the compressor, a pulse cube including a low-temperature end connected to the low-temperature end of the regenerator, and a flow rate controller provided at the low-temperature end of the regenerator. The flow rate controller is configured to control the flow rate of a first DC flow flowing from the regenerator toward the pulse tube and the flow rate of a second DC flow flowing from the pulse tube toward the regenerator, so that the flow rate of the first DC flow is greater than the flow rate of the second DC flow.

Abstract: A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump.

Abstract: In a cryogenic refrigerator, a displacer defines an internal space, and circulates a working fluid in the internal space. A cylinder houses the displacer such as to enable it to reciprocate, and, at an interval from the bottom side of the displacer, forms an expansion space for the working fluid. A cooling stage is provided along an outer circumferential and bottom portion of the cylinder, in a location corresponding to the expansion space. A heat exchanger is arranged inside the expansion space and is thermally connected to the cooling stage. An end portion of the displacer on its expansion-space side has an opening that serves as an entry/exit port between the internal space and the expansion space for the working fluid. A working-fluid flow channel connects the internal space and the expansion space via the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A Stirling-type pulse tube refrigerator includes: a regenerator that has a low temperature end and high temperature end; a pulse tube that is arranged coaxially with the regenerator, and that is connected to the regenerator so as to enable working gas to circulate therebetween; a low temperature heat exchanger that is disposed in the low temperature end of the regenerator, and that has a gas flow passage serving as a flow passage for the working gas; and a flow straightener that is disposed in an end portion, on a side close to the low temperature heat exchanger, out of end portions of the pulse tube. The gas flow passage and the flow straightener are spaced away from each other, and a length of a connecting passage connecting the gas flow passage and the flow straightener is equal to or shorter than 10% of a length of the pulse tube.

Abstract: A rapid cycle dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR apparatus comprises (i) a cooling unit configured to cool a sample in a capillary, (b) a DNP polarization unit configured to polarize the sample in the capillary, (c) a stripline-based NMR detector comprising a stripline for NMR analysis of the sample in the capillary, (d) a transport unit configured to guide the capillary from the DNP polarization unit to the stripline of stripline-based NMR detector; and (e) a heating unit configured to heat the sample in the capillary before analysis of the sample by the stripline-based NMR detector. Fast (1D-3D) NMR measurements with high resolution may be obtained.

Abstract: In a cryogenic refrigerator, a displacer has an internal space in which refrigerant gas flows. A cylinder houses the displacer to enable the displacer to perform reciprocating movement and forms an expansion space of the refrigerant gas between the cylinder and a bottom surface of the displacer. The displacer supplies the refrigerant gas to the expansion space during movement inside the cylinder from a bottom dead center to a top dead center. The displacer collects the refrigerant gas from the expansion space during movement inside the cylinder from the top dead center to the bottom dead center. A flow path resistance between the displacer and the expansion space is lower when the displacer is at the bottom dead center than when the displacer is at the top dead center.

Abstract: In a cryogenic refrigerator, a scotch yoke mechanism includes an eccentric rotating body and a yoke plate that reciprocates by rotation of the eccentric rotating body. A displacer is connected to a yoke plate so as to reciprocate together with the yoke plate. A cylinder houses a displacer, and an expansion space for refrigerant gas is formed in a space with the displacer. An airtight container is provided on a high-temperature side of the cylinder and includes a housing space housing a scotch yoke mechanism and receive the refrigerant gas discharged from the expansion space. The airtight container includes a supporting unit that supports a side portion of the yoke plate so as to restrict tilting of the yoke plate around a rotary shaft of the eccentric rotating body.

Abstract: An inertance tube for a pulse tube refrigerator which can be tuned to optimize performance. Apertures in the inertance tube fluidly communicate the inertance tube with a fluid reservoir. The effective length of the inertance tube is changed by alternatively closing or opening the apertures. Changing the effective length of the inertance tube causes a phase shift between the mass flow and pressure waves in the working gas which, in turn, changes the acoustic power. Controlling the phase angle improves Carnot efficiency. The cooling load capacity of the pulse tube refrigerator is a function of the acoustic power.

Abstract: A regenerator accumulates cooling generated by expansion of refrigerant gas, and the regenerator includes a regenerator material which is made of a nonmagnetic material, a regenerator material which is made of a magnetic material, a container which includes a high temperature end and a low temperature end, and which accommodates the regenerator material made of the nonmagnetic material at the high temperature end side and the regenerator material made of the magnetic material at the low temperature end side. The container further accommodates an insertion member which narrows a passage area of the refrigerant gas flowing to a region accommodating the refrigerator material made of the magnetic material so that the passage area of the low temperature end side is narrower compared to the passage area of the high temperature end side.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic transducer includes a mechanical converter providing power conversion between acoustic and mechanical power and includes a diaphragm defining a compression and an expansion chamber. A thermal converter including a flow passage having a regenerator portion is thermally coupled for conversion between acoustic and thermal power. The mechanical converter is in fluid communication with the flow passage through transmission ducts completing an acoustic power loop having a volume containing a working gas. A transmission duct cross-sectional area is less than a regenerator flow area, which is less than a diaphragm surface area. The diaphragm undergoes resilient displacement causing pressure oscillations within the volume. The power loop is configured to cause one location along the loop to have anti-phase pressure oscillations to pressure oscillations in the mechanical converter.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a compressor, an expansion space where a high-pressure working gas discharged from a discharge side of the compressor is caused to expand, and a valve. The valve includes a first member including a first channel connecting to the discharge side and a second member including a second channel connecting to the expansion space. The first and second members are configured to rotate relative to and in contact with each other to connect or disconnect the first and second channels. In a plane where the first and second members are in contact, a first distance that is a distance of closest approach between the first channel and a valve circumference defined by a circumference of one of the first and second members having a smaller diameter is greater than a second distance that is a distance of closest approach between the second channel and the valve circumference.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle heater dosing pump for conveying fuel having a piston which can be moved back and forth between a start position and an end position, and a drive unit which can be electrically excited by applying a voltage, having the following procedure: controlling and/or regulating the voltage for generating an effective voltage to transfer the piston from the start position to the end position, wherein the effective voltage reaches a first maximum (U1) in a start phase (t0-t1), and is lower than the first maximum in a subsequent intermediate phase (t1-t2). The effective voltage reaches a second maximum (U3) in an end phase (t2-t3) following the intermediate phase. A device is also provided having a dosing pump and a control/regulation unit. The control/regulation unit is suitable for controlling voltage applied to a drive unit of the dosing pump.

Abstract: An expansion engine operating on a Brayton cycle which is part of a system for producing refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures that includes a compressor, a counter-flow heat exchanger, and a load that may be remote, which is cooled by gas circulating from the engine. The engine has a piston in a cylinder which has nearly the same pressure above and below the piston while it is moving. Low pressure on a piston drive stem provides a force imbalance to move the piston towards the warm end.

Abstract: A U-shaped pulse-tube refrigerator includes a regenerative tube and a pulse-tube that are juxtaposed with each other; a communicating path that connects a low-temperature end of the regenerative tube and a low-temperature end of the pulse-tube; a heat exchanger that is provided at the low-temperature end of at least one of the regenerative tube and the pulse-tube; and a flow smoothing member that is provided between a first exit of the communicating path at a side where the heat exchanger is provided and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A cryocooler is provided that includes: a regenerator piston; a drive coupler; and a link flexure having a proximal end coupled by a first pin to the drive coupler and having a distal end coupled by a second pin to the regenerator piston, where the link flexure forms a vane having flattened opposing faces that are orthogonal to a longitudinal axis for the first and second pin.

Abstract: Components within a cryocooler are scaled and/or configured for operation at a CMG operating frequency (e.g., 100 Hz) rather than at 30 to 70 Hz, matching the exported disturbances of control moment gyroscopes on the same platform and reducing line-of-sight jitter for electro-optic infrared focal plane array sensors. The smaller piston working volume and other reduced component sizes allow the cryocooler to be smaller and lighter than designs operating at lower frequencies. Combined with an advanced regenerator suitable for the higher frequency operation, the cryocooler has improved cooling efficiency over such lower frequency designs.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying thermotherapy to a part of the human or animal body comprising an applicator having a flexible enclosure in which thermal energy transfer fluid can circulate, a connector for connecting the applicator to a control system, an interface layer for providing a thermally conductive interface between the flexible enclosure and a treatment site and, an electrically conductive supporting layer for supporting the interface layer and capable of being energized by an electrical signal from the control system to improve the thermal conductivity of the interface layer. The apparatus also includes a valve unit for connecting the applicator to a control system, a heat exchanger for cooling a thermal energy transfer fluid and a control system for controlling the application of thermotherapy.

Abstract: A helium-cooling type regenerator includes first and second storage spaces. The first storage space is disposed in a region on a high-temperature side, and accommodates the regenerator material whose pressure is P1. The second storage space is disposed in a region on a low-temperature side, and accommodates the regenerator material whose pressure is P2, which is less than P1. A specific heat in the case where a pressure of the regenerator material accommodated in the first storage space is P2 is less than that in the case where the pressure of the regenerator material is P1, and a specific heat in the case where a pressure of the regenerator material accommodated in the second storage space is P1 is less than that in the case where the pressure of the regenerator material is P2.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a refrigerator body configured to produce cold temperatures by expanding a refrigerant gas; a compressor connected to a first pipe for feeding the refrigerant gas of a first pressure to the refrigerator body, and connected to a second pipe for collecting the refrigerant gas of a second pressure lower than the first pressure from the refrigerator body; a buffer tank configured to store the refrigerant gas; a first valve provided in a first connecting pipe connecting the buffer tank and the refrigerator body; a second valve provided in a second connecting pipe connecting the buffer tank and the first pipe; and a third valve provided in a third connecting pipe connecting the buffer tank and the second pipe.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat-actuated double-acting traveling-wave thermoacoustic refrigeration system, comprising at least three elementary units; each elementary unit comprises a thermoacoustic engine, a thermoacoustic refrigerator, and a resonance device; the thermoacoustic engine and the thermoacoustic refrigerator comprise a main heat exchanger, a heat regenerator, a non-normal-temperature heat exchanger, a thermal buffer tube, and an auxiliary heat exchanger connected in sequence; the resonance device comprises a sealed housing, a moving part is provided in the housing for a reciprocating motion; the moving part separates the housing into at least two chambers; the main heat exchanger and auxiliary heat exchanger of each thermoacoustic engine and thermoacoustic refrigerator respectively connects to chambers of different housing, forming dual-loop structure of gas medium flow.