JOULE-THOMSON CRYOREFRIGERATOR FOR SPACECRAFT SENSORS AND STORED CRYOGENS

DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED OF A LONG LIFE, HIGH RELIABILITY HELIUM LIQUEFIER FOR PROVIDING CRYOGENIC REFRIGERATION TO SPACEBORNE INSTRUMENTATION AND CRYOGENIC STORAGE DEWARS. THE PROPOSED CRYOREFRIGERATOR IS A TRIPLE-FLUID, CASCADE JOULE-THOMSON (J-T) SYSTEM WHICH USES ARGON, NEON, AND HELIUM AS THE WORKING FLUIDS. THE SYSTEM INCORPORATES MAJOR INNOVATIONS IN SEALED HIGH PRESSURE COMPRESSOR DESIGN, NON-CLOGGING TEMPERATURE-REGULATED J-T CRYOSTATS, AN INTERMEDIATE VALVELESS EXPANDER TO INCREASE LIQUEFACTION YIELD, AND THE USE OF NEON TO AVOID THE NEED FOR AND PROBLEMS OF HYDROGEN. THE COMPONENT IMPROVEMENTS DERIVED WILL BE GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER J-T CRYOREFRIGERATION SYSTEMS.