LOW CAPACITY RELIQUEFIER FOR STORAGE OF CRYOGENIC FLUIDS

A SELF CONTAINED LIQUEFIER IS BEING DEVELOPED TO RECONDENSE THE VAPOR BOILOFF FROM THE CRYOGENIC LIQUID STORAGE DEWARS OF LONG LIFE SPACE POWER SYSTEMS. THE PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE LIQUEFIER FOR THE CHALLENGING DUTY OF HELIUM LIQUEFACTION IS A SMALL LOW CAPACITY (10 LITRES LIQUID HELIUM PER DAY) UNCOMPLICATED SYSTEM HAVING A LONG MAINTENANCE FREE OPERATING LIFE AND LOW INITIAL COST WITH MODEST AUXILIARY REQUIREMENT,I.E., A CONVENTIONAL ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY AND COOLING WATER. THE LIQUEFIER BEING INVESTIGATED IS A SYNTHESIS OF THREE WELL ESTABLISHED TECHNOLOGIES, SPECIFICALLY A STIRLING CRYOCOOLER WITH A MULTISTAGE EXPANSION ZIMMERMAN DISPLACER USED FOR PRECOOLING COMPRESSED HELIUM INA JOULE-THOMSON ISENTHALPIC EXPANSION TO LIQUEFY A FRACTION OF THE COMPRESSED HELIUM. THIS LOW CAPACITY HELIUM LIQUEFIER IS BEING DESIGNED FOR SPACECRAFT SUPERCONDUCTING ELECTRONICS HELIUM STORAGE DEWARS. COMPLETE MANUFACTURING DRAWINGS ARE BEING PREPARED FOR THE PROTOTYPE LOW CAPACITY HELIUM LIQUEFIER INCLUDING MATERIAL SPECIFICATION, SELECTED VENDORS, PURCHASED EQUIPMENT AND SCHEDULES.