Cryocoolers Based On Adiabatic Magnetization Cooling Of High

WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A FAMILY OF NOVEL MAGNETIC CRYOCOOLERS. IN THE PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY, MAGNETIC WORKING MEDIA MADE OF APPROPRIATE HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS ARE USED. WHEN THE SUPERCONDUCTOR IS QUENCHED OR PARTIALLY QUENCHED IN A MAGNETIC FIELD, DECOUPLING OF THE CHARGE-CARRIER-PAIRS CAUSES A TEMPERATURE DROP IN THE SUPERCONDUCTOR. IN OTHER WORDS, AN "INVERSE MAGNETOCALORIC EFFECT" OCCURS. WE EXPECT SUCH CRYOCOOLERS TO HAVE HIGHER TEMPERATURE-LIFTS THAN TRADITIONAL MAGNETIC HEAT PUMPS USING PARA/FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS. AN ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE MAGNETIC FIELD IS APPLIED AT THE LOW TEMPERATURE PORTION OF THE THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE, THUS REDUCING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEED TO KEEP SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS AT VERY LOW TEMPERATURES. IN SOME DESIGNS, MOVEMENT AND PUMPING OF CRYOGENIC FLUIDS IS NOT REQUIRED, THUS CIRCUMVENTING SEALING AND TRIBOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OFTEN ENCOUNTERED IN TRADITIONAL COMPRESSION CYCLE CRYOCOOLERS. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PHASE I EFFORT WILL BE PROVING THE GENERAL CONCEPT AND DETERMINING SOME OF THE CRITICAL PARAMETERS. IN PHASE II, AN ACTUAL EXPERIMENTAL "SUPERCONDUCTING" CRYOCOOLER WILL BE BUILT.