A CLEAN HELIUM COMPRESSOR/EXPANDER FOR LONG LIFE CRYOGENIC SERVICE

CRYOGENIC HELIUM REFRIGERATORS AND LIQUIFIERS CONVENTIONALLYEMPLOY OIL LUBRICATED POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT COMPRESSORS AT THE WARM END AND FREQUENTLY USE PISTON TYPE EXPANSION ENGINES AT THE COLD END. THESE SYSTEMS REQUIRE EXTENSIVE AND VIGILANT MAINTENANCE TO CONTROL CONTAMINATION FROM LUBRICATING OIL AND ITS VOLATILE COMPONENTS MIGRATING TO THE COLD END. HENCE THE NEED FOR LOW MAINTENANCE COMPRESSORS AND EXPANDERS OF CONTAMINATION-FREE DESIGN. WE PROPOSE AN INNOVATIVE RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR OR EXPANDER CONCEPT WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ELIMINATE OIL, SEALS, VALVES, WEAR, CONTAMINATION, AND MAINTENANCE. PHASE I OF THIS PROJECT WILL ASSESS THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED COMPRESSOR CONCEPT BY TESTING A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT BREADBOARD DEVICE AND DEVELOPING SCOPING ANALYSES OF EVALUATE ITS EXPECTED RANGE OF APPLICATIONS. IF PROVEN FEASIBLE, A PROTOTYPE CLEAN HELIUM COMPRESSOR WILL BE BUILT AND TESTED IN PHASE II.