Cryogenics最新文献

{"title":"The offset and the performance of a valved linear compressor with anti-offset piston","authors":"Lei Ding ,&nbsp;Xinquan Sha ,&nbsp;Ran Hu ,&nbsp;Qi Huang ,&nbsp;Shaoshuai Liu ,&nbsp;Zhenhua Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhaohua Li ,&nbsp;Hua Zhang ,&nbsp;Yinong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a critical driving component of the Joule-Thomson (JT) throttling cryocooler for space applications, the output characteristics of the valved linear compressor (VLC) determine the overall efficiency of the cryocooler. Piston offset is an inherent characteristic of the VLCs. To improve the output capacity and efficiency of VLCs, valved linear compressor integrated with an anti-offset piston was developed in this study. The anti-offset piston can effectively suppress the piston offset, enhance VLC performance, and ensure the stable and efficient operation of the throttling cryocooler. Experimental verification was conducted to measure piston offset and the output characteristics of the VLC with anti-offset piston under various operating parameters. The results indicate that with the increase of the piston stroke, the offset establishment time is prolonged, the offset suppression effect is more obvious, and the effective stroke of the compressor is increased by nearly 40 %. Meanwhile, the suction pressure decreases, the discharge pressure increases, and the maximum pressure ratio is enhanced by 54.2 %. Under the same operating parameters, compared with the compressor without offset suppression, the anti-offset piston structure improves the efficiency of converting electric energy into mechanical energy and optimizes of compression thermodynamic cycle. The experimental results can provide important references for the development of piston offset suppression strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AC loss analysis of magnetic gear system with superconducting component","authors":"Emre Akyerden,&nbsp;Ahmet Cansız","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Magnetic gears, which utilize specially arranged permanent magnets in rotating mechanisms, offer significant advantages over conventional mechanical gears. Despite their capability for high torque transmission, their industrial adoption remains limited due to torque density and loss constraints. To address this issue, recent studies have focused on improving flux modulation between the rotors through innovative magnetic and material configurations. Superconductors, with their unique electromagnetic properties, introduce new possibilities for enhancing magnetic gear performance. In this study, a superconducting magnetic gear system was analyzed using finite element simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics. A cylindrical coaxial magnetic gear with a 20/6 pole configuration was evaluated under three stator (pole piece) material arrangements: Steel &amp; Air, Steel &amp; Superconductor (SC), and Superconductor &amp; Air. Torque optimization was performed using the derivative-free BOBYQA algorithm, and AC (iron) losses were assessed based on the Bertotti loss model. The results demonstrate that optimization enhances torque transmission by factors of 3.5–5.1, while losses increase only 2.6–2.7 times. Across all configurations, the torque growth consistently outpaces the rise in losses, confirming an overall improvement in energy efficiency and torque density. Among the examined configurations, the Steel &amp; SC combination yielded the highest absolute torque, whereas the SC &amp; Air configuration exhibited the greatest relative improvement due to the absence of iron losses. These outcomes indicate that superconductors can substantially improve torque performance while maintaining manageable loss levels, effectively balancing the torque–loss trade-off. The study also reveals that optimization alters the effective gear ratio by modifying material volume distributions, underscoring a critical design consideration for superconducting magnetic gears. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights for multi-objective optimization strategies and offer a solid foundation for future experimental implementations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145732958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on bending and torsion properties of REBCO Brickwall-type multi-filamentary tapes","authors":"Jinhao Shi ,&nbsp;Jiulong Zhang ,&nbsp;Jingfeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Chao Zhou ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Li ,&nbsp;Shaoqing Wei ,&nbsp;Zuoguang Li ,&nbsp;Zhan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To investigate the bending and torsion properties of REBCO Brickwall-type multi-filamentary tapes, this study employed roll-to-roll ultraviolet picosecond laser cutting technology to fabricate Brickwall-type 3-filament, 6-filament, and 10-filament tapes using a 1.00 mm cutting slot length and spacing. The current-carrying performance of these tapes under bending and torsion conditions was tested and analyzed, respectively. Experimental results indicate that, under 77 K and self-field conditions, the Brickwall-type multi-filamentary tapes exhibit excellent stability in current-carrying performance, with the critical current degradation rate controlled within 5.00 %, thereby retaining the original current-carrying capacity of the tapes. Results of the bending tests showed that the compressive bending strain tolerance of the samples reaches 1.17 % (with a bending radius of 3.00 mm); meanwhile, their tensile bending strain tolerance decreases significantly as the number of filaments increases. Specifically, both the non-striated tape and the 3-filament tape had a tensile bending strain tolerance of 0.397 % (with a bending radius of 6.00 mm); when the number of filaments in the tapes increased to 6 and 10, their tensile bending strain tolerance decreased to 0.341 % (with a bending radius of 7.00 mm). Results of the torsion tests demonstrated that the non-striated tape, 3-filament tape, and 6-filament tape followed a consistent degradation pattern, while the 10-filament tape showed a distinct difference. When the shear strain reached 0.304 % (corresponding to a torsion angle of 300°), the critical currents of the non-striated tape, 3-filament tape, 6-filament tape, and 10-filament tape degraded by approximately ∼ 0.859 %, ∼2.51 %,  ∼ 4.80 %, and ∼ 13.8 %, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104261"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145732959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Superconducting properties of commercially available solders for low-field applications","authors":"C. Hickman ,&nbsp;K.K.H. Leung ,&nbsp;A.H. Al-Tawhid ,&nbsp;B.W. Filippone ,&nbsp;P.R. Huffman ,&nbsp;E. Korobkina ,&nbsp;D.P. Kumah ,&nbsp;C.M. Swank","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solders with superconducting transitions around <span><math><mn>4</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span> are useful in low magnetic field environments for AC current leads or in electrical and mechanical bonds. Accurate knowledge of these solders’ superconducting properties is essential for improving high precision experiments. We have measured the electrical resistance of five commercially-available eutectic or near-eutectic solders: 50%Sn-50%Pb, 60%Sn-40%Pb, 60%Sn-40%Pb-0.3%Sb, 52%In-48%Sn, and 96.5%Sn-3.5%Ag, down to <span><math><mn>2.3</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span> and in applied magnetic fields from 0 to 0.1<span><math><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>T</mtext></mrow></math></span>. We report critical temperatures <span><math><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>B</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, 90%–10% transition widths <span><math><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub></math></span>, and zero-temperature critical fields <span><math><msub><mi>B</mi><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>,</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></msub></math></span>. Our best candidate for low-loss AC current wiring in low fields is 50%Sn-50%Pb, which has a zero-field <span><math><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>,</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>7.1</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span> (with <span><math><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0.6</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span>), and remained high at <span><math><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>(</mo><mn>0.1</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>T</mtext></mrow><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><mn>6.9</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span> (<span><math><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0.6</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span>). We also report, for the first time, <span><math><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mi>B</mi><mi>c</mi></msub></math></span> of 60%Sn-40%Pb-0.3%Sb and <span><math><msub><mi>B</mi><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>,</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> of 96.5%Sn-3.5%Ag. Our <span><math><msub><mi>T</mi><mrow><mi>c</mi><mo>,</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>3.31</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span> (<span><math><mi>Δ</mi><msub><mi>T</mi><mi>c</mi></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>0.08</mn><mstyle><mspace></mspace></mstyle><mrow><mtext>K</mtext></mrow></math></span>) for 96.5%Sn-3.5%Ag disagrees with a widely adopted value.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterizing strain-rate effects on discontinuous plastic flow in 316LN via digital image correlation with cryocooler cooling","authors":"Liancheng Xie ,&nbsp;Shanshan Wu ,&nbsp;Zhen Geng ,&nbsp;Jijun Xin ,&nbsp;Zhiyuan Liang ,&nbsp;Linjie Zhang ,&nbsp;Bixi Li ,&nbsp;Zichun Huang ,&nbsp;Hengcheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Hao Zhang ,&nbsp;Wei Wang ,&nbsp;Fuzhi Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The reliable utilization of structural alloys at cryogenic temperatures is limited by discontinuous plastic flow (DPF), a phenomenon that induces strain localization and compromises mechanical stability. This study examines the DPF behavior of 316LN stainless steel at 20 K across a range of quasi-static strain rates (3 × 10⁻⁵ to 6 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹) using a cryocooler environment. By integrating digital image correlation (DIC) with an elastoplastic constitutive model optimized via the Newton-Raphson method, this study quantitatively resolved the transient two-dimensional (2D) stress and strain fields on the specimen surface. The results identify two distinct DPF regimes: at higher strain rates within the quasi-static range, thermal accumulation moderates the flow stress, leading to gradual stress decay and transient strain localization. Conversely, at lower rates, the conditions promote abrupt stress drops accompanied by the formation of banded strain structures that impart lasting mechanical heterogeneity. This work establishes a correlation between strain rate, thermal dissipation, and DPF morphology, thereby providing a foundational framework for predicting and mitigating unstable flow in cryogenic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AC losses characterization of current-carrying NI HTS coils under radial and axial magnetic fields by a field-circuit coupled model","authors":"Lihao Liu ,&nbsp;Shuai Zhang ,&nbsp;Pengbo Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhibo Zhao ,&nbsp;Ruichen Wang ,&nbsp;Guangtong Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>No-insulation (NI) high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils are widely used in many applications because of their higher current density, excellent mechanical properties, and self-protection capability. However, because their current transmission path is not unique, the modeling of NI coils becomes more complex compared to the insulated one. In this paper, we have established a field-circuit coupling model based on the <span><math><mrow><mi>J</mi></mrow></math></span>-<span><math><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow></math></span> formulation and validated its accuracy during both transient charging/discharging and external magnetic field exposures. The results indicate that the proposed model is capable of effectively characterizing the overall behavior and local characteristics of the NI HTS coils. Specifically, the local properties are validated against AC loss measurements under external alternating magnetic fields. Based on the developed model, a small-scale pancake NI coil was fabricated to investigate the factors governing the AC losses in such small pancake coils under both radial and axial background magnetic fields with DC transport current. Results reveal that axial fields induce significantly higher AC losses in NI coils compared to radial fields. Notably, under radial magnetic fields, the loss patterns of NI coils exhibit negligible differences from those of insulated coils. These insights contribute to magnetic field configuration optimization and loss management in NI coil applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104263"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and optimization of cryogenic helium extraction process based on AR-MRC cogeneration of LNG","authors":"Rong Ge Xiao ,&nbsp;Pei Jin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Helium is a critical strategic scarce resource primarily extracted from natural gas. With rapid industrial development, China’s demand for natural gas and helium has surged dramatically. To address the natural gas supply–demand imbalance and achieve domestic helium production, a combined process was proposed integrating AR-MRC-based natural gas liquefaction with cryogenic helium extraction. The integrated process was simulated using HYSYS software. Through analysis of key parameter influences, a PSO-SVM prediction model was established. NSGA-II was employed for multi-objective parameter optimization of the improved process, yielding a Pareto solution set. The Pareto solution set was compared using the TOPSIS method, yielding optimal parameters: helium extraction tower feed pressure of 2573.08 kPa, helium extraction tower feed temperature of −57.57 °C, mixed refrigerant high-pressure of 2752.31 kPa, mixed refrigerant low-pressure of 87.44 kPa, mixed refrigerant flow rate of 755.35 kmol/h, first-stage separator feed temperature of −131.38 °C, and second-stage separator feed temperature of −178.96 °C. The selected optimal process performance metrics and corresponding operational parameters were validated using HYSYS software. The optimized process achieved total energy consumption of 10,177.48 kW, while the software calculation yielded 10,056.00 kW, with an error of 1.190 %. The optimized LNG liquefaction rate was 99.57 %, compared to the software result of 99.52 %, with an error of 0.050 %. The optimized helium concentration was 63.24 %, versus the software result of 63.18 %, with an error of 0.095 %. These results demonstrate that the optimized cogeneration LNG and natural gas liquefaction process indicators and corresponding operating parameters meet the expected requirements. The new cogeneration process exhibits favorable economic viability and can provide valuable reference for natural gas liquefaction and natural gas helium recovery cogeneration projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104239"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase transformation and radiation-induced hardening in austenitic stainless steels at cryogenic temperatures","authors":"Błażej Skoczeń ,&nbsp;Elwira Schmidt ,&nbsp;Rafał Schmidt ,&nbsp;Angelika Kaciuba","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate prediction of the behaviour of irradiated stainless-steel components operating at cryogenic temperatures is of fundamental importance for the scientific community engaged in the design and construction of superconducting particle accelerators. The high-field magnet structures employed in these systems are manufactured from metastable austenitic stainless steels, which are susceptible to strain-induced fcc-bcc martensitic transformation under extreme thermal and mechanical conditions. In addition, exposure to high-energy particle beams and the associated generation of secondary particle fluxes give rise to nano- and micro-scale radiation damage, originating from interactions between incident particles and the crystal lattice. A central challenge in understanding the mechanical response of these materials lies in quantifying radiation-induced hardening, which is governed by microstructural mechanisms such as the interaction of dislocations with irradiation-generated defects and secondary-phase precipitates. To investigate the effect of irradiation on the hardening behaviour of two-phase alloys, a closed-form analytical solution for the uniaxial stress state is particularly advantageous. Accordingly, a multiaxial constitutive model capturing plastic-strain-driven fcc-bcc phase transformation, together with a physically based model describing the evolution of radiation-induced defect populations, has been developed. On this basis, an original hardening model, formulated within a mean-field framework and grounded in the Orowan mechanism, has been proposed. Model predictions were evaluated against experimental data obtained both in-house and from the literature to ensure accurate calibration. The progression of microstructural changes accompanying the strain-induced transformation, as well as the accumulation of radiation damage, was examined in detail.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145732961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an integrated electric LO2 pump with wide operational adaptability","authors":"Yanpi Lin ,&nbsp;Jiahao Xu ,&nbsp;Desheng Lin ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Li ,&nbsp;Zuchao Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a key component of the aviation propellant supply system, the liquid oxygen (LO₂) pump has characteristics of cryogenic and high oxidizing properties. With the development of aviation propulsion technology, performance requirements for LO₂ pump have shifted from a focus on high pressure ratio to the need for lightweight design, high reliability, and wide operational adaptability. This study has developed an integrated electric LO₂ pump with a wide flow adjustment capability of 1:20. The pump eliminates the mechanical seal structure and it is driven by a cryogenic, high-speed permanent magnet motor, with the pump and motor arranged coaxially, which achieves small axial length, light weight and high reliability. The motor rotor is directly immersed in the medium, allowing the medium to lubricate and cool the motor bearings. A shielding sleeve is installed on the inner wall of the motor stator to completely isolate the stator from the medium and achieve leakage free. This study can provide technical support for the application of integrated high-speed electric liquid oxygen pump technology in the aviation field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104262"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermodynamic analysis of thermally-driven dilution refrigerator in a confined cell","authors":"Zhiheng Li ,&nbsp;Weijun Cheng ,&nbsp;Yanan Wang ,&nbsp;Wei Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cryogenics.2025.104252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermally-driven dilution refrigerator (TDR) in a confined cell uses a superleak to inject or extract superfluid ⁴He into or out of a chamber containing ³He, thereby achieving the expansion or compression of ³He, and the expansion of ³He produces cooling. Its typical structure can be regarded as a refrigerator (³He expansion cell) driven by a thermal compressor (⁴He reservoir). The ³He expansion cell are equipped with an external cooler (EC₁) to dissipate compression heat, and the ⁴He reservoir has a heater and external cooler (EC₂) to drive the superfluid ⁴He. In this paper, we use equations of the energy conservation and the ³He-⁴He dilution process, and the chemical potential conservation of ⁴He to establish two physical models for the entire system. Based on these models, the cooling performance of the system is predicted, and the coefficient of performance (<em>COP</em>) and the thermodynamic second law efficiency of the system are analyzed. Firstly, the cooling power of EC₂ determines the flow rate of superfluid ⁴He into the ³He expansion cell and the cooling power of TDR during the isothermal expansion processes. If the cooling power of EC₂ is fixed during isothermal expansion process, the cooling power of TDR shows a trend of gradual increase over time. Secondly, the thermodynamic second law efficiency of the system is less than 3 % with a typical cooling temperature of EC₁ and EC₂ are 0.3 K and 0.9 K, respectively. Both incomplete compression and expansion of ³He have an impact on the efficiency of the system. Finally, increasing the temperature of EC₁ will significantly reduce <em>COP</em> and thermodynamic second law efficiency and increase the amount of ³He and ⁴He required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10812,"journal":{"name":"Cryogenics","volume":"153 ","pages":"Article 104252"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145682049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}