Engineering topics

Helvensteijn, Ben P. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Helvensteijn, Ben P. M..

4 records

NASA NTRS1994

Efficiency Calculations For a Magnetic Refrigerator Operating Between 2K and 10K

An adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR) is being developed at NASA-Ames Research Center. The ADR will operate between 2 K and 10 K and will provide 50 mW of cooling at 2 K. The refrigerant in the ADR is Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG). Absorption of heat at 2 K and heat rejection at 10 K in this fully static refrigerator is made possible by the incorporation of 2 K and 10 K heat switches. Physical layout and experimental results are presented in a parallel paper. The present paper discusses the thermal losses associated with components of the ADR as they occur in various parts of the refrigeration cycle. The results are summarized in terms of a prediction for the ADR efficiency.

Helvensteijn, Ben P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A (He-3)-gap heat switch for use below 2 K in zero g

We have designed and tested a compact heat switch that has a simple design and a very large ON/OFF ratio. The design uses concentric cylinders of copper that can be fabricated with higher precision and with thinner web thickness than other designs. It is assembled with a technique that carefully controls the narrow gap between adjacent segments. These features allow a very large surface area for conduction to be fitted into a small volume. The conduction medium is liquid or gaseous He-3, which is put into or taken out of the switch by a small nearby charcoal pump in order to avoid an external mechanical pump and a long pump line. Measurements of its performance down to 1 K show an ON/OFF conduction ratio of about 4000.

Roach, Pat R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A He-3-gap heat switch for use below 2 K in zero G

We have designed and tested a compact heat switch that has a simple design and a very large ON/OFF ratio. The design uses concentric cylinders of copper that can be fabricated with higher precision and with thinner web thickness than other designs. It is assembled with a technique that carefully controls the narrow gap between adjacent segments. These features allow a very large surface area for conduction to be fitted into a small volume. The conduction medium is liquid or gaseous He-3 which is put into or taken out of the switch by a small nearby charcoal pump in order to avoid an external mechanical pump and a long pump line. Measurements of its performance down to 1 K show an ON/OFF conduction ratio of about 4000.

Roach, Pat R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Conceptual design of a 0.1 W magnetic refrigerator for operation between 10 K and 2 K

The design of a magnetic refrigerator for space applications is discussed. The refrigerator is to operate in the temperature range of 10 K-2 K, at a 2 K cooling power of 0.10 W. As in other magnetic refrigerators operating in this temperature range GGG has been selected as the refrigerant. Crucial to the design of the magnetic refrigerator are the heat switches at both the hot and cold ends of the GGG pill. The 2 K heat switch utilizes a narrow He II filled gap. The 10 K heat switch is based on a narrow helium gas gap. For each switch, the helium in the gap is cycled by means of activated carbon pumps. The design concentrates on reducing the switching times of the pumps and the switches as a whole. A single stage system (one magnet; one refrigerant pill) is being developed. Continuous cooling requires the fully stationary system to have at least two stages running parallel/out of phase with each other. In order to conserve energy, it is intended to recycle the magnetic energy between the magnets. To this purpose, converter networks designed for superconducting magnetic energy storage are being studied.

Helvensteijn, Ben P. M.↗