Sorption cooler technology development at JPL
Simple heating and cooling of chemisorption and physisorption compressors provide high pressure gas, which, when expanded through a Joule-Thomson (J- T) valve, can provide cooling from 0.3 to 200 K depending on the sorbent/gas combination. System life tests are under way on Pr(1-n)Ce(n)O(x)/O2 (PCO/O2) chemisorption compressors for 65-80 K cooling and on carbon/krypton (C/Kr) physisorption compressors for 120-140 K cooling. Investigations have been initiated to examine reliability physics issues related to critical compressor components such as sorbents, container materials and electrical heaters.
Jones, J. A.↗