Patent Grant
9765996
Priority is claimed to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-042337, filed Mar. 5, 2014, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a regenerative refrigerator.
Description of Related Art
A regenerative refrigerator is used in order to cool an object to be cooled from about 100 K (kelvin) to about 4 K, for example. As regenerative refrigerators, there are, for example, a Gifford McMahon type (GM) refrigerator, a pulse tube refrigerator, a Stirling refrigerator, a Solvay refrigerator, and the like. The regenerative refrigerator is used for cooling of a superconducting magnet, a detector, or the like, or as a cryopump.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a regenerative refrigerator of a single stage type or a multistage type including: a cylinder which is provided with a cooling stage; a displacer which is provided with a regenerator provided at the same stage as the cooling stage and disposed so as to be able to move in an axial direction in the cylinder; and a low temperature-side gas flow path which makes a gas expansion space between the displacer and the cooling stage communicate with a low-temperature end of the regenerator. The cylinder is provided with a cylinder side wall extending in the axial direction from the cooling stage to a high temperature side. The displacer is provided with a displacer side wall extending to face the cylinder side wall in the axial direction. The low temperature-side gas flow path is provided with a gas flow gap defined by an outer peripheral surface of the displacer side wall and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder side wall, and a displacer gas passage which makes the gas flow gap communicate with the low-temperature end of the regenerator. The gas flow gap is continuous to the gas expansion space on a low temperature side in the axial direction. The displacer gas passage has a gap-side opening leading to the gas flow gap in the outer peripheral surface of the displacer side wall. A position of the gap-side opening in the axial direction is further toward the high temperature side than a position of the low-temperature end of the regenerator in the axial direction.
It is desirable to realize a reduction in the size of a regenerative refrigerator and/or improvement in refrigeration capacity.
Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and repeated description is appropriately omitted. Further, configurations described below are illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present invention.
In a two-stage type refrigerator such as the GM refrigerator 1 shown in the drawings, the regenerator section is provided with a first stage regenerator and a second stage regenerator. The first stage regenerator is configured so as to pre-cool the working gas which is supplied from the compressor to a low-temperature end temperature of the first stage regenerator. The second stage regenerator is configured so as to pre-cool the working gas pre-cooled by the first stage regenerator to a low-temperature end temperature of the second stage regenerator.
The GM refrigerator 1 has a gas compressor 3 which functions as a compressor, and a two-stage type cold head 10 which functions as an expander. The cold head 10 has a first stage cooling section 15 and a second stage cooling section 50, and these cooling sections are coaxially connected to a flange 12. The first stage cooling section 15 is provided with a first stage high-temperature end 23a and a first stage low-temperature end 23b, and the second stage cooling section 50 is provided with a second stage high-temperature end 53a and a second stage low-temperature end 53b. The first stage cooling section 15 is connected in series to the second stage cooling section 50. Accordingly, the first stage low-temperature end 23b adjoins the second stage high-temperature end 53a.
The first stage cooling section 15 is provided with a first stage cylinder 20, a first stage displacer 22, a first stage regenerator 30, a first stage expansion chamber 31, and a first stage cooling stage 35. The first stage cylinder 20 is a hollow airtight container. The first stage displacer 22 is provided in the first stage cylinder 20 so as to be able to reciprocate in an axial direction Q. The first stage regenerator 30 is provided with a first stage regenerative material filled into the first stage displacer 22. Accordingly, the first stage displacer 22 is a container which accommodates the first stage regenerative material. The first stage expansion chamber 31 is formed in the first stage cylinder 20 at the first stage low-temperature end 23b. The first stage expansion chamber 31 changes in volume according to the reciprocating motion of the first stage displacer 22. The first stage cooling stage 35 is mounted outside the first stage cylinder 20 at the first stage low-temperature end 23b.
The first stage cylinder 20 is provided with a first stage cylinder side wall 21 extending along the axial direction Q from the first stage cooling stage 35 to the high temperature side. The first stage displacer 22 is provided with a first stage displacer side wall 24 extending to face the first stage cylinder side wall 21 along the axial direction Q.
In the first stage high-temperature end 23a, a plurality of first stage high temperature-side gas passages 40a are provided in order to cause helium gas to flow into and out from the first stage regenerator 30. In the first stage low-temperature end 23b, a first stage low temperature-side gas flow path 40b is provided in order to cause the helium gas to flow back and forth between the first stage regenerator 30 and the first stage expansion chamber 31. The first stage low temperature-side gas flow path 40b makes the first stage expansion chamber 31 and a low-temperature end of the first stage regenerator 30 communicate with each other.
The first stage low temperature-side gas flow path 40b is provided with a first stage displacer gas passage 40c and a first stage gas flow gap 40d. The first stage displacer gas passage 40c makes the first stage gas flow gap 40d and the low-temperature end of the first stage regenerator 30 communicate with each other. The first stage displacer gas passage 40c has a gap-side opening leading to the first stage gas flow gap 40d, a regenerator-side opening leading to the low-temperature end of the first stage regenerator 30, and a connection path connecting the gap-side opening and the regenerator-side opening.
The first stage gas flow gap 40d is defined by the outer peripheral surface of the first stage displacer side wall 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the first stage cylinder side wall 21. The first stage gas flow gap 40d is continuous to the first stage expansion chamber 31 on the low temperature side in the axial direction Q. On the other hand, on the high temperature side of the first stage gas flow gap 40d in the axial direction Q, a first stage seal 39 which blockades gas flow between the first stage gas flow gap 40d and the first stage high-temperature end 23a is provided. The first stage seal 39 is disposed between the first stage cylinder 20 and the first stage displacer 22. Therefore, the flow of the working gas between the first stage high-temperature end 23a and the first stage low-temperature end 23b goes through the first stage regenerator 30.
The second stage cooling section 50 is provided with a second stage cylinder 51, a second stage displacer 52, a second stage regenerator 60, a second stage expansion chamber 55, and a second stage cooling stage 85. The second stage cylinder 51 is a hollow airtight container. The second stage displacer 52 is provided in the second stage cylinder 51 so as to be able to reciprocate in the axial direction Q along with the first stage displacer 22. The second stage regenerator 60 is provided with a second stage regenerative material filled into the second stage displacer 52. Accordingly, the second stage displacer 52 is a container which accommodates the second stage regenerative material. The second stage expansion chamber 55 is provided in the second stage cylinder 51 at the second stage low-temperature end 53b. The second stage expansion chamber 55 changes in volume according to the reciprocating motion of the second stage displacer 52. The second stage cooling stage 85 is mounted outside the second stage cylinder 51 at the second stage low-temperature end 53b.
The second stage cylinder 51 is provided with a second stage cylinder side wall 56 extending along the axial direction Q from the second stage cooling stage 85 to the high temperature side. The second stage displacer 52 is provided with a second stage displacer side wall 57 extending to face the second stage cylinder side wall 56 along the axial direction Q. A low-temperature end of the second stage displacer side wall 57 is blocked by a second stage displacer bottom portion 58.
In the second stage high-temperature end 53a, a second stage high temperature-side gas passage 40e is provided in order to cause the helium gas to flow into and out from the second stage regenerator 60. In the GM refrigerator 1 shown in the drawings, the second stage high temperature-side gas passage 40e connects the first stage expansion chamber 31 to the second stage regenerator 60. In the second stage low-temperature end 53b, a second stage low temperature-side gas flow path 54a is provided in order to cause the helium gas to flow into and out from the second stage expansion chamber 55. The second stage low temperature-side gas flow path 54a makes the second stage expansion chamber 55 and a low-temperature end of the second stage regenerator 60 communicate with each other.
The second stage low temperature-side gas flow path 54a is provided with a second stage displacer gas passage 54b and a second stage gas flow gap 54c. The second stage displacer gas passage 54b makes the second stage gas flow gap 54c and the low-temperature end of the second stage regenerator 60 communicate with each other.
The second stage gas flow gap 54c is defined by the outer peripheral surface of the second stage displacer side wall 57 and the inner peripheral surface of the second stage cylinder side wall 56. The second stage gas flow gap 54c is continuous to the second stage expansion chamber 55 on the low temperature side in the axial direction Q. On the other hand, on the high temperature side of the second stage gas flow gap 54c in the axial direction Q, a second stage seal 59 which blockades gas flow between the second stage gas flow gap 54c and the second stage high-temperature end 53a is provided. The second stage seal 59 is disposed between the second stage cylinder 51 and the second stage displacer 52. Therefore, the flow of the working gas between the second stage high-temperature end 53a and the second stage low-temperature end 53b goes through the second stage regenerator 60. In addition, the second stage cooling section 50 may be configured such that some gas flows between the second stage high-temperature end 53a and the second stage low-temperature end 53b through the second stage gas flow gap 54c is allowed.
The second stage displacer gas passage 54b is a bent flow path formed in the second stage displacer side wall 57. The gap-side opening 70 and the regenerator-side opening 71 are formed along a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction Q, and the connection path 72 is formed along the axial direction Q.
A position of the gap-side opening 70 in an axial direction is further toward the high temperature side than a position of the low-temperature end of the second stage regenerator 60 in the axial direction. That is, the gap-side opening 70 is located further toward the high temperature side with respect to the axial direction Q than the regenerator-side opening 71.
The second stage cooling stage 85 is provided with a second stage cooling stage side portion 86 and a second stage cooling stage bottom portion 87. As shown in
The second stage gas flow gap 54c is narrower than the second stage displacer gas passage 54b. In such a manner, it is possible to increase the amount of heat exchange between the gas and the second stage cooling stage side portion 86 when the helium gas passes through the second stage gas flow gap 54c. Specifically, the width of the second stage gas flow gap 54c in the radial direction is smaller than the width of the connection path 72 in the radial direction. Further, the width of the second stage gas flow gap 54c may be smaller than the width of the gap-side opening 70 and/or the regenerator-side opening 71 in the axial direction.
As shown in
The GM refrigerator 1 is provided with a driving motor 8 for the reciprocating motion of the first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52. The first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52 integrally reciprocate in the axial direction Q by the driving motor 8. Further, the driving motor 8 is connected to the high-pressure valve 5 and the low-pressure valve 6 such that there is selective switching between the opening of the high-pressure valve 5 and the opening of the low-pressure valve 6 in conjunction with the reciprocating motion. In this way, the GM refrigerator 1 is configured so as to appropriately switch between an intake stroke and an exhaust stroke of the working gas.
An operation of the GM refrigerator 1 configured as described above will be described. First, when the first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52 are respectively located at the bottom dead center or in the vicinity thereof in the first stage cylinder 20 and the second stage cylinder 51, the high-pressure valve 5 is opened. The first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52 move toward the top dead center from the bottom dead center. During this time, the low-pressure valve 6 remains closed.
The high-pressure helium gas flows from the gas compressor 3 into the first stage cooling section 15. The high-pressure helium gas flows from the first stage high temperature-side gas passages 40a into the first stage displacer 22 and is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the first stage regenerator 30. The cooled helium gas flows from the first stage low temperature-side gas flow path 40b into the first stage expansion chamber 31. Some of the high-pressure helium gas having flowed into the first stage expansion chamber 31 flows from the second stage high temperature-side gas passage 40e into the second stage displacer 52. The helium gas is cooled to a lower predetermined temperature by the second stage regenerator 60 and flows from the second stage low temperature-side gas flow path 54a into the second stage expansion chamber 55. As a result, the insides of the first stage expansion chamber 31 and the second stage expansion chamber 55 enter a high pressure state.
If the first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52 respectively reach the top dead center or the vicinity thereof in the first stage cylinder 20 and the second stage cylinder 51, the high-pressure valve 5 is closed. Approximately at the same time as this, the low-pressure valve 6 is opened. The first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52 begin to move toward the bottom dead center from the top dead center.
The helium gas in the first stage expansion chamber 31 and the second stage expansion chamber 55 is decompressed, thereby expanding. As a result, the helium gas is cooled. The helium gas cooled in the first stage expansion chamber 31 enters the first stage regenerator 30 through the first stage low temperature-side gas flow path 40b (that is, the first stage gas flow gap 40d and the first stage displacer gas passage 40c). The first stage cooling stage 35 is cooled by the heat exchange between the gas and the first stage cooling stage 35 due to the gas flow in the first stage expansion chamber 31 and the first stage gas flow gap 40d. Further, the helium gas cooled in the second stage expansion chamber 55 enters the second stage regenerator 60 through the second stage low temperature-side gas flow path 54a (that is, the second stage gas flow gap 54c and the second stage displacer gas passage 54b). The second stage cooling stage 85 is cooled by the heat exchange between the gas and the second stage cooling stage 85 due to the gas flow in the second stage expansion chamber 55 and the second stage gas flow gap 54c. The helium gas cools the first stage regenerator 30 and the second stage regenerator 60 and returns to the gas compressor 3 through the low-pressure valve 6 and the piping 7.
If the first stage displacer 22 and the second stage displacer 52 respectively reach the bottom dead center or the vicinity thereof in the first stage cylinder 20 and the second stage cylinder 51, the low-pressure valve 6 is closed. Approximately at the same time as this, the high-pressure valve 5 is opened again.
In the GM refrigerator 1, the above operation is set as one cycle and the operation is repeated. In this way, the GM refrigerator 1 can absorb heat from an object to be cooled (not shown) thermally connected to each of the first stage cooling stage 35 and the second stage cooling stage 85, thereby cooling the object to be cooled. The temperature of the first stage high-temperature end 23a is, for example, room temperature. The temperature of the first stage low-temperature end 23b and the second stage high-temperature end 53a (that is, the first stage cooling stage 35) is in a range of about 20 K to about 40 K, for example. The temperature of the second stage low-temperature end 53b (that is, the second stage cooling stage 85) is, for example, about 4 K.
In this embodiment, the gap-side opening 70 is located further toward the high temperature side than the low-temperature end of the second stage regenerator 60. In other words, the position of a gas coming-in and -out port on the low temperature side of the second stage displacer 52 is provided further toward the high temperature side than an end portion of the second stage regenerator 60. For this reason, a distance from the gap-side opening 70 to the second stage displacer bottom portion 58 in the axial direction is increased, and thus it is possible to lengthen the second stage gas flow gap 54c in the axial direction Q. The second stage gas flow gap 54c is a gas flow path which causes the gas expanded and cooled in the second stage expansion chamber 55 to flow adjacent to the second stage cooling stage side portion 86 from the second stage expansion chamber 55 to the gap-side opening 70. Since a flow path of the cooled gas is long, the amount of heat exchange between the gas and the second stage cooling stage side portion 86 is increased. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the refrigeration capacity of the GM refrigerator 1.
The advantages of the gas flow path configuration related to this embodiment become clear by comparison with a configuration illustrated in
Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the thickness of the second stage displacer bottom portion 58 in the axial direction is small, it is possible to bring the low-temperature end of the second stage regenerator 60 closer to the second stage expansion chamber 55. A wasteful space occupied by the thick second stage displacer bottom portion 158 as shown in
Changing a viewpoint, in this embodiment, the regenerator-side opening 71 is disposed further toward the low temperature side than the gap-side opening 70, and therefore, it is possible to make the second stage regenerator 60 related to this embodiment longer in the axial direction than the second stage regenerator 160 shown in
The present invention has been described above based on an embodiment. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and various design changes are possible, and it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that various modified examples are possible and such modified examples are also in the scope of the present invention.
For example, as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
A low-temperature end of the displacer main body portion 75 is open, and from the opening portion, the displacer lid portion 76 is inserted into the low-temperature end of the displacer main body portion 75, and the lid threaded portion 78 is screwed to the main body threaded portion 77. In this way, the displacer lid portion 76 is fixed to the displacer main body portion 75.
The displacer lid portion 76 is provided with a displacer bottom portion 79 which blocks the low-temperature end of the displacer main body portion 75, and an inner wall portion 80 which extends from the displacer bottom portion 79 to the high temperature side so as to be inserted into the low-temperature end of the displacer main body portion 75. The regenerator-side opening 71 is provided in a low-temperature end of the inner wall portion 80. The lid threaded portion 78 is provided at an end portion on the high temperature side of the inner wall portion 80. A plurality of regenerator-side openings 71 may be formed along a circumferential direction.
The displacer main body portion 75 is provided with an outer wall portion 81 which surrounds the inner wall portion 80 of the displacer lid portion 76. The gap-side opening 70 is provided in the outer wall portion 81 so as to be located further toward the high temperature side with respect to the axial direction Q than the regenerator-side opening 71. A plurality of gap-side openings 70 may be formed along the circumferential direction. A low-temperature end of the outer wall portion 81 comes into contact with an outer peripheral portion of the displacer bottom portion 79. The main body threaded portion 77 is provided somewhat further toward the high temperature side than the gap-side opening 70. The connection path 72 is formed between the inner wall portion 80 and the outer wall portion 81.
In addition, contrary to the embodiment shown in
In the embodiments described above, the second stage of the regenerative refrigerator of a two-stage type has been described as an example. However, certain embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the gas flow path configuration related to a certain embodiment may be provided in a low-temperature end of the first stage (for example, the first stage low-temperature end 23b) of the regenerative refrigerator of the two-stage type. In this case, the first stage displacer gas passage 40c may be formed as a bent flow path formed in the first stage displacer side wall 24 and/or a first stage displacer bottom portion. For example, a configuration may be made in which a gap-side opening and a regenerator-side opening of the first stage displacer gas passage 40c are formed in the first stage displacer side wall 24 along the radial direction and a connection path of the first stage displacer gas passage 40c is formed in the first stage displacer side wall 24 along the axial direction Q. A position of the gap-side opening in the axial direction is further toward the high temperature side than a position of the low-temperature end of the first stage regenerator 30 in the axial direction. The gap-side opening is located further toward the high temperature side with respect to the axial direction Q than the regenerator-side opening. The gas flow path configuration related to a certain embodiment may be provided in low-temperature ends of both the first stage and the second stage.
Alternatively, the gas flow path configuration related to a certain embodiment may be provided in a low-temperature end of a regenerative refrigerator of a single stage type. Furthermore, the gas flow path configuration related to a certain embodiment may be provided in a low-temperature end of at least one stage of a regenerative refrigerator of a three-stage type (or another multi-stage type).
In the embodiments described above, the GM refrigerator 1 has been described as an example. However, there is no limitation thereto, and the gas flow path configuration related to a certain embodiment may be provided in other types of regenerative refrigerator which are provided with a displacer having a built-in regenerator.
The GM refrigerator 1 or other regenerative refrigerators having the gas flow path configuration related to a certain embodiment may be used as cooling means and liquefaction means in a superconducting magnet, a cryopump, an X-ray detector, an infrared sensor, a quantum photon detector, a semiconductor detector, a dilution refrigerator, a He3 refrigerator, an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator, a helium liquefier, a cryostat, or the like.
It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified into various forms on the basis of the spirit of the invention. Additionally, the modifications are included in the scope of the invention.
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