A single-stage tandem pulse tube refrigerator has been fabricated, which is driven by two pulsating pressures of opposite phase. The refrigerator is designed as the first stage machine of a 4 K pulse tube refrigerator using a recuperator as the second stage regenerator. In this tandem configuration, two pressure pulsations are generated by a single GMcryocooler compressor. Two identical pulse tube refrigerators are operated with a novel rotary valve that can supply high and low pressures simultaneously. The pressure measurement at the regenerator inlets of the pulse tube refrigerators confirmed the proper pressure wave of two pulsating pressures in opposite phase. Detrimental DC-flow characteristic of double-inlet GM-type pulse tube refrigerator has been suppressed by the newly designed bypass valve mechanism. This new bypass valve set has one more extra degree of freedom than usual ones to eliminate DC-flow easily. This paper describes a novel feature of the bypass valve set and its performance in the experiment. The two twin pulse tube refrigerators in a tandem mode respectively reached 35 K at no load.
This paper addresses technical problems of thermal contact conductance or resistance which inevitably occurs in most cryogenic engineering systems. The main focus of this paper is to examine what kind of physical factors primarily influences the thermal contact resistance and to suggest how it can be minimized. It is a good practical rule that the contact surface must have sub-micron roughness level with no oxide layer and be thinly covered by indium, gold, or Apiezon-N grease for securing sufficient direct contact area. The higher contact pressure, the lower the thermal contact resistance. The general description of this technique has been widely perceived and reasonable engineering results have been achieved in most applications. However, the detailed view of employing these techniques and their relative efficacies to reduce thermal contact resistances need to be thoroughly reviewed. We should consider specific thermal contact conditions, examine the engineering requirements, and execute each method with precautions to fulfil their maximum potentials.
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