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Miniature J-T refrigators using adsorption compressorsMore sophisticated cooling systems for the employed detectors will be needed to satisfy the demand for higher resolution and sensitivity of various detectors used in space missions. The design of the cooling system must take into consideration the unique environment of space vehicles. It is pointed out that a deep space vehicle usually has an ample supply of waste heat from a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) and has a heat sink near zero Kelvin. Passive radiative coolers have been used for cooling temperatures above 90 K. Cooling below 90 K is currently handled by phase changes of solid or liquid cryogens or mechanical refrigeration. However, the weight of the cryogen may be a problem in a long duration space mission. Refrigerators of small cooling capacity are required in many spacecraft applications. For some future NASA missions, a multistage Joule-Thomson refrigerator using adsorption compressors appears particularly attractive. A study is discussed of four different refrigeration stages which use charcoal as the adsorbent. The adsorbed gases are nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, and neon.
Document ID
19830062013
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Chan, C. K.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Tward, E.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Elleman, D. D.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Subject Category
Engineering (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Advances in cryogenic engineering. Volume 27 - Proceedings of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Start Date: August 11, 1981
End Date: August 14, 1981
Accession Number
83A43231
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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