Accession Number:

AD0917677

Title:

Ultraminiature Vuilleumier Refrigeration System.

Descriptive Note:

Final technical rept. 1 Jul 71-8 Jan 73,

Corporate Author:

HUGHES AIRCRAFT CO CULVER CITY CA AIR DEFENSE ELECTRO-OPTICAL LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Berry, Robert L.

Report Date:

1974-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

133.0

Abstract:

This report describes the development of an ultraminiature, Vuilleumier VM cycle, cryogenic refrigeration system for infrared type systems. The refrigerator that was designed and fabricated is a liquid cooled machine producing 0.75 watt of refrigeration at 77 K in an ambient environment of 80 F. The system consists of the refrigerator, a solid state electronic temperature controller, and an auxiliary cooling supply. Major design objectives were to make the refrigerator as small as possible and adaptable to gimbaled applications. The refrigerator consists of a small thermal compressor, which would normally be mounted off-gimbal, and a pneumatically driven expander, which would normally be mounted on-gimbal. A single capillary line 0.030-inch I.D. x 12-inch length connects the two elements. The compressor weighs less than 4 lb and fits in an envelope 2 inches in diameter x 3.4 inches long the expander weighs less than 0.05 lb and fits in an envelope 0.75 inch in diameter x 1.6 inches long. Author

Descriptors:

• (*REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS
• MINIATURIZATION)
• AIRBORNE
• INFRARED EQUIPMENT
• INFRARED DETECTORS
• GIMBALS
• REFRIGERANT COMPRESSORS
• LIQUID COOLING
• TEMPERATURE CONTROL
• POWER SUPPLIES
• ALTITUDE
• AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT
• SPECIFICATIONS
• CYCLES
• VOLUME
• WIRING DIAGRAMS
• CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS
• HEAT SINKS
• CRYOGENICS
• COOLING

Subject Categories:

• Air Conditioning, Heating, Lighting and Ventilating
• Infrared Detection and Detectors

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE