Helium phase separation refrigerator
US12372274B1 · kind B1 · utility
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2References
23Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2024 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2044 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B9/14
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cryogenic refrigerator uses a mixture of helium-3 and helium-4. Gaseous helium is pumped from a reservoir containing a liquid mixture of helium-3 and helium-4 to cause cooling and a phase separation into an upper helium-3 rich phase which floats at the top for further evaporation and a lower dilute phase below the helium-3 rich phase. This separation enables operation at temperatures typical of a helium-3 refrigerator while initial liquefaction of the mixture is easier than liquefaction of pure helium-3 and can use a smaller amount of helium-3. Embodiments of the refrigerator can provide continuous cooling.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.