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LIQUID HELIUM IS STORED IN THERMALLY-INSULATED DEWAR VESSEKS AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES.

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 2499
Amount: $50,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1985
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
Wesern Research Center 7662 East Gray Road
Scottsville, AZ 85260
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 DR. GRAHAM WALKER
 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
 (602) 998-1856
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

LIQUID HELIUM IS STORED IN THERMALLY-INSULATED DEWAR VESSEKS AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURES. NATURAL HEAT LEAK THROUGH THE WALLS OF THE DEWAR CAUSES SOME OF THE LIQUID TO BOIL OFF. THE COLD VAPOR MAY BE USED TO COOL THE SHIELDS OF THE DEWAR AND SOME MAY BE USED TO COOL APARATUS OR EQUIPMENT ADJACENT TO THE DEWAR. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO RELATE THE COOLING GAS REQUIREMENTS WITH THE RATE OF LIQUID BOIL-OFF. A REFRIGERATOR CAPABLE OF RELIQUEFYING THE VAPOR IS THEREFORE REQUIRED. THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR A COMPACT, RELIABLE LOW-MAINTENANCE REFRIGERATOR CAPABLE OF RELIQUEFYING THE HELIUM BOIL-OFF VAPOR AND RETURNING IT TO THE CRYOGENIC DEWAR STORAGE VESSEL AND FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTARY COOLING TO THE DEWAR SHIELDS. THE SYSTEM IS TRIPLE-FLUID LINDE-HAMPSON MACHINE WITH JOULE-THOMSON EXPANSIONS OF THE ARGON, NEON AND HELIUM WORKING FLUID. HELIUM BOIL-OFF VAPOR IS THE WORKING FLUID OF THE LOW-TEMPERATURE STAGE. NOVEL FEATURES OF THIS SYSTEM INCLUDE AN INTEGRAL THREE-FLUID, TWO-STAGE COMPRESSOR WITH HYDRAULIC DRIVE AND A HELIUM TURBO- EXPANDER TO ACHIEVE LOW HELIUM PRECOOLING TEMPERATURES AND TO ACHIEVE A PRESSURE BOOST TO THE HELIUM COMPRESSOR INPUT.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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