Registration is now open for the “Foundations of Cryocoolers” short course to be held on Monday, June 9, 2014, right before the 18th International Cryocoolers Conference (ICC18). The conference will be held June 9-12 at Syracuse University, Syracuse NY. Conference Chairman is Rich Dausman of Cryomech, Inc. and Co-Chair is Dr. Chao Wang, also of Cryomech.
The “Foundations” short course is designed to be a resource for professionals at all levels. Dr. Ray Radebaugh, consultant to the Physical and Chemical Properties Division, NIST Boulder, is a world-renowned expert in the field of cryogenics. He and Dr. Philip Spoor, Development Engineer at Chart/Qdrive, will discuss the latest developments in cryocooler technology and concepts.
Cryogenic temperatures provide benefits in a wide variety of applications. Depending on the application, these temperatures can vary from about 50 mK to 150K. Cryocoolers are used in most cases to achieve such temperatures.
However, the use of cryocoolers can present some disadvantages that can hinder the development of applications. Develop-ments in cryocoolers in the past 20 years or so have alleviated many of these disadvantages, and have ushered in many more practical applications, especially many space and superconductor applications.
Course Description
This course will review many of the advances that have been made to overcome some of these disadvantages, and then proceed to discuss new areas of research. The course begins with a study of cryocooler fundamentals, followed by a description of how these principles are used in the various types of gas-cycle cryocoolers to achieve temperatures from about 2K to 150K. The operating principles of the major cryocooler types will be discussed, which includes Joule-Thomson, Brayton, Claude, Stirling, Gifford McMahon, and pulse tube systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each type will be discussed and examples of applications of each will be shown.
A major component of all gas-cycle cryocoolers is the compressor. A portion of the afternoon session will focus on compressors, especially those used for Stirling and pulse tube systems in which an oscillating pressure is required. This type of compressor is often called a pressure wave generator or pressure oscillator. The course will cover compressor losses, flexure bearings, acoustic impedance matching to cold heads, some general design guidelines and compressor manufacturing issues.
The course will also cover some basics of linear motor design, and how the various losses in a linear motor (such as ‘iron loss’) manifest as lumped parameters at the PWG level.
A new area to be covered this year pertains to the use of pressure oscillators and other mechanical mechanisms as phase shifters in small pulse tube cryocoolers. Alternative cooling methods to reach the millikelvin temperature range will be briefly mentioned if time permits.
Fees: (in US dollars)
For current CSA members: Early registration (on or before May 9, 2014): $315. Regular registration (after May 9, 2014): $340. Student registration (with valid ID): $190.
For non-members (includes one year of CSA membership): Early registration (on or before May 9, 2014): $375. Regular registration (after May 9, 2014): $400. Student registration (with valid ID): $215
Register at http://2csa.us/ao.
