Lifetime test of the 4K Joule-Thomson cryocooler. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sato, Yoichi; Tanaka, Kosuke; Sugita, Hiroyuki; Shinozaki, Keisuke; Sawada, Kenichiro; Yamasaki, Noriko Y.; Nakagawa, Takao; Mitsuda, Kazuhisa; Tsunematsu, Shoji; Ootsuka, Kiyomi; Kanao, Kenichi; Narasaki, Katsuhiro
• Is Part Of: Cryogenics. Volume 116(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Joule-Thomson cryocooler -- Two-stage Stirling cryocooler -- Lifetime test; JT Joule-Thomson -- JTCH JT compressor at high-pressure stage -- JTCL JT compressor at low-pressure stage -- 2ST Two-stage Stirling -- STC Stirling compressor -- STH Stirling cold head -- STD Stirling displacer -- STB Stirling active balancer -- CPT Capillary tube -- HEX Heat exchanger -- GM Gifford–McMahon -- MLI Multi-layered insulator; Low temperature engineering -- Periodicals; Low temperature research -- Periodicals; 536.56
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cryogenics.2021.103306
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-2275

Abstract

Highlights: The 4K Joule-Thomson cryocooler was tested to verify its lifetime. Over three-year operation was successfully demonstrated. Performance of the subcomponents was evaluated over the long term. The cooling performance diagram with various drive conditions was obtained. Abstract: The 4K Joule-Thomson (JT) cryocooler is a key cryogenic component for future astronomy missions such as ATHENA and LiteBIRD. It was originally developed for SMILES (2009) and upgraded for ASTRO-H/SXS (2016) and SPICA. The 20K two-stage Stirling cryocooler developed for AKARI (2006) was also upgraded and used as a precooler. The operational life is a critical factor in planning long-term missions. An engineering model of the 4K-JT cryocooler was built for continuous operation to verify its lifetime. Testing was done from 2010 to 2019 and successful three-year operation was demonstrated with an extended operation; this was beyond the design specification. This paper describes the overall history of the lifetime test of the 4K-JT cryocooler and an evaluation of the end-of-life cooling performance and performance changes during long-term operation.