Development of a Large‐capacity, Stirling‐type, Pulse‐tube Refrigerator

This paper describes progress towards the development of a large‐capacity, single‐stage, Stirling‐type, pulse‐tube refrigerator (PTR) for high temperature superconducting power applications. Specifically, the design and fabrication of an experimental PTR is described followed by a series of design modifications which have focused on optimization of the flow transition components the hot and cold ends of the pulse‐tube. Computational fluid dynamic models are described and have been used to guide the design modifications. The impact of each modification on cooler performance is discussed. The cooler is instrumented with piston displacement sensors, high‐frequency pressure sensors, and thermocouples along the regenerator wall, within the cold heat exchanger gas volume, and along the pulse‐tube wall. These sensors provide some characterization of the flow distribution in the regenerator and pulse‐tube.