The Effect of Helium Gas on the Cooling Characteristics of a Beta-Type Stirling Cooler Converted from a Beta-Type Stirling Engine

Abstract

In this study, the cooling characteristics of a regeneratorless beta-type Stirling cooler converted from a beta-type Stirling engine were investigated. Helium was used as the working fluid to examine the effect of its superior thermodynamic properties, such as low viscosity and high thermal conductivity, on the minimum temperature achievable by the cooler. Experiments were conducted at charge pressures of 1, 2, and 3 bar within a speed range of 300 to 900 rpm. The lowest stable cold-end temperature was measured as −17.67 oC at a charge pressure of 3 bar and 500 rpm. This corresponds to a significant temperature difference of 41.07 oC relative to an ambient temperature of 23.4 oC. The results demonstrate that helium, as the working fluid, enables the Stirling cycle to successfully reach sub-zero temperatures. Schmidt thermodynamic analysis and pressure–volume (P–V) diagrams helped to understand the theoretical potential of the cooling characteristic data. Overall, the findings clearly reveal the high cooling potential of helium.

Keywords

• Stirling engine
• Stirling cooler
• Cooling machine
• Helium

Beta Tipi Stirling Motorundan Dönüştürülmüş Beta Tipi Bir Stirling Soğutucunun Soğutma Karakteristiğine Helyum Gazının Etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, beta tipi bir Stirling motorundan dönüştürülmüş, rejeneratörsüz bir beta tipi Stirling soğutucunun soğutma karakteristiği incelenmiştir. Çalışma akışkanı olarak helyum kullanılarak, helyumun düşük viskozite ve yüksek termal iletkenlik gibi üstün termodinamik özelliklerinin soğutucunun minimum sıcaklığı üzerindeki etkisi araştırılmıştır. Deneyler 1, 2 ve 3 bar şarj basınçlarında, 300 rpm ile 900 rpm devir aralığında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen en düşük kararlı soğuk uç sıcaklığı, 3 bar şarj basıncında ve 500 rpm’de -17,67 oC olarak ölçülmüştür. Bu sıcaklık değeri, 23,4 oC ortam sıcaklığına karşılık 41,07 oC’lik kayda değer bir sıcaklık farkı oluşturmaktadır. Bu sonuçlar, helyum çalışma akışkanının Stirling çevrimini başarıyla sıfırın altı sıcaklıklara taşıdığını göstermektedir. Schmidt termodinamik analizi ve basınç–hacim (P–V) diyagramları, soğutma karakteristiği verilerinin teorik potansiyelini anlamada yardımcı olmuştur. Sonuçlar, helyumun yüksek soğutma potansiyelini açıkça ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Stirling motoru
• Stirling soğutucu
• Soğutma makinesi
• Helyum

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