An integrated approach for designing Joule-Thomson refrigerators operating with mixtures

Throttle low-temperature closed-cycle Joule-Thomson refrigerators with low performance (compressor volumetric flow rate less than 25 m3/h) are one of the promising directions of development of refrigeration equipment. These refrigerators operate with mixtures of refrigerants and are capable of thermostatting different samples at the temperature below -160 degrees C. Such refrigerators have several special features so that it would take an integrated approach to design new types of refrigeration equipment based on Joule-Thomson refrigerators. This paper proposes such a method for mixtures with more than three components. The method comprises a design calculation stage and an experimental stage; the stages are interlinked. As a part of considering these design stages, we describe an original method for calculating the multi-component mixed refrigerant charge and the original algorithm of solving the problem of ensuring the estimated circulated composition in the steadystate operation mode in 3-5 iterations. Also, we present the results of experimental verification of the integrated approach to the design for the case of a low-temperature medical refrigerator created based on the original patented layout.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the potential of low-performance throttle low-temperature closed-cycle Joule-Thomson refrigerators in the development of refrigeration equipment, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach to design new types of refrigeration equipment. It proposes a method for designing mixtures with more than three components, involving both design calculation and experimental stages. The results of experimental verification for a low-temperature medical refrigerator based on the original patented layout are presented.