Abstract: The performance of a single-stage coaxial pulse tube refrigerator used as an oxygen liquefier is discussed. The liquefier is a half-size laboratory unit for NASA/JSC to demonstrate the technology of liquefying and storing oxygen on Mars. The liquefier would be part of a plant that extracts oxygen from the Martian carbon dioxide atmosphere and stores the oxygen in liquid form. The liquid oxygen could then be used either for the oxidizer of a fuel or for breathing in a manned mission. The pulse tube and regenerator, which are arranged coaxially, provide 18.8 W of cooling at 90 K with 222 W of PV input power. The resulting coefficient of performance (COP) is 20.0% of the Carnot value based on PV input power, among the highest ever achieved. Liquid nitrogen was produced at a rate of 1.75 g/min (2.17 cm 3 /min) with 215 W of PV input power. Oxygen should be produced at about 2.7 g/min (2.37 cm 3 /min). While this cooler is not a flight version, it is a flight-like design similar to what would be used on a mission. This paper presents details of the liquefier geometry and results of thermal performance tests.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 35
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot