Abstract
The Brilliant Eyes Ten-Kelvin Sorption Cryocooler Experiment (BETSCE) is being developed for microgravity testing during a future space shuttle mission.1 A critical component of this cryogenic refrigerator is the metal hydride sorbent bed assembly (SBA). The SBA consists of three independent hydride beds which include design features to enhance both hydrogen gas flows and thermal transfers during each step of operation. Two beds operate in succession to rapidly absorb hydrogen with LaNi4.8Sn0.2 (at approximately 0.25 MPa) and ZrNi (at less than 0.2 kPa) hydrides. This enables the refrigerator cold stage to achieve the formation of solid hydrogen at < 11K within two minutes from a 65K holding temperature. The third bed uses LaNi4.8Sn0.2 hydride to compresses the hydrogen refrigerant to a nominal 10 MPa for transfer into a storage reservoir so that the Joule-Thomson cooling cycle can be repeated.
The SBA is currently being fabricated by the Aerojet Electronic Systems Division for integration with the BETSCE and initiation of pre-flight ground testing at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in October 1993.
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References
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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Wade, L.A., Bowman, R.C., Gilkinson, D.R., Sywulka, P.H. (1994). Development of Sorbent Bed Assembly for a Periodic 10K Solid Hydrogen Cryocooler. In: Kittel, P. (eds) Advances in Cryogenic Engineering. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, vol 39. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2522-6_183
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2522-6_183
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