PROJECT TITLE: A detachable heat switch for ADRs
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)
Energen, Inc. proposes to develop and demonstrate a high conductance detachable thermal link for operation at sub-Kelvin temperatures using high force, long stroke cryogenic magnetostrictive actuators. Such mechanical heat switches are an important component for calorimeters and adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators (ADRs) which are increasingly being considered for instrumentation and detector cooling. In Phase I of this effort, Energen will design, build and test a prototype heat switch for sub-kelvin operation based on magnetostrictive materials.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
Mechanical heat switches are a critical component of sub-kelvin refrigeration systems such as ADRs. An efficient, high conductance switch enables more efficient heat flow and disengagement and thereby reduces the number for cascaded stages of refrigeration required to achieve a desired cooling capability. ADRs are a critical component on such space missions as the upcoming Constellation-X mission and future space telescopes such as STEPS where the detectors and instruments are being cooled to sub-kelvin temperatures to increase their sensitivity.
Heat switches can be used in cryocooler systems to reduce the cooling time by using the higher capacity of upper stages. Present solution are not detachable and therefore represent a continuous heat leak to the lower stages thereby reducing net cooling capacity.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Chad H. Joshi Energen, Inc. 17 D Sterling Road Billerica , MA 01862 - 2518
NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR
Energen, Inc. 17 D Sterling Road Billerica , MA 01862 - 2518