The present invention pertains to a cryogenic refrigeration system and method for cryogenic refrigeration of a process medium. In particular, the invention relates to a counter flow heat exchanger configuration and pressure regulator arrangement to reduce exergetic losses in the system. Accordingly, a cryogenic refrigeration system is suggested comprising a conduit (2) configured to provide a supply flow (10) of a process medium, a counter flow heat exchanger (3), which is thermally coupled to a heat exchanger section (2A) of the conduit (2) and comprises an inlet (34) at a cold end (30) of the heat exchanger (3) and an outlet (36) at the warm end (32) of the heat exchanger (3), a first pressure regulator (4), which is in fluid communication with the conduit (2) and is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger section (2A), and a vessel (5), which is in fluid communication with the conduit (2) and is arranged downstream of the first pressure regulator (4), wherein the vessel (5) is in fluid communication with the inlet (34) of the heat exchanger (3) and is configured to provide an evaporated gas flow from the process medium to the inlet (34) of the heat exchanger (3). Furthermore, the conduit (2) is free of any evaporation heat exchanger upstream of the heat exchanger section (2A) of the conduit (2).

The apparatus is for use with an electron microscope, a sample, a source of high pressure gas and a vacuum pump system. The apparatus includes a holder part a body part and a Joule-Thomson refrigerator. The holder part is adapted to receive the sample and adapted to present the sample to the microscope for inspection in use. The body part defines a cavity, the cavity being evacuated by die vacuum pump system for use. The refrigerator is disposed within the cavity and thermally-coupled to the holder part, the refrigerator being coupled in use to the source of high pressure gas to maintain the sample at about a predetermined temperature.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an actuation system for a guided munition, includes a reservoir disposed in a guided munition body housing a compressible fluid in a compressed state, a fluid path connecting the reservoir in fluid communication with a heat exchange volume, a throttling orifice disposed in the fluid path configured to expand the compressible fluid, and an actuation path connecting the heat exchange volume in fluid communication with a moveable component. The actuation path can be configured to supply pneumatic pressure to the moveable components.

A cryostat arrangement (1) with a vacuum tank (2) and a cryogenic tank (3) are provided. The vacuum tank has at least one neck tube, (4) leading to the cryogenic tank, with a supporting structure (4a) and an outer tube (4b) surrounding the supporting structure. The neck tube provides a connection from the cryogenic tank to a region outside the vacuum tank to allow cryogenic fluid to flow from the cryogenic tank into a region outside the vacuum tank or vice versa. The neck tube mechanically suspends the cryogenic tank inside the vacuum tank, and parts of the neck tube form a diffusion barrier between the interior of the cryogenic tank and the interior of the vacuum tank. The neck tube can connect to other components of the cryostat arrangement in a fluid-tight manner. Heat input from the neck tubes into the cryogenic tank can be considerably reduced thereby.

A cryogenic cooling device includes: a cooling system including a cryocooler that includes a precooling stage configured to cool a refrigerant, a cooling stage that is disposed to be separated from the precooling stage, and a refrigerant circulation circuit configured to cool the cooling stage with the refrigerant; a fixation portion that is fixed with respect to the precooling stage, is thermally coupled to the precooling stage, and is cooled by the precooling stage; and a cooling stage support member that connects the cooling stage to the fixation portion such that displacement of the cooling stage with respect to the fixation portion is allowed.

A refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger including a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet, an evaporator including an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, a first circulation pump including a first circulation pump inlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger outlet and a first circulation pump outlet, a second circulation pump including a second circulation pump inlet and a second circulation pump outlet, a leakage pump including a leakage pump inlet and a leakage pump outlet, and a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX includes a first PX inlet fluidly coupled to the first circulation pump outlet and the leakage pump outlet, a first PX outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger inlet, a second PX inlet fluidly coupled to the evaporator outlet, and a second PX outlet fluidly coupled to the leakage pump inlet and the second circulation pump inlet.

A linear compressor may include a driving coil, a mover, a piston, and a coupling. The mover may be positioned adjacent the driving coil. The driving coil may be operable to reciprocate the mover relative to the driving coil. The piston may have a piston head and a cylindrical side wall. The inner surface of the cylindrical side wall may define a ball seat. The coupling may extend between the mover and the piston. The coupling may include a flex mount and a ball nose.

A condensing device includes: a gas separator, to which a mixed gas is to be supplied, and which is configured to separate the mixed gas into a first gas and a second gas; a decompression device configured to decompress the second gas; and a cooling device configured to cool the second gas, in which the condensing device is configured so that, through the gas separator, Joule-Thomson coefficient of the second gas becomes larger than Joule-Thomson coefficient of the mixed gas.