Patent ID: 6380544
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: F17C,F25J

Abstract:
A germanium gamma-ray detector system comprising:a self-cleaning mixed-refrigerant throttle cycle cooler for circulating a refrigerant through a cooling circuit, said cooler including in said cooling circuit: a compressor for compressing said refrigerant; an oil separator for extracting oil from said refrigerant; an air-cooled condenser for liquefying at least a portion of said refrigerant; a liquid-vapor separator for separating a liquid portion and a vapor portion of said refrigerant; a counter-current heat exchanger for pre-cooling said vapor portion of said refrigerant and for circulating said vapor portion of said refrigerant for heat removal; and a vacuum wall defining a volume in which is received said heat exchanger; a detector capsule defining a thermally insulated volume; and a germanium detector disposed within said detector capsule and in thermal communication with said cooler heat exchanger, said vapor portion of said refrigerant absorbing heat from said germanium detector.