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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/ National Bureau of Standards

Cryogenic Refri

an Updated Survey

; U5753

00.655
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

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1 4 1974

\iO

75

55

t

Cryogenic Refrigerators

An Updated Survey

T. R. Strobridge

Cryogenics Division

Institute for Basic Standards

5. National Bureau of Standards

Boulder, Colorado 80302

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Frederick B. Dent, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS. Richard W Roberts. Director

Issued June 1974
National Bureau of Standards Technical Note 655

Nat. Bur. Stand. (US.), Tech. Note 655, 12 pages (June 1974)

CODEN: NBTNAE

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402

(Order by SD Catalog. No. CI 3.46:655 *.30)
Cryogenic Refrigerators - An Updated Survey

T. R. Strobridge

In 1969, we gave efficiency, weight, volume, and

cost data for 95 cryogenic refrigerators and liquefiers

excluding air separation plants. Recently, the survey

was repeated. The original data and those for 49 additional refrigerators and liquefiers are presented spanning

refrigeration capacities from 0. 2 to 1()6 W and temperatures from 1. 85 to 90 K. Generally, there is no change

in the trends exhibited by the older data except that the

high temperature, low capacity new units seem to be

larger, heavier and slightly less efficient than in prior

years. Presumably, these effects are due to efforts to

increase useful life and reliability. Costs remain the

same as predicted before even though no dollar value

adjustments were made.

Key words: Cost; cryogenic refrigerators; efficiency;

volume; weight.

Late in 1968, we started collecting data on the efficiency, weight,

volume, and cost of cryogenic refrigerators and liquefiers excluding

air separation plants. The data on 95 units from the U. S. and Europe

were presented in early 1969 [1]. There has been sufficient continuing

interest shown so that the survey has been updated. Information on

49 other refrigerators and liquefiers is presented here along with the

original data and portions of the original text.

Although there is considerable scatter in the data, significant

trends can be identified that yield values useful for estimating purposes.

The efficiency data show the amount of input power required by a refrigerator and thus give one part of the operating expense. The mass of a unit

may not be of concern to an accelerator designer interested in large units,

but it can be important in the applications calling for low cooling capacity

aboard spacecraft or airplanes. Space occupied by the refrigerator can
be important, especially in the premium areas near accelerators, in

experimental halls, in spacecraft and airplanes or on ships. The

interest in capital cost is obvious since this type of machinery is not

inexpensive. In all of the charts which follow, lines have been drawn

through the data -which represent the author's judgment of an average

and are thus subject to arbitration. The general shape of the curves

can be predicted from a knowledge of the characteristics of low temperature refrigerators, but since there is wide variation in the data any

quantitative interpretation must be approached with caution.

Through the second law of thermodynamics, the minimum power

required to produce a unit of refrigeration under ideal conditions is

given by

W \ T - T

_£_) _2 m

Q / Carnot T

y

'

where W is the net input power required (power for compression

minus the power produced by expanders if any), Q is the refrigeration

produced, T is the temperature of the surroundings, nominally 300 K,

o and T is the desired refrigeration temperature. As T becomes smaller,

the specific power requirement increases rapidly as seen in table 1 which also gives the ideal power requirement for liquefaction. T in table 1 is

taken to be the normal boiling temperature of the fluids.

The difference in input power required to cool an object with liquid

produced by a liquefier or with a continuously operating refrigerator is

evident. More power is required by a liquefier because when the liquid

is evaporated at another location, the cold effluent vapor cannot be used

in the liquefaction process to help cool the feed gas stream. An ideal

helium liquefier would require a power input of 2 36 W to produce liquid
at the rate of 1 liter per hour. The heat of vaporization of helium is

low and 1 W will evaporate 1. 38 liters per hour. Therefore, 326 W

would be required to power a liquefier whose liquid product was used

to absorb a 1 W heat load at 4. 2 K. An ideal refrigerator would require

70. 4 W input power to produce 1 W of refrigeration at the same temperature level. This difference in power requirement does not mean that

a refrigerator should be chosen over a liquefier for all cooling applications; there are conceivable circumstances in which a liquefier would

be the better choice.

Table 1. Reversible power requirements.

Fluid T Refrigeration Liquefaction Evap orating Liquid

(K) (W/WJ (Whr/liter) Refrige ration * (W/W)

Helium 4. 2 70. 4 236 326

Hydrogen 20. 4 13. 7 278 31. 7

Neon 27. 1 10. 1 447 15. 5

Nitrogen 77.4 2. 88 173 3. 87

Fluorine 85. 2. 53 238 3. 26

Argon 87. 3 2. 44 185 2. 95

Oxygen 90. 2 2. 33 195 2. 89

Methane 111. 5 1. 69 129 2. 15

" Obtained by dividing the ideal liquefaction power requirement by the

heat of vaporization of the fluid.
When comparing the efficiencies of low temperature refrigerators,

it is informative to examine the ratio

Wc_ Q )

Percent Carnot = arno ^ 1QQ ^ ^

Wc Q )./Actual

This ratio indicates the extent to which the actual refrigerator deviates

from ideal performance. The same ratio is formed for liquefiers using

the values from table 1 and the actual power consumption per liter per

hour. The capacity of the liquefiers included in the data has been converted to equivalent refrigeration capacity by determining the percent of

Carnot performance that they achieve as liquefiers and then calculating

the refrigeration output of a refrigerator operating at the same efficiency

with the same input power. In some instances equivalent refrigeration

capacity was given by the manufacturers and was used directly. In all

instances, the input power was taken as the installed drive power, not

the power measured at the input to the drive motor.

In figure 1, the percent of Carnot given by eq (2) is plotted as a function of refrigeration capacity in watts. The largest of the new units

in the 1. 8 to 9 K temperature range is a proposed liquefier. Actually,

the liquefier is now operating at reduced capacity (the equivalent of

3420 W) but is designed for the greater capacity at higher flow rates.

The original curve is unchanged as the new data show no significant

different trend.

Historically, the contention has been that higher temperature

refrigerators (or liquefiers) are more efficient. The data for refrigeration temperatures between 10 and 30 K (and 30 to 90 K) refute that notion
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at least when presented on this common basis. To be sure, less input

power is required to produce the same number of watts of cooling at

higher temperatures, but the losses relative to ideal are proportionally

the same. For many of the refrigerators of less than 10 kW capacity,

liquid nitrogen precooling consumption rates are available, but the

equivalent power that would be consumed if the precooling were provided

by a closed cycle refrigerator on site has not been included in the efficiency computation. Therefore, the efficiencies of a number of the

units would be slightly lower than shown if this factor were included.

The largest of the units shown are high capacity hydrogen liquefiers.

Here nitrogen temperature precooling is commonly provided by closed

cycle nitrogen refrigerators and the input power requirements are known

and have been included. This means that the values are more nearly

true and are not slightly biased as are some of those at lower capacities.

Performance data for higher temperature plants, in the 30 - 90 K

range, are not as numerous but the trend is obvious. In the 10 to 1000 W

range, indeed efficiencies are higher, but the estimate given by a supplier

of large facilities (shown at the right as off scale) is comparable to lower

temperature plants. At lower capacities, the deviation in performance

is an entire decade. It must be noted that these are units of very low input

power and it is not surprising to find such variation. In spite of the

scatter in the data, it is clear that very small low temperature refrigerators are subject to proportionally higher losses than the larger units.

Many of the low capacity refrigerators have been intended for

military or space flight missions. Emphasis was necessarily placed on

light, small sized machines. Many of the refrigerators in the original

survey (1. 8 - 9 K) are shown smaller and lighter than the average at

that time, figures 2 and 3. This trend has continued. Data recently

collected for the 30 to 90 K temperature range, however, show that
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Figure 2. Volume of low temperature refrigerators and liquefiers

as a function of refrigeration capacity.
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Figure 3. Mass of low temperature refrigerators and liquefiers as a function of refrigeration capacity.
many of the new low capacity units are heavier and larger than the older

refrigerators. Many of these new machines use thermodynamic cycles

that have not been common in the past. It may be that the demonstrated

weight and volume increases are caused by lack of refinement with the

new cycles; or it may be that larger heavier structures have been

necessary to reach required machine lifetime levels and/or lower costs.

Some time ago the line shown in figure 4 was established for 4 K

refrigerators with only a few points. The curve adequately represents

subsequent additions of data. Notice that the abscissa is now input

power, not refrigeration capacity. The input power at any refrigeration

capacity can be determined from the efficiency data. The cost of many

classes of machinery is proportional to the 0. 7 power of the installed

input power. Hydrogen temperature units and even higher temperature

refrigerators and liquefiers follow the trend quite well. These data

indicate that to a first approximation for refrigerators and liquefiers

operating in the range 1. 8 to 90 K,

C = 6000 P°*

?

, (3)

where C is the cost in dollars and P is the installed input power in

kilowatts. Adjustments have not been made for the change in value of

the dollar since the data are so scattered.

The several million dollar units in the upper right are typical of

large hydrogen liquefiers; here the costs are hard to define because in

some instances, the equipment for producing hydrogen feed gas is

included in the cost figures. Again, it is emphasized that the charts

are intended for estimating purposes only.

Existing low temperature refrigerators cover a wide range of

capacity and temperatures and the performance (input power) can be

fairly well predicted. It does not appear that any significant increase
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in efficiency has been achieved for the entire class of devices in the

past few years although in certain instances good performance has

been realized. The more efficient facilities are in the large sizes

and use complex thermodynamic cycles. Perhaps the same performance potential exists in smaller units, but costs might be prohibitive

and the savings in electrical power would not justify the greater capital

outlay. The trends are identifiable in the mass and volume characteristics and there is the potential for reducing both, perhaps with an

increase in price. Capital cost should be predictable for standard

types of refrigerators at least. Experience shows that special

requirements are expensive but the field is quite competitive as indicated by the twenty- one European prices which are included.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to acknowledge the information and assistance

contributed by the following persons in private communications used

to update this survey:

Coombs, G. P. , Gifford, W. E. , Habliitzel, J. , Hunt, R. S. , Kercheval, J. E. , Senn, R. J. , Steel, A. J. , and Thibault, J. J. Reference

1. Strobridge, T. R. , IEEE Trans, on Nuclear Sci. , Vol. NS-16,

No. 3, Part 1, 1104 (June 1969).

11

3rmNBS-114A (1-71) 2. Gov't Accession No.

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO.

NBS TN-655

3. Recipient's Accession No.

TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Cryogenic Refrigerators - An Updated Survey

5. Publication Date June 1974

6. Performing Organization Code

AUTHOR(S)

Thomas R. Strobridge

8. Performing Organization

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 2750101

'. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 11. Contract/Grant No. Washington, D.C. 20234

2. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address

Same as Item 9.

13. Type of Report & Period

Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

5. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

6. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

In 1969, we gave efficiency, weight, volume, and cost data

for 95 cryogenic refrigerators and liquefiers excluding air separation plants. Recently, the survey was repeated. The original data

and those for 49 additional refrigerators and liquefiers are presented

spanning refrigeration capacities from 0. 2 to 10 W and temperatures

from 1. 85 to 90 K. Generally, there is no change in the trends

exhibited by the older data except that the high temperature, low

capacity new units seem to be larger, heavier and slightly less

efficient than in prior years. Presumably, these effects are due

to efforts to increase useful life and reliability. Costs remain the

same as predicted before even though no dollar value adjustments

were made.

17. KEY WORDS (Alphabetical order, separated by semicolons)

Cost; cryogenic refrigerators; efficiency; volume; weight.

18. AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

[^UNLIMITED.

I I FOR OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTION. DO NOT RELEASE

TO NTIS.

19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

UNCLASSIFIED

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

UNCLASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

12

22. Price

$ . 30

USCOMM-DC 66244-P71

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6GP0 1974— 784-577/1273 REGION NO. 8