Stirling Cryogenics - Cryogenic news
News
Closed-loop nitrogen reliquefaction system
Stirling Cryogenics supplied the Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA a closed-loop nitrogen reliquefaction system for its High Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory.
This laboratory develops and tests propulsion devices in space simulation chambers. These chambers are cooled with liquid nitrogen to approximately 80-100 Kelvin.
Picture: Georgia Tech T-40 Hall Effect Thruster
In order not to waste thousands of liters of liquid nitrogen with each test, a closed-loop system was developed which recovers the evaporated nitrogen gas and reliquefies it with the help of two Stirling SPC-4 cryogenerators. This ensures a reliable supply of liquid nitrogen without waste and eliminates associated logistic problems, thus reducing operating cost.
The system consists of two SPC-4 cryogenerators, a storage vessel with a liquid nitrogen pump and a fully automated control scheme.