Performance modeling of optical refrigerators

Optical refrigeration using anti-Stokes fluorescence in solids has several advantages over more conventional techniques including low mass, low volume, low cost and no vibration. It also has the potential of allowing miniature cryocoolers on the scale of a few cubic centimeters. It has been the topi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cryogenics (Guildford) 2006-02, Vol.46 (2), p.176-182
Main Authors: Mills, Gary, Mord, Allan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Cryogenics
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Heat transfer
Laser
Modeling
Optical refrigeration
Refrigerating engineering
Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation
Techniques. Materials
Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Optical refrigeration using anti-Stokes fluorescence in solids has several advantages over more conventional techniques including low mass, low volume, low cost and no vibration. It also has the potential of allowing miniature cryocoolers on the scale of a few cubic centimeters. It has been the topic of analysis and experimental work by several organizations. In 2003, we demonstrated the first optical refrigerator. We have developed a comprehensive system-level performance model of optical refrigerators. Our current version models the refrigeration cycle based on the fluorescent material emission and absorption data at ambient and reduced temperature for the Ytterbium–ZBLAN glass (Yb:ZBLAN) cooling material. It also includes the heat transfer into the refrigerator cooling assembly due to radiation and conduction. In this paper, we report on modeling results which reveal the interplay between size, power input, and cooling load. This interplay results in practical size limitations using Yb:ZBLAN.
ISSN:0011-2275
1879-2235
DOI:10.1016/j.cryogenics.2005.11.015