Experimental Investigation and Thermophysics Analysis of Joule Thomson Cooler Applicable to Infrared Imaging

Mayank Singhal; Rajesh Kumar; RS Walia; S. K. Pandey

doi:10.14429/dsj.73.18686

Mayank Singhal Defence Research and Development Organisation, SSPL Complex, Timarpur, Delhi -110054, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6613-8913
Rajesh Kumar Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi - 110 042, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9839-6001
RS Walia Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh - 160 012, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1201-7892
S. K. Pandey Defence Research and Development Organisation, Metcalfe House, Delhi - 110 054, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2328-9957

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.73.18686

Keywords: JT cooler, Steady-state characteristics, Infrared radiation, Recuperative heat exchanger, Effectiveness

Abstract

Recuperative type of heat exchanger (H-E) based miniature Joule-Thomson (J-T) cooler operated in the steady-state condition is employed extensively in applications towards infrared detectors cooling, thermal imaging cameras, and homing guidance devices in a wide variety of defence projectile systems. In this study, a theoretical thermal design of recuperative H-E for determining a viable geometry using iterative methodology is discussed. A steady-state numerical analysis for the developed geometrical model of the H-E is also reported, along with the experimental studies for typical operating conditions. A custom numerical code using the Runge-Kutta method has been developed in MATLAB, and the results from the code compared with predictions of COMSOL multi-physics are in good agreement. Further, results have been validated proving the efficacy of the theoretical model and custom numerical code developed.