Status of Pulse Tube Developments at CEA/SBT

Interest in the pulse tube comes from its potential for high reliability and low level of induced vibration.

A numerical model has been developed to provide a tool for practical design. It has been successfully validated against the experimental results obtained with a single stage double inlet pulse tube which has achieved a temperature of 28 K at a frequency of a few Hz.

Further developments have demonstrated the capability of operating a pulse tube at higher frequencies in association with a Stirling pressure oscillator.

Current projects include coaxial geometry for miniature pulse tubes with linear resonant pressure oscillators. A 4 K multistaged pulse tube is also in development.