KIMM Developed Stirling Refrigerator Core Technology of Ultra-low Temperature Cold Chain

[Photo provided : KIMM]

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (hereinafter KIMM Director Park Sang-jin) under the Ministry of Science and ICT has developed a Stirling refrigerator a key technology for ultra-low temperature cold chains. The ultra-low temperature refrigerating technology using Sterling cycle is more than twice as energy efficient as conventional vapor compression refrigerating technology allowing more precise temperature control and reducing the volume of the device by less than half. Also it has a big advantage that it is an eco-friendly technology that uses helium as a refrigerant.

The research team led by Park Sung-je head of the Energy Systems Research Division of the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials succeeded in developing a Stirling refrigerator for ultra-low temperature refrigerating machine using Stirling cycle. The Stirling refrigerator operates on the principle of pumping heat as two pistons move and repeat the compression and expansion process.

Using this technology the ultra-low temperature cold chain which has recently attracted attention as a technology for transporting the preventive vaccines of the COVID-19 virus can be built more efficiently. In addition it is attracting attention as an ultra-low temperature cooling technology that will generate demand in the future due to the advancement of the semiconductor and display industries.

Compared to conventional vapor compression refrigerators unlike they have several parts such as a compressor a heat exchanger an expander and an oil separator that are connected to pipes the Stirling refrigerator can be miniaturized into a single unit capable of continuous operation control and has a much wider range of temperature control.

In addition helium is used as a refrigerant not refrigerant gas that adversely affects global warming. Helium is a gas with zero GWP and is an absolute eco-friendly refrigerant that surpasses Low GWP refrigerant which is currently being actively examined to be applied in the refrigerator field.

The Energy Systems Research Division of KIMM has been studying Stirling refrigerating technology for the past 20 years and accumulating unrivaled research capabilities in Korea. It has developed a small Stirling cryogenic refrigerator for infrared sensors with Stirling refrigerating technology Stirling refrigerating technology a Stirling engine for home cogeneration and a large Stirling cryogenic refrigerator for cooling liquid nitrogen.

The research results are more meaningful in that searching creations of new industries such as bio and semiconductor industries is possible through expanding the fields where the Stirling refrigerating technology can be applied from the cryogenic field to the ultra-low temperature field.

Park Sung-je head of the Energy System Research Division at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Technology said The ultra-low temperature Stirling refrigerator will serve as the basis for exploring the creation of industries in new fields by expanding the scope of application of the Stirling refrigerator and We will do our best for further research and development such as expanding cooling capacity for ultra-low temperature chillers for the semiconductor production process as well as the bio industry.

The study was conducted with the support of the Ministry of Trade Industry and Energys Industrial Technology Innovation Project and Energy Technology Development Project.

Website: : http://cms.wip-news.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=7641