Experimental study of single linear compressor driving two pulse tube refrigerators with adjusting valves

Parallel system in which multi pulse tube cold fingers (PTCFs) driven by one linear compressor can achieve low temperature at different positions, which would reduce the cost and weight of cryocooler. In order to achieve low temperature at different positions, two adjusting valves are installed on the connecting tubes between linear compressor and two PTCFs. By actively adjusting the mass distribution of helium gas in different PTCFs, the cooling capacity and cooling temperature of the two PTCFs may be adjusted. Experimental results show that in the case of greater input electric power, the cooling performance of parallel system is better than that of single system (one compressor driving one PTCF). The adjusting valves can effectively change the cooling performances of two PTCFs in parallel system. However, the adjusting valves will bring large pressure drop, which results in deterioration of refrigeration performance of parallel system.