Open cycle Joule-Thomson cryocooling with prior sequencial isentropic expansion

A high pressure stream outlets a gas reservoir and expands at constant entropy through a loaded expander prior to being fed into a Joule-Thomson (J-T) cryocooler. On the one hand, the expanded gas drops its pressure prior to inletting the J-T cryocooler according to the extent of the load. On the other hand, its temperature is lower too. The analysis explores the combined effect of reduced pressure and temperature as function of reservoir's charging pressure. It affects the specific and total cooling capacity and the cooldown period of the cryocooler. The serial arrangement of an expander and cryocooler enables the designer to charge the reservoir above the inversion pressures and still enjoy enhancement of the integral J-T effect of the coolant.