Development of Neon Compressor for Reverse Brayton Cryocooler

극저온 냉동기용 냉매압축기의 개발

A centrifugal compressor of 50HP for reverse brayton cryocooler using neon as a coolent has been developed. It has relatively low total-to-total pressure ratio but mass flow rate is very small and the voting gas, neon, has greater specific heat ratio than air. It was essential to have very high rotational speed of 100,000 RPM. The efficiency of compressor has great effects on overall system and the COP of cryocooler. To meet the design requirement of the compressor efficiency and to minimized the required rotational speed, highly efficiency impeller having low specific speed was designed. To maintain the overall system efficient high, gas bearing of bump type and high speed permanent magnet synchronus motor was developed and adopted. In this paper, design and performance prediction results of the compressor impeller is presented.