Improvement in performance of cryocoolers as condensers

Modifications to the cold head of a Cryomech PT410 pulse tube cryocooler, being used as a helium condenser, have led to an increase in liquefaction rate from 12.8 to 21.4 L/day. These modifications are the first experimental results from attempts to enhance the use of natural convective heat transfer to precool the helium vapour prior to liquefaction.