Safe, oil-lubricated helium condenser with oil-free gas

摘要

In an oil-lubricated helium compressor unit (10), the adsorber (34) can retain all of the oil that might be transferred from the compressor (12) to the adsorber (34) before the system shuts down. No oil is ever transferred or transferable to, for example, the expander in a GM type refrigeration system connected to the unit (10). The compressor (12) itself will shut down because of a protective switch or seize for lack of oil before any oil carries outside the compressor unit (10). The unit (10) and the connected refrigeration system can run for more than a selected design life before the compressor (12) shuts down because the limit of oil in the adsorber (34) has been reached. The adsorber (34) can retain as much oil as might leave the compressor (12) over the life of the system plus a safety margin of at least 25%. The adsorber (34) need not be serviced or replaced for the life of the system. IMAGE