Biological refrigeration sytem

Abstract

A refrigeration system especially useful for refrigerating biological samples wherein a cryocooler, such as one employing a pressure wave from a pressure wave generator, is used to generate refrigeration for cooling liquid coolant or purging fluid, which is employed within hollow structures bordering an enclosed space of a storage unit or within the storage space of a storage unit and is subsequently cleaned of contaminants purged from the storage space.

1 . A refrigeration system comprising: 
 (A) a storage unit comprising at least one hollow structure bordering an enclosed space, said hollow structure containing liquid coolant;    (B) a cryocooler having a cold head comprising a cold heat exchanger, an aftercooler and a regenerator; and    (C) means for passing refrigeration from the cold head to the liquid coolant.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the means for passing refrigeration from the cold head to the liquid coolant comprises means for passing liquid coolant from the storage unit to the cryocooler and means for passing liquid coolant from the cryocooler to the storage unit.  
   
   
       3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the liquid coolant is a multicomponent refrigerant fluid.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1  wherein the cryocooler is a pulse tube refrigerator comprising a pressure wave generator, and a pulse tube containing working gas for receiving a pressure wave from the pressure wave generator.  
   
   
       5 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A refrigeration system comprising: 
 (A) a storage unit comprising at least one hollow structure bordering an enclosed space which contains biological material, said hollow structure containing liquid coolant;    (B) a cryocooler having a cold head comprising a cold heat exchanger, an aftercooler and a regenerator; and    (C) means for passing refrigeration from the cold head to the liquid coolant.    
   
   
       13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12  wherein the means for passing refrigeration from the cold head to the liquid coolant comprises means for passing liquid coolant from the storage unit to the cryocooler and means for passing liquid coolant from the cryocooler to the storage unit.  
   
   
       14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12  wherein the liquid coolant is a multicomponent refrigerant fluid.  
   
   
       15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12  wherein the cryocooler is a pulse tube refrigerator comprising a pressure wave generator, and a pulse tube containing working gas for receiving a pressure wave from the pressure wave generator.