To establish a tool for computer-aided design, a preliminary experimental and numerical study of transient characteristics for a Joule-Thomson (J-T) cryocooler is developed in the present work. A simplified transient one-dimensional model of momentum and energy transport is used to simulate the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The computational results for cool-down time agree with the experimental data. The transient temperature variations of high pressure gas, tube wall, low pressure gas, glass Dewar and mandrel at the grid point near the valve exit are shown. From the spatial temperature distributions of high and low pressure gases along the finned tube at the moment of cool-down, it is proposed that the J-T cooler currently used may be reduced in terms of both size and weight; factors which are very important in a miniature J-T cryocooler.
