A helium refrigerator utilizes a helium compressor to generate high-pressure helium gas. Part of this high-pressure helium undergoes expansion cooling in an expander, while the remaining gas is progressively cooled in multi-stage heat exchangers. Eventually, after throttling through a Joule-Thomson valve, liquid helium is obtained. This liquid helium provides constant temperature cooling in the helium temperature range for user equipment.

The evaporated helium gas returns to the cold box to recover cooling capacity for reuse in a continuous cycle. Such refrigeration equipment is known as a helium refrigerator, essential for maintaining stable low temperatures in various industrial and scientific applications.