An　experimental　investigation　on　the　refrigeration　processes　occurring　in　a　receiving　tube　of　a　thermal　separator　was　conducted　in　order　to　determine　the　primary　factors　affecting　the　refrigeration　performance　of　this　new　type　of　refrigerator.　In　the　current　investigation,　the　gas　in　the　system　is　divided　into　the　oscillating　gas　and　driving　gas.　While　the　compression/expansion　of　the　oscillating　gas　caused　by　the　driving　gas　determines　the　refrigeration　process　occurring　in　the　receiving　tube　of　the　thermal　separator,　the　temperature　gradient　on　the　receiving　tube　significantly　affects　the　acoustic　power　generation　and　refrigeration　performance.　Experimental　results　demonstrate　that　when　the　tube-wall　temperature　difference　near　the　open　end　of　the　receiving　tube　increases,　the　refrigeration　coefficient　increases.　Using　the　information　presented　in　the　paper,　a　new　cryogenic　refrigeration　system　was　developed,　and　the　experimental　data　shows　that　the　temperature　of　the　cryogenic　air　flow　in　the　system　could　reach　-130　degreesC　within　50　min.　It　suggests　that　the　thermal　separator　investigated　in　the　paper　can　be　employed　in　the　field　of　cryogenic　engineering.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.