Project Title:

A High Efficiency, Low Vibration, Long Life, Pulse Tube Spacecraft Cryocooler Employing

08.11-4000A
901411
A High Efficiency, Low Vibration, Long Life, Pulse Tube Spacecraft Cryocooler Employing

Abstract:

Flexural Bearings
This firm will develop and test the Prequalification Model (PM) of a pulse tube cryocooler
employing a dual opposed compressor with flexural bearings. Objective for the CryoflexTM
cryogenic cooler are high efficiency, low vibration, 10- to 15-year life and a design
which can be qualified for space flight. NASA and STC will cooperatively define heat
lifting capacity, source temperature and other critical performance objectives. High
efficiency will be achieved through optimization of system parameters using a validated
numerical optimization method, careful selection and implementation of regenerator
technology, optimized electric motor design, and use of flexural bearings for high
mechanical efficiency. Dual opposed piston technology with gas clearance seals will
provide 10- to 15-year life. Phase I will produce a demonstration and evaluation
unit optimized around a successful existing flexural bearing compressor. Phase II
will produce a fully optimized single or dual stage PM. Phase I and Phase II will
use existing electronics. The existing compressors for Phase I and the existing electronics
for Phases I and II were developed under earlier NASA grant and SBIR funding. Optimization
code validation in Phase I will help to assure Phase II success.
Cryogenic cooler for NASA, military and commercial flight and laboratory applications.
Additional applications include cooling of medical sensors, emerging superconductivity
applications and gas liquefactions for laboratory applications.
pulse tube, space cryocoolers, sensor cooling, flexure bearing, low vibration, long
life, high efficiency