Low-Maintenance and Low-Cost Cryocooler

Advances in superconducting technology over the past few years have resulted in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) systems onboard Navy ships. HTS based systems can lower costs dramatically by lowering system weight and power consumption. These HTS systems, however, require efficient, maintenance-free and cost-effective cooling. Depending on ship class and HTS systems, 40 cryocoolers may be necessary on a single ship, which can result in a significant cost impact and a maintenance liability. The current Gifford-McMahon commercial cryocooler delivers 200 W of heat lift at 50ºK; however, it uses about 7.5 kW and has a maintenance cycle of 10,000 hours. Infinia Corporation completed development of a Phase I practical design concept for a fully integrated, low cost, Free piston Stirling Cryocooler (FSC) system that provides in excess of 400 W useful cooling capacity at a cold end temperature of 50ºK, more than doubling the efficiency of current systems while consuming only 7 kW, and also providing a maintenance-free life of 100,000 hours.