Miniaturized, Efficient, Vibration Hardened Drive and Control Electronics For Compressors

Compact compressors have recently undergone remarkable progress in long life, mechanical efficiency, and vibration tolerance. Their control electronics require further improvement to match that progress. HYPRES, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin (LM), is developing a 4.5K 4-stage pulse tube cryocooler to be integrated with superconducting electronics for communications applications. We propose to develop a novel set of drive electronics with dual outputs and on-board calibration tools to continuously optimize the operation of the cryocooler. The electronics will be designed to work efficiently with the aforementioned pulse tube cryocooler expected to be operational at HYPRES by early 2007. The design will ensure that vibration is minimized and the power efficiency is significantly enhanced. Options such as switching power amplifiers possessing close to 100% efficiency, and drive technology such as Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) will be considered during the Phase I project whose goal is a complete circuit architecture for the drive electronics as well as sensor and control circuitry for optimum operation of compressors. We will collaborate closely with LM and utilize their expertise in this effort. Phase II will produce a complete prototype ready for commercial manufacture.