A 10 Kelvin Pulse Tube Cryocooler Concept

51087-98-I A 10 Kelvin Pulse Tube Cryocooler Concept--Alabama Cryogenic Engineering, Inc., P.O. Box 2470, Huntsville, AL 35804-2470; (205) 536-8629 Dr. John B. Hendricks, Principal Investigator Ms. Mary T. Hendricks, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82522 Amount: $75,000 Sensitive infra-red and radiation detectors require cryogenic cooling. For maximum utility, the cryogenic cooling system should be portable and capable of operation in remote areas. The efficiency of cryogenic refrigerators that operate below 20 degrees Kelvin (20K) is critically dependent on regenerator performance. This project will develop an innovative regenerator concept that will allow reliable, high efficiency, pulse tube cryocoolers to be used with high sensitivity detectors, high vacuum cryopumps, and superconducting filters. In Phase I, a perforated plate regenerator using neodymium metal will be fabricated. If the regenerator parts can be successfully constructed, then the concept feasibility will be demonstrated. Phase I will also produce a design of a prototype cryocooler to be demonstrated in a Phase II follow-on. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Cryocoolers operating at 20 Kelvin and below have important commercial applications. The proposed concept holds promise for lowering the cost of low temperature cryocoolers, and also of making portable operation in remote areas possible._