AN INNOVATIVE STIRLING CYCLE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM USING FLEXURAL BEARINGS

PHASE I WILL DEVELOP AND TEST A PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE DEMONSTRATION MODEL OF A STIRLING CYCLE REFRIGERATOR OR HEATPUMP THAT USES NO CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS AND THAT EMPLOYS FLEXURAL SUPPORT OF BOTH THE COMPRESSOR ARMATURE AND THE DISPLACER. FLEXURAL SUPPORTS ARE LOW COST ALTERNATIVES TO GAS BEARINGS THAT CAN PROVIDE VERY LONG LIFE AND HIGH R RELIABILITY WITH NO RUBBING SURFACES. THE DEVICE WILL PROVIDE HIGHER CAPACITY THAN PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED IN A FLEXURALLY SUPPORTED STIRLING CYCLE DEVICE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH DOE, AN APPROPRIATE APPLICATION WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE DEVICE. THE PHASE I OBJECTIVES ARE TO (1) ASSESS SIZE LIMITS OF FLEXURALLY SUPPORTED DEVICES, (2) SELECT A TARGET APPLICATION, (3) DEVELOP A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, (4) PRODUCE A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN LAYOUT, AND (5) SUMMARIZE PROJECTED PERFORMANCE FOR THE PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE DEVICE. THE PHASE II OBJECTIVES ARE TO COMPLETE DETAIL DESIGN, FABRICATION, ASSEMBLY, TEST, AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE DEVICE.