Electric Free-Piston Stirling Refrigerator for Combat Medical Units

Sunpower, Inc., proposes to demonstrate an electrically-driven free-piston Stirling refrigerator for Combat Medical Units. This silent, energy-efficient, highly reliable refrigerator will provide required cooler and freezer compartment temperatures without using a traditional compressor or CFCs. The machine's linear motor and its associated control electronics are capable of utilizing electric power supplied by military vehicles, electrical generators, or domestic or foreign utilities. Phase I will demonstrate the electric free-piston Stirling refrigerator design approach by integrating an available highly developed electrically driven free-piston Stirling cooler with an appropriate heat absorbing exchanger and an insulated compartment. The thermal performance of this refrigerator, including tempaeratures produced, energy efficiency, cooling capacity and capacity modulation, will be tested under Combat Medical Unit conditions. Phase I results will be the basis for the construction and testing of additional engineering development models in Phase II.