MEMBRANE-DRIVEN CRYOCOOLER COMPRESSOR

In this proposal we present a novel mechanical cryocooler concept that has high potential for long life. Its key feature is the use of an unique membrane-driven compressor that has no life-limiting moving parts such as those present in conventional piston-driven compressors. The use of a powder-membrane in the compressor eliminates the clearance seals, moving pistons, shafts and piston-supports (such as flexures) that havde consistently been major sources of poor and degraded performance in conventional cryocoolers. The powder-membrane will be vibrated by a unique linear vibrating motor to create a lens-shaped working volume. This working volume generates a pressure waveform which is used to oscillate the displacer and hence produce cold. In Phase I we propose to develop design programs for these key components and use them to fabricate a bread-board model of the membrane-driven compressor. This compressor will be tested for reliability and consistency to establish the practical merit of this concept.