Low-Cost, High-Performance Brayton Cryocooler

The Navy requires affordable and robust cryogenic cooling solutions for use in High Temperature Superconducting magnet technology. While Stirling refrigerators are commonly used in the cryogenics industry, they do not scale well to large capacities and inherently exhibit significant vibration due to their piston-based operation. Therefore, Concepts NREC (CN) proposes to develop a reverse-Brayton cryocooler. Reverse-Brayton cryocoolers offer several unique advantages, such as high-capacity cooling at high efficiency, and long life without maintenance due to wear-free and vibration-free components. Indeed, reverse-Brayton cryocoolers are inherently high-capacity systems, and rely on turbomachinery with noncontact bearings, resulting in wear-free and vibration-free operation. During Phase II, CN proposes to fabricate the cryocooler components, assemble the cooler and conduct testing aimed at demonstrating Technology Readiness Level 5.