High Efficiency Pulse Tube Cooler

Abstract

The High Efficiency Cooler (HEC) is being developed in order to provide a long life, low mass, high efficiency space cryocooler suitable for use on lightweight gimbaled optics on surveillance missions such as SBIRS Low. This paper reports on the development and testing ofthis next generation family of space pulse tube cryocoolers which feature high cooling capacity, lower mass, lower EMI and lower self induced vibration than the current state of the art. The HEC achieves low input power and large cooling power because of the efficiency of its pulse tube cold head and highly efficient compressor. The low mass (<3 kg) results chiefly from its next generation Oxford flexure compressor technology reported in a companion paper. The projected long lifetime and high reliability results from use of the proven low complexity flexure compressor and pulse tube cold head. Its low EMI is due to its self-shielding motor. The low self induced vibration results from its internal dynamic balancing. It features the ease of integration into an instrument of a small pulse tube cooler. The cooler achieves its 10 W at 95K cooling requirement with substantial margin while rejecting heat to 300K.