Performance and Reliability Data for a Production Free Piston Stirling Cryocooler

Abstract

The use of a free piston, gas-bearing Stirling cycle cryocooler for commercial high temperature superconducting (HTS) RF filters for the wireless communication industry dictates that the cooler must not only be low cost, but also have long life and high reliability. Performance and reliability data are presented for the cryocooler that is currently in production. About 1260 of these cryocoolers have been deployed and, up to this point in time, have accumulated 11.2 million hours of run time. This cryocooler has very high efficiency (6W lift at 77K, 100W input power, 35°C heat reject temperature) and demonstrated long life. The goal for the life of this cooler was 40,000 hours mean time between failure (MTBF). Actual field reliability data is presented confirming that this goal has been met and is indeed surpassed. There is also data showing the performance characteristics of this cooler as well as data from ongoing, in house life tests.