Performance Characterization of the TRW 3503 and 6020 Pulse Tube Coolers

Abstract

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, under joint Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO)/Air Force Phillips Laboratory and NASA/EOS Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) sponsorship, has conducted extensive characterization testing of the TRW Model 3503 and Model 6020 pulse tube cryocoolers. These coolers, built under BMDO/AFPL sponsorship, share a common design that utilizes a single-stage pulse tube integrally mounted onto 10-cc common compression space compressors, and are distinguishable by slight differences in the pulse tube designs which optimized cooler performance for operation at either 35 K or 60 K. The coolers were characterized over a range of heak rejection temperatures and cooler operating parameters (compressor stroke, piston offset, and drive frequency) to understand their effects on cooler thermal performance, cooler-generated vibration and cold block motion, and cooler-generated EMI. Pulse tube parasitic conduction as a function of cold block temperature has been studied for a non-operating cooler; the results show a strong angular dependence relative to gravity. The results of the parametric studies are presented.