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Low-Cost Cascade J-T Cryocooler with an Oil-Free Compressor

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Office of the Secretary of Defense
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 32621
Amount: $99,649.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1996
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 71 Etna Road
Hanover, NH 03755
United States
DUNS: 072021041
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 (603) 643-3800
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

We propose to develop an inexpensive, high performance closed-cycle cascade J-T cryocooler. The cryocooler will be based on a high pressure ratio, oil-free, metal diaphragm compressor. This innovative compressor will be compact, inexpensive and extremely reliable. The compressor can either be used with single-stage mixed-gas or multi-stage cascade cycles. For a single-stage mixed gas cryocooler, the compressor will allow reduced cost and higher reliability due to the elimination of oil cleanup systems. It will also enable a new class of high performance low-cost cryocoolers based on the cascade J-T cycle. In Phase I we will design and fabricate a proof-of-concept model of this compressor, measure its volumetric efficiency and pressure ratio, and use it to drive a commercial mixed-gas J-T cold head. We will also show that the compressor will be inexpensive to manufacture in volume due to its lack of close-tolerance parts. In Phase II, we will design and fabricate a complete two-stage cascade J-T cryocooler. We expect that this cooler will exhibit a mean time to failure in excess of three years, be inexpensive to manufacture and offer efficiencies comparable to the best small Stirling cycle cryocoolers.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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