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Space-Flight Assessment of a Small-Scale Collins Type Cryocooler Concept

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Missile Defense Agency
Contract: FA9453-03-C-0208
Agency Tracking Number: 021NM-1570
Amount: $749,886.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2003
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
176 Waltham Street
Watertown, MA 02472
United States
DUNS: 070615646
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Charles Hannon
 Senior Engineer
 (617) 926-6700
 chuckh@amtimail.com
Business Contact
 Andrew Vasilakis
Title: President
Phone: (617) 926-6700
Email: andyv@amtimail.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

A compact, reliable, efficient and inexpensive cryocooler requiring less than 1 kW of power for 2W of cooling at 10 Kelvin is being developed and will be demonstrated. This performance is at least twice as efficient as the best current state-of-the-artfor small low-temperature cryocoolers. The proposed technical approach, whose technical feasibility and suitability for space-based applications has been confirmed, is to apply the advantageous features of large-scale cryogenic refrigerators to compactand reliable small-scale systems by implementing a novel thermodynamic cycle in a mechanically innovative machine. Size, cost, and complexity are reduced in the proposed concept by employing a modular design whereby each stage is of identical construction(exept for length), and where the heat exchanger and expander are constructed as an integral unit. The expanders are of extremely simple floating piston construction that requires no seals or mechanical power transmission devices to extract power from thecold expander. Piston motion is controlled by electro-magnetically actuated

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

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