SBIR-STTR Award

Performance Enhancement for 4 K Pulse-Tube Cryocoolers
Award last edited on: 4/1/2019

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$842,660
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
N10A-T026
Principal Investigator
Weibo B Chen

Company Information

Creare LLC (AKA: Creare Inc~Creare Product Development LLC)

16 Great Hollow Road
Hanover, NH 03755
   (603) 640-2436
   info@creare.com
   www.creare.com

Research Institution

University of Wisconsin

Phase I

Contract Number: N00014-10-M-0246
Start Date: 6/28/2010    Completed: 7/20/2011
Phase I year
2010
Phase I Amount
$99,828
Future military communication systems will utilize advanced superconductor digital electronics that will require efficient cooling at low temperatures near 4 K. We propose to improve the efficiency of pulse-tube cryocoolers by addressing the two primary performance limitations. These are operation in adverse orientations and performance of the regenerator at low temperatures. We will develop (1) a CFD model to quantify the losses associated with gravity-induced flow; and (2) an advanced regenerator that uses an innovative non-rare-earth material to achieve a very high volumetric specific heat and a novel configuration for high thermal and fluid performance. The regenerators large heat capacity, small void volume and low flow restriction will substantially improve the thermal efficiency of low temperature pulse-tube cryocoolers. The regenerator significantly increases a cryocoolers net cooling and thus minimizes the impact of parasitic losses in a pulse tube at an adverse gravity orientation. In Phase I, we will analyze the performance of a pulse tube cooler at different gravity orientations, optimize the regenerator design, and identify a fabrication approach for the regenerator.

Benefit:
The military applications for pulse-tube cryocoolers include tactical coolers for low temperature superconductor electronics, and cryocoolers for space-based communications, surveillance, missile detection, and missile tracking systems. Scientific applications include cryocoolers for space based infrared and X-ray observatories. Commercial applications include cooling systems for communication satellites; superconducting instruments, digital filters, and magnets; MRIs; SQUIDs; and data converters for next-generation wireless communications.

Keywords:
cryocooler, cryocooler, regenerator, pulse tube cryocooler, natural convection

Phase II

Contract Number: N00014-11-C-0476
Start Date: 9/28/2011    Completed: 3/28/2013
Phase II year
2011
Phase II Amount
$742,832
Future military communication systems will rely on advanced superconductor digital electronics. These electronics will require efficient cooling at low temperatures near 4 K. Pulse-tube cryocoolers are a candidate cooling technology for this application. We propose to improve the efficiency of the pulse-tube cryocooler by addressing one of its primary performance limitations, namely the performance of the regenerator at low temperatures. Our proposed regenerator uses an innovative non-rare-earth material to achieve a very high volumetric specific heat; it also has a novel configuration for high thermal and fluid performance. The regenerators large heat capacity, small void volume, and low flow restriction will substantially improve the thermal efficiency of low-temperature pulse-tube cryocoolers. In Phase I, we proved the feasibility of our approach by (1) optimizing the regenerator matrix material and flow configuration, (2) developing microfabrication procedures for the regenerator, (3) calculating thermal and fluid flow performance in the regenerator by CFD simulation, and (4) assessing the performance of a pulse-tube cryocooler using our regenerator. In Phase II, we will optimize the regenerator fabrication method, and then fabricate and test a full-size regenerator in prototypical environments.

Benefit:
The military applications for pulse-tube cryocoolers include tactical coolers for low-temperature superconductor electronics, and cryocoolers for space-based communications, surveillance, missile detection, and missile tracking systems. Scientific applications include cryocoolers for space based infrared and X-ray observatories. Commercial applications include cooling systems for communication satellites; superconducting instruments, digital filters, and magnets; MRIs; SQUIDs; and data converters for next-generation wireless communications.

Keywords:
regenerator, cryocooler, Pulse-Tube Cryocooler