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DEVELOPMENTS TOWARD ACHIEVEMENT OF A 3-5 YEAR LIFETIME STIRLING CYCLE REFRIGERATOR FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS.

Author(s) : GASSER M. G., SHERMAN A.

Summary

A MAJOR EFFORT IS UNDERWAY AT THE NASA/GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER TO DEVELOP A LONG LIFETIME STIRLING CYCLE CRYOGENIC COOLER FOR SPACEFLIGHT. THE INITIAL OBJECTIVE IS A 3-5 YEAR, 5 WATTS AT 65 K, COOLER TO BE FOLLOWED BY A 12 K COOLER. DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE DESIGN OF A REFRIGERATOR WITH LINEAR MAGNETIC BEARINGS HAS CHANGED. THE DISPLACER ROD NO LONGER GOES THROUGH THE PISTON, RESULTING IN A MACHINETHAT IS COMPRISED OF A COMPRESSOR SECTION AND AN EXPANSION SECTION BOLTED TOGETHER. EACH SECTION HAS ITS OWN MAGNETIC BEARINGS, LINEAR MOTOR, DISPLACEMENT TRANSDUCER, AND DISPLACEMENT VOLUME. PRELIMINARY RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE NORMAL GAS FLOW IN A FREE DISPLACER STIRLING CYCLE COOLER CAN BE UTILIZED TO SPIN THE DISPLACER AT A SPEED SUFFICIENT TO FORM A SELF-ACTING HYDRODYNAMIC GAS BEARING WITH A CLEARANCE SEAL. THE PERIODIC GAS FLOW FROM THE COLD ENDTHROUGH THE GENERATOR TO THE AMBIENT END MAKES INTERMITTENT CONTACT WITH A TURBINE E INDUCED SPIN IS UNIDIRECTIONAL.

Details

  • Original title: DEVELOPMENTS TOWARD ACHIEVEMENT OF A 3-5 YEAR LIFETIME STIRLING CYCLE REFRIGERATOR FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS.
  • Record ID : 1982-0347
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 1980
  • Source: Source: NBS spec. Publ./ Conf. NBS-IIF, Boulder
    n. 607; 103-115; 11 fig.; 4 ref.
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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