Stirling Cryocooler

The difference between

Refrigerator and Cryocooler

Regenerator
History of Stirling Cryocooler :
• The Stirling engine was invented by Robert
Stirling in 1816.
• He was a Scottish minister.
• At that time, Stirling engines were recognized as
a safe engine that could not explode like steam
engines of that era often did.
•An bloom of Stirling engine production was brought
by J. Ericsson, a Swedish inventor and engineer.
•He succeeded in manufacturing a practical Stirling
engine of the 0.5 ~ 5 horsepower class by around
1850.
•The capacity of Stirling engines in those days was
inferior compared with Otto engines and
diesel engines.
What’s a Stirling cycle?

1->2 constant-temperature compression at TL

2->3 constant- volume heat absorption
3->4 constant- temperature expansion at TH
4->1 constant-volume heat rejection
 Schematic of 55 W Stirling Cryocooler

Linear Alternator
Stationary Magnets Moving Iron Cooler
Heater supplied
Regenerator

Displacer
Power
Piston
Piston
Power Piston Flexures Displacer Flexures

(Courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center)

 Test Section Geometry

Isolation duct
Regenerator

Heater Cylinder

One of the regenerator

screens

Flow
distributor
Piston
 Regenerator

The required characteristic

・ Specific heat is large

・ Thermal conductivity is large

Magnetic material is used

 The kind of cryocooler
・ GM Cooler
・ Stirling Cooler
・ Brayton Cooler
・ GM Pulse Tube Cooler
・ Stirling Pulse Tube Cooler
・ JT Cooler
Stirling cryocooler

Advantage

・ Low vibration
・ need not maintain
・ Efficient
Applications
Queries!!!