Return to Cryogenics & Fluids Home Page
Leroy Sparr, Robert Boyle, Richard Cory and Frank Connors
Cryogenics, Propulsion and Fluid Systems Branch
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Edward James and Richard Fink
McDonnell Douglas Corp.
Vincent Arillo and John Marketon
Hughes-STX
As part of its program to develop long life cryocoolers, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is testing current state-of-the-art cryocoolers. This effort was undertaken to explore those areas of existing cryocooler technology needing improvement.
This paper summarizes the important results from testing of coolers produced by British Aerospace, Stirling Technology Inc., Hughes Aircraft and Lockheed/Lucas. Results include: the load curve and power input; the axial and lateral vibration both with and without an active vibration control system; vibration as a function of body temperature when operating with a set reference voltage waveform; measurements of the stability of cooler parameters over time, including cold finger temperature and residual vibration with a reference waveform; effect of gas pressure on the load line; and key results relative to interfacing a cryocooler to a spacecraft heat sink.
Also discussed are methods of determining touch contact, vibration and thermal vacuum test set-up, automatic shutdown system design, and the data handling system. Conclusions and lessons learned are presented.
Cryocoolers 7; 7th International Cryocooler Conference, Phillips Laboratory Conference Proceedings, PL-CP--93-1001, Part 3, pp. 699 - 727, (1992).