Project Title:

Novel Cryocooler Regenerator Designs

09.07-4942B
Novel Cryocooler Regenerator Designs
Frederick A. Costello Inc.
12864 Tewksbury Drive
Herndon
VA
22071
Frederick A.
Costello
(703-620-4942)
GSFC

Abstract:

Three novel regenerator concepts that have the potential for significantly improving
the coefficient-of-performance of Stirling-cycle cryocoolers at temperatures below
20 K will be designed and evaluated. The innovations consist of two types of active
regenerators and a novel combination of materials that yield a high specific heat
even at low temperatures. The active regenerators act as if they have an infinite
specific heat. The three concepts are important to NASA's various missions. Many
NASA payloads depend on cooling infra-red sensors to temperatures on the order of
2 K. Such temperatures can currently be attained only with refrigeration that uses
liquid helium as the working medium. The proposed concepts can reduce significantly
the cost of liquid helium in space. For example, the cost of producing liquid helium
on earth would be decreased. More importantly, helium cryocoolers may become practical
in space, whereas currently they are so impractical that helium must be re-supplied
from earth.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  The results could be used by companies that supply
cryocoolers and helium and in terrestrial cryogenic applications such as superconducting
magnets for fusion reactors.