Abstract
This paper summarizes ongoing experiments characterizing the ability of critical sorption cryocooler components to achieve highly reliable operation for long-life space missions. Test data obtained over the past several years at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are entirely consistent with achieving ten year life for sorption compressors, electrical heaters, container materials, valves, and various sorbent materials suitable for driving 8 to 180 K refrigeration stages. Test results reported include a praseodymium-cerium-oxide/oxygen (“PCO/O2”) compressor system, for 65 to 90 K cryocoolers, that has accrued over 35,760 hours and 79,567 cycles of maintenance-free operation with no degradation through 1993, and a Saran carbon/krypton compressor system, for 120 to 140 K cryocoolers, that has demonstrated 16,600 hours and 33,200 cycles of operation. Similar extended cycling tests of LaNi4.8Sn0.2 and ZrNi hydride compressor systems for use in 8 to 30 K cryocoolers have been initiated.
Planned future tests necessary to gain a detailed understanding of the sensitivity of cooler performance and component life to operating constraints, design configurations, and fabrication, assembly and handling techniques, are also discussed. The basic technology base developed through this effort is enabling the design and manufacture of high-reliability sorption cryocoolers for future long-life, low-vibration, lightweight, spacecraft sensor cooling applications.
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Bard, S., Wu, J., Karlmann, P., Mirate, C., Wade, L. (1995). Component Reliability Testing of Long-Life Sorption Cryocoolers. In: Ross, R.G. (eds) Cryocoolers 8. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9888-3_62
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9888-3_62
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