High Capacity Staged Pulse Tube Cooler

The High Capacity Cryocooler (HCC) is being designed to provide large capacity cooling at 35 K and 85 K for space applications in which both cold focal planes and optics require cooling. The compressor is scaled from the High Energy Cryocooler compressor and is capable of using input powers up to 700 W. The two linear pulse tube cold heads are integrated with the compressor into an integral cryocooler. Provision is made to provide a thermal strap between the cold heads in order to improve efficiency. Flight qualification of this novel cryocooler include thermal performance mapping over a range of reject temperatures and power levels, launch vibration testing and self induced vibration testing.