Development of high capacity stirling cryocooler

Cryogenic cooling system for HTS electric power devices requires a reliable and efficient high-capacity cryocooler. A Striling cryocooler with a linear compressor can be a good candidate. It has advantages of low vibration and long maintenance cycle compared with a kinematic-driven Stirling cryocooler. In this study, we developed dual- opposed linear compressor of 12 kW electric input power with two 6 kW linear motors. Electrical performance of fabricated linear compressor is verified by experimental measurement of thrust constant. The developed Stirling cryocooler has gamma-type configuration. Piston and displacer are supported with flexure spring. A slit-type heat exchanger is adopted for cold and warm-end, and the generated heat is rejected by cooling water. In cooling performance test, waveforms of voltage, current, displacement and pressure are obtained and their amplitude and phase difference are analysed. Moreover, temperatures of cooling water, housing and linear motor are recorded and electric power parameters of driving circuit are also obtained. The developed Stirling cryocooler reaches to 47.8 K within 23.4 min. with no-load. From heat load tests, it shows cooling capacity of 440 W at 78.1 K with 6.45 kW of electric input power and 19.4 of % Carnot COP.