Performance and Reliability Characteristics of the Free Piston Free Displacer Stirling Cryocooler

This paper presents the results of a series of performance and reliability tests for the Stirling cryocooler. Infrared sensor systems incorporating cryocoolers are required to be qualified to the appropriate specification for the performance and reliability. FPFD Stirling cryocooler is currently under development for cooling infrared detector. Manufactured Stirling cryocooler delivers approximately 0.9W cooling at 80K for 30W∼40W of input power. It takes approximately 2 minutes to cool down to 80K at the ambient temperature of 23$^{\circ}C$. Performance characteristics for the vibration, acoustic noise, EMI and leak rate of the Stirling cryocooler are evaluated. We performed low and high temperature keeping test from -32$^{\circ}C$ to +52$^{\circ}C$ and operating test at high and low temperature cyclic range with acceptance tests performed at scheduled intervals. Cooling capacity is determined as a function of the temperatures at the compressor, hot end and cold tip at the expander. Finally, we describe the experimental facility for the MTTF evaluation and some typical results of the Stirling cryocooler.