Low-vibration cryocooler for low SWAP infrared imaging

The vibration resulting from an imbalanced motion of piston and displacer assemblies within Stirling linear cryocoolers poses significant challenges in the context of long-range, high-resolution, and low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) handheld and gyro-stabilized infrared imagers.

Addressing this challenge, CryoTech has introduced an innovative and cost-effective micro-miniature split Stirling cryocooler featuring a single-piston compressor and a pneumatic expander, the vibration export of which has been effectively reduced at the source by substantially decreasing the weight of the moving assemblies. For vibration-sensitive applications, the authors provide an optional Tuned Dynamic Counterbalancer featuring a linear failure-free magnetic spring. This patent-pending solution enables not only a failure-free operation of a substantially lighter device but also leads to a substantial reduction in the damping ratio, thereby additionally enhancing the vibration attenuation ratio at the driving frequency.

The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the outcomes derived from a thorough feasibility study, encompassing both theoretical analysis and full-scale experimentation.