Optimization study on high cooling capacity stirling cryocooler working on liquid nitrogen temperature

Applications of high temperature superconductivity (HTS) and small-scale cryogenic liquefaction devices greatly promote the development of high cooling capacity cryocooler. Stirling cryocoolers are preferred in kilowatt-class refrigeration devices for their advantages, such as high efficiency, fast cool-down, wide range of refrigeration temperature, low cost and mature manufacture technology. A high cooling capacity Stirling cryocooler driven by crank-rod mechanism was developed. When the charging pressure is 1.65 MPa, the cryocooler can reach 77 K within 4.8 minutes and a cooling power of 636 W was achieved with the relative Carnot efficiency of 16.8%. The operating conditions and key component dimensions are also optimized by using Sage-software. These results provide the important reference for further performance improvement. © 2015, Science Press. All right reserved.