Northrop Grumman next generation Mini Cooler Plus performance

Abstract

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) has expanded its cryocooler product line with the introduction of the Mini Cooler Plus (MCP) pulse tube cryocooler. The cooler is developed to provide a long-life, low-mass, high cooling capacity cryocooler for hyperspectral and infrared imaging payloads in tactical airborne and space applications.The MCP is a split configuration pulse tube cooler with a passive coaxial cold head connected through a transfer line to a vibrationally balanced back-to-back linear compressor. Designed for space and non-space applications, the MCP’s compressor is scaled from NGAS’ larger flight proven TRL9 family of compressors and contains non-wearing pistons suspended on flexure bearings. The reliability and ten-year lifetime are among the features of this class of pulse tube cryocooler, and have been verified by in-orbit operation of NGAS space flight cryocoolers.At 300 K reject, this 2.7-kg thermal mechanical unit can lift 1.5 W at 46 K with 150 W electrical input. This cooler is capable of cooling hyperspectral, LWIR (Long-Wave Infrared) and HOT (High Operating Temperature) IR payloads. This paper describes the MCP, its components and interfaces and presents the test data obtained in its laboratory configuration over a range of input powers and reject temperatures.