Thermal Characterization of the BAe 80K Stirling Cycle Cooler

The British Aerospace (BAe) 80 K Stirling Cycle Cooler is unique in the world as the only cooler in production for long-life space applications. The performance of one of these coolers was recently characterized at TRW. This paper reports on the test results and the parametric sensitivities for the measured cooler. Measured data included cooldown rates, heat sink temperature sensitivity, load line parametrics and static conduction losses. In addition, the accrued running hours of flexure bearing coolers at Oxford and TRW are summarized.