STI’s Solution for High Quantity Production of Stirling Coolers

Abstract

The mission of Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI) is improving the quality of wireless. Through the use of its patented High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) technology, STI has created a cryogenic receiver front-end (CRFE) used by major wireless operators to enhance their network performance. The ``Sapphire{''} cryocooler is a key component in the STI SuperLink product family. Since 1999, more than 4,000 Sapphire cryocoolers have been deployed with over 44 million hours of accumulated run time. The current generation of cryocooler has an efficiency of 16.7 W/W and a 6 W lift at 77 K with 100 W input power and 35 degrees C heat rejection temperature. STI's Sapphire cryocooler is not only suitable for wireless industry products, but for other applications where low cost, high efficiency, and field-proven reliability are decisive components for enabling product commercialization. The wireless communication industry demands products that are cost effective and extremely reliable, typically with MTBF requirements in the hundreds of thousands of hours. Field data confirms that the Sapphire cryocooler has met and even exceeded these requirements. Performance data are presented along with reliability data from the field and in-house testing. Various methods of thermal management of the cryocooler in systems are also discussed.