Combined electricity production and cryocooling Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2 Topic No.: N102-178 Topic Title: Combined electricity production and cryocooling Proposal No.: N102-178-0406 Firm: Infinia Technology Corporation 6811 WEST OKANOGAN PLACE KENNEWICK, Washington 99336-2374 Contact: SONGGANG QIU Phone: (509) 737-2119 Web Site: http://www.infiniacorp.com Abstract: Infinia Technology Corporation (ITC) proposes to develop a free-piston Stirling cryocooler with an innovative electrical power generation scheme that is integral with a low-temperature stage of the cooler itself. This Low Temperature Power Production Module (LTPPM) will enable the power to be generated at temperatures relatively close to the use temperature, significantly reducing the parasitic thermal load due to lead losses that provide power to the low-temperature stage of the cryocooler. In this case, only a small temperature difference on the order of 25�C exists across the leads, compared to over 300�C in conventional systems. ITC's proposed cryocooler has multiple stages at about 70�K for the 1st stage and 20 to 30�K for the 2nd stage, to support a 4�K 3rd stage temperature. Benefits: This innovative but low-risk design configuration benefits from parts that are interchangeable with ITC's 3-kW solar Stirling engine designed for low-cost mass production. The device will help alleviate issues that have developed around specialty cryoCMOS and superconductor-based digital logic devices that operate at temperatures near 4�K. At these temperatures, highly refined cryocoolers are required, which typically have very high power input requirements of more than 5000 W/1 W cooling. These power requirements have a significant impact on the practicality of these systems due to the net impact of the balance-of-plant components (primary power input, waste heat rejection, physical size, mass, etc). At present, the necessary electrical power supply is provided at room-temperature, and must be conducted to the device operating at 4�K. Infinia's design generates power at the 20 to 30�K temperature with its integrated Low-Temperature Power Production Module (LTPPM). This avoids significant parasitic loads by eliminating most conductive lead losses that results from the transfer of power from room temperature to 4�K. Return