Cryocooler Performance Estimator

Several studies have been published recently that use a simple cryocooler model to perform trade studies between active and passive cryogenic propellant storage systems for space missions. This paper describes the cryocooler model. The model is based on published databases and performance correlations of commercial, space flight, and flight-like cryocoolers. The objective was to develop a tool to estimate the cryocooler requirements and performance for concurrent engineering based feasibility studies. This environment requires rapid analyses and precludes using either full cryocooler optimization tools, or the real performance of the flight coolers that do not yet exist. The model was based on empirical correlations of the then current state-of-the-art. As cooler technology progresses, the correlations used here will need to be updated to keep current.