Stirling, Near-Ambient Temperature Refrigerators: Innovative Compact Designs

Stirling refrigerators are well established in the cryogenic temperature range and the system of choice in the miniature closed cycle versions used for cooling the infrared detectors of night vision and missile guidance systems.

They are rarely used at the higher ‘near ambient’ temperatures of air conditioning plants and domestic or commercial refrigerating systems. However, increasing public concern at the impact of ‘Freon’ refrigerants on the ozone layer of the Earth has focussed attention on the need for alternatives to the present vapor-compression refrigerating systems.

This social concern provides unparalleled opportunities for the development and application of ‘near-ambient’ temperature refrigerating systems.

This paper briefly reviews the previous work and presents recent innovative concepts and designs for compact Stirling refrigerators that could be the basis for alternatives for Freon-free refrigeration.