The Department of Energy has granted CFIC-Qdrive an SBIR Phase II Award for further development and commercialization of its large-capacity acoustic-Stirling cryocooler with Flexibly Attached Remote (FAR) coldhead.  CFIC-Qdrive has already had commercial success with their 2S102K-FAR which provides 10W at 77K, and which allows the coldhead to be positioned up to a meter away from the pressure wave generator (PWG).  To serve large-scale superconductivity cooling needs, CFIC-Qdrive has developed a FAR version based on their 2S241K model cryocooler under a DOE SBIR Phase I grant.  The 2S241K-FAR provides over 200W at 77K and its coldfinger-type head can be positioned up to 1.5 meter away from the pressure wave generator.  In the second year of this 2-year project, CFIC-Qdrive will extend the FAR technology to its largest model, with up to 1000 Watts cooling at 77K, to address the most demanding of superconducting tasks.

Qdrive's FAR coolers are a first for acoustic-Stirlings, providing cooling at superconducting temperatures with coldheads that are positionable away from the pressure wave generator ('compressor') body.   This new configuration (patent pending) combines the quiet efficiency of acoustic Stirling operation with the convenience and familiarity of a separate coldfinger interface for drop-in replacement of older G-M type coolers.  Reports from both the U.S. DoE and the International Energy Agency have identified the technology in Qdrive coolers as promising solutions for practical superconducting power.  Now the FAR configuration in larger sizes mates this technology to the need.  Further, FAR Qdrive coolers exhibit extremely low vibration at the cold tip, making them the best choice for cooling sensitive instruments, including photon detectors, X-ray imagers, and molecular beam epitaxy units; finally freeing them from dependence on liquid nitrogen refills.