Oscillating Flow in Stirling Microrefrigerators: Empirical Verification of Analytical Results

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Compared to current technology, the required refrigerators must be more compact and reliable, require no maintenance or skill to operate, achieve much longer operating lifetimes, and pump up to several watts of heat, yet cost only a fraction of the rest of the electronic system. These objectives are not achieved in practice due to mechanical, thermal, and fluid flow irreversibilities which are inherent in conventional design, materials, and manufacturing processes. Through silicon micromachining, fundamentally lossy mechanical components can be eliminated and special materials properties can be exploited, while thermal and fluid flow contributions to entropy generation can be controlled. Under current NSF SGER funding the P.I. designed an experimental apparatus. The construction of this apparatus is the goal for Phase I. Successful results will provide a foundation for the engineering of Stirling microrefrigerators, that will expand its range of applications for cold electronics. Stirling microfrigerators would increase the speed of computer processors and memories; and reduce noise in radio and microwave detectors, amplifiers, and filters; reduce the bulk of infra-red detection and imaging systems; and facilitate the commercialization of high Tc superconducting electronics.