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 Earlier Lecture
• A Cryocooler is a mechanical device operating in a
closed cycle, which generates low temperature.

• It eliminates cryogen requirement, offers reliable

operation and is also cost effective.

• Heat exchangers can either be regenerative or

recuperative type depending upon heat exchange.

• Recuperative Type: J – T, Brayton, Claude.

• Regenerative Type: Stirling, GM, Pulse Tube.

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Outline of the Lecture
Topic : Cryocoolers

• Ideal Stirling cycle

• Working of Stirling Cryocooler

• Schmidt's Analysis

• Conclusions

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 History
• A well developed and a most commonly used
Cryocooler is the Stirling Cycle Cryocooler.

• This cycle was first conceived by Robert Stirling in

the year 1815. It was an engine cycle and was
aimed to produce work (engine).

• The important events that occurred in the history

of cryocoolers are as given in the next slide.

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 The Chronology
Year Event
1815 Robert Stirling – Stirling Engine
1834 John Herschel – concept of using as a cooler
1861 Alexander Kirk – The concept into practice
1873 Davy Postle – Free Piston system
1956 Jan Koehler – First commercial machine for
air liquefaction
1965 Jan Koehler – Nitrogen Liquefaction

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 An Ideal Stirling Cycle
• Consider a p – V chart as
shown in the figure.
2
QC • 12: Isothermal
compression at TC.
Pressure – p

1
p1V1 = p2V2

T=
1 T=
2 TC

V2 
dQ = dW = −ℜTC ln  
Volume – V  V1 

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 An Ideal Stirling Cycle
• 23: Constant volume heat
rejection.
2 V2 = V3

+CV (TE − TC )
QC
dQ =
Pressure – p

QRT
1
• 34: Isothermal expansion.
3
p3V3 = p4V4

QE 4 T=
3 T=
4 TE

Volume – V
V4 
dQ = dW = −ℜTC ln  
 V3 
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 An Ideal Stirling Cycle
• 41: Constant volume heat
absorption.
2 V4 = V1 −CV (TC − TE )
dQ =
QC
Pressure – p

QRT
QE
1 COP =
QC − QE
3
QRT
V4 
QE
+ℜTE ln  
4
=  V3 
V2  V4 
Volume – V −ℜTC ln   − ℜTE ln  
 V1   V3 

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 An Ideal Stirling Cycle
V2 V3
=
V1 V4
2
V4 
QC +ℜTE ln  
 V3 
Pressure – p

QRT
1 =
V2  V4 
3 −ℜTC ln   − ℜTE ln  
QRT  V1   V3 
TE
QE 4 COP =
TC − TE
Volume – V
COP(Stirling) = COP(Carnot)

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Stirling & Carnot Cycles
Stirling Cycle

2
TC

Temperature – T
2 1
Pressure – p

1
3

TE
3 4
4

Volume – V Entropy – s

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Stirling & Carnot Cycles
Carnot Cycle Stirling Cycle

2
TC

Temperature – T
2 5 1
Pressure – p

5
1
3 .

6 TE
3 6 4
4

Volume – V Entropy – s

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Ideal Stirling Cycle
Expander Regenerator Piston

1 Tc
2
Compression QC
QC
2
Pressure – p

QRT
1
Regenerative Cooling
3
QRT 3
QE Expansion
QE 4 4
TE

Volume – V Regenerative Heating

1 Tc
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Ideal Stirling Cycle
VE ,max V=
E V=
C 0 VC ,max Expander Regenerator Piston
1 1 1 Tc

2 2 Compression

2
3 3
Time

Regenerative Cooling
4 4 3
Expansion
4
TE
1 1
Displacement Regenerative Heating

1 Tc
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Ideal Stirling Cycle
VE ,max V= V= 0 VC ,max
• As mentioned in the earlier
lecture, the characteristics
E C

1 1
of a Stirling cycle are
2 2 • High frequency.

3 3
• Regenerative heat
Time

4 4 exchanger.

• Phase difference between

the piston and the
1 1
Displacement displacer motions.

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Actual Stirling Cycle
VE ,max V= V= 0 VC ,max
• In actual Stirling cycle the
discontinuous motion can
E C

1 1
not be achieved. In view of
2 2 this sinusoidal motion may
be implemented.
3 3
Time

• This motion is realistic and

4 4
can be achieved using a
Crank or gas spring
mechanism.
1 1
Displacement

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Actual Stirling Cycle
• In reality, the actual working cycle will be different
from Ideal Stirling Cycle in following ways.

• Discontinuous motion, difficult to realize in

practice.

• Presence of void volume or dead space (not

swept by piston or displacer), pressure drop.

• Ineffectiveness in heat transfer or regeneration.

• Non isothermal compression and expansion.

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Stirling Cryocooler – Types
Regenerator
• Depending upon the relative
arrangements of piston and
displacer/piston, various types
of Stirling Cryocoolers are
Compressor Expander possible, namely
α Type • α type Stirling Cryocooler.

• β type Stirling Cryocooler.

• γ type Stirling Cryocooler.

β Type γ Type
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Stirling Cryocooler – Types
Regenerator
• Two Piston arrangement
(α type)
• whose drive mechanisms may
be mounted on same crank
Compressor Expander shaft.
α Type

• Integral Piston & Displacer

arrangement (β type)
• The piston and displacer are
housed inside same cylinder.

β Type γ Type
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Stirling Cryocooler – Types
Regenerator
• Split Piston & Displacer
arrangement (γ type)
• The compression space is
divided.
Compressor Expander
α Type
• These systems have variable
dead volume in compression
space due to the movement
of displacer.

β Type γ Type
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Design Parameters
• The various design parameters of
a Stirling Cryocooler are as
Regenerator follows.

VR
TC VC TE • Evaporator temperature (TE)
VE
• Condenser temperature (TC)
Compressor Expander • Compression Volume (VC)
α Type • Expansion Volume (VE)
• Regenerator Volume (VR)
• Pmax, Pmin, Pavg.
• Phase angle (α)
• Crank angle (ø)
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
• In the year 1861, Gustav Schmidt, a German
scientist, presented a Stirling Cryocooler analysis.

• This analysis is based on a realistic cycle and is

assumed to provide a first guess of dimensions.
The following are the assumptions.

• Perfect isothermal compression, expansion.

• Harmonic motion of piston and displacer.

• Perfect regeneration.
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
• The non – dimensional parameters in the
Schmidt’s analysis are

VC
• Swept volume ratio : k =
VE

TC
• Temperature ratio : τ=
TE

VD
• Dead volume ratio : X=
VE

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
• Expansion volume variation :
1 α
= Ve VE (1 + cos φ )
2 VE

• Compression volume variation :

VC

Volume – V
1 VC
Vc = VC (1 + cos(φ − α ) ) k =
2 VE

1
Vc= kVE (1 + cos(φ − α ) )
2

Angle – ø

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
peVe pcVc pdVd KVE
MT = + + =
RTe RTc RTd 2 RTC

• Let the instantaneous pressure in the system be

same throughout the system, p.

• Also, Te and Tc are assumed to be constants as TE

and TC respectively.

KVE
• Let MT be given as shown. MT =
2 RTC

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
pVE  (1 + cos φ ) TC k (1 + cos(φ − α ) ) VDTE  KVE
 + + =
RTC  2TE 2 VETD  2 RTC

TC VD TE + TC 2 Xτ
τ= X= Td = S=
TE VE 2 τ +1
K
= τ (1 + cos φ ) + k (1 + cos(φ − α ) ) + 2 S 
p
A
(τ k cos α ) + (k sin α )
A =+ 2 2
B = τ + k + 2S δ=
B
k sin α
tan θ =
τ + k cos α
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
• Substituting, A, B, θ and δ in the mass equation
and rearranging, we get
K
p=
B [δ cos(θ − φ ) + 1]
K
pmin = @ φ =θ
B [1 + δ ]
K
pmax = @ φ= θ − π
B [1 − δ ]

pratio =
[1+ δ ]
[1 − δ ]
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Schmidt’s Analysis
• Mean pressure
2π
1
pm
2π ∫ pd (θ − φ )
0

1− δ
pm = pmax
1+ δ

π pmδ sin θVE = π pmVEδ sin(θ − α )k

QE ∫=
= pdVe 0.5
QC ∫=
pdVc
1 + 1 − δ 
0.5
1 + 1 − δ 2 
2

QE QE TE
COP = COP = =
WT QC − QE TC − TE

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Losses
• In the earlier slide, we saw the cooling effect
based on Schmidt's analysis.

• But, in an actual system, there are many losses.

Few of them are as listed below.

• Ineffectiveness of regenerator.
• Pressure drop in system.
• Solid conduction losses.
• Shuttle conduction losses.
• Losses in power input.

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Losses
• Considering the above mentioned losses, the net
cooling effect and gross power required is given
by the following correlations.

• Qnet = QE – Σ(losses).

• Wtotal = WT + Σ(losses).

• In general, QE calculated from Schmidt's

analysis, in which 60 – 70% are considered as
losses, while losses in power input is due to
mechanical efficiency.
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Summary
• A Stirling Cycle was first conceived by Robert
Stirling in the year 1815.

• COP(Stirling) = COP(Carnot).

• In reality, the actual working cycle has discontinuous

motion, pressure drop, ineffectiveness and non
isothermal processes.

• Depending upon the relative arrangements of piston

and displacer/piston, α, β, γ are the different types
of Stirling cryocooler.
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Summary
• Gustav Schmidt presented a Stirling Cryocooler
analysis in the year 1861, it is assumed to provide a
first guess of dimensions.

• The net cooling effect and gross power required is

given by the following correlations.

• Qnet = QE – Σ(losses).

• Wtotal = WT + Σ(losses).

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
• A self assessment exercise is given after
this slide.

• Kindly asses yourself for this lecture.

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Self Assessment
1. A Stirling cycle consist of two _______ processes.
2. In an isothermal process, dQ is given by _______.
3. In a constant volume process, dU is given by ____.
4. COPCarnot and COPStirling are _____.
5. COP of Stirling cycle is _______.
6. In an actual Stirling cycle, the discontinuous
motion is approximated to _______ motion.
7. The volume not swept by piston/displacer is ____.
8. In a _____ type unit, the piston and displacer are
housed inside same cylinder.
9. In Schmidt's analysis, instantaneous pressure is
assumed to be _____.
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Answers
1. Isothermal and Constant volume
dQ = dW = −ℜTC ln [V2 / V1 ]
2. m
+CV (TE − TC )
3. RdU =
4. Equal.
TE / (TC − TE )
5. M
6. Sinusoidal
7. Void volume
8. Beta
9. Constant
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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay
 Thank You!

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Prof. M D Atrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay