The Linear Stirling coolers use a linear dual opposed-piston compressor to drive a cold finger containing a Stirling displacer. The compressor and displacer are coupled using a transfer line, enabling accommodation of the compressor in a variety of positions with respect to the cold finger.
The legacy UP series of coolers use a contact seal compressor design, which has the advantage of a relatively high efficiency. The LSF series of coolers use a flexure bearing compressor design, which eliminates piston wear as a failure mechanism and results in a very high compressor life time.
Linear Stirling coolers are available in a variety of compressor sizes ranging from 35 to 90 mm diameter, and a variety of cold finger interfaces, including industry-standard IDCA dewar bores such as the Thales standard ¼” bore, the US SADA-II size ½” bore, 8- and 9-mm bores, and 20 mm bore used for high-power, low-temperature cooling requirements. In addition, various sizes of slip-on cold fingers are available.
Linear Stirling coolers are used in a variety of applications, both civil and defence, including surveillance, fighter aircraft sensor pods such as Talios, and vehicle-mounted applications.