Ricor's Articles

Cryogenic refrigerators represent a significant enabling technology for Earth and Space science enterprises. Many of the space instruments require cryogenic refrigeration to enable the use of advanced detectors to explore a wide range of phenomena from space.

Early rotary cryocoolers were designed for the lifetime of a few thousands operating hours. Ricor K506 model’s life expectancy was only 5,000 hours, then the next generation K508 model was designed to achieve 10,000 operating hours in basic conditions, while the modern K508N was designed for 20,000 operating hours.

The world growth in research and development of High Operating Temperature (HOT) IR detectors impels the development and optimization of suitable cryocoolers. The current developments at RICOR, which include three different cryocooler models and two new controllers, are focused on the – oriented design process, meaning small Size, low Weight, low Power consumption, improved performance and lower production cost, providing proper cryocoolers for future hand held thermal imagers.

 The growth in world demand for infrared missile warning systems (MWS) has impelled the development of new technologies, in particular, special ruggedized cryogenic coolers.

The world growth in research and development of High Operating Temperature (HOT) IR detectors impels development and optimization of suitable cryocoolers. The current developments at RICOR are focused on the SWAP-oriented design process, meaning small Size, low Weight and low Power consumption, providing proper cryocoolers for future hand held thermal imagers.

 The growing demand for Electro Optic (EO) applications that work around the clock 24hr/7days a week, such as in border surveillance systems, emphasizes the need for a highly reliable Cryocooler having increased operational availability and decreased integrated system Life Cycle (ILS) cost. In order to meet this need, RICOR has developed Integral Rotary and Split Linear Cryocoolers technologies which meet this challenge. 

The world growth in research and development of High Operating Temperature IR detectors impels the development process and the optimization of HOT Cryocoolers at RICOR. The development emphasizes the “SWaP” configuration which is Small Size, Low Weight and Low Power consumption, in order to optimize IDDCA for future hand held thermal sights and other various applications. 

The Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) landed successfully on Mars on August 5, 2012, eight months after launch. The chosen landing site of Gale Crater, located at 4.5 degrees south latitude, 137.4 degrees east longitude, has provided a much more benign environment than was originally planned for during the critical design and integration phases of the MSL Project when all possible landing sites were still being considered.

The world growth in research and development of High Operating Temperature IR detectors impels the development process and the optimization of rotary crycoolers at RICOR. The design aspects of size weight and power and the tradeoffs between them, were taken into consideration during the development process in order to optimize IDDCA for future hand held thermal sights.

The growing demand for EO applications that work around the clock 24hr/7days a week, such as in border surveillance systems, emphasizes the need for a highly reliable cryocooler having increased operational availability and decreased integrated system Life Cycle (ILS) cost. In order to meet this need RICOR has developed a new rotary Stirling cryocooler, model K508N, intended to double the K508’s operating MTTF achieving 20,000 operating MTTF hours.