Ricor's Articles

The growth in world demand for infrared missile warning systems (MWS) has impelled the development of new technologies, in particular, special cryogenic coolers. Since the cryocooler is a core component in MWS RICOR has met the challenge by developing new models able to withstand high ambient temperatures above 110°C as well as harsh vibration levels, both derived from airborne fighter applications.

 The growing demand for EO applications that work around the clock 24hr/7days a week, such as in border surveillance, emphasizes the need for a highly reliable cryocooler from maintenance considerations and Life Cycle Cost calculations. As a result, RICOR developed a new rotary Stirling model K508N with a main design goal of 20,000 operating hours, double the operating hours performance of the standard K508 model.

The Chemistry Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument is being built for use on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) to make precision measurements of mineral constituents of Mars rocks and soil. The instrument uses a commercially available Ricor K508 Stirling cycle cryocooler to cool a CCD to 173K to make X-ray diffraction spectroscopy measurements.

Over the recent 25 years Ricor has fielded in excess of 50,000 Stirling cryocoolers, among which approximately 30,000 units are of micro integral rotary driven type. The statistical population of the fielded units is counted in thousands/hundreds per application category.

A gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) has been built and
delivered to the MESSENGER spacecraft which launched on
August 3, 2004, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The GRS, a part of seven scientific instruments on board MESSENGER, is based on a coaxial high-purity germanium detector.

Novel compact and low power consuming cooled infrared thermal imagers as used in gyro-stabilized payloads of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles, Thermal small arms sights and tactical night vision goggles often rely on integral rotary micro-miniature closed cycle Stirling cryogenic engines.