Racheli Moshe, Shlomi Baruch, Dorit Livni, Victor Segal, Avishai Filis 

RICOR Cryogenic & Vacuum Systems, En Harod Ihud 18960, Israel 

 ABSTRACT 

 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. 

RICOR’s Cryocoolers reliability characteristics are assessed by analytical reliability models, demonstrated by normal and accelerated life tests and finally verified by field data. 

The paper will focus on the reliability evaluation models for different technologies, report and analyze life demonstration test data at different mission profiles and verify the results by fielded Cryocoolers operating as a feedback to approve the theoretical assumptions and calculation models. In addition, it will review the system’s end user needs and expectations from advanced high reliable Cryocoolers. 

Keywords: Cryocooler, Integral Rotary, Split Linear, Stirling, Weibull distribution, MTTF, RICOR 

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