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 optimized system’s Integrated Logistic Support (ILS). In order to meet this need, Ricor developed linear and rotary cryocoolers which achieved this goal successfully.

The cryocooler’s MTTF analyzed by theoretical reliability evaluation methods, demonstrated by normal and accelerated life tests at Cryocooler level and finally verified by field data analysis derived from Cryocoolers operating at system level.

Ricor’s life test laboratory facility can run 80 coolers at different acceleration conditions simultaneously, from -40°C to +100°C with a different thermal load or/and in a different frequency Cryocooler operation mode.

The life tests are performed under the careful supervision of a technician who performs ongoing tests such as: acoustic noise, helium leakage, visual inspection and induced force tests for identification of degradation during the life test experiment.