Thermal dissipation analysis of Stirling cryocoolers using phase change materials and heat sinks

Stirling cryocoolers, serving as critical components for maintaining low-temperature environments in infrared detectors, ensure optimal detector performance by providing necessary cooling for infrared chip materials. Their compact structure, broad temperature range cooling capacity, and closed-cycle operation have established them as core elements for cryogenic environment maintenance. However, operational challenges including heat generation in the compression chamber, resistive losses in driving components, and copper/iron losses in motor stators lead to surface temperature rise, directly impairing detector performance (typically requiring the surface temperature not to exceed ambient by more than 10°C). With expanding applications of Stirling cryocoolers in harsh environments (e.g., elevated external temperatures and solar radiation), thermal management design faces intensified challenges. This study investigates a combined thermal management solution integrating heat sinks and phase change materials (PCMs) through simulation and experimental validation. By optimizing temperature control performance under extreme operating conditions, the research provides theoretical support for engineering applications, enabling long-term stable operation of integrated systems in complex and demanding environments.