Evaluating the lifespan of a Stirling cooler system, considering different failure modes
Document Type : Original Article
Author
Aerospace Research institute
10.22034/jssta.2026.513896.1238
Abstract
The expected lifespan is a primary concern for engineers involved in the design and construction of equipment. Accurately calculating the lifespan of complex systems necessitates the use of specific techniques and methodologies. This paper presents an experimental investigation of a Stirling cooler, as a heat engine that generates cryogenic temperatures through the cyclic compression and expansion of helium gas at different temperature levels. The data obtained from lifespan testing have been thoroughly analyzed. Four samples of this cooler were utilized for the test, and control parameters, including temperature and current intensity, were closely monitored. A system failure or an increase in its parameters beyond specified levels is considered as a failure event. This study explores the differentiation of failure modes and their impact on reliability calculations, as well as recommendations for inspection and maintenance intervals. Due to the limited number of samples, various nonparametric methods, including Nelson-Allen, Kaplan-Meier and Crow, were employed to analyze and estimate the parameters. The research findings indicate that the results obtained from the Kaplan-Meier method are less accurate compared to the other two methods. Furthermore, for repairable systems, isolating failure modes enhances the reliability calculation process and reduces maintenance costs.
Keywords
Subjects
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Volume 5, Issue 2
March 2026Pages 144-155
- Receive Date 15 April 2025
- Revise Date 18 May 2025
- Accept Date 28 June 2026