Actually they are used on several satellites, CanX-2, and others,
for there simplicity and small size. Yes they are inefficient and
can be a power hog but in the right circumstances they have a place.
Robert
At 12:32 PM 8/3/2015, you wrote:
Right, but as Anthony said, they're "a waste of perfectly good
energy". (The efficiency is atrocious.)
On Mon, Aug 03, 2015 at 01:04:36PM -0500, Edward Wright wrote:
>Peltier coolers can be found for under $10. They're used to cool CPUs in some microcomputers.
>
>Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Aug 3, 2015, at 9:01 AM, Norman Yarvin <yarvin@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 03, 2015 at 08:10:31AM -0400, Anthony Cesaroni wrote:
>>> A waste of perfectly good energy. Google "stirling coolers" or
>>> "stirling cryogenic coolers". About as efficient as you can get in a
>>> small package with insane MTBF. There's a few of them in orbit.
>>
>> They're also used in cell phone towers, so can be had at more
>> down-to-earth prices.
>>
>> "Such RF filters with their integrated cryocoolers can be
>> found on eBay for under $300."
>> -- Ben Krasnow, at
>> http://benkrasnow.blogspot.com/2008/08/diy-liquid-nitrogen-generator.html