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MEMBRANE-BASED HIGH-PRESSURE GAS-DEHYDRATION MODULE

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 11928
Amount: $49,447.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1990
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
64550 Research Road
Bend, OR 97701
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Roderick J. Ray
 Vice President
 (503) 382-4100
Business Contact
 WALTER C. BABCOCK
Title: PRESIDENT
Phone: (503) 382-4100
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

NASA IS DEVELOPING WATER-ELECTROLYSIS CELLS TO RECHARGE THE EXTRAVEHICULAR MOBILITY UNIT (EMU) OXYGEN BOTTLES IN FLIGHT. THESE CELLS PRODUCE HIGH-PRESSURE (UP TO 6000-PSI) OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN STREAMS SATURATED WITH WATER VAPOR. THESE GAS STREAMS MUST BE DEHYDRATED TO VERY LOW WATER-CONTENT LEVELS--TYPICALLY AT LEAST TO -70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT DEW-POINT TEMPERATURE--TO PREVENT VALVES FROM FREEZING OR TANKS AND LINES FROM BECOMING CONTAMINATED. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A NEW TYPE OF MEMBRANE MODULE THAT WILL DEHYDRATE THESE GAS STREAMS AT PRESSURE, USING NO MOVING PARTS OR EXTERNAL POWER. THE DRIVING FORCE FOR DEHYDRATION IS PROVIDED BY ALLOWING A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE FEED GAS TO PERMEATE THE MEMBRANE. PRELIMINARY TESTS AND CALCULATIONS INDICATE THAT THIS NEW MODULE WILL 1) HAVE LOW MASS AND BE COMPACT, 2) REQUIRE ONLY ABOUT 1% OF THE FEED GAS FOR OPERATION, AND 3) INVOLVE VIRTUALLY NO MAINTENANCE DUE TO ITS SIMPLICITY.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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