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Coatings for Fuel Cell Propulsion Compressor Bearings

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNC05CA88C
Agency Tracking Number: 040135
Amount: $99,756.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: T3.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-02-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-01-23
Small Business Information
1037 Watervliet-Shaker Road
Albany, NY 12205-2033
United States
DUNS: 883926594
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Said Jahanmir
 Principal Investigator
 () -
 sjahanmir@mitiheart.com
Business Contact
 James Walton
Title: Business Official
Phone: (518) 862-4290
Email: jwalton@miti.cc
Research Institution
 Argonne National Laboratory
 Ali Erdemir
 
9700 South Cass Ave,
Agronne, IL 60439
United States

 (630) 252-6571
 Federally Funded R&D Center (FFRDC)
Abstract

Fuel cell air handling systems require clean and contaminant-free inlet air, which dictates that oil-free, motorized, compressor/expander systems should be used. Although there is no sliding contact in the steady state operation of the foil bearing, occasional contact between the foil and journal surfaces at startup and shutdown and during overload situations, could limit the bearing life. Therefore, to ensure that the compressor system is highly efficient and reliable the foil air bearings need wear resistant, low friction coatings.

The objective of the proposed STTR investigation is to identify new coatings for use in fuel cell propulsion compressor bearings that would allow the foil bearing to be functional from low temperature start-up conditions to the maximum temperatures encountered during operation. The proposed program will build on a novel hydrogenated diamond like carbon (DLC) coating developed at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The goal of this joint MiTiREG and ANL STTR Phase I program is to demonstrate the feasibility of ANL hydrogenated DLC and MiTiREG KorolonTM coating technology for fuel cell propulsion compressor bearings. This will be accomplished through coating adhesion and tribological testing of the coatings against various potential shaft coatings such as the NASA developed PS304 and/or Korolon 1350B.

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

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