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Advanced, Long-Life Cryocooler Technology for Zero-Boil-Off Cryogen Storage

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
88021 		Program Year/Program:
2009 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
074171 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
CREARE, INC.
P.O. BOX 71 HANOVER, NH 03755-
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2009
Title: Advanced, Long-Life Cryocooler Technology for Zero-Boil-Off Cryogen Storage
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNX09CA23C
Award Amount: $599,965.00
 

Abstract:

Long-life, high-capacity cryocoolers are a critical need for future space systems utilizing stored cryogens. The cooling requirements for planetary and extraterrestrial exploration missions, Crew Exploration Vehicles, extended-life orbital transfer vehicles, and space depots will range from 10 to 50 W at temperatures between 20 and 120 K. Turbo-Brayton cryocoolers are ideal for these systems because they are lightweight, compact and very efficient at high cooling loads, in addition to their inherent attributes of high reliability; negligible vibration; long, maintenance-free lifetimes; and flexibility in integrating with spacecraft systems and payloads. To date, space-borne turbo-Brayton technology has been developed for modest cooling loads. During the proposed program, Creare will develop an advanced, high efficiency turbine optimized for a high-capacity cryocooler. The advanced turbine will enable a landmark reduction in cryocooler input power and overall cooling system mass. In Phase I, we defined the cryocooler requirements for a particular mission class, developed the conceptual design of a multistage cryocooler to meet the requirements, developed the preliminary design of the advanced turbine and successfully performed proof-of-concept tests on the turbine. During Phase II, we will fabricate the turbine optimized to provide 5-20 W of net refrigeration at 20 K and demonstrate its performance at prototypical operating conditions.

Principal Investigator:

Mark Zagarola
Principal Investigator
6036433800
mvz@creare.com

Business Contact:

James J. Barry
President
6036402487
contractsmgr@creare.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Creare, Inc.
P.O. Box 71 Hanover, NH 03755

EIN/Tax ID: 020259551
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No