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A Multi-Environment Thermal Control System With Freeze-Tolerant Radiator

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX12CE90P
Agency Tracking Number: 114010
Amount: $124,907.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X3.04
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-02-13
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2012-08-13
Small Business Information
NH
Hanover, NH 03755-3116
United States
DUNS: 072021041
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Weibo Chen
 Principal Investigator
 (603) 643-3800
 wbc@creare.com
Business Contact
 James Barry
Title: President
Phone: (603) 643-3800
Email: contractsmgr@creare.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Future space exploration missions require advanced thermal control systems (TCS) to dissipate heat from spacecraft, rovers, or habitats to external environments. We propose to develop a lightweight, reliable TCS to effectively maintain cabin and equipment temperatures under widely varying heat loads and ambient temperatures. The proposed system uses freeze-tolerant radiators, which eliminate the need for a secondary circulation loop or heat pipe systems. Each radiator has a self-regulating variable thermal conductance to its ambient environment. The variable conductance will enable the TCS to maintain the cabin and equipment at a tightly controlled temperature. The TCS uses a nontoxic working fluid that is compatible with existing lightweight aluminum heat exchangers. The TCS is lightweight, compact, and requires very little pumping power. In Phase I, we will prove the feasibility of our approach through performance demonstration of a key component in the TCS system and detailed system design and analysis. In Phase II we will build a TCS demonstrator and obtain test data to show its unique performance advantages.

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

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