{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":9701,"title":"High Temperature Radiators for Electric Propulsion Systems","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10544,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10542,"level":3,"code":"TX01.2.2","title":"Electrostatic","definition":"This area covers electric propulsion systems that use electrostatic fields to ionize and accelerate a propellant.","exampleTechnologies":"Ion engines, hall thrusters, electrospray propulsion","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":6,"endTrl":6,"benefits":"LHPs with graded ceramic wicks can also be used in commercial and military satellites. Another application is cooling of aircraft components, for both manned aircraft and UAVs. ACT has already identified actuator cooling as one area where graded wick LHPs can be very beneficial. Heat must be removed from the electrically powered actuators, which are located in the aircraft wing. A second area is cooling the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) box on both military and commercial aircraft. A third application is for planar LHPs used to cool electronics.
The immediate NASA application is high temperature toluene LHP radiators for the VASIMR propulsion system. These radiators are used to remove heat from the Helicon section of the VASIMR rocket and reject the heat at around 200oC. While water LHPs have been baselined for the first generation of VASIMR rockets, the water must be prevented from freezing in the LHP condenser. The freezing point of toluene is roughly 100oC lower than water, minimizing the freezing problem. Wicks with optimally graded pore radius and permeability properties in the radial direction are required to enable the use of toluene as the working fluid. The ceramic wicks developed on the project will be able to meet this requirement while also reducing mass and back conduction. These wicks can also be used to reduce the mass and improve the performance of conventional ammonia LHPs. NASA is currently examining space power systems for spacecraft and the lunar surface. ACT plans to use the ceramic wicks developed on this program in future LHPs that it manufactures for NASA spacecraft as well as DOD and commercial satellites.","description":"The VASIMR propulsion system uses a high temperature Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) radiator to reject heat from the helicon section. The current baseline radiator uses titanium/water LHPs, however, deployable radiator and trace heating features are required to keep the water in the condenser from freezing when the radiator is turned off. The proposed project will develop high temperature toluene LHP radiators that will minimize the freezing problem, since the freezing temperature of toluene is roughly 100oC lower than water. Preliminary calculations on the toluene LHP radiator showed that a graded wick is required, with the pore size decreasing from the center to the surface of the wick. One goal of the project is to develop a graded alumina wick that reduces wick mass, back conduction, and pressure drop, enabling toluene as the working fluid. The ceramic wicks will also have near net shape fabrication, eliminating much of the current machining which adds costs to the LHP wicks. Optimizing the radial variation in porosity and permeability reduces the transport line sizes of toluene LHPs, significantly improving their mass and performance. The ceramic wicks can also be used in conventional LHPs, potentially reducing the LHP wick mass, pressure drop, and back conduction by 50 to 90% when compared with conventional nickel wicks. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating these wicks, demonstrate the wicks' machine-ability, conduct life tests, and evaluate the benefits of a graded wick versus a conventional wick with uniform properties. In Phase II, ACT will fabricate and test toluene LHP radiators with graded ceramic wicks to fully demonstrate their performances. We expect the technology to reach TRL 6 at the end of Phase II.","startYear":2011,"startMonth":2,"endYear":2011,"endMonth":8,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":490374,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"William","lastName":"Anderson","fullName":"William Anderson","fullNameInverted":"Anderson, William","primaryEmail":"bill.anderson@1-act.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":2354053,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Callie","lastName":"Mckelvey","fullName":"Callie S Mckelvey","fullNameInverted":"Mckelvey, Callie S","middleInitial":"S","primaryEmail":"callie.s.mckelvey@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":65244,"projectId":9701,"transitionDate":"2011-08-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"ppt","fileId":305475,"fileName":"SBIR_2010_1_FSC_X2.04-9362","fileSize":192512,"objectId":65244,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"188.0 KB"},"transitionId":65244,"fileId":305475}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"August 2011"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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