Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
A Turbo-Brayton Cryocooler for Aircraft Superconducting Systems
Project Description
Hybrid turbo-electric aircraft with gas turbines driving electric generators connected to electric propulsion motors have the potential to transform the aircraft design space by decoupling power generation from propulsion. Resulting aircraft designs such as blended-wing bodies with distributed propulsion can provide the large reductions in emissions, fuel burn, and noise required to make air transportation growth projections sustainable. The power density requirements for these electric machines can only be achieved with superconductors, which in turn require lightweight, high-capacity cryocoolers. We have developed a Cryoflight turbo-Brayton cryocooler concept that exceeds the mass and performance targets identified by NASA for superconducting aircraft. In Phase I of this project, we will extend our initial design study and develop modeling tools to support a system-level optimization and individual component designs. We will focus on the critical component for mass reduction—the recuperative heat exchanger—and perform risk reduction activities to demonstrate the feasibility of our concept for this component. In Phase II, we will design, build, and test a compact, lightweight, high-performance recuperator for the Cryoflight cryocooler. This development effort will provide an enabling technology for the superconducting systems needed for hybrid turbo-electric aircraft to be feasible.
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Anticipated Benefits
The proposed Cryoflight cryocooler development effort will support NASA's long-term goal to increase aircraft efficiency and reduce aircraft emissions and noise. By providing a cryocooler optimized to meet the aggressive power density target required for aircraft systems, we will remove a key obstacle hindering the development of superconducting aircraft. While such aircraft are still two or three decades from production, supporting technology development needs to begin now if such aircraft are to become a viable alternative to the aircraft configurations in production today. The results of this SBIR project will support NASA design trade studies, system demonstrations, and eventual superconducting aircraft demonstrations. Other NASA applications include space applications such as cryogen liquefaction and storage for planetary and extraterrestrial exploration missions, crew exploration vehicles (CEVs), extended-life orbital transfer vehicles, in-space propellant depots, and extraterrestrial bases. Terrestrial NASA applications include cooling for spaceport cryogen storage and transportation systems and for demonstration hydrogen production and transportation systems. The highly reliable and space-proven turbo-Brayton cryocooler is ideal for these applications.
The target application for this cryocooler is for cooling superconducting devices on electric aircraft once these aircraft are accepted in the commercial market. Other near-term applications for this technology include cooling superconducting generators for offshore wind turbines; cooling superconducting power transmission systems for data centers; cooling for laboratory and industrial-scale gas separation, liquefaction, cryogen storage, and cryogen transportation systems; cooling for high-temperature superconducting magnets in motors and alternators; liquid hydrogen fuel cell storage for the automotive industry; and commercial orbital transfer vehicles and satellites. More »
The target application for this cryocooler is for cooling superconducting devices on electric aircraft once these aircraft are accepted in the commercial market. Other near-term applications for this technology include cooling superconducting generators for offshore wind turbines; cooling superconducting power transmission systems for data centers; cooling for laboratory and industrial-scale gas separation, liquefaction, cryogen storage, and cryogen transportation systems; cooling for high-temperature superconducting magnets in motors and alternators; liquid hydrogen fuel cell storage for the automotive industry; and commercial orbital transfer vehicles and satellites. More »
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creare, LLC | Lead Organization | Industry | Hanover, New Hampshire |
Glenn Research Center
(GRC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Cleveland, Ohio |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
New Hampshire
-
Ohio
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This is a historic project that was completed before the creation of TechPort on October 1, 2012. Available data has been included. This record may contain less data than currently active projects.