There are numerous non-NASA commercial application potentials: DoD/Aerospace- Many systems involving high-power radar arrays, lasers and other sensor technologies are currently fielded or in development for both air and ground vehicles. They all could benefit from increased efficiencies and reduced size and weight. Medical- Current and future diagnostic and therapeutic technologies need efficient cooling systems. MRI and other imaging technologies already use liquid cooling and could benefit from increased efficiencies. In addition emerging technologies such as high intensity focussed ultrasound create high thermal loads that need cooling. HVAC- While price is a concern here, there may be technically challenging applications that would place a high value on improved pumping efficiency, or high temperature capability. Oil Exploration- The downhole environment is high temperature and needs high reliability, compact pumping and cooling technology. The proposed pump technology can be ruggedized for this increasingly challenging environment.
There are several potential NASA applications for this technology in two major areas. The first is any mission, manned or unmanned, that will drive fluid temperatures above current pump operating limits. These include: Missions using nuclear powered vehicles. Exploratory missions to high temperature environments such as Venus and close-in solar orbits Any mission requiring vehicles using any high heat flux devices, such as high powered lasers, future high powered communications satellites, etc. The second area is any mission requiring or benefiting from higher efficiency pumps. This includes: Any future interplanetary exploratory missions would benefit from the improvements described in the Technical Abstract. Satellite re-fueling of hydrazine will benefit from improved size and weight factors resulting from improved efficiencies. Given all the benefits described in the Technical Abstract: high-temperature capability, reduced size and weight, and improved efficiency there are numerous potential NASA applications.
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