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Lightweight Magnetic Cooler with a Reversible Circulator

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX08CA24C
Agency Tracking Number: 065954
Amount: $599,248.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: S4.03
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2007-12-18
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-12-17
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 71
Hanover, NH 03755-0071
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) 640-2487
Email: contractsmgr@creare.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

NASA's future missions to investigate the structure and evolution of the universe require highly efficient, very low temperature coolers for low-noise detector systems. We propose to develop a highly efficient, lightweight space magnetic cooler that can continuously provide remote/distributed cooling at temperatures in the range of 2 K with a heat sink at about 15 K. The proposed magnetic cooler uses an innovative cryogenic circulator that enables a lightweight magnetic cooler to operate at a high cycle frequency to achieve a large cooling capacity. The ability to provide remote/distributed cooling not only allows flexible integration with a payload(s) and spacecraft, but also reduces the mass of the magnetic shields needed. The circulator has heritage in Creare's space-proven micro-turbomachinery technology which has demonstrated long-life (>10 years) with no-discernable emitted vibrations. The proposed system will be lighter than current multistage ADRs. In Phase I, we proved the feasibility of the magnetic cooler by showing its high thermal efficiency, light weight, and high reliability through detailed component design and system performance analysis. In Phase II, we will design, build, and test a prototype circulator module at design conditions. We will deliver the circulator module to NASA for integration into a prototype magnetic cooler.

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

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