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Cryogenic Clamp-on Ultrasonic Flowmeters using Single Crystal Piezoelectric Transducers

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX10CD43P
Agency Tracking Number: 094456
Amount: $99,929.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X8.02
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-01-29
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-07-29
Small Business Information
2820 East College Avenue
State College, PA 16801-7548
United States
DUNS: 782683007
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Xiaoning Jiang
 Principal Investigator
 (814) 238-7485
 xiaoning@trstechnologies.com
Business Contact
 Wesley Hackenberger
Title: President
Phone: (814) 238-7485
Email: wes@trstechnologies.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Clamp-on ultrasound cryogenic flowmeters using single crystal piezoelectric transducers are proposed to enable reliable, accurate cryogenic instrumentation needs in support of NASA Lunar Lander, Ground Operations, Altair, Ares, and Lunar Surface Systems programs. In-space, on the lunar surface, and on the Earth Exploration Systems architecture presents cryogenic storage, distribution, and fluid handling challenges that require new technologies to be developed. Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters are proposed because of their advantages such as high turn-down ratio, non-intrusive, no pressure drop, bi-directional measurement, no moving parts and fast response. Single crystal piezoelectrics are attractive because they exhibit 3 to 5 times the strain as conventional piezoelectric ceramics, and retain excellent piezoelectric performance at cryogenic temperatures (< 20 K). Cryogenic piezoelectric transducers with broad bandwidth and high sensitivity will be designed, fabricated and characterized, and cryogenic gas flow rate measurements will be performed using the developed cryogenic transducers. It is expected to have 10-20 dB sensitivity gain (combining transmitting and receiving) for clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters by using novel single crystal piezoelectric transducers.

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

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