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Low Cost Radiator for Fission Power Thermal Control

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX13CC45P
Agency Tracking Number: 124124
Amount: $124,975.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: H8.03
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-05-23
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2013-11-23
Small Business Information
PA
Lancaster, PA 17601-5688
United States
DUNS: 126288336
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Calin Tarau Tarau
 R&D Engineer
 (516) 603-5980
 ctarau@duke.poly.edu
Business Contact
 Jon Zuo
Title: Business Official
Phone: (717) 295-6061
Email: jon.zuo@1-act.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is developing fission power system technology for future space transportation and surface power applications. The early systems are envisioned in the 10 to 100kWe range and have an anticipated design life of 8 to 15 years with no maintenance. A non-nuclear system ground test in thermal-vacuum is planned by NASA GRC to validate technologies required to transfer reactor heat, convert the heat into electricity, reject waste heat, process the electrical output, and demonstrate overall system performance. This SBIR project by ACT will develop a single-facesheet Variable Conductance Heat Pipe (VCHP) radiator, operating near 450K, to support the Technology Demonstration Unit (TDU) for surface power and 100kW-class electric vehicles. ACT will utilize the experience gained during previous Phase I and Phase II VCHP radiator programs for NASA GRC to increase the specific power of the radiator and reduce the overall cost. A trade study will be conducted to compare single-facesheet and dual-facesheet VCHP radiator designs and the ability to directly bond a GFRC facesheet to a titanium heat pipe will be demonstrated. A complete preliminary design for a single-facesheet VCHP radiator for the non-nuclear system will be developed at the end of the Phase I program.

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

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