Real Time, Non-intrusive Detection of Liquid Nitrogen in Liquid Oxygen (LOX) at High Pressure and High Flow, Phase II

Technical Abstract The Stennis Space Center (SSC) needs the sensors that are capable and can be operated in liquid oxygen (LOX) and or liquid hydrogen (LH2) cryogenic environment to improve SSC cryogenic testing. In particular, SSC would like to develop a sensor to monitor the quality of LOX in the delivery line during the testing of a rocket engine. Spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) with its relative simplicity and multi-molecule analysis can be easily employed to develop a sensor for on-line, real-time measurement. In Phase I we have designed an initial - prototype system for gas mixture and LN2.measurement. This proposed Phase II research is to design an integrated Raman system that will improve the sensor performance to satisfy NASA's need for LOX quality control. A calibration technique for the gas phase sensor will be developed. An optical access interface unit for the LN2/LOX mixture system will be designed. The performance of the integrated Raman system with LN2/LOX mixtures will be evaluated and the final prototype Raman system will be delivered to NASA/SSC.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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