Passive Wireless Cryogenic Liquid Level Sensors Using Orthogonal Frequency Coded Acoustic Wave Devices, Phase II

This proposal describes the continued development of passive wireless surface acoustic wave (SAW) based liquid level sensors for NASA application to cryogenic liquid level sensing. Orthogonal Frequency Coded (OFC) SAW devices have been demonstrated as passive wireless temperature sensors in NASA Contract NNK04OA28C, and are being further developed under NNK05OB31C. The liquid level sensors use damping of the acoustic wave caused by mass loading of the liquid to produce fast, reversible liquid level sensors. The Phase I research successfully demonstrated operation of these devices as liquid level sensors in selected liquids of interest at cryogenic temperatures. Stability of selected commercially available SAW devices was confirmed, both when exposed to various (extreme and gradual) temperature changes, and upon repeated exposure to liquid nitrogen. The reversibility of the device response was confirmed. Phase I demonstrated the technical feasibility of using these sensors for cryogenic liquid level monitoring of low to moderate pressure liquids (under 500 psi). Phase II will result in prototype product development.

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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