Balanced Floating Piston Valve for Ultra-High Pressure, High-Volume Liquid and Gaseous Flow Control

Contractor has completed all scheduled work and accomplished the Technical Objectives (milestones): (1) Finite Element Analyses (FEA), (2) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses, as well as (3) Seal Design and Material Selection. A 4th Technical Objective was added:(4) Geometry Design and Material Selection, as critical to the successful design of a manufacturable valve. Technical Objective Work Plan Key Results FEA optimized design Highly iterative design process modeled with ANSYS Piston design met balance requirements with displacement ≤0.002” A-286 stainless steel was selected as the material for the piston CFD flow-path optimization Highly iterative flow-path process modeled with ANSYS Decision to use the Drilled Holes Concept rather than the 3-Hole Strut results in 86.5% of the Cv (700) of the ideal ball valve Seal design and material Collaboration with Saint-Gobain Decision to use a bi-directional, spring-assisted, pressure-energized, polymer fiber-filled Teflon seal Seat geometry and material Collaborative process that included FEA and CFD analyses Decision of 60º and Silicon Aluminum Bronze C64200 material The 12 Tasks of the Work Plan in the SBIR Phase I were completed. NASACustomer requirements were investigated and confirmed; industries and markets were researched and new commercial opportunities identified. The manufacturability of the ultimate valve design was validated with the receipts of two quotes from two pre-qualified machine shops, both of which indicated their willingness and ability to manufacture a FPV prototype. The modifications to the FPV during the SBIR Phase I Feasibility Study have resulted in a safer, cost-effective, far more reliable alternative to conventional ball valves currently used for rocket engine ground testing at Stennis Space Center’s (SSC) E Complex.

Contractor believes that the FPV, as modified, will be proven as a “drop in” replacement for the existing ball valves at NASA's rocket propulsion testing grounds. Contractor also believes that the FPV can be miniaturized for cryogenic fluid flow control aboard space craft and storage stations in deep space environments.

The following additional commercial opportunities were identified: private space flight; oil and gas processing; upstream and midstream pipeline; hydrocarbon exploration and production; and, aircraft markets. Additionally, Contractor believes that the FPV can be successfully modified as a Pilot-Operated Relief Valve (PORV) and a Pressure Relief Devices (PRD) for many other applications.

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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.