Additively Manufactured Dynamically Adjustable Venturi

Parabilis Space Technologies is pleased to propose development of a novel additively manufactured, dynamically-adjustable, in-line, cavitating flow-control and measurement venturi for use in advanced propulsion system ground testing. This innovative capability dramatically adds to and extends the advantages of using a cavitating venturi to isolate combustion chambers or other downstream process fluctuations from upstream feed pressure conditions. This design will greatly simplify propulsion testing and reduce costs for cases where desired liquid flow conditions are either not precisely understood or cover a range of high-precision flow rates. The proposed geometry is capable of scaling to both ultra-high pressure and high flow rate applications. The primary innovation consists of a unique floating pintle design and associated structural support with built-in pressure taps. These “printed-in” pressure taps provide both a total pressure measurement upstream of the venturi contraction and a venturi throat pressure measurement, facilitating built-in flow rate measurement and/or determination of liquid/vapor transition.

The proposed additive manufacturing technology provides significant benefit to a wide range of NASA applications, especially very high-pressure, high-flow, or extreme-temperature fluid applications such as hot hydrogen, LOX/methane, and LOX/H2. The proposed innovation can also contribute substantially as a drop-in and scalable replacement for NASA’s existing flow control devices, and the further development of ground testing meters that would provide insensitivity to downstream pressure fluctuations.

Large propulsion testing companies like NTS are target customers, but smaller propulsion testing companies will benefit substantially from this technology because of the low cost and flexibility this system allows. There is also a larger segment of the non-space market that requires precision flow control and variable flow rate including applications in the trillion-dollar oil and gas industry.

This is a mature technology (TRL 8) — 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.