Waterhammer Mitigation Valve

Elimination or reduction in waterhammer surge pressures in RCS system would reduce the cost and time needed to develop these systems and improve the systems reliability. Use of a valve invented by Nicola Tesla is to be shown to substantially attenuate the surge pressure peaks. Development of this technology Waterhammer surges drive RCS design pressures, life, reliability and increase development time via extensive analysis and testing to assure the system is capable of handing these surge pressures. Adding this simple no moving part tesla valve as a surge arrestor, might reduce the surges in the system significantly to the point that not additional testing or analysis would be needed in future landers, space craft, or other science missions satellite propulsion systems. This technology, if successful, would also have applicability in many military, industrial and commercial applications.

This activity will provide in-space propulsion systems developed at MSFC that are lighter weight, lower final cost, and lower development costs with little or no effect on system mass or performance. Elimination or large reduction in waterhammer could continue to be funded through the programs noted above, as this would allow more rapid development, lower mass, and lower cost in-space flight systems.

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.