Helium Transfer Scroll Pump System (HTSPS)

In order to revisit Venus and explore its climate, atmosphere, and surface for the first time since the 1985 VeGa mission, NASA is interested in developing aerial vehicles capable of in situ investigation. One potential solution is anaerial platform that must float and fly between 52 and 62 km in the atmosphere while experiencing temperatures ranging from -30C to 62C, pressures from 80 kPA to 18 kPA, solar fluxes as high as 2,300 W/m2, and IR heat flux up to 830 W/m2. Balancing these three selection criteria, JPL identified variable altitude controlled robotic balloons, or aerobots, as an optimized and achievable solution for near-term Venusian in situ atmospheric exploration.Of particular interest is the development of an altitude modulation system incorporating a lightweight, high efficiency pump, isolation valves and venting orifices suitable for aerobot use.The pump shall have a nominal flow rate of 250 liters per minute at a pressure rise of 30 kPa. There will be two prototypes developed during the Phase II effort, an Alpha, and Beta. The Alpha-HTSP (Helium Transfer Scroll Pump) will be developed during year 1 to prove out an optimized scroll technology that is ideal for space applications. This spinning scroll compressor design minimizes mechanical losses, size, weight and power to provide compressed air for challenging applications such as this one. After the Alpha-HTSP is built, performance tested and endurance tested, a Beta-HTSP design iteration will begin. This design effort will focus on further optimizing performance while ensuring that the designis robust enough for operating in the extreme environment of the Venetian atmosphere. The Beta compressor will be tested in extreme pressure and temperature environments for extended durations to prove its capabilities and durability. In order to revisit Venus and explore its climate, atmosphere, and surface for the first time since the 1985 VeGa mission, NASA is interested in developing aerial vehicles capable of in situ investigation. One potential solution is an aerial platform that must float and fly between 52 and 62 km in the atmosphere while experiencing temperatures ranging from -30°C to 62°C, pressures from 80 kPA to 18 kPA, solar fluxes as high as 2,300 W/m2, and IR heat flux up to 830 W/m2. Of particular interest is the development of an altitude modulation system incorporating a lightweight, high efficiency pump, isolation valves and venting orifices suitable for aerobot use. The pump shall have a nominal flow rate of 250 liters per minute at a pressure rise of 30 kPa. This spinning scroll compressor design will meet or exceed the flow rate requirements while minimizing mechanical losses, size, weight and power to provide compressed air for challenging applications such as this one.    The overall objective of the Phase II effort is to move the HTSP from a TRL of 4 to 6 by testing both the Alpha and Beta prototypes in a relevant environment which is representative of that on Venus. By developing two prototypes during Phase II Air Squared will have the opportunity to iterate on the design in order to optimize size, weight, power, and reliability. (Mass/Footprint) Finalize a full-scale scroll design study started during Phase I to develop a spinning scroll pump operating up to 10000 RPM to maximize the flow while minimizing the scroll footprint.  (Power/Performance) Collect experimental performance data on both the Alpha and Beta prototypes to determine performance as a function of speed and expected power consumption for energy allotments required from the system. (Life) Selection of suitable scroll, bellows, and tip seal materials or coatings that do not show signs of adverse wear under several rounds of testing (Life) Conduct an accelerated environmental temperature test to evaluate the Beta prototypes at comparable Venus conditions to assess their ability to survive these temperatures while operating and idle. (Mass/Footprint/Life) Design and fabricate optimized, Beta scroll vacuum pump prototypes addressing risks identified from Alpha performance and life tests.

The HTSP will define next-generation PSA for xPLSS xEMU in Mars and Deep Space exploration. Capable of operating over several different partial atmospheric environments in a compact footprint, the HTSP will provide flexible and reliable xPLSS design adaptable to varied NASA missions and provide a foundation for both Lunar Gateway habitation and human exploration of Mars. This will accelerate the HTSP’s adaptability for the ORION Spacecraft. The HTSPC would fulfill a vital function of PLSS CO2 removal in advanced extravehicular activities.   Given the improved pressure and flow rate, adaptability as a compressor and vacuum pump, and reduced complexity of spinning scrolls, several positive displacement solutions would benefit from the development of the HTSP. Qualified spinning scroll machines would upgrade the performance of aerospace environmental control systems, vacuum mass spectrometry, and the commercial space industry.

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