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Completed TRL 3 (started at 1, targeting 3)
Dynovas’ Composite Cryogenic Hydrogen Insulated Lightweight Lined (C-CHILL) storage system provides a novel solution that specifically addresses NASA’s call for development of liquid hydrogen compatible composite tanks for reusable systems such as spacecraft, surface systems, and hydrogen aircraft for long-duration storage of liquid hydrogen. The solution was developed based on previous technologies that have been proven for cryogenic storage, and advances on the state of the art to achieve long-duration cryogenic fluid storage. Dynovas’ C-CHILL is scalable for a wide range of applications spanning aircraft, spacecraft, landers, rovers, launch vehicles, and refueling tanks. Dynovas’ proposed C-CHILL tank design leverages proven cryogenic hydrogen storage technologies and processes, and incorporates additional improvements to achieve a mass-efficient structural design for long duration storage with improved lifecycle capability. These include: Thin Ply Composite Materials – Toughened thin-ply composite materials that allow an increased number of cross laminates in the composite overwrap, greatly reducing microcracking Vacuum Jacketed Insulation – Vacuum insulated layer including composite honeycomb core and MLI between the inner and outer tanks, acting as a structural member and thermal barrier Trapped Polymer Liner – Polymer liner designed for use at cryogenic temperatures, retained within the composite laminate greatly reducing hydrogen permeation through the tank walls Nanomaterial Integration – Integration of thin-walled carbon nanotubes within the matrix during winding to increase micro-crack resistance, by increasing strength and toughness Using these technologies together, Dynovas’ C-CHILL will advance cryogenic hydrogen storage solutions to achieve long-duration storage with improved life-cycle capability, accounting for use cases requiring >5,000 pressure cycles at cryogenic temperatures (20K), and >10,000 thermal cycles between 20K and 300K.
The C-CHILL system supports near term NASA initiatives for lunar exploration and habitation such as the Artemis Lunar Landings and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), and enables a sustainable presence on the moon through long-duration reusable storage systems which can be applied to reusable lunar landers and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for storage of extracted resources and refueling of landers. The C-CHILL system can also be applied to longer-term NASA initiatives such as Mars exploration and habitation.
The NASA lunar specific missions also have parallel commercial and DoD applications to which the C-CHILL system applies. In addition to NASA Lunar and Mars exploration initiatives, other applications exist such as: UAV and commercial aircraft, commercial launch vehicles and lunar exploration, orbit transfer vehicles, and other in-space propulsion.
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