Two Stage Cooling Demonstration (2SC)

This Two-Stage cooling activity demonstrated the Zero Boil Off storage of liquid hydrogen through a two-stage active cooling system. 

The activity objectives included:

• Build and test a test article that will eventually be used as a platform to conduct risk reduction testing with the "flight like" Engineering Model cryocoolers which are currently being developed for NASA. 
• Demonstrate the Zero Boil-Off storage of liquid hydrogen using both a single-stage (20K only) and a two-stage (20K and 90K) cooling approach for comparison. 
• Use test results to show savings in the active cooling electrical power required when the two-stage approach is used.

The Phase A activity has now concluded and Phase B, which will use the "flight like" cryocoolers, is now in formulation. 

Results will show savings in the active cooling electrical power required when the two-stage approach is used. Benefits also include mass savings for flight hardware.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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