High Speed Compressor for Subcooling Propellants

Propellant densification systems for LH2 require compression systems that develop significant head. In the past this has required multiple stages of compressors running at high speed on grease-packed ball bearings with very limited life, large heat leak and questionable rotordynamic stability. This project will utilize foil bearings with an innovative feature that will greatly increase bearing life/rotordynamic stability, drastically reduce number of stages and cost while increasing efficiency.

The potential applications for this technology at NASA are widespread. In addition to propellant densification for use in liquid rocket engines at launch, there are also applications that involve long term in-space storage of the propellants to be used on vehicles over months or years. By subcooling the propellant it drastically reduces boil-off of the cryogens over time and thus improves storage life. The applications include on-vehicle propellant storage for long range mission and propellant depots that are planned for space. This technology also makes sense for rocket engine turbopumps. LOX and LH2 turbopumps utilizing these bearings could greatly increase life over the ball bearings currently used which will be especially appealing for the long range missions planned for the future.

Numerous private companies are building pump fed rocket engines that could utilize this technology in turbopumps. BNI has also built grease-packed ball bearing cryogenic H2 circulators for neutron sources and flux reactors at facilities around the world. In each of these applications longer bearing life along with the possibility of attaining even higher speeds are seriously needed. There are also numerous applications involving cryogenic H2, He or CH4 expanders and compressors in superconducting magnet cooling and refrigeration that could greatly benefit from this technology.

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.

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.