An Advanced Light Weight Recuperator for Space Power Systems, Phase II

Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) space power system is one of the most efficient energy conversion technologies for nuclear and solar electric propulsion. The recuperator is critical to enhance CBC efficiency. An advanced light weight recuperator was proposed to significantly reduce the mass (up to 70%) of the State-of-Art (SOA) metallic recuperator and to improve its performance by using advanced high conductivity carbon-based materials. In phase I, prototype cores were fabricated and tested successfully. In Phase II, performance of recuperator cores will be investigated in detail, integration technologies will be improved, structural and assembly issues will be addressed, a 30 ~ 50 kWt subscale recuperator will be designed, prototyped and tested.

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.