Novel Lightweight Magnets for Space Applications, Phase II

The Tai-Yang Research Company (TYRC) of Tallahassee, Florida, will design, build and test a superconducting magnet system optimized for low current space based applications. Adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration (ADR) for milli-Kelvin sensor cooling is enabled by the use of superconducting magnets to eliminate ohmic heating. Present systems use low temperature superconductors and require significant cooling system power to operate the magnets. TYRC's proposed superconducting magnet will operate at higher temperature and lower current than systems presently available, and will therefore reduce the total system burden. In Phase I, TYRC successfully demonstrated a method for producing a high temperature superconductor optimized for the low currents (< 10 amps) required for space based magnets. In Phase II, TYRC will produce several small test coils from the optimized conductor to develop the manufacturing technology. TYRC will design a demonstration magnet with input from NASA personnel to address mission requirements. TYRC will then manufacture and test the demonstration magnet to validate the design. At the conclusion of the project, TYRC will be positioned to supply low current superconducting magnets optimized for space based ADR systems identified for NASA missions.

Potential NASA Commercial Applications: Low current high temperature superconducting magnets find application where weight savings and system power requirements are important. One such application is for magneto-optical imaging systems for studying low temperature material properties. TYRC has already produced a conceptual design for such a system using its novel, proprietary superconductor technology. The proposed coil technology is directly applicable to these systems, and may be introduced to this market during Phase II. NASA has licensed its ADR cooling system technology to a supplier interested in supplying such systems to research laboratories. TYRC's proposed coil technology may be used in these systems. Low current superconducting leads with higher temperature thermal intercepts may be of interest to cryogenic systems integrators seeking new methods of reducing heat leaks. TYRC's novel, proprietary conductor technology, now available, is directly applicable.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.