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Thermal Pyrolytic Graphite Enhanced Components, Phase II

Completed

Description

Peregrines innovation will reduce the required input power, increase a coolers systems margin for a giving cooling load and reduce vibration accordingly for Cryocoolers. Our innovation will enhance the thermal conductivities of structures associated with the cryocooler, enable much more efficient heat removal and thereby produce a more efficient system. Effectively we will be increasing the thermal conductivities of the structures associated with the Cryocoolers by embedding Thermal Pyrolytic Graphite within a matrix of material to produce a thermal conductivity 5 times higher than current available materials. As cryocooler technologies attempt to cool components down around the 4oK level, waste heat and the management thereof becomes critical to the performance of the cryocooler. Thermal conductivity structures made from our innovation possessing a thermal conductivity of 700 W/mK will eliminate thermal loads more effectively and will lead to a more efficient and better performing cryocooler. Phase I has proven feasibility, Phase II will development and demonstrate our innovation resulting in a flight component for the MIRI cooling system for the James Webb Space Telescope.

Details

Technology areaThermal Management Systems > Cryogenic Systems > Thermal Conditioning for Sensors, Instruments, Samples, and High-Efficiency Electric Motors
ProgramSmall Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
Lead organizationJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Start date2009-01-30
End date2011-02-28

How to get involved

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.