Designer Fluid for use in a Single Loop Variable Heat Rejection Thermal Control System

The efficient thermal control of vehicles is essential to the success of every single NASA mission. All vehicles have very tight requirements for the thermal control systems while simultaneously placing incredibly stringent demands upon them. These demands are getting even more intense given the shift towards variable heat rejection, which is essential in missions reaching beyond the lower earth orbit. Specifically, the thermal control fluid must maintain excellent thermal properties for heat rejection under peak conditions while at the same time remain liquid at extremely low temperatures. Currently used fluids either do not meet the low temperature requirement (glycol/water mixture) or do not have thermal properties conducive to a compact, efficient system (Galden). Mainstream has identified several promising next generation thermal fluids using computation chemical techniques. Mainstream has already demonstrated in Phase I that these fluids are superior to incumbent fluids. In Phase II, Mainstream will perform more long term durability, compatibility and performance studies in a simulated test-loop representative of conditions encountered on NASA spacecraft.

This program will result in a fluid or family of fluids providing a significant benefit to NASA in enabling efficient variable heat rejection thermal control systems. The fluids will be formulated at Mainstream complete with any necessary additive packages to ensure stability, materials compatibility and safety. The commercial market for these fluids within NASA is immense and includes essentially every spacecraft which would require a single phase thermal control loop.

In addition to an attractive market within NASA, these fluids will have far reaching effects in other commercial markets as well. These applications include freeze protection, process cooling, refrigeration coil defrosting and sub-ambient dehumidification.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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.