NASA SBIR 00-1 SOLICITATION

FORM 9B - PROJECT SUMMARY

PROPOSAL NUMBER 00-1 17.04-8090 (Chron: 001911 )
PROJECT TITLE
Cryogenic Advanced Loop Heat Pipe in Temperature Range of 20-30K

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)
The Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) program has identified the need for cryogenic cooling transport devices that can provide cryogenic cooling in the temperature range of 20-30K, minimize vibration effects of cryocoolers on instruments, minimize spatial temperature gradient in cryogenic components, level out thermal loads from duty-cycled components, enable locating cryocoolers remotely from instruments, and share cooling power of a cooling source among instruments. The proposed Cryogenic Advanced Loop Heat Pipe (CALHP) with hydrogen working fluid will accommodate all stated requirements. It solves the difficult problem of managing parasitic heat gain in the liquid line, which severely limits the cryogenic capillary pumped loop, by using a secondary pumping system that effectively removes the heat gain. It also enables operation at lower temperatures. The CALHP then does not require liquid cooled shielding which is required for the cryogenic CPL, where the liquid line is looped around the condenser several times to cool the shield. This also means that the CALHP transport section can be made flexible by limiting the number of lines passing through the interface.

POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The CALHP offers the capability to transport heat at lower temperatures than is possible with any other passive cryogenic heat transport devices. It also minimizes the number of transport line “passes” that must cross a gimbaled interface (or other moveable interface), which in turn allows a more flexible connection. In addition to the NASA NGST program, the CALHP would be ideal for numerous military, other NASA, and commercial imaging satellites requiring cryogenic cooling.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (Name, Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)
Dr. Triem T. Hoang
TTH Research, Inc.
505 Hampton Park Blvd., Suite J
Capitol Heights , MD 20743 - 3827

NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)
TTH Research, Inc.
505 Hampton Park Blvd., Suite J
Capitol Heights , MD 20743 - 3827