SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION
PROJECT SUMMARY
Proposal Number:
Project Title:
CRYOGENIC PERMANENT MAGNET RELIEF VALVE
Technical Abstract:
The Permanent Magnet Relief Valve (PMRV) is ideally suited for
overpressurization relief of upstream volumes and can also be tailored
for in-line installations. The inclusion of a permanent magnet
provides a negative spring rate which forces the relief valve to
operate in a "snap" or binary mode; open or closed. Because there
are no springs in the valve, contamination generation is significantly
reduced, sensitivity to vibration is essentially eliminated, and the
envelope is substantially reduced. In a conventional spring actuated
relief valve, the spring stores and returns energy to the moving mass
resulting in "chatter". The negative spring rate of the permanent
magnet yields a force imbalance at all times and therefore does not
experience the storage/release phenomenon. With regard to the present
application, the PMRV envelope can also be considerably smaller
because of the high energy output of the small rare-earth magnet and
its ability to seal at cryogenic temperatures is excellent because of
the magnetic force imbalance in the seated position. A teflon seat
insert along with the substantial magnetic force imbalance acheives
adequate seat stress at the leakage pressure. In addition, the PMRV
has no sliding seals and a minimal part count which reduces the
manufacturing cost.
Potential Commercial Applications:
The commercial applications of this valve include scientific
satellites, and smallsats, where compact size and low weight are
extremely beneficial on cryogenic cooling systems. Additionally,
simplification, miniaturization, increased performance, reliability
and low weight represent significant benefits over existing cryogenic
relief valve technology.
Name and Address of Offeror:
Marotta Scientific Controls, Inc.
78 Boonton Ave.
Montville, N.J. 07045
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) &
Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Programs
Electronic Management System (EMS)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The SBIR/STTR EMS site is maintained by Steve
Hu, Hughes STX.
For comments and questions, contact
webmaster@sbir.hq.nasa.gov.
Updated: Feb. 7, 1996