NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BE

99 -- GASEOUS OXYGEN PUMP/WATER SEPARATORS SOL 9-BE13-12-7-63P DUE 042097 POC Eric W. Lewis, Contract Specialist, Phone (281) 483-0575, Fax (281) 244-5331, Email ewlewis@ems.jsc.nasa.gov -- Keith D. Hutto, Contracting Officer, Phone (281) 483-4165, Fax (281) 244-5337, Email khutto@ems.jsc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/JSC/date.html#9-BE13-12-7-63P. E-MAIL: Eric W. Lewis, ewlewis@ems.jsc.nasa.gov. This is a Request for Information (RFI)to gather data on vendors who manufacture gaseous pumps or oxygen pump/water separators. This device will be part of larger Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell powerplant. The process of combining gaseous hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell creates electricity, as well as liquid water. This water must be removed or the fuel cell will "drown". One method of removing water is to flow excess oxygen (that is not used up in the chemical process that produces electricity) through the fuel cell where it "picks" up this water. The gas/water mixture is then directed to an oxygen pump/water separator -- which is the focus of this (RFI). Our needs of this oxygen pump is to handle a mixture of up to 100 SLPM of oxygen and 0-125 CCM of water at a nominal inlet pressure of 30-65 psia and temperature of 40-200 degrees farenheit. The centrifugal pump should be capable of increasing the pressure of the oxygen gas that will be circulated back to the entrance of the fuel cellby 0.5-5 psid. Finally, this oxygen pump/water separator will need to be operated in both a 1-gravity and a zero-gravity environment. Responses should include, but not limited to, the discussion of the pump design, motor torque and speed attributes, fluid handling characteristics, and the oxygen compatible design of its bearings and shaft seals. The latter point of interest should also focus on material selection and design for safety in the gaseous oxygen environment. The company's previous experience with this type of device should be described. Please respond no later than April 20, 1997 to: Scott Lazaroff, NASA-Johnson Space Center, Mail Code EP5, 2101 NASA Road One, Houston, Texas, 77058; (281) 483-6477. There are plans to issue a solicitation in the future. (0098)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0331 19970410\99-0004.SOL)