NASA/John F. Kennedy Space Center, Procurement, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

99 -- DEVELOPMENT OF A COLD GAS COMPRESSOR SYSTEM TO CONVERT LIQUID HELIUM TO HIGH PRESSURE GAS SOL KSC-11809.a DUE 093097 POC Terry A. Stefanovic, Commercializtion Specialist, Phone (407) 867-6234, Fax (407) 867-2050, Email Terry.Stefanovic-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/KSC/date.html#KSC-11809.a. E-MAIL: Terry A. Stefanovic, Terry.Stefanovic-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration/John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is seeking a company with which to initiate a dual use project for the development of a Cold Gas Compressor System (CGCS) to convert Liquid Helium to High Pressure Gas. The Research Triangle Institute (RTI) provides assistance to NASA Field Centers and offers information on this opportunity on behalf of NASA. Recently, KSC initiated a large scale system designed to convert liquid helium to the required high pressure gas. This conventional system consists of liquid helium storage dewars, vaporizers, surge tanks, and two sets of warm gas compressors. The first compressor pumps the helium to 400 psig, the second raises the pressure to 6000 psig. KSC has proposed an innovation to further streamline, economize, and enhance the long term reliability of the conversion of liquid helium to gas by developing the CGCS eliminating or minimizing the need for vaporization and warm gas compression steps. With a liquid inlet condition, helium's critical pressure and temperature are rapidly met. Cost-benefit analysis may indicate that a minimized warm gas compression step may still be necessary to conserve helium during system chilldown. Commercial applications of the proposed system have been identified albeit with less demanding or throughput requirements. As there is no commercial source for CGCS, NASA-KSC would like to enter into a dual use project with a manufacturer to develop the necessary equipment for NASA's use as well as for industrial uses. NASA seeks a company that is interested in developing this technology for commercial application. For more information, interested companies can contact C. Gary Hughes at Research Triangle Institute, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, 919-541-7205 (office), 919-541-6221 (fax), or by email at hughes@rti.org by September 30,1997. (0246)

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