2008 IPP Seed Fund: Enabling Leveraged Partnerships with Industry for Mutual Benefit
 Cryogenic Propellant Boil-off Reduction System Test David Plachta — Ball Aerospace
Current cryogenic fluid storage systems have a maximum storage life of 9 hours. This project’s goal is to demonstrate an efficient cryogenic thermal control system that could enable longer-term cryogenic fluids storage. The distributed cooling shield has been designed, and a request for bids has been issued for fabricating the shield. The prototype shield is scheduled to be delivered to Ball in February Leverages $250,000 of Ball Aerospace IRAD funds with $130,000 in project funding and $200,000 in IPP funding. |
 High-Endurance Hall Thruster for Deep Space Science Missions Hani Kamhawi — Busek Company
The goal of this project is to design, characterize and demonstrate a low-power extremely long-lived electric propulsion system. Advances in electric propulsion may enable new and exciting science missions exploring the outer reaches of the solar system. Erosion characteristics of the propulsion system have been established, and the design of the Busek Hall thruster incorporating NASA’s technology is underway. Leverages $260,000 of Busek funding with $300,000 of project funding and $175,000 of IPP funding. |
 Generalizing Moon Tire Technology Vivake Asnani — Goodyear
Goals is to understand the types of lunar and Earth vehicles that could use the wire mesh, airless/rubberless tires developed in the 1960s for the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle. The project is developing new tools for the modeling, building, and testing of several prototypes to support future exploration of the Moon as well as Earth-based passenger vehicles. Modeling is largely completed High-Load Generation 2 tires have been fabricated and physical testing is underway Leverages $470,000 in Goodyear contributions with $30,000 from the program and $350,000 from IPP. |
 Low Density Turbine Blade Superalloys Rebecca MacKay — Honeywell Aerospace
This project will assess and scale up three GRC patented low density alloys that will produce stronger turbine blades for improved performance, reduced fuel burn and reduced emissions in subsonic aircraft. This work may also accelerate the development of a new hybrid turbine disk that is critical to the Air Force long range strike fighter. Hot corrosion testing has been completed with favorable results, alloy compositions selected and casting vendors have been identified and are preparing cost quotations. Leverages $201,000 in Honeywell IRAD funding with $116,000 from the project and $166,000 from IPP. |
 Turbofan Foam Metal Acoustic Liner Daniel Sutliff & Cheryl Bowman — LaRC — Williams International
The goal of this project is to scale up, manufacture, and test a foam metal lined nacelle, integrated with the FJ44 engine advancing the TRL form 3 to 7. Foam-metal liners have the potential eliminate fan rub-strip and containment components, reducing engine weight, for a systematic reduction in noise and increased engine performance. Samples have been tested for acoustic and physical properties in an FJ44 engine, a standard nacelle and a lined nacelle. Preliminary data indicate ca. -4dB attenuation of the fan noise signature with no significant performance penalties uncovered. Leverages $450,000 of Williams funding with $500,000 from the project and $250,000 from IPP. |
 Lunar Regolith Excavation Kurt Sacksteder — NORCAT/CCC
The goal of this project is to design and demonstrate new technologies that can be used to "mine" the moon for critical consumables such as water and oxygen. The machinery used for this mining will need to be very reliable and to operate in the extremely harsh lunar environment, which includes extreme temperatures and temperature variations, hard vacuum, partial gravity and highly abrasive and intrusive soil particles. The result will be operational hardware demonstrations such as those recently conducted in Hawaii which will provide the basis for designs under this project. Leverages $240,000 of NORCAT funding with $246,000 from the program and $241,000 from IPP. |
 Developing Cross-Linked (X-Aerogel) Blanket Insulation Mary Ann Meador— Parker Hannifin — Aspen Aspen will use its know-how to design an affordable and environmentally safe production process that will advance the TRL from 4 to 6. Parker Hannifin will demonstrate the polymer cross-linked aerogels thermal insulation capability in its refrigeration products and transfer lines. The cross-linker has been identified and formulated for use in ethanol solution, Aspen has designed the initial formulation of aerogel blanket using the cross-linker and sent the blanket to Parker for evaluation. Aspen is proceeding with the scale-up study. Leverages $400,000 of Aspen and Parker funding, with $203,000 from the program and $212,000 from IPP. |
 Space Power System Pallet for Demonstrating Fuel Cells, Lithium-Ion Batteries, and Advanced Thermal Management TechnologiesDavid Bents — The Boeing Company — Teledyne Energy Systems — Center for Space Power The goal of this project is early integration of advanced power system concepts to identify technical issues prior to actual flight testing. Early detection can lead to rapid development and deployment of these advanced systems. Further, results from this project will provide invaluable experience in thermal control and water management for human-rated power systems. To date GRC has provided Boeing man-rated safety guidelines for Li-ion flight batteries as well as Li ion battery performance data; Boeing has held a preliminary requirements review and has distributed a revised system requirements document for team members. Leverages $370,000 from Boeing and Teledyne funding with $2,700,000 from the program and $300,000 from IPP. |
 Alternative Fuels for Next Generation Combustor Chi-Ming Lee and Dan Bulzan – Pratt & Whitney – AFRL WPAFB
The goal of this project was to assess performance, emissions and thermal stability of Fischer-Tropsch fuels & blends in Ultra High Bypass and PW 308 engine tests. Tests have established that Fischer-Tropsch fuels can run in advanced engines with no combustor or fuel compatibility issues, and a new discovery of alternative fuel thermal stability has been made. Final CE-5 fuel system modifications for use of Alternative fuels are completed, anticipate testing and completion of project in December, 2008. Use of Fischer Tropsch fuels will relieve the reliance of military and civilian aircraft on foreign oil. This project leveraged P&W and AFRL funding in the amount of $1,233,000 with $500,000 from the program and $250,000 in IPP funding for the purchase of the fuel. |
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