The current and future need for readily available densified cryogenic propellants warrants the investigation into alternative methods of performing the densification process. Present processes are based on heat exchange withcryogenic fluids boiling under reduced pressure achieved with the use of expensive and difficult to control compressor systems. The system proposed in this investigation avoids these problems and costs by operating at atmosphericor higher pressures. Estimates indicate that the proposed system will have significantly reduced capital investment and operating costs coupled with improved reliability and availability. The Phase I effort is intended to refine these estimates and to design a suitable pilot plant experiment to accurately define the operational characteristics of the system. The Phase II effort will complete the construction of the experimental system, conduct sufficient experiments to verify the process method and determine the values of certain constants that are not presently known. The purpose of the investigation is to provide data that will make it possible to design full scale systems.Potential Commercial ApplicationsThe densification of cryogenic propellants is anticipated to become more necessary in the future to maximize fuel loading and payloads. At that time, there will be a demand for densification systems that will function with maximum efficiency and minimum overall cost. These densification systems can be marketable to aerospace companies and to government agencies involved in launch site construction. The proposed system can also be applied to test installations for high temperature superconducting devices, where temperatures lower than 80 K are often needed and can be utilized by companies engaging in developing and marketing such devices.
