ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8254
Open Date: 22/04/2015
Closing Date: 08/06/2015

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.127.01
Prog. Ref.: TRP
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – TRP
Special Prov.: B+DK+F+D+I+NL+E+S+CH+GB+IRL+A+N+FIN+POR+GR+LUX+CZ+RO+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: KEURO
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Manag
Department: Mechanical Engineering Department
Division: Thermal Division
Contract Officer: Almeida, Rudolfo
Last Update Date: 22/04/2015
Update Reason: Tender issue

It was at the time of the FESTIP+ in the nineties that slush hydrogen (SLH2) for the first time attracted interest in Europe as a way to achieve more compact vehicle designs. Applied research into slush hydrogen production using the “Slush Gun Method” started at ESA around 2000. By using slush, with the cryogen cooled to the triple point (14 K), instead of the boiling point (20 K), continuousboil-off losses can be avoided. For SLH2 the increase in density, i.e. decrease in volume, is 16% with a solid content of 50%. Whilethe possibility to produce the required quality of SLH2 has been demonstrated in a recent FLPP activity, a CDF study in 2008 concluded that more research is needed to establish that SLH2 can be used to feed the engines that are anticipated for future launchers. In a further step, it is proposed to initiate a study to gain understanding of the parameters influencing engine performance in the event that SLH2, or for other future engines, slush methane, would be used.

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