ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10862
Open Date: 09/07/2021 08:01 CEST
Closing Date: 03/09/2021 13:00 CEST

Previous studies in Europe have demonstrated the potential break-through that Reverse Turbo-Brayton coolers could represent for Space Cryogenics in General and Earth Observation Cryogenics in particular. It will enable disturbance-less, potentially remote coolingdown to temperatures lower than 40K. ESA is currently developing such Reverse Turbo Brayton, but one of the key building block that drives the efficiency of the cooler – the recuperator – needs to be procured in the US as adequate product does not yet exist in Europe.The purpose of this activity is to develop a compact, light weight, European High Efficiency Recuperator (counter-flow heatexchanger) compatible with a Neon Reverse Turbo Brayton.The activity encompasses the following tasks:- Consolidation of the specifications- Review of the state of the art of high efficiency recuperator designs for space borne and earth borne applications (e.g. parallel plates, microtubes, sandwich structures), including a part on potential advanced manufacturing techniques (e.g. compositematerial additive manufacturing).- Investigation of possible designs and trade-off, including breadboard of key performance aspects (e.g. thermodynamics)- Detailed design, analysis and further breadboarding as required.- Manufacturing of Breadboard Model of the recuperator according to PA/QA standards suitable for this kind of development.- A full comprehensive characterization and test program of the Breadboard model so as to demonstrate the full performance at a level of TRL 4.Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go  to this link.

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Karine Magne-Lie
Initiating Service: TEC-MTT
IP Measure: C1
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 21-B-II-Cryo-Coolers
Products Keywords: 2-O-4-d-Reverse turbo Bryton coolers