ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10780
Open Date: 21/09/2021 16:22 CEST
Closing Date: 03/11/2021 13:00 CEST

To propose, design and test an electrochemical compressor assembly breadboard technology that can be compatible with the operation of a Joule-Thomson Cryocooler, as well as suitable to spaceflight environment conditions and high reliability.Vibration-free solutions for cryocoolers present significant advantages for stability sensitive applications.Electrochemical compression would present an elegant, scalable solution without moving parts.Currently Electrochemical compressors require a given water content in the flow in order to produce the compression, which is incompatible with a Joule-Thomson Cryocooler. A space compatible and optimized water management system – capturing the water and re-circulating it – is required as essential equipment to render this technology feasiblefor JT cryocoolers reaching from 15K to 80 K (Hydrogen Hydrogen H2 and Oxygen Oxygen O2). Similar technology exists for fuel cells.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- requirements consolidation- technology trade off review- design and manufacturing of the electrochemical compressor- Design and manufacturing of the water management system- validation testing of the setup- way forward for industrialisation

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Vasileios Angelopoulos
Initiating Service: TEC-MTT
IP Measure: N/A
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-c-Stirling, Pulse Tube, J. Thomson