ThermAvant Technologies, the major innovator in oscillating heat pipe (OHP) based thermal management systems (TMS), has announced the receipt of an USD 898,299 NASA Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for the development of its cutting-edge “High Temperature Oscillating Heat Pipe Transport System.”
Phase II of this project aims to push the boundaries of meter-scale high-temperature heat pipes by increasing operating temperatures to 1300K, demonstrating higher heat flux capacity, and overcoming gravitational effects observed during Phase I. The team will also explore refractory envelope materials and the impact of radiation on OHP materials. These advancements are critical for de-risking the insertion of this technology into nuclear systems. A key benefit enabled by OHP architecture includes interface optimization with the Brayton power conversion system, through the inclusion of an additively manufactured inert gas heat exchanger on the OHP cold side.
The project is a part of NASA’s Spacecraft Thermal Management initiative, which focuses on developing innovative solutions for managing the extreme thermal environments encountered by spacecraft. With the support of this NASA SBIR grant, ThermAvant Tech is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the future of space exploration and technology.