Free Piston Linear Motor Whole Air Compressor for Treaty Monitoring

Under the Department of Energy’s Ground-based Nuclear Detonation Research and Development (GNDD R&D) Program, the Air Force Technical Application’s Center (AFTAC) monitors for nuclear explosions through high altitude whole-air gas sampling using compressors to inject air into a high-flow air stream or store in a high-pressure vessel. The existing compressors have proven reliability issues with exhaustive maintenance requirements. A highly reliable compressor with near zero maintenance that can be manufactured readily and operate at high pressure will serve a critical pain point in the AFTAC’s mission to monitor for nuclear explosions banned by several international treaties and moratoria. Under a Phase II STTR, Koo and Associates International (KAI), The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM), and Gas Technology Institute (GTI) propose to build and demonstrate a high reliability linear motor compressor. The Phase I linear motor compressor was designed with commercialization in mind and reducing time to market to enable a timely solution for the GNDD R&D Program. In addition other compressor applications in this design space have been identified which provides the business case for starting a company to produce the compressor. The linear motor compressor uses off-the-shelf linear motors to directly drive a four-stage compressor tied to one end of the motor assembly. This approach uniquely combines the functions of the compressor and motor into one device with a single moving part, thus eliminating the traditional crankshaft. The design results in fewer parts and wearing components with reduced parasitic friction and increased durability and reliability without the need for oil lubricants. The design also promises to ease manufacturing and reduce initial investment, as well as maintenance needs and cost. In Phase II, the project team will build and demonstrate the linear motor compressor and show that the system satisfies the performance requirements of the Ground-based Nuclear Detonation Research and Development (GNDD R&D) Program.