Helium Refueling Demonstration for On-Orbit Servicing Applications using Efficient High-Pressure-Ratio Compressor

Flight Works Inc. proposes to develop an efficient helium compressor for on-orbit servicing applications and to demonstrate key elements of the concept under Phase I with hardware tests. As noted in the topic description, the current state of the art for efficient and timely on-orbit transfer of gaseous fluids, specifically helium, in large quantities is nonexistent. Flight Works has been developing such capability for Xenon up to 3000 psi and will adapt that concept to the higher pressures needed for efficient helium transfer. The approach uses a multi-stage compression scheme with inter-stage cooling to optimize the work done on the fluid and reduce waste heat. This scheme allows for a large pressure-ratio of both high outlet pressures (6000 psia) and low inlet pressure (500 psia) to maximize the applicability of this servicing technology. The Phase I R&D technical objectives focus on obtaining high pressure test data with helium to guide the design of the high-pressure helium compressor. This is done by leveraging the Xenon compressor design and using that compressor as a point of departure for helium. This leads to a preliminary design of the flight unit capable of compressing helium from 500 psia to 6,000 psia with less than 600 W. It also includes the development of a (near) detailed design of a flight engineering development unit to be finalized, built and tested under Phase II.