Innovative Vapor Compression Ice Maker for Theatre of War

Currently, all ice used on Forward Operating Bases is transported in, putting soldiers in harm"s way during transport and using large quantities of fuel in the process. Mainstream proposes a vapor compression ice making system that will produce ice during the night and store during the day. Mainstream"s system has a COP of 2.24, which exceeds the 2.0 requirement of the solicitation. Detailed cycle analysis and major component selection have already been completed and the majority of the thermal system components are commercial-off-the-shelf-components ensuring rapid transition to fielded hardware. In Phase I, Mainstream will develop an evaporator with guidance from the Army who will specify desired ice shape. A full scale assembly of the ice making system will then be built and tested for performance verification. In the Phase I Option, Mainstream will design and optimize power electronics for multiple power sources and also an antibacterial/cleaning system.