Thermoelectric Refrigeration System with Soft-Vacuum Panel Insulation Technology

The purpose of this SBIR is to demonstrate that a refrigeration system using thermoelectric (TE) technology in conjunction with high thermal resistance soft-vacuum panel construction for the enclosure can meet temperature differential and heat rejection requirements for large scale space applications within acceptable power consumption levels. The SBIR directly addresses the need for a micro-gravity refrigeration unit for the storage of biological samples. The objectives of Phase I is to demonstrate through analysis the feasibility of the proposed system performance. The effort proposed for Phase I includes TE technology performance analysis and finite element analysis for thermal and structural performance of the enclosure. The results of this SBIR will show that the thermoelectric refrigeration unit meets or exceeds the existing refrigerator requirements for space shuttle and space station use. Specific benefits to NASA include: improved reliability, elimination of freon working fluid and CFC foam insulation, weight savings, increased usable volume, and reduction of post-flight maintenance.