Liquid Crystal Tunable Polarization Filter

Not Available This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is directed to development of a prototype oxygen generation system design capable of delivering oxygen at 2 to 4 ambient liters per minute and generated at a pressure level of 2500 psig to trickle- charge a storage source. The technology proposed is derived from the life-support oxygen generator system developed by the team of Giner, Inc. and Treadwell Corp. (Thomaston, CT) for the U.S. Navy's Seawolf Submarine. This high-pressure electrolyzer design, based on a proton exchange membrane (PEM) to serve as an immobilized electrolyte and to separate the gases, will be modified as necessary to meet the requirements of a military aircraft application, specifically for trickle-charging a high- pressure gaseous oxygen supply. Trade-off studies will be performed on the current state-of-the-art in PEM electrolyzer technology and the conceptual design will consider material selection, size, weight, geometry, failure modes/effects, startup characteristics, safety and a performance assessment over aircraft altitude and temperature ranges. The Phase I goal will be to establish a conceptual design that meets all of the requirements for a full-scale, flight-test prototype 2500-psi Oxygen System Trickle Charger. The design process and trade-off studies will be based on in-house technology and supported by laboratory data from a working benchtop model.