On-Wing Cryogen Generator (OWCG)

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will lead a team to develop an airborne cryogen generator. Proposed is a compact liquid cryogen production system that uses extremely small turbomachines for all compression and expansion processes and additively manufactured compact heat exchangers for heat rejection and Joule-Thomson cooling. The use of industry-leading compact components with high efficiencies will lead to low system mass and highest possible production rate per unit system mass. Turbomachinery is directly derived from a small turboalternator under development at Redline Turbine Systems. Heat exchangers are derived from existing research units which have demonstrated their performance for two-phase flow in prior research. Risk is managed by utilizing components that have demonstrated required performance on the test stand. In Phase I several promising cycles will be analyzed, compared to one another and designed at the system level. A critical proof-of-concept laboratory experiment will be conducted to prove the viability of the system design using PSI-made parts. In the Phase I option, CAD models of the overall design will be generated and an integration demonstration with representative electronics relevant to a Directed Energy Weapon such as a High Energy Laser will be conducted.