MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORP — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: SB141-003

MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORP — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.

Amount
$98,510
Agency
Department of Defense · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Program / Phase
SBIR · Phase I
Topic
SB141-003
Solicitation
2014.1
NAICS
Place of performance
FL
Period
2014-05-28 → 2015-04-27

Description

Cryogenic cooling offers significant improvements to the operation of several types of electronic systems, including computers, IR detectors, and solid-state lasers. However, commercially available liquid-nitrogen generators do not meet the size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements of many defense systems. In this proposal, Mainstream identifies a method to make significant improvements in cryocooler system SWaP. Design calculations are presented to prove the efficacy of the proposed method. In Phase I, a prototype will be designed and tested to prove the feasibility of the approach. In Phase II, Mainstream will develop an improved system with a 42% weight reduction over the COTS systems, meeting the SWaP goals of the solicitation. The result of this program will be a new cryocooler design that will decrease SWaP of existing cryogenic cooling systems, and allow for new applications of cryogenic cooling.