Metavista USA proposes to jointly develop a cryocooler with the kennedy space center cryogenic test laboratory. This cryocooler will provide roughly 1W at 22K and will use hydrogen as the…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $175,000.00 Cooperative Agreement to Metavista USA LLC, a for-profit limited liability company, to jointly develop a cryocooler that uses hydrogen as the refrigerant with an electrochemical hydrogen compressor. The cryocooler is intended to provide approximately 1 watt of cooling at 22 Kelvin for space-related and ground applications, such as ground hydrogen refueling stations and re-condensation of boil-off liquid hydrogen. This project aims to demonstrate a more energy-efficient means of liquefying hydrogen compared to the current state-of-the-art helium-based cryogenic refrigeration systems. The contract does not have a set-aside designation and is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2020.

Metavista USA proposes to jointly develop a cryocooler with the kennedy space center cryogenic test laboratory. This cryocooler will provide roughly 1W at 22K and will use hydrogen as the refrigerant with an electrochemical hydrogen compressor (EHC). These compressors work in a similar manner to an electrolyzer, but uses DC power to pump a hydrogen nucleus thru a membrane against a significant pressure gradient. The current state of the art in cryogenic refrigeration uses helium as a working fluid. No other NASA center or organization is currently working on hydrogen based cycles. There are many different types of refrigeration cycles; however, electrochemical compressors work on a DC cycle. Using electrochemical hydrogen compression appears to offer many benefits over current state of the art, including: hydrogen has superior refrigerant properties to helium hydrogen offers isothermal heat exchanger between 15K -30K hydrogen can be used directly in a RE-liquefaction cycle EHC uses DC power, less EMI, easy to integrate EHC has no moving parts: low maintenance & low vibration EHC requires no lubrication, no oil separator systems EHC architecture has commonality w\ fuel cells and electrolyzer EHC uses nernst EQN, not gas laws, compression is efficient the TRL of a refrigerator using hydrogen as a working fluid coupled with electrochemical compression is TRL 1. An extensive literature search has shown that no one has published this alternative approach. All other government and industry r & d is occurring with helium cycles. The novelty of this approach is because EHC systems have just recently been successfully demonstrated. The department of energy and NASA have funded development of EHC systems for gaseous hydrogen fueling stations. These compressors are currently at TRL 7 and are currently sold to industry as hydrogen purifiers. NASA SSC recently funded development of an EHC for H2 pipeline pressurization with an sbir phase II project. Metavista USA LLC is a company that provides a solution for liquid hydrogen energy by integrating cryogenic system hardware and advanced system control software. We envision ourselves leading the liquid hydrogen-based energy evolution with cutting-edge technologies to the world. We feel development of this refrigeration cycle has development potential that aligns with our needs for storage and distribution of liquid hydrogen in the fields of, but not limited to ground hydrogen refueling station, RE-condensation of boil-off liquid hydrogen for both ground and space applications, and in-situ hydrogen liquefaction for lunar and mars exploration. In summary, this joint effort is to demonstrate a more energy-efficient means of liquefying hydrogen for space-related and ground applications. Metavista is using electrochemical technology for other applications and realizes this compressor technology can be expanded and modified for the application of hydrogen refrigeration. This is a new application recently proposed by the principle investigator. With a successful laboratory demonstration within analytical predictions, the expected TRL at the end of the project will be TRL 4.