Attachment_1_-_High_Vacuum_Chamber_Requirements.docx

Requirements Document

March 29, 2019

1. Background:

The Optical and Electromagnetic Team is in need of a Radiative Infrared Cooling and Heating Vacuum Chamber Capability (RICHVCC) with radiative-only temperature differential characterization and IR imaging capability at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Soldier Center to investigate personal thermal management by passive radiative heating and/or cooling through novel arrays of polymeric films and fibers. This capability is also relevant to future investigations in sensitive areas of research such as signature management. To assess the thermal properties of these engineered polymeric films and fibers, a custom vacuum system will be procured which shall provide unique capabilities for isolating and researching the radiative component of heat flow through these materials. The low pressure, temperature-controlled, environment will bring new in-house capabilities by enabling the investigation of thermal radiative effects on the performance of heating and/or cooling textile materials by minimizing the effects of other heat transfer modalities, namely thermal convection and conduction.

The stringent requirements must cover all of the following specifications: A cubic, stainless steel vacuum chamber shall have dimensions of 24” by 24” by 24” and a hinged stainless steel door. The vacuum system must reach a target final pressure of between 1.0e-7 Torr to 1.0e-6 Torr or lower inside the chamber (A final pressure lower than 1.0e-7 Torr is ideal). The chamber shall contain numerous flanges and flow-through ports for optimum modular functionalities for future upgrades.

Key features include:

· Flow through ports for temperature probes,

· Flow through ports for powering a heater. The Government will provide this heater which will be a “Body Temperature Simulating Heater” device inside the chamber to simulate body temperature (~34C) under the film/fabric sample. The heating device shall operate under either constant power or temperature mode.

· Ability to control the internal chamber temperature from -20 to 50C (an even wider range of -40C to 100C would be of great benefit to the Government, but not essential) using a thermal platen bolted to the vacuum chamber wall with thermal breaks. The platen shall have a 4 inch hole to allow an IR camera to image inside the chamber. The Government will supply the circulating cooler and coolant. Furthermore, the thermal platen must be capable of receiving the coolant for control of temperature.

· Flow-through port for feeding electric wires to manipulate an XY stage which shall operate inside the vacuum chamber, (The Government will provide the XY stage) as well as the capability to move in the Z direction.

· IR transparent window allowing for an IR camera operating outside the vacuum system to captures thermal images inside the chamber (the Government will supply the IR camera, but not the zinc selenide (ZnSe), IR transparent window which shall be provided by the awardee).

A. Requirements:

a) General Specifications:

i) In order to provide the government with unique capability for the analysis of radiative-only thermal transfer, without conduction or convection, and IR imaging, a stainless steel 24” X 24” X 24” vacuum chamber with stainless steel door is required. The internal pressure of the vacuum chamber must reach between 1.0e-7 Torr to 1.0e-6 Torr (final pressures lower than 1.0e-7 Torr is ideal). The chamber shall be designed with various feedthrough ports (for thermocouples and electrical connections) and an IR transparent window placed at the top of the chamber. Internal chamber temperature shall be controlled via a chiller/heater system that will pump fluid through to a platen which is mounted on in the internal ceiling of the wall. Vacuum chamber and pumps are self-contained in a stand/cabinet. Within the chamber, the ability to translate a stage in the X and Y direction (and potentially in the Z direction) will be a goal, but not an absolute requirement.

b) Specific Specifications:

i) Stainless steel vacuum chamber cube 24” X 24” X 24”

(1) Stainless steel door with O-ring and hinge on right side.

(2) Ports for gauges, inlet, and exhaust.

ii) Electropolishing

iii) Flange. Placement of flanges shall be discussed during the build of the vacuum chamber.

(1) ISO-LF DN160 Flange/Port (NW160) (quantity = 1) (“or equal” products accepted)

(2) ISO-LF DN100 Flange (NW100) (quantity = 1) (“or equal” products accepted)

(3) QF40-100-LF (NW40) SS (quantity = 4) (“or equal” products accepted)

(4) QF40-100-LF (NW40) SS, with blank (quantity = 2) (“or equal” products accepted)

iv) Viewport

(1) Zinc Selenide, broadband anti-reflection (BBAR) Coated, ISO-LF 160.

(“or equal” products accepted)

(a) ZnSe window will be 4" in diameter

(b) BBAR coated (8-12um) with average % reflection of less than 0.5.

v) Feedthrough

(1) Electrical, 25-pin D-conn. in LF100 Thermocouple feedthrough in DF flange (quantity = 2) (“or equal” products accepted)

(2) Electrical, 5-pair, Type K T/C, QF40 (“or equal” products accepted)

vi) Chamber temperature control

(1) Heated/Cooled Thermal Plate, Aluminum, Unplated,

(a) Approximately 24” (length) by 24” (width) square plate. Thickness is less than a few inches.

(b) Temperature Range: -196 C to +100 C

(c) Platen hangs/mounted on the ceiling. Platen shall be thermally isolated from chamber walls.

(d) Heating elements embedded in Al plate

(e) Ceramic insulators

(f) Platen with drilled and tapped threaded holes

(2) Cryogenic control valve

(a) ½ NPTF connections with ½ JIC male flare adaptor

vii) Vacuum pumping system with an ultimate pressure between 1e-7 to 1e-6 Torr

(1) Vacuum Cycle Controller, Turbo Pump

(2) Pfeiffer, DPG 202, Controller w/ Display w/ Cable, RS 232/485, 3m (“or equal” products accepted)

(3) Pfeiffer, HPT 200, Digital PiraniBayard-Alpert gauge DN 40, RS-485 (“or equal” products accepted)

(4) Pfeiffer, HiPace 300, inlet flange DN 100, Turbomolecular pump with TC110 integrated controller (“or equal” products accepted)

(5) Pfeiffer, ACP15 Dry Roughing Pump (“or equal” products accepted)

viii) Stand/Cart

(1) The chamber shall be mounted on a cart or stand.

(a) The Government will fit a Z stage with 2 feet travel distance. Therefore, the chamber must have at least 2.5 feet of clearance under the chamber to allow room for a 2 foot tube to move a Z stage up and down.

ix) System testing and validation

(1) Documentation of system test indicating the built vacuum system, while empty, is capable of reaching an ultimate steady state pressure of between 1.0e-7 to 1.0e-6 Torr for a period of 8 hours (final pressure lower than 1.0e-7 Torr is ideal).

2. Other Direct Costs (ODCs): Shipping/crating costs

3. Deliverables: Complete Radiative Infrared Cooling and Heating Vacuum Chamber Capability (RICHVCC) as described above.

4. Invoicing: The Contractor shall bill in WAWF after CCDC Soldier Center confirms receipt of the Radiative Infrared Cooling and Heating Vacuum Chamber Capability (RICHVCC)

5. Delivery Date: 6 months after award.

6. Ship to DODAAC and Shipping Address: U.S. Army CCDC Soldier Center, 15 General Greene Ave, Warehouse 20, Natick MA, 01760-5000. DODAAC: W911QY