Abstract: A vortex separator includes a vortex chamber having a circular cross section, an inlet for delivering a fluid to the vortex chamber, a gas outlet through which gas present in the fluid exits the vortex chamber, a membrane positioned to substantially prevent liquid from passing through the gas outlet, and a liquid outlet through which liquid present in the fluid exits the vortex chamber.

Abstract: The system has a cryogenic tank and a connection for supplying a first fluid to the cryogenic tank. The fluid connection is provided with at least one valve which may be selectively opened to receive the fluid and one valve for venting. A vacuum chamber housing is positioned on an opposed side of the valve from the tank. A vacuum source is operated to remove leaking fluid from the vacuum housing while the first fluid is being supplied through the valve to the tank in order to minimize heat leaks to the transfer tube. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst for a life support system includes a plurality of titania support particles that define an average particle surface area. Platinum metal is disposed on the plurality of titania support particles such that a ratio of the average particle surface area to the percentage amount of the platinum metal is between 5 and 50 m2/% Pt g.

Abstract: A pumped two phase fluid routing system includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes a base portion having an input liquid port for receiving a working fluid and an output liquid port for expelling a liquid. The evaporator also includes a wick portion including a plurality of vapor grooves and a plurality of vapor vents for providing a vapor flow path of a vapor formed within the evaporator. The evaporator further includes a lid portion disposed in close proximity to the wick portion and receiving heat for formation of the vapor, the lid portion having a vapor port for expelling the vapor. The fluid routing system also includes a first liquid line in fluid communication with the base portion for receiving the expelled liquid. The fluid routing system further includes a vapor line in fluid communication with the lid portion for receiving the expelled vapor.

Abstract: A waste collection unit includes a motor supported by a housing. A fan is coupled to the motor by a first member configured to provide a rotational input speed. A liquid-gas separator is coupled to a second member configured to provide a rotational output speed. A speed reduction device is coupled to the first and second members. The speed reduction device is configured to provide a rotational output speed that is less than the rotational input speed. In another embodiment, the fan is arranged in the housing and is directly coupled to the motor by the first member. The fan includes first and second sides respectively including first and second pumping elements. A first waste collection line fluidly connects a urinal to the first side. A second waste collection line fluidly connects a fecal storage container to the second side.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first plate and a second plate connected to the first plate to define a duct between the first plate and the second plate. At least one elastic cooling fin is disposed inside the duct between the first plate and the second plate. The at least one elastic fin exerts a load on the first plate.

Abstract: A system for sensing voltage in an isolated converter includes an input circuit isolated from an output circuit using a first transformer, the first transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the output circuit includes an output inductor and an output capacitor, and wherein the input circuit includes a power source that provides power to the output circuit through the first transformer; a feedback winding coupled to the output inductor to form a second transformer; and a monitor circuit that calculates a voltage across the output capacitor using a voltage across the feedback winding, a voltage across the primary coil of the first transformer, a turns ratio of the first transformer, and a turns ratio of the second transformer in order to provide feedback to control the input circuit.

Abstract: A structural cold plate assembly includes cold plates mounted to opposing sides of a panel and in fluid communication through fluid passages that extend through the panel.

Abstract: An assembly has a plurality of laminate components aligned atop each other. A first endplate is at one end of the assembly of components and a second endplate is at an opposed end. The first and second endplates have outer surfaces facing away from the components. A spring force applies a compressive force to bias the first and second endplates together and, in turn, apply a force across the laminate components. The spring force is provided by a spring mounted between the outer surfaces of the first and second endplates.

Abstract: A seal assembly for accommodating misaligned conduits includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a cup member. The first conduit has a first end and an opposed second end with a core. The core includes a spherical portion includes two separate seals axially spaced apart from one another relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the first conduit. An internal passage extends through the first conduit from the first end to the second end. The second conduit has opposed first and second ends. The first end of the second conduit defines a first socket portion and an internal passage extends through from the first end to the second end of the conduit. A cup member defines a second socket portion, which together with the first socket portion, defines a socket for sealably capturing the core spherical portion and accommodating axial misalignment of the first and second conduits.

Abstract: A method of making a reinforced resin structure is disclosed. A volume of uncured resin compound is placed on a first outer surface of a carrier structure comprising a plurality of fibers. The uncured resin compound and the carrier structure are pressed between two cooperating plates to disperse the resin compound into and through a plurality of passages between the plurality of fibers. The dispersed resin compound is cured to fix the resin within the plurality of passages and around the plurality of fibers.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a wide field of view (FOV) telescope, a narrow FOV telescope, a spectrometer, an imaging detector, an image slicer, and a selection mechanism. The wide FOV telescope is configured to produce a one-dimensional optical image of a broad field of view (FOV) F. The narrow FOV telescope is configured to produce a two-dimensional optical image of a narrow FOV f. The spectrometer is configured to produce a spectrum of a one-dimensional image, and the imaging detector is configured to capture that spectrum. The image slicer is configured to break the two-dimensional optical image into a series of one-dimensional segments. The selection mechanism operable in either of two modes: a wide FOV mode transmitting the one-dimensional optical image to the spectrometer, and a zoom mode transmitting a one-dimensional concatenation of the series of one-dimensional segments to the spectrometer.

Abstract: A rotor has a rotor body for rotation about a shaft. A plurality of permanent magnets are spaced circumferentially about the rotor body. A containment band is positioned radially outwardly of the permanent magnets. The containment band has a containment band coefficient of thermal expansion. The permanent magnets have a permanent magnet coefficient of thermal expansion, taken parallel to a magnetic alignment. A ratio of the containment band coefficient of thermal expansion to the permanent magnet coefficient of thermal expansion is less than or equal to 1.15.

Abstract: A cold plate assembly includes a monolithic cold plate which defines a trough located to intersect a fluid path.

Abstract: A turbine outlet frozen gas capture apparatus is provided and includes an enclosure divided into first and second chambers, the first chamber being receptive of turbine outlet exhaust including frozen gas, a wheel disposed and configured to be rotatable such that frozen gas received in the first chamber is captured and transported into the second chamber and a heater disposed within the second chamber and configured to vaporize the frozen gas transported therein to thereby produce vaporized gas.

Abstract: A contaminate control device for filtering contaminates from a gas such as air is provided. The device includes a housing having a first inlet and a first outlet. An axial flow filter is fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the first outlet, the axial flow filter has a second inlet and a second outlet. A second filter disposed about the axial flow filter and is fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the first outlet, the second filter having a third inlet on an inner diameter and a third outlet disposed on an outer diameter. A flow restrictor is fluidly coupled between the second inlet and the first inlet.

Abstract: A vortex separator includes a vortex chamber having a circular cross section, an inlet for delivering a fluid to the vortex chamber, a gas outlet through which gas present in the fluid exits the vortex chamber, a membrane positioned to substantially prevent liquid from passing through the gas outlet, and a liquid outlet through which liquid present in the fluid exits the vortex chamber.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a heat transfer system comprises a heat transfer fluid circulation loop. The heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger disposed in the heat transfer fluid circulation loop. The heat transfer fluid is an aqueous solution having a pH of 7.8 to 8.0 that comprises from 1.00 wt. % to 1.20 wt. % of a buffer composition comprising sodium and/or potassium salts of borate, carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, from 0.40 wt. % to 0.60 wt. % of a straight chain aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, from 0.90 wt. % to 1.10 wt. % of a branched aliphatic carboxylic acid, from 0.40 wt. % to 0.60 wt. % of an aromatic carboxylic acid, from 0.04 wt. % to 0.08 wt. % of a molybdate salt, and from 0.01 wt. % to 0.03 wt. % of an aldehyde biocide, based on the total weight of the heat transfer fluid.

Abstract: A liquid depth-operated valve assembly for use in a zero gravity environment includes a Pitot pump disposed within a centrifugal separator configured to separate an air and a liquid from one another. Also included is a Pitot opening disposed at a first radial location relative to a substantially central location of the centrifugal separator. Further included is a depth-sensing port disposed at a second radial location along the Pitot pump, the second radial location disposed radially inwardly of the first radial location, the depth-sensing port in operative communication with a valve.

Abstract: A compact field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based digital motor controller (102), a method, and a design structure are provided. The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) includes a sensor interface (206) configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors (104) and generate conditioned sensor data. The one or more sensors (104) provide position information for a DC brushless motor (108). The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) also includes a commutation control (210) configured to create switching commands to control commutation for the DC brushless motor (108). The commutation control (210) generates commutation pulses from the conditioned sensor data of the sensor interface (206). The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) also includes a time inverter (208) configured to receive the commutation pulses.