SBIR / STTR #12763

USAF Solicits Development of Compact, High-Efficiency CO₂ Compressor for Aircraft Thermal Management

The United States Air Force (USAF), part of the Department of Defense (DOD), is seeking proposals for the development and demonstration of a compact, high-efficiency CO₂ (R-744) compressor for aircraft thermal management systems (TMS). - Government Buyer: - United States Air Force (USAF), Department of Defense (DOD) - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named in the solicitation - Products/Services Requested: - Design, development, and demonstration of a compact, high-efficiency CO₂ compressor - Intended for use in aircraft TMS across various Air Force platforms (fighters, transports, tankers, next-generation autonomous platforms) - Compressor must: - Handle heat loads from ~200 kW (takeoff) to 75 kW (cruise) - Cool heat load to 20°C ± 5°C - Reject heat to a 50°C heat sink if required - Operate safely at high pressures - Minimize vibration, noise, and weight - Maintain high efficiency across a wide range of operating conditions (hot-day ground ops to high-altitude, low-temp environments) - Support transcritical thermodynamic cycles - Meet shock, vibration, and EMI resilience requirements - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Emphasis on compactness, efficiency, and reliability for advanced mission systems (radars, EW, high-power avionics) - No specific part numbers or existing commercial products referenced - Proposals must address operation in challenging aircraft environments and mission profiles

Description

This solicitation focuses on developing a compact, high-efficiency CO₂ compressor tailored for aircraft thermal management systems across various Air Force platforms. The project addresses thermal challenges from advanced mission systems requiring reliable, lightweight, and efficient cooling solutions. The compressor must operate safely at high pressures, minimize vibration and noise, and maintain high efficiency under diverse environmental conditions. It aims to handle heat loads from 200 kW during takeoff to 75 kW at cruise, cooling to 20°C ± 5°C and rejecting heat to a 50°C heat sink if needed.

View original listing