Anisotropic Ceramic-Metal Heat Exchanger for Cryogenic Applications Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Topic No.: N161-062 Topic Title: Anisotropic Ceramic-Metal Heat Exchanger for Cryogenic Applications Proposal No.: N161-062-0579 Firm: Micro Cooling Concepts, Inc. 7522 Slater Ave., Suite 122 Huntington Beach, California 92647 Contact: David Underwood Phone: (714) 227-9025 Abstract: DC cryogenic flow systems such as Joule-Thomson (JT) or turbo-Brayton require very high effectiveness heat exchangers to reduce input power, while also requiring the heat exchangers to have low SWaP-C. Cryocoolers for applications approaching 1 K and below demand very high efficiencies when placed on power sensitive platforms. In cryogenic recuperators this is ideally accomplished through transverse conduction of heat from the hot side to the cold side. However, cryogenic heat exchangers are inherently susceptible to performance penalties associated with parasitic heat conduction within the plane of the heat exchanger walls (i.e., parallel to the fluid flow direction). Micro Cooling Concepts, in cooperation with Ceramatec, has developed a concept that utilizes materials with highly anisotropic thermal conductivity to fabricate a microplate heat exchanger with an ultra high effectiveness (>99%) for cryogenic applications with operating temperatures in the 1-10 K range. The proposed cryogenic heat exchanger utilizes a composite assembly of lightweight ceramic and metal. The program will consist of heat exchanger design and analysis, material fabrication, proof-of-concept prototype fabrication, and thermal testing efforts. Benefits: Micro Cooling Concepts has an ongoing relationship with a major cryogenic applications company. The new thermally-anisotropic ceramic-metal heat exchangers could easily be adopted into their systems. In addition, the new heat exchanger will allow a next generation of hybrid coolers to reach lower temperatures to support proposed DoD and NASA missions operating under 4 K. The designs, materials, and fabrication methods proposed by Micro Cooling Concepts are applicable over a range of cryocooler operating temperatures from 20K down to below 1K. No changes are needed to the fabrications techniques to accommodate this entire temperature range, making this concept widely applicable to applications of interest under this proposal topic, and beyond. Return