Notice of Partnering Opportunity: Stirling-based Lunar Power Generation and Distribution System for Fission Missions

General Information: The NASA Glenn research center is seeking partnerships to collaborate on a submission to the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Early Career Initiative (ECI) opportunity. This project, the Lunar Power Generation and Distribution System for Fission Missions, seeks to reduce risk for the upcoming Nuclear Fission Power flight demonstration by identifying and demonstrating a simplified and robust strategy for both the control of an array of Stirling engines and power distribution on the lunar surface. The team is looking for partners in high-density capacitor technology which needed for Stirling engine control and energy buffering as well as power transmission and control strategies for the lunar environment. Purpose of Notice: NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is issuing this Notice of Partnering Opportunity for the purpose of openly and competitively selecting prospective team members to assist it in the preparation of proposals to be submitted by GRC to NASA HQ for the Space Technology Mission Directorate Early Career Initiative (ECI). This process is being conducted in accordance with NASA FAR Supplement 1872.3. By this Notice, GRC is seeking information from partners regarding their availability, cost, capabilities, and past performance that relates to the science partnerships on potential future missions, technology and instrument developments, and laboratory experiments. This Notice also authorizes NASA GRC to award grants, cooperative agreements and/or contracts to its selected partner(s) without further competition or justification, for execution of any GRC proposal that is selected in these partnerships. Overview: This Notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a partnership. This Notice is subject to revision or cancellation at any time. Based on the responses to this Notice, GRC anticipates selecting organizations with which GRC would then immediately work directly and individually to develop, complete, and submit proposals in response to the above-mentioned objectives. During the development of specific proposals, specific roles and cost estimates for the selected partners will be developed. For any GRC proposal that is selected, GRC intends to negotiate, without further competition or justification, a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract with each proposal partner, consistent with their agreed upon roles and this Notice. During these procurement negotiations, the specific statement of work, terms and conditions, and procurement value will be determined. There will be no exchange of funds between GRC and the teaming partners during the preparation of proposals. NASA GRC will not be responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing a response to proposals or by the selected partners in assisting GRC in the preparation of proposals. Details of the Opportunity: The NASA Glenn research center is seeking partnerships to collaborate on a submission to the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Early Career Initiative (ECI) opportunity. The main objective of this proposal is to design and demonstrate a robust control and PMAD system for an array of 12 or more Stirling engines as well as a strategy for transferring 10 kW of power a distance of 1 km on the lunar surface. If awarded, this project is scheduled to span from October 2020 until September 2022. High density capacitor technology: High-density AC and DC capacitors are enabling technologies for lunar power systems. The estimated specifications for both types of required devices are as shown below. The final requirements will be established during the initial phase of collaboration. In addition to an overview of the proposed capacitor technology, applicants are asked to include an overview of testing completed or preliminary device test plans (such as MIL-PRF-55365) to facilitate meeting a NASA TRL of 6 within the span of the program. Final testing and validation strategies will be developed in collaboration with NASA Glenn researchers. AC capacitors: Capacitance: 60-120 uF Rated voltage: 250 Vrms Rated current: 5 Arms DC capacitors: Capacitance: 10-20 mF Rated voltage: 300-500 V Radiation environment: Neutron fluence target: 1e12 n/cm2 (>100 keV) Gamma dose target: 100 kRad(Si) Single Event Effect (SEE) 10-100: MeV.cm2/mg Capacitor energy storage density must be above 0.01 J/cm3, and high efficiency is desirable. Power transfer on the lunar surface: Reactor radiation requires power generated by the fission generation system to be transferred a distance of 1 km to the habitat. This energy transfer requires elevated voltage in order to ensure system efficiency while limiting wire mass, and prior NASA studies have suggested voltages on the order of 1 kV. The implementation of high-electric power conversion in space is complicated by the lack of space-rated, high-voltage semiconductor switches. Work is underway to develop radiation-hardened 1 kV SiC devices, however SiC devices are particularly sensitive to single-event effect (SEE) radiation damage and satisfactory radiation hardness has yet to be demonstrated in a lab setting. In the interim, point-to-point power transfer strategies are being considered which make use of existing radiation-resistant power devices. GRC is seeking collaborators to design and build demonstration hardware capable of transferring 10 kW between a low-voltage load and source using a topology with a feasible path to NASA TRL 6 prior to 2023. Rad-hard components are not required to be used in the demonstration, however the COTS components selected should be representative of rad-hard devices with comparable functionality. Key system requirements (adjustments may be made): Source voltage: 200 Vdc Load voltage: 120 Vdc Isolation required Demonstration power level: 10 kW Radiation environment: Neutron fluence target: 1e12 n/cm2 (>100 keV) Gamma dose target: 100 kRad(Si) Single Event Effect (SEE) 10-100: MeV.cm2/mg General Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated based on the performance of applicants during past NASA contracts as required by NASA procurement regulations, as well as the demonstrated TRL and outcome of prior referenced work. Overall cost will be considered as an aspect of the evaluation and cost sharing arrangements between NASA and the applicant will be viewed favorably. Capacitor Technology Evaluation Criteria: Please provide a breakdown of costs distinguishing between the development and testing process, as well as a schedule which facilitates providing sample devices to GRC within the first year of collaboration and testing required to demonstrate a NASA technology readiness level (TRL) of 6 within the span of a 2-year collaboration. Capacitor technologies capable of meeting the requirements listed will be evaluated based on the following characteristics: Demonstrated energy storage density (both specific and volumetric density) of the packaged device under the operating conditions described Demonstrated efficiency of the capacitor technology Maximum unit capacitance Operating temperature range Primary failure mode (open being preferred) Reliability/mechanical durability Power Transfer Technology Evaluation Criteria: Please provide cost and schedule facilitating hardware delivery to GRC during the 7th quarter of the project. Power transfer topologies capable of meeting the requirements listed will be evaluated based on the following characteristics: Relative complexity and component count (simplicity is preferred in lieu of a formal reliability analysis) Specific power density Detail of proposed design with respect to the power processing components. Feasibility of design flight rating Response Instructions Responses are limited to 5 pages excluding a cover page and any table of content or references. Please use the Calibri font with a size of 11 point. Responses are due to NASA GRC no later than 12 p.m. EDT on June 26, 2020. Any responses received after this time and date will be handled as late proposals in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.208. Responses to this Notice must be submitted in the form of a Portable Data Format (PDF) file. Responses, technical and procurement questions should be submitted via e-mail to Rita Kizys at rita.k.kizys@nasa.gov or by phone at (216) 433-3805.