SOLICITATION NOTICE
68 -- XENON RECYCLING AND RECOVERY
- Notice Date
- 3/25/2009
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 325120
— Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135
- ZIP Code
- 44135
- Solicitation Number
- Xenon03252009
- Response Due
- 4/10/2009
- Archive Date
- 3/25/2010
- Point of Contact
- Dorothy E Viancourt, Purchasing, Phone 216-433-2532, Fax 216-433-2480, - Antoinette M. Niebieszczanski, NAIS Superuser, Phone 216-433-2806, Fax 216-433-2480, />
- E-Mail Address
-
Dorothy.E.Viancourt@nasa.gov, Antoinette.M.Niebieszczanski@nasa.gov<br
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Thisd is not a formal RFQ but for information only.Research Testing DivisionNew Inexpensive Xenon Recycling MethodOne of GRCs contributions to the Science Mission Directorate involves testing in largeand small vacuum facilities. A significant portion of this testing is associated within-space propulsion systems such as ion engines. Many of the ion engines use a heavy gassuch as Xenon as the propellant. In recent years the cost of Xenon has increasedsignificantly (from $3/liter to as high as $45/liter).This rapid increase in cost hasplaced heavy burdens on the programs developing this technology. One example is the NEXTprogram testing in GRCs large Vacuum Tank VF-16. This test alone uses approximately30,000 liters of Xenon per year. The tenfold price increase for Xenon would increase thecost of NEXT testing VF-16 in the range of $1M each year. To alleviate much of this costincrease, the Testing Division staff has developed an efficient and inexpensive Xenonrecycling method that will recoup 75% of the cost of the Xenon.Xenon recycling has been talked about and attempted before at GRC. Commercial turnkeysystems for collecting Xenon from exhaust gases are available and one was purchased abouttwenty years ago and installed in vacuum facility VF05 in building 301. This system usedliquid nitrogen to freeze out the Xenon from the exhaust stream. The system proved to bedifficult to operate and the amount of Xenon recovered was not enough to continue itsoperation. The new approach incorporated for the first time in the VF-16 facility is simple and veryinexpensive. The Xenon gas from the ion engine is captured in the vacuum facility bycryo pumps. About once a month the VF-16 facility is regenerated by warming up the cyropumps to boil off the Xenon. Until November 2008, this Xenon was rough pumped out thevent to the atmosphere. Now as the cryo pumps warm up the Xenon is pumped into a large(2000 gal.) polyester bag. This pumping of the Xenon to the bag occurs at nearly ambientpressure so there are no special precautions required. The collected Xenon is recompressed into the same K bottles it came in from the supplierso that is can be shipped back for recycling. Initially this was accomplished using thefacilities and expertise of the Microgravity Science Divisions GRC Gas Mixing Facilitylocated in building 333, annex. As the process is matured a dedicated suitablecompressor cart will be built.Spectra Gases Inc. which supplies the research grade Xenon has tentatively agree toprovide a 75% credit of all Xenon returned toward the purchase of research grade Xenon. On November 21, 2008 approximately 1900 liters of used Xenon was transported frombuilding 16 to the gas lab in building 333, annex in a 500 gallon little gas bag. Thisgas was pumped into a K bottle and is ready to ship to Spectra Gases Inc. This concept is being expanded to vacuum facilities VF05 and VF07. VF05 recently startedanother test for the NEXT program which will use an estimated 7,300 liters of Xenon. When this test concludes in March 2009 the new system will be used to capture the usedXenon.VF07 is being prepared for a two year life test of a Hall thruster. This testing shouldstart in April 2009. It is estimated that this test will use 20,000 liters of Xenon peryear for two years. Significance: On a yearly basis the consumption for just the three tests mentioned worksout to about 57,000 liters of Xenon per year.To procure replacement Xenon gas atcurrent market price of $30 per liter would take about $1.7M. A significant portion ofthe Xenon gas used in testing can be collected using this simple concept. This gas canbe returned for recycling resulting in a cost savings to the government. It is tempting to claim a 75% cost savings but the reality is that none of the NASAprograms budgeted for the tenfold increase in the price of Xenon. Without a recyclingprogram GRC research programs would need a significant additional amount of money to buyXenon or would be forced to stop testing when the current supply runs out. 1what trade in allowance will you give us toward the purchase of your "in stock"99,9995 xenon?2what would you charge us to clean up our xenon back to 99.9995 and return to us?Respond to: Thomas J Sours, NASA GLenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Rd., ClevelandOhio 44135-3191orThomas.J.Sours@nasa.govPoints of Contact: FTF/Tom Sours (216) 433-3803, FTF/Mike Swiatek (216) 433-2720 andZIN/David VanZandt (440) 625-2308
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