Air Collection and Enrichment System (ACES)
Andrews Space has developed an in-flight propellant collection System, the "Alchemist" Air Collection and Enrichment System (ACES), which generates liquid oxygen (LOX) through the separation of atmospheric air. Since it allows vehicles to take off without LOX on board - thus minimizing vehicle takeoff weight - the ACES technology is critical for Horizontal Takeoff, Horizontal Landing (HTHL) architectures to meet NASA's Next Generation safety, economic, and operational goals with existing air-breathing and rocket propulsion systems.
ACES was first demonstrated in the 1960s for the USAF Aerospaceplane program. The basic principle is simple: An HTHL launch vehicle manufactures liquid oxygen (LOX) in flight, rather than taking off with full tanks. Since LOX represents a significant fraction of takeoff weight, this approach allows a dramatically smaller launch vehicle for a given payload size.
Under a DARPA Phase I seedling, Andrews is testing advanced packing designs for its Air Collection and Enrichment System at its ARPL facility.
Detailed system thermodynamic balance and design was funded by NASA as part of the Space Launch Initiative, an effort to develop an affordable replacement for the Space Shuttle. Critical components for the ACES system are presently in prototype hardware development at Andrews under a DARPA seedling contract. Future work involving design, fabrication, and test of a subscale all-up ACES system on board a flight vehicle is now in the planning stage.
Vortex Tube Phase II SBIR
The vortex tube accomplishes air separation without moving parts, greatly simplifying the mechanism and increasing reliability. Andrews Space completed a NASA Phase II SBIR, working with our University of Washington partner, to develop and test a prototype vortex tube to better understand the physics of this device.
Vortex Tube Test Rig at the University of Washington
Andrews is conducting theoretical and experimental investigations on a two-phase flow vortex tube to verify the most accepted theories and determine means to improve its air separation capabilities. Theoretical modeling indicates vortex tube performance may reach 90% oxygen purity at 90% yield. An experimental program is underway to investigate number and importance of factors that impact the air separation process.
The Andrews Vortex Tube during operation
