Request for Information (RFI) for LH2 Boil Curve Data

**[INTRODUCTION]{.underline}**

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invites potential
offerors to submit a response to this RFI to find interested and
qualified sources as well as planning information for the development of
LH2 Boil Curve data from ambient to 50 psig saturation conditions. Data
derived through electric heating of hydrogen will not be considered
adequate. Test data shall be obtained using a hydrogen pool heated by
helium flow(s) through tube(s) immersed in the hydrogen bath.

It is envisioned that this potential acquisition may ultimately result
in the award of a competitive awarded best value contract.

The intent of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain
information from industry to assist Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in its
acquisition development. NASA reserves the right to share all
information received in response to this RFI throughout NASA and to use
all information submitted in response to this RFI in NASA's formulation
of a solicitation seeking competitive proposals. However, any
competition sensitive data should be clearly marked and will not be
shared outside of the immediate NASA LH2 heat exchanger development
team. Although information contained herein represents current program
content and acquisition planning, it is subject to change. Response to
this RFI is requested within the context of the general approach
described in the following paragraphs.

**[THE PURPOSE OF THE DATA]{.underline}**

The LH2 boil curve data being sought will be used to optimize process
flow design of a liquid hydrogen heat exchanger to chill supercritical
gas to temperatures below 100 R from ambient temperature. The data will
be used during design optimization to reduce system size and weight and
lower LH2 consumption. Final report data at a minimum will include a
detailed boiling curve similar to that shown in figure 1 below, based on
test data obtained using helium flow(s) through tube(s) immersed in the
liquid hydrogen.

![](media/image1.png){width="5.916666666666667in"
height="3.765972222222222in"}

\*\*Note -sample cryogenic boiling curve above extracted from
**Cryogenic Heat Transfer (Chemical & Mechanical Engineering)** by [R.F.
Baron](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?_encoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books-uk&field-author=R.F. Baron),
Taylor & Francis Ltd (10 Jun 1999)

**[DESIRED DATA/TESTING]{.underline}**

The testing will obtain liquid hydrogen boiling data from ambient to 50
psig saturation conditions. Necessary data shall include at a minimum
the following:

1)  Peak nucleate heat flux (Boiling curve heat data flux must be within
    10% accuracy)

2)  Tube texture effects on nucleate boiling

3)  Outer tube wall temperature profile during nucleate boiling

4)  Minimum critical heat flux

5)  Outer tube wall temperature profile at minimum critical heat flux

6)  Bulk and saturation pressure and temperature data for LH2 during
    testing.

> Helium mass flow rate(s) with respective inlet and outlet temperatures
> and pressures shall be recorded. Of additional interest are data on
> vapor holdup affects to nucleate boiling resulting from tube bundling
> (i.e. shape, size, geometries, relative spacing, orientation relative
> to the liquid LH2 bath).
>
> Accuracy of the measured data shall be within ½ deg F for temperature
> on the GHe tube outer surface, within 0.2 deg F for saturation
> temperature, within 0.03% for mass flow rate of GHe and within 0.03%
> for mass flow rate of GH2 vapor boiloff.
>
> Heat flux into the test article must be limited to as little heat
> input as possible (a goal of no more than 150W) through the enclosed
> "Dewar-type" surface, and any other proposed openings, upper man way,
> etc.. Consideration may need to be given to control external heat
> sources to the testing article such as the sun and day / night and
> time of year temp excursions.
>
> NASA technical contact will require 7 day advance notice of all major
> tests / operations and reserve the right to attend / witness the
> testing performed at vendor site selected.

**[SPECIFIC INFORMATION SOLICITED]{.underline}**

Responders to this RFI are encouraged to comment on any of the foregoing
and to express their interest in this proposed acquisition of test data
by submitting the following information:

1\. Organization name, address, principal activity of organization,
primary point of contact and business size.

2\. Cost -- Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for design and development of
test article which will be used to obtain desired test data as well as
cost to perform required testing, formal technical report writing, etc.

3\. Test Schedule -- Describe time to design (including one minimum
review with NASA for approval of fabrication / shop drawings as well as
overall test process / procedures), time to build the test article and
time needed to perform testing to obtain required data. Schedule shall
show the earliest date that test article / test setup may be fabricated,
and initial test data will be provided.

4\. Experience -- Describe your experience in developing cryogenic heat
exchanger type test apparatuses and performing testing on cryogenic
hydrogen.

**[RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS]{.underline}**

The requested responses are for information and planning purposes only.
NASA does not intend to post information or questions received to any
website or public access location. NASA does not plan to respond to the
individual responses. Feedback to this RFI may be utilized in
formulating the Government's acquisition strategy and documents.

All responses should be provided in MS Word document format, both hard
and electronic media. Font should be Times New Roman, size 12. Responses
should reference "RFI-KSC-HEX". Please submit responses no later than
February 8, 2008 to NASA/KSC Procurement Office, ATTN: OP-ES/ Tyrone
Frey, Contracting Officer, Kennedy Space Flight Center, FL 32899. Email:
<tyrone.j.frey@nasa.gov>. DO NOT EMAIL YOUR RESPONSE. Mail all materials
to the above address. This preliminary information is being made
available for planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3,
entitled "Solicitation for Information and Planning Purposes". It does
not constitute a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or Request
for Quotation, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the
Government to enter into a contract. Moreover, the Government will not
pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI, nor will the
Government reimburse an Offeror for costs incurred to prepare responses
to this RFI. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this
evaluation.

No solicitation exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of
the solicitation. If a solicitation is released it will be synopsized in
the FedBizOpps and on the NASA Acquisition Internet Services (NAIS). It
is the potential offeror's responsibility to monitor these sites for the
release of any solicitation or synopsis.