Conflux partnering with Rocket Factory Augsburg to develop aerospace heat exchangers
Conflux – an Australian metal additive manufacturing (AM) innovator of heat exchangers, and German-based Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) are entering into a partnership to embed the Conflux heat exchanger into a gas duct of an orbital rocket. This project is part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative: Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant Program. The $1 million AUD grant funding is being used to develop and manufacture this 3D printed heat exchanger.
Program overview:
- Materials qualification and testing of Monel 500K
- Production platform – EOS M300-4
- Gas Duct Heat Exchanger – develop, build and functional test in 2023
“Conflux is partnering with RFA to embed next generation heat exchange technology into a rocket engine. At Conflux we are establishing ourselves as leaders in the development and commercialization of 3D printed thermal solutions and relevant materials for extreme applications. With support from the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Grant Supply Chain Capability Improvement grant, we are now applying it to the rapidly expanding space industry.” Dan Woodford, Chief Commercial Officer, Conflux Technology
The Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant Program is part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative. The initiative supports Australian organisations with projects that could contribute to NASA’s inspirational endeavour to go to the Moon and on to Mars. This initiative is also an important element of the Agency’s goal to transform and grow the Australian space industry. Conflux is proud to be one of the innovative Australian businesses to be awarded funding under this initiative.
Conflux Technology’s additive manufactured micro-structures and internal geometries permit exacting control of the ratio of surface area presented to each fluid to maximise heat transfer and optimise turbulence and pressure drop.
About Rocket Factory
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) was founded in 2018 with the vision to enable data generating business models in space to better monitor, protect and connect our planet Earth. Against this background, the company’s goal is to offer launch services of up to 1.300kg into low Earth orbits and beyond on a weekly basis at unmatched prices. With this, RFA wants to democratize access to space and reduce the launch costs in the space industry. The RFA ONE launch system combines three key competitive advantages: A customer-focused service with precise in-orbit delivery and a high degree of mission flexibility through its Redshift OTV; at a highly competitive price; made possible by superior staged combustion technology, low-cost structures and usage of industrial components.
