Patent — available for licensing
CryoQuad
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Meeting the cooling demands of megawatt-scale superconducting systems, high-power fuel cells, and other cryogenic applications has long been limited by the mass, complexity, and capacity of traditional cryocoolers. CryoQuad, developed by innovators at NASA Glenn Research Center, is a high-efficiency cryogenic cooling system capable of operating on thermoacoustic principles, waste heat from fuel cells, or other compatible heat sources. Its flexible architecture eliminates moving parts, reduces weight, and delivers reliable, high-capacity cooling for transportation, aerospace, medical, and industrial systems. Future superconducting transportation platforms, including automobiles, maritime vessels, and aircraft, promise major gains in energy efficiency and range. However, superconductors only exhibit zero electrical resistance at extremely low temperatures (below 50 K). Without effective cryogenic cooling, their performance rapidly degrades, erasing efficiency benefits. CryoQuad provides the scalable, reliable cooling required to maintain superconductivity under operational loads and unlock the full performance potential of these advanced platforms.