MHD power generation poses best means for high power, lightweight supply for airborne systems to power directed energy weapons (DEW). MHD has the highest power density of all competing power technologies and is available on demand for either continuous duty or repetitive pulse operation. State-of-the-art technology exists for realization of flightweight MHD power systems. This coupled with advances in HTSC and high temperature materials makes this system the best candidate power source for development for DEW's. This SBIR Phase I will address the feasibility of MHD power airborne platforms. Both conventional and advanced MHD power concepts will be screened. Studies will be conducted to define system criteria for different MHD power concepts including stand-alone combustion driven APUs , ram/scramjet coupled MHD power generators, ram driven MHD generators, and external hypersonic aircraft MHD power generation concepts. The results of these studies will define innovative airborne power concepts as applicable to Air Force flight missions. Phase I will perform feasibility study of MHD power concepts as applied to high speed aircraft platforms. It will define application and devices/systems for development in Phase II. Phase II will produce design criteria for a flight hardware targeted for a near term flight test program. MHD power can provide the most compact, high power source as needed for airborne DEW and auxiliary power applications. It provides controllable power on demand with no moving parts. It has commercial application to advanced hypersonic vehicles under development in national aeronautic initiatives. MHD power systems have potential for use in military advanced aircraft. It is envisioned that commercial applications will exist for "spin-off" technologies that will be derived from this SBIR. Among these are methods/devices for air plasma production, active flow manipulation, EM plasma power generation, lightweight/compact high field magnets, etc., with application to areas and markets that include government agencies (e.g., DoD, NASA, DOE), ground test facilities, aircraft manufacturers, diagnostics, utilities, and research institutions.
Keywords: Magnetohydrodynamics, Air Plasmas, Flightweight Magnets, Scramjet Power, Mhd Aerospace
