SBIR-STTR Award

There is an urgent Air Force need for an advanced cycle turbo-fan for UAV applications. Spytek Aerospace proposes a 2-ITB, 500 LBT turbo-fan engine equipped with ITB driven fan capable of running a generator, thru a second ITB in variable modes for additional power on demand and at high altitude. Northrop Grumman has indicated significant interest for a flexible high performance, turbo-fan for possible use on to be specified programs capable of generating power at high altitude. The Spytek configuration would provide a power demand capability of 30% over engine baseline. Spytek""s FI-304/ITB engine, equipped with variable burner flow control and variable turbine, addresses issues of power on demand generation at high altitude using the ITB coupled with selective flow control . High power density ITB equipped gas turbine engines are capable of providing power on demand using an additional combustor between HP and LP turbine stages. The key advantages of an ITB equipped gas turbine engine include ITB operations with capability to vary T4.5 allow for constant speed to be maintained over a wide range of power. The complete hybrid capable, multi-ITB turbo-fan has specific design features for optimizing use at high altitude, which are currently not available through other manufacturers.

Benefit:
The ITB-Turbo Fan concept will provide a higher density gas turbine engine capable of hybrid operations by being able to generate significant electric power and operate with increased power at high and low altitudes.

With the roll of UAVs becoming more complex, and their use more widespread, tactical requirements for performance, reliability, maintainability, supportability, and most recently low cost, have created the need for an advanced cycle propulsion system. Such an engine, must address the conflicting requirements, of large amounts of electrical power generation, while producing substantial increases in power-on-demand at both low and high altitudes. Addressing these requirements, Spytek was able to build and initially test its FI304 500lbt, advanced cycle, turbo-fan engine, with 2 ITB?s in Phase 1. Leveraging substantial IRAD assets, Spytek was able to complete the integration of a 2 ITB engine, complete with variable turbines and flow control, in the scope of the Phase 1. Cycle analysis indicates a 600% increase in electrical power generation capability and a 25% in thrust available to altitudes of 60000ft, over similar non-ITB engines. In Phase 2, Spytek will continue characterization tests of the FI304, implement modifications to match cycle predictions and lower SFC, while repackaging fuel, oil, and systems control elements to make the engine flight demonstration ready in Phase 3. Electrical power generation equipment including the generator will be evaluated and run on the engine in Phase 2.

Benefit:
Benefits of the FI304 Dual ITB engine include a 600% increase in electrical power generation, and a 25% thrust increase over comparable engines, all as power on demand. Thrust and electrical power generation are not relative and can be produced to a large degree independently. Performance increases include operations up to 60000ft, due to lower fan lapse, and a high degree of electrical power generation capability available at altitude.

Keywords:
Power Generation, Gas Turbine Engine, Inter Turbine Burner