SBIR-STTR Award

An operational demonstration of the technical feasibility of a low cost integral starter/generator for small turbojet engines is provided by this program. A unique dual purpose starter/generator control concept is employed which uses only one-third of the power switching devices of conventional systems. This new control concept will significantly reduce the cost of the overall starter/generator installation. This exploratory development program will construct a prototype starter/generator and evaluate its performance directly coupled to a small turbine engine. The development hardware will be constructed from as many existing components as possible to provide the necessary technical results within the time and cost limitations of the phase I program. This program will focus on the critical components to the success of this system concept in order to address the areas of major technical risk. Test data will be obtained on the cranking loads of small turbine engines to permit the scaling of the starter/generator system to larger units in the next phase of the program.

The technical feasibility of an integral starter/generator for small turbojet engines was established in the initial phase of this program. Test results show that the electrical starting system can provide engine starts that are as fast as pyrotechnic equipment starts. The Phase I results show that a small turbojet engine can be started and accelerated to maximum thrusts within a 6.0 second period. The Phase II portion of the program will create the hardware to demonstrate a combined functionstarter/generator which permits the minimum of equipment to be installed on the vehicle, and allows the starting equipment tobe re-used. This system provides the necessary electrical power on-board the air vehicle at the lowest cost of expendablehardware in a tactical mission.