SBIR-STTR Award

Very High Altitude Aircraft Propulsion Engines
Award last edited on: 7/7/2010

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : DARPA
Total Award Amount
$947,107
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
SB072-045
Principal Investigator
Jim Lenertz

Company Information

M-Dot Aerospace Inc (AKA: M-Dot Inc)

3418 South 48th Street Suite 3
Phoenix, AZ 85040
   (480) 921-4128
   N/A
   www.m-dot.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 07
County: Maricopa

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2007
Phase I Amount
$198,542
Proposed is a power system suitable for operation to altitudes of 100K feet or more and capable of operating for 12-20 hours at a time. The system will be storable for years in a sealed container. It will have thermal efficiency sufficient for meeting the 20-hour endurance requirement while still being storable within the required size envelope. It will feature turbomachinery and technologies already demonstrated in previous programs and will have flexibility to meet power requirements at a variety of altitudes from sea level to deep space. Within Phase I, a feasibility study will be conducted of several system architectures and weight, form factor and performance at the required power will be estimated. All system architectures will feature similar components as major elements. The government will be presented with results of trades along with justification for the selected system. Upon concurrence with the government on the best go-forward system, required materials and sub systems will be identified and a Phase II (and subsequent activity) plan will be generated for further development of the system. Subsequent development of this system in Phase II will likely be in conjunction with activities supporting the end use program office.

Keywords:
High-Altitude Engine, Uav, Unmanned Air Vehicle, Gas Turbine, Storable Power System

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2009
Phase II Amount
$748,565
M-DOT Aerospace proposes to team with Mezzo Technologies of Baton Rouge LA and Dr. Hui Wang of the USC, LA and conduct a series of tests and analyses that address all currently perceived critical-path technologies of a 36 kW high-altitude power system design generated in Phase I for the Rapid Eye program. A representative section of the engine will be fabricated and tests conducted to evaluate performance and durability of heat exchangers and a rotating seal. Testing will simulate operation at high altitude. Successful completion of this effort will validate the calculated maximum operating altitude of the system and demonstrate that the system is essentially state of the art technology requiring only the typical development practices and time line of a conventional aircraft engine. In a follow-on 15-month program a ground-test system can be produced and tested. The effort also includes continued refinement of the aero and mechanical design of the power system. To ensure that the work is meaningful and applicable to the Rapid Eye program, a 12-month period of performance is proposed.

Keywords:
Uav, Hfe, Heavy-Fuel Engine, Hale, High Altitude