Novel Electrical Power Generation Technology for Hypersonic Flight Vehicles Navy SBIR FY2015.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2015.1 Topic No.: N151-068 Topic Title: Novel Electrical Power Generation Technology for Hypersonic Flight Vehicles Proposal No.: N151-068-0556 Firm: Physical Sciences Inc. 20 New England Business Center Andover, Massachusetts 01810 Contact: Prakash Joshi Phone: (978) 689-0003 Abstract: Future Navy Global Strike or DARPA Tactical Boost Glide hypersonic vehicles will need compact, high temperature-compatible power sources for onboard systems. The vehicles will perform short duration missions (~20 - 30 minutes) at high Mach numbers (~ 10). At these flight speeds the aerodynamically heated vehicle structure is a potential high temperature source for running a heat engine to produce power. Physical Sciences Inc., collaborating with the Boeing Company, proposes a novel hypersonic flow energy scavenging approach. It is based on solid state devices that operate at ~1000 - 1500 K, and convert thermal energy to electrical energy at efficiency > ~ 35%. The devices have ~ 5X the energy density of thermoelectrics for the same mission duration. They can be integrated as thin lightweight tiles behind the hot vehicle structure. Under Phase I Baseline, we will develop thermal designs for the devices via modeling and key laboratory experiments, with further optimization and experimental validation under Phase I Option. The Boeing Company will analyze design tradeoffs for device integration into hypersonic vehicles. In Phase II prototype devices will be developed and demonstrated in relevant thermal and mechanical environments. Benefits: The application of the proposed SBIR technology include the DoD tactical boost glide vehicles, DoD (USAF, MDA, US Navy) long range strike hypersonic missiles, and DoD and NASA long range/duration hypersonic cruise vehicles. In addition, the technology of energy scavenging from hot surfaces has applications in other civilian, military, and commercial sectors. Commercial applications include electrical power generation onboard satellites, particularly for NASA's solar probes and inner planet missions, combustion sources such as internal combustion or natural gas powered generators, or aircraft engines - i.e. where ever high temperature surfaces are available and generation of onboard power will increase the overall efficiency of the system. Return