CREARE LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A20-147

Description

The modern warfighter carries numerous electronic devices all requiring a reliable, on-demand electric power source. The existing power source—single-use batteries—results in excessively heavy packs, which decreases the soldiers’ lethality, mobility, and survivability. Owing to the high energy density of hydrocarbon fuels, hydrocarbon-based power systems hold the key to addressing this growing gap between energy demand and supply. Recent advancements in miniaturized dynamic energy conversion systems hold the promise of high efficiency, high fuel utilization, and high power density. Creare proposes to develop a compact, highly-efficient, and robust, internal combustion engine that utilizes a free-piston configuration combined with homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operation. Our development fuses advances in miniature two-stroke engines and high-reliability free-piston technology. We have achieved a remarkably simple system design. Keys to our high efficiency include reduced parasitic heat losses, tight clearances, and high pressure ratios. In Phase I we will validate our performance models through the development of a laboratory-scale prototype and demonstrate power generation with prototypical fuels. During Phase II we will demonstrate a complete prototype system and prepare it for field testing.