MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: The project goal is to enable the electrical outputs of multiple, very compact turbogenera

Description

The project goal is to enable the electrical outputs of multiple, very compact turbogenerators in the 10-50 kW range to be combined ("mechanically paralleled") in order to create a compact, stable, reliable, and efficient microgrid capable of providing up to 500 kW of"island"power that can be subject to rapid transients, without suffering degradation. To accomplish this, MSI has assembled a team of experienced and accomplished individuals in the fields of electrical control, high rotational speed electrical power generation, and rotordynamics and mechanical behavior, and has established a cooperative relationship with a DoD contractor/ supplier of microturbine generators. Analytical methods are being applied that consist of simplified but robust approaches in Phase I and high fidelity numerical techniques in Phase II involving comprehensive nonlinear finite element and finite difference multiphysics (i.e. simultaneous electromagnetic/stress/deflection/vibration) analysis of detailed component and fully assembled system geometries. Specialized testing will be used to validate the analysis and simulation tools. Phase II will conclude with a demonstrated rapid paralleling control system applicable to a wide range of systems, a modified set of small turbojet generators operating as a microgrid, plus rotor system design modifications and a scaling methodology applicable to larger turbojet generators.