PRECISION COMBUSTION, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes an ultra-compact JP-8 conversion kit that will e

Description

Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes an ultra-compact JP-8 conversion kit that will enable a lightweight spark-ignited engine as a man portable multi-fueled power unit, while also advancing a breakthrough cross-cutting add-on reformer technology that could broadly enable lightweight spark-ignited engines to use JP-8 for a wide variety of applications. Achieving the man portable weight goals requires enabling a commercially available, spark-ignited engine to operate effectively on JP-8 or diesel. But JP-8 is a low octane fuel, inherently unsuitable for spark-ignition due to knocking and preignition. Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes an alternative Microlith ICEPOX catalytic partial oxidation reformer approach that chemically increases the octane number to the 90+ range, suitable for operation of SI engines. This extremely compact (1/2 c-cell battery size) octane-boosting reactor uses a waterless catalytic nanomaterial partial oxidation (CPOX) process to instantaneously (order of milliseconds) vaporize the fuel and break down a portion of the JP-8 into a mixture of H2, CO and smaller chain hydrocarbons, resulting in a fuel stream with an octane number ~90, suitable for use in SI engines.