SBIR-STTR Award

Baker Engineering Inc. (BEI) will research the use of the CI Fuel Injection System to fulfill the need for heavy fuel delivery in 2-50 Hp compression ignition engines for UAS/UGS applications. Research will focus specifically on the high pressure heavy fuel injector. Under this Phase I, alternate methods of actuation will be researched with the goal of reducing spark-knock while increasing performance and reliability of the new technology. Phase I efforts will focus on discovering methods to improve the high pressure direct injection process, making it appropriate for both reciprocating and rotary UAS engines. The primary technology to be explored involves replacing the hydraulic circuit which generates needle motion with a more efficient direct acting system using a piezoelectric stack actuator. Efforts will include design, computational fluid dynamic analysis, fabrication and initial bench testing of injector actuation methods. Results from Phase I would be incorporated into new injector hardware which would be fabricated and tested during a Phase II program. Lockheed Martin will supplement the effort as a subcontractor.

Baker Engineering (BE) will explore two paths of injector development to fulfill the need for heavy fuel direct injection in 2-50 Hp compression ignition engines for UAS/UGS applications. Both injectors eliminate the inefficient needle hydraulic circuit where drive power requirements prevented operation on small engines. During Phase I, BE explored the use of Direct Acting Piezo Injectors within the proprietary Micro CI Fuel Injection System. BE also researched a new, simplified Piezo-Driven Unit Injector concept. Both paths will be further developed in Phase II because each provides a distinct set of advantages, and promising results. The primary goal of the Phase II effort will be to design, build and test Direct Acting Piezo Injectors and Piezo-Driven Unit Injectors to enable state of the technology direct injection strategies. BE will fulfill this goal by utilizing modeling and simulation software, including GT Power, computational fluid dynamic analysis and finite element analysis, to predict performance and define operational parameters. BE will also perform detailed component design, build prototype injectors, and perform both bench testing and on engine testing in BE's test laboratory. Lockheed Martin will supplement the effort as a subcontractor.