SBIR-STTR Award

High-altitude, small turbine engines are a growing market for maneuverable missile and drone applications. Current electronic and consumable igniters do not provide ideal performance for all missions, and can cost up to 1/3 price of entire engine. Significant OEM and DoD interest exists for a low cost, low SWaP, fast start, multi-start, insensitive munitions compliant, high-altitude ignition system. The proposed plasma-based ignition/piloting technology takes the place of the existing ignition/power electronics, and provides the desired mix of benefits. In addition, continuous operation of the technology enables full-mission combustion piloting, which can provide substantial range and endurance enhancement due to the low-efficiency, high-load conditions in small turbine engines. This proposal will continue the development of this novel ignition and combustion piloting energy deposition technologies for small turbine engine applications. A turn-key, drop-in system that can replace existing ignition systems will result from full development. Successful demonstration of the technology can further benefit large-scale turbine engines in the commercial and defense space, by improving altitude relight and high-load combustion enhancement.