SBIR-STTR Award

The overall technical objective of the phases of this effort, as stated in the solicitation, is to design and construct compact non-explosive power supplies that can be used to power HPM systems, and to conduct proof-of-principle demonstrations of those supplies. The main goal of our Phase I effort is to determine the technical feasibility of each of our proposed concepts early in the Phase, and then to select the best one (or possibly two concepts if funds and time allow) to build as a prototypical generator system based on releasing energy stored in piezoelectric ceramic materials to produce 4 J at 100 kV through a selected power conditioning system across a 50-Ohm load.

The objective of this Phase II effort is to create new single use power supplies as the prime electrical sources for radio frequency transmitters installed in guided multiple launch rocket systems or 155 mm rounds, per the A19-081 Topic description. These power supplies may be reused if required. According to the Topic, in the Phase II program the power supply: Is to produce 500 kV of output voltage; Is to produce 50 J of output energy; Is to deliver the voltage and energy into a 50 Ohm load; Can be adapted to power either a vircator or other microwave device as required. Loki proposes to develop power supplies of the two types that we investigated in our Phase I project. The power supply of the first type is based on a pre-compressed module and the power supply of the second type is based on impulsive mechanical compression of a module. Under compression, the module will generate electric charge, high voltage, and high current.