Develop a high power to weight, compact, heavy fuel MCC engine using advanced high strength materials. This new MCC engine design will also offer high durability and high efficiency with an extremely low acoustic and IR signature for use in future small UAVs. The overall objective of this Phase I development program is to develop a JP-5, JP-8 or DS2 MCC engine using advanced high strength to weight materials. This new design will offer a power to weight ratio between 1.1 to 1.5 HP per pound and a minimum service life over 600 hours. It will have a BSFC greater than 0.5 lb/hp-hr at all power outputs. This design will be developed for extreme operational environments including starting temperatures of 0 degrees F and above and operating temperatures from -50 degrees F to 130 degrees F. This MCC engine design can be scaled and/or stacked to cover an output range from 2 HP to 150 HP. The MCC engine is the only engine capable of full expansion which gives it an extremely quiet exhaust even without a muffler.
Benefit: The proposed development from this program will result in the next generation of high power to weight, quiet, compact, heavy fuel engines. Such an engine does not presently exist in the commercial or military market. Modifications to the MCC engine could also provide the capability to operate on biofuels which will create additional commercial opportunities. The market need for such an engine includes Unmanned Ground, Air and Maritime Systems and large generators. There is a large demand for all these applications in the Military, Home Land Defense and many private sector markets. The commercial market desires the safety and stability of heavy fuel (JP or Diesel) over gasoline. In the international market diesel fuel may be the only fuel available and could cost substantially less than gasoline. The commercial applications are numerous, including recreational boats, large auxiliary power generators and engines for hybrid boats and vehicles. A major market also exists in the third world countries and Europe. There is a great demand for diesel engines in many countries. This will be a growing market in the future.
Keywords: high power to weight, high power to weight, UAV, JP-8, low acoustic & IR signature, advanced materials, MCC Engine, JP-5), multi-fuel (diesel, Low vibration
