SBIR-STTR Award

API Engineering LLC is proposing an innovative oxygen source for fuel cell systems that uses an aqueous chlorate solution for its oxygen storage composition. An innovative thermal/mechanical decomposition approach provides oxygen generation in a low risk and compact system. The approach is easily adapted to provide oxygen pressure/temperature conditions to match different fuel cells and fuel reformers. The integrated system requires less than 19 inches of length to provide 50 kg of deliverable oxygen in a 21 inch UUV. As a liquid composition refueling is straigtforward, allowing mission turnaround from outside with no need to open any hull joints. The approach meets required storage, operational, and safety requirements.

Benefit:
safe thermally stable oxygen source, small package size, high oxygen content per volume, liquid solution allows ease of refueling, adaptable to both military and commercial fuel cell and oxygen source applications

Keywords:
oxygen source, oxygen source, aqueous oxygen storage, acqueous chlorate solution, safe oxygen storage, chlorate oxygen generator, liquid oxygen source, Oxygen Generation, thermal decomposition

During Phase 1 API Engineering LLC demonstrated feasibility of an oxygen source for UUV solid oxide fuel cell power systems using an aqueous chlorate solution for its oxygen storage composition. Twenty subscale breadboard laboratory decomposition tests plus ten product disposal tests provided the key data for feasibility validation, system sizing, and performance analysis. For Phase 2 API is proposing to mature the technology via full scale brassboard and prototype tests in the base period followed by demonstration of operation with a fuel cell in the option period. The innovative thermal/mechanical decomposition approach provides oxygen generation in a low risk and compact system where all inputs/outputs are fluids or gasses. Use of waste heat from a solid oxide fuel cell allows the oxygen generator to achieve greater than 97% efficiency. The integrated fuel cell, fuel reformer, and oxygen generator system is projected to achieve an energy density of >500 W-hr/kg for long duration UUV missions. The room temperature oxygen storage composition makes UUV refueling simple and straight forward for rapid mission turnaround with no need to open any hull joints. The approach is projected to meet required storage, operational, and safety requirements.

Benefit:
Safe, thermally stable oxygen source, small package size, high oxygen content per volume and weight, liquid solution allows ease of refueling, adaptable to both military and commercial fuel cell and oxygen source applications

Keywords:
oxygen storage, Chlorate Solution, thermal decomposition, high energy density, Oxygen generator