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High Efficiency Man-Portable Photovoltaic Power Manager

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N00014-14-P-1110
Agency Tracking Number: O133-EP2-2248
Amount: $147,315.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: OSD13-EP2
Solicitation Number: 2013.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2014
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2014-02-05
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2014-08-05
Small Business Information
1035 Cambridge St. Suite 16B
Cambridge, MA 02141-
United States
DUNS: 020618441
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Alex MeVay
 CTO
 (617) 369-9083
 alex@genasun.com
Business Contact
 Alex MeVay
Title: CTO
Phone: (617) 369-9083
Email: alex@genasun.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

As the military collects more experience using solar energy as a man-portable power source, the strengths and weaknesses of existing technologies are becoming clear. While solar power has proven itself as a viable source of power, the existing power managers - the electronics interfacing the solar panels with batteries and other loads - have several weaknesses: excessive weight, significant self-consumption, complicated operation due to unneeded operational flexibility, and fast charge times only at the expense of poor average utilization of panel power. Accordingly, the objective of the present effort is to develop a highly optimized Genasun Power Manager for a specific ubiquitous scenario: to charge a BB-2590 lithium battery from a solar panel of approximately 20W while sharing excess solar power with additional Power Managers and simultaneously powering equipment. Additionally, the Power Manager will provide a 5V USB charging output to enhance soldier quality of life and thereby hasten system acceptance and adoption.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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