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AHigh Power Density Rotary Engine for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-10-C-0436
Agency Tracking Number: N10A-001-0440
Amount: $70,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N10A-T001
Solicitation Number: 2010.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2010
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-07-30
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2011-02-28
Small Business Information
7960 S. Kolb Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85756
United States
DUNS: 147518286
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Vladimir Shapovalov
 Senior Scientist
 (520) 574-1980
 jcwithers@mercorp.com
Business Contact
 Raouf Loutfy
Title: President
Phone: (520) 574-1980
Email: mercorp@mercorp.com
Research Institution
 Southwest Research Institute
 Ron B Kalmbach
 
6220 Culebra Road
San Antonio, TX 78238
United States

 (210) 522-5698
 Domestic Nonprofit Research Organization
Abstract

Internal combustion engines with power-to-weight ratios significantly higher than 1 Hp/lb which operate on low flash point fuels are enabling for powering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Conventional Otto, Diesel and Wankel cycle engines even if constructed in advanced light-weight materials cannot meet the required power-to-weight and volume ratios and have high cost. A breakthrough in engine design, operational simplicity and ability to efficiently burn heavy fuels (JP-5, JP-8, DS2) has been demonstrated in a small 2 Hp engine exhibiting 1.1 Hp/lb which has been termed VS-engine. This patented VS-engine when constructed in advanced light-weight materials can be projected to produce power-to-weight ratios in the 1.5 – 2.5 Hp/lb, power-volume ratio approximately 7.5 Hp/in3, power density of 200 – 300 Hp/ft3, and produced at approximately ½ the cost of an Otto engine. In a joint program with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), the VS-engine will be modeled utilizing advanced materials to define performance potential, and an engine will be produced in advanced materials and operated with heavy fuels to demonstrate exemplary performance.

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

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