Type of Awards: SBIR Phase I with IEDC and Phase II
Contract Numbers: N00014-07-M-0328 and FA8650-08-C-2943
Agency: U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and U.S. Office of Naval Research
Status: On Going
Periods: 5/4/07 to 3/9/08 and 07/30/08 to 11/30/10
Principal Investigator: J. R. Wells
Abstract: Airborne electrical power requirements are increasing significantly to support Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, electronic attack suites, and directed energy weapons for military applications. When the electric generator is directly coupled to the propulsion engine, relatively large electric torque transients are often introduced with dynamics faster than previously handled by the engine control system. These transients may have serious implications with regard to stall margins, mechanical stress, speed regulation, and available thrust. To address challenges posed by such transients, this work is developing and demonstrationg novel architectures and system control strategies to maximize transient turbine engine performance utilizing modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A). A high-mach missile system is chosen as the prototype for optimization process demonstration and likely candidate for initial technology insertion. This work will expand upon the Phase I efforts through refined modeling and expanded optimization constratints.