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Affordable High Power Density Engine Designs for Personal Air Vehicles

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
72089 		Program Year/Program:
2004 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
030130 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
GSE, INC.
1069 Industrial Ave P.O. Box 474 Glenbrook, NV 89413
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2004
Title: Affordable High Power Density Engine Designs for Personal Air Vehicles
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNL04AB50P
Award Amount: $99,666.00
 

Abstract:

Next generation General Aviation (GA) Sport Class air vehicles limited to 1200lbs, represent the first opportunity to overhaul the FAA certification process necessary to manufacture affordable aircraft. With propulsion representing over one-third of the direct manufacturing costs of the entire aircraft, dramatic reductions in aircraft engine costs must be achieved by design, economy of scale, and modern Quality Assurance (QA) manufacturing techniques. Future on-demand intra-urban Personal Air Vehicles (PAV) will require a breakthrough in affordable ($20/hp) propulsion technology capable of STOL or VTOL performance with specific weight ratio above 1hp/lb. Affordable engines of this performance do not exist today. Therefore this propulsion system study proposes to examine 3 innovative concepts of widely different configurations, namely: Advanced Uniflow Supercharged 4-cycle; Advanced Contra-Prop Supercharged 2-cycle; and Free Piston/Turbine designs. The common design philosophy of maximum breathing capacity, unobstructed combustion chamber design, and high mechanical/structural efficiency ensures maximum power density on multi-fuels at the lowest cost. Economy of scale and QA production are approached by innovative/universal design that is aligned with recreational engine power and manufacturing practices.

Principal Investigator:

Greg Stevenson
Principal Investigator
admin@gsehfe.com

Business Contact:

Greg Stevenson
Business Official
7758313917
admin@gsehfe.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

GSE, Inc.
219 East Enterprize St P.O. Box 7743 Incline Village, NV 89450

EIN/Tax ID: 880317843
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
University of Nevada, Reno
Mechanical Engineering, MS312
Reno, NV 89557
Contact: Kwang Kim
Contact Phone: (775) 785-7522
RI Type: Nonprofit college or university