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MEMS Water Separator for Fuel Cell Systems

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N65538-06-M-0088
Agency Tracking Number: N053-158-0487
Amount: $69,994.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N05-158
Solicitation Number: 2005.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-02-08
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-08-07
Small Business Information
101 West Sixth Street, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78701
United States
DUNS: 161214242
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Burt Fowler
 Principal Investigator
 (512) 479-7732
 fowler@spec.com
Business Contact
 W. Mccone
Title: Director of Contracts
Phone: (512) 479-7732
Email: contracts@spec.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Systems and Processes Engineering Corporation (SPEC) proposes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) approach to fabricate a compact, lightweight, efficient water recovery system for distributed shipboard power systems and unmanned air and undersea vehicles for United States Navy applications. The use of reformed naval logistic diesel fuel such as NATO F-76 and new H2 separation membrane technology allows high-purity H2 to be delivered to fuel cell power systems. Recovering water from the H2 separator membrane raffinate stream while maintaining membrane pressure will result in increased overall system efficiency of advanced energy delivery systems. Using MEMS fabrication techniques will enable reductions in system size and weight leading to improvements in water recovery efficiency. The SPEC design incorporates micro-machined silicon flowplates with integrated cooling channels to extract water from the raffinate stream in a highly efficient manner. Microfluidic channels isolated from the raffinate stream cool the flowplates to condense water vapor from the stream. Separate microfluidic pores collect the liquid water and transport it using capillary force. The MEMS approach also allows the use of electrostatic dehumidification technology to be incorporated into the water separator and thus provides further size reduction and efficiency improvements.

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

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