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Reactant Delivery System for Underwater Vehicles

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N00014-11-M-0473
Agency Tracking Number: N112-155-1014
Amount: $149,873.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N112-155
Solicitation Number: 2011.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2011
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2011-10-11
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 71
Hanover, NH -
United States
DUNS: 072021041
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Patrick Magari
 Principal Engineer
 (603) 643-3800
 pjm@creare.com
Business Contact
 James Barry
Title: President
Phone: (603) 643-3800
Email: contractsmgr@creare.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Advanced underwater vehicles (unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), torpedoes, etc.) are key to achieving long-term objectives for undersea force projection and surveillance. Existing battery-based power systems for these vehicles do not meet mission requirements due to low energy density, prohibitive cost, and/or time-consuming maintenance. Power systems based on liquid fuels and oxidizers (collectively reactants) can provide very high-energy density for air-independent power systems. However, managing the liquid reactants presents significant challenges. Simple tanks are inadequate in many cases due to a wide variety of constraints and issues. Creare proposes a reactant delivery system (RDS) that utilizes a novel bladder system that can safely store a range of reactants for extended periods of time. The bladder system has a high fuel volume fraction; is safe, reusable, easy to fill and refill; and has very low residual fuel volume when emptied. Compatibility with a wide range of reactant and power conversion system topologies is also possible. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of Creare"s RDS for various reactant and power conversion system combinations through design and testing. In Phase II, a complete RDS prototype will be developed and integrated with an energy hull section provided by our industrial collaborators.

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

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