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High Specific Power Multiple-Cylinder Alpha Free-Piston Stirling Engine

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNC07CA21C
Agency Tracking Number: 053157
Amount: $599,441.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X3.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-12-12
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2008-06-12
Small Business Information
182 Mill Street
Athens, OH 45701-2627
United States
DUNS: 07163
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Seon-Young Kim
 Principal Investigator
 (740) 592-0420
 kim@sunpower.com
Business Contact
 Faith Knutsen
Title: Business Official
Phone: (740) 594-2221
Email: knutsen@sunpower.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The proposed effort will result in a design of a 30 kWe dual opposed alpha free-piston Stirling engine power conversion system for space applications, and provide proof of concept by the operation of a practical alpha engine. The stepped piston three-cylinder alpha FPSE has shown the highest efficiency and excellent specific power among various engines studied in Phase I. In addition, the three phase electric output of a three-cylinder machine is naturally better in the system context. Thus a high efficiency 15 kWe stepped three-cylinder alpha FPSE will be designed for a 30 kWe dual opposed operation by having two engines connected for perfect balancing in all harmonics. The program minimizes the development risks by combining proven technologies of Sunpower and Global Cooling Manufacturing Inc. (GCM). GCM has achieved the successful operation of a four-cylinder alpha free-piston Stirling cooler.

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

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