Lightweight, Durable, Low-Cost Recuperators Designed for Integration with Small Turbo-generators for Future Army Unmanned Aerial Systems

Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) is seeking affordable turbo-generator technology combinations that improve Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) without compromising the reliability, noise, and power-to-weight advantages inherent to turbo-machinery.Recuperation offers 30%-50% reduction in SFC; however, three basic challenge areas of weight, durability, and cost have prevented widespread adoption in production air-born applications.This SBIR proposal outlines a technology plan to develop additively manufactured (AM) thin wall heat exchangers to produce a cost effective, light weight, and durable recuperators for small Unmanned Aerial systems (UAS).The scope of Phase I effort includes the design, manufacturing, and testing of coupons for innovative heat exchanger concepts that will increase durability, while reducing cost and weight of small UAS recuperators beyond the current state of the art.