High Energy Laser Advanced Cell (HELAC) Power System

New generation electric lasers offer the potential of a compact, lightweight deployable directed energy weapon with projected power levels into the megawatt range. These systems require power generation sources that can near-instantaneously deliver high levels of clean, stable power to the HEL load without disturbing the weapon platform stability or environment. This Proposed Phase II program advances development of an air-independent Non-Flow-Through (NFT) Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell by designing, fabricating and testing a complete fuel cell power plant capable of powering an electrically driven laser. The Phase I effort successfully demonstrated fuel cell operation at current densities projected to support a specific power of greater than 4kW/kg in a flight system and demonstrated excellent load following response time. Projections for Phase II and Development Systems show the proposed NFT-PEM fuel cell system meeting or exceeding the required mission profile requirements of power, voltage, current, cycles and transients. Approved for Public Release 15-MDA-8169 (20 March 15)