High-Efficiency Common Heat Source for Field Food Service Equipment

The current common heat source for Marine Corps food service equipment is the Babington Airtronic burner, fielded first in the TRHS in 1996, and later in the M-59, FSU and EFK. A modern, highly fuel-efficient, common heat source is needed that can augment or replace the current burner system. The heat source, if fossil-fueled, is required to operate on logistic fuel (JP-8). TIAX has developed a patent-pending multi-fuel burner (which has already successfully operated with JP-8, DF-2, gasoline and propane) that has high-efficiency, low emissions, low parasitic power consumption, and is reliable and simple to maintain. The successful completion of Phase I will establish the feasibility and design of a high-efficiency burner heat source and mating hardware to be retrofitted to a TRHS. The Phase I effort will provide a foundation for Phase II development of a manufacturable prototype heat source and mating hardware. The successful completion of Phase II will result in a modern, high-efficiency, low-emissions, common heat source for existing Marine Corps food service equipment.