Micro Fuel Pumps for Small, Heavy Fuel Engines

Kinetic BEI and Beginning Technologies Inc. have designed a very compact and simple micro-injection pump. This SBIR Phase I will provide the opportunity to further advance this emerging technology for use on several current miniature/micro engine development programs for the military and commercial worlds. The pump was designed to provide high pressure supply to common rail type injectors on a 10 mm3/injection fuel flow rate, and to be paired with a new MicroJector, also being designed by the Kinetic BEI and Beginning Technologies team (a Phase I proposal for further development of the MicroJector has been submitted under OSD81-UM1). The advantages of this pump design include small size, light-weight, low part count, and elimination of the rail pressure sensor, rail pressure control actuator, and the rail. In addition, the electronic control circuitry is simplified because the pump control loop is not necessary. To date, funding has been provided through engine development programs. The opportunity to focus specifically on development of this pump through a dedicated SBIR will yield tremendous benefits for both the military and commercial worlds. During this Phase I effort, detailed design work would be completed incorporating design improvements, and a prototype pump would be developed and bench tested.