Renewable Electric Energy Source for Special Operations Force (SOF) Maritime Combatant Craft

The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is seeking a quiet, reusable high-energy source for use on maritime Combatant Craft. The needs expressed by solicitation SOCOM05-001 are a very good match to the performance and operating features of a TIAX-developed Free Piston Stirling Engine (FPSE) power plant with integral linear alternators, power converter and digital control system--the TIAX "Micro-Power platform." The TIAX Micro-Power platform is a quiet, robust, multi-fuel-capable engine-generator. The Micro-Power platform, in development at TIAX, currently exists in the form of operational laboratory prototypes employed in on-going product development and endurance testing activities. The proposed Phase I program will develop application-specific features supporting a TIAX Micro-Power platform subsystem to realize a portable power unit responsive to SOCOM requirements. These application-specific features include mechanical and electronics packaging, energy storage to meet peak power demands, and fuel packaging. The design of these SOCOM application-specific features will present an opportunity to achieve additional noise reduction. This Phase I SBIR proposal addresses the development of SOCOM application-specific portable power unit features at the preliminary design level. Phase II would follow directly with detailed design of these elements leading to a demonstration prototype.