Micro Combustion Power System (MCPS)

Micro Combustion Power System (MCPS) is a new power storage technology potentially capable of delivering eight times higher energy density than Li-ion battery. The MCPS is designed to produce electrical power from heat generated by micro-scale combustion (microcombustion) of liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The advantages of MCPS are high energy density (up to 1400 W-hr/Kg), reconfigurable power output (1 to 50 V), expandable capacity, high reliability and low unit cost. MCPS consists of a fuel cartridge, fuel injection chip, power generation chip, and power management electronics. MCPS integrates power generation components in a 3D structure to maximize energy conversion efficiency, and employs passive fluid flow and Micro-electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator to achieve ultra-low power fuel injection. The core components of the MCPS are two silicon chips produced using MEMS processing: the Power Generation chip integrates a microcombustor and a thermoelectric generator; the Fuel Injection chip integrates a fuel evaporator and an injector. The focus of this proposed SBIR program is on the design of the MCPS system and the Power Generation chip. The small size of MCPS coupled with high energy density makes this technology an ideal candidate for powering new generation of miniature smart munitions.