Maintainable, Survivable, Low Cost Composite Engine Inlet Filter and Housing

KaZaK Composites will work with Pall Aeropower, a worldwide leader in aircraft filters, to develop and demonstrate next generation helicopter filtration systems that incorporate a new lightweight, low cost, damage-resistant structure in combination with advanced approaches to particulate removal. This team will apply leading edge technology to solve the specific filtration problems outlined in the SBIR solicitation. Phase I will initiate with a careful compilation and evaluation of the military's objectives and requirements for the new filtration system. We will then develop several design approaches that combine different material, configuration and manufacturing technology alternatives, and trade these alternatives against requirements to select an optimal approach. Analytically determined weight and performance predictions will be verified in both the basic and option portions of Phase I. A considerable amount of hardware fabrication and testing will be conducted at in-house facilities of KaZaK and Pall. Phase I will conclude with verified prototype hardware that should provide the government with sufficient confidence in the design to move forward into Phase II. In Phase II the KaZaK team will finalize system designs based on Phase I experience and military comment, and then proceed to fabricate and test full scale hardware.