SBIR/STTR Research Award
High Altitude Airship Rechargeable MEMS Fuel Cell
Award amount
$99,518Program and phase
SBIR · Phase IAward year
2004Award details
- Awarding agency
- Department of Defense
- Branch
- Missile Defense Agency
- Recipient company
- Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation
- Proposal award date
- 2004-06-10
- Contract end date
- 2004-12-10
- UEI
- M5JVFYWW75P1
- Solicitation number
- 2004.1
- Topic code
- MDA04-002
Research abstract
SPEC offers lightweight, compact MEMS fuel cell for regenerative energy storage applications in HAA station keeping and operation above 65,000 feet MSL. More than one modular 10 KW unit is envisioned for the HAA. Modular unit provides 10KW at high efficiency, 60 KW peak in fuel cell mode, and absorbs 14 KW at high efficiency , 100 KW peak operation in electrolyzer mode. Innovative MEMS fuel cell backing plate approach gives stack sizes 10x smaller (210ƒY/cell) than traditional PEM fuel cells allowing proportional savings in weight per cell area. Lightweight per cell area supports optimal system weight savings (5 to 10x the fuel cell weight) through increased operational efficiency (area) trades for solar panel and fuel weight. Precision MEMS approach allows precise liquid/air interface control giving PEM hydration control in both fuel cell and electrolyzer modes for maximum efficiency and power output. Precise liquid/air interface and distribution eliminates auxiliary equipment and control systems. Integral nanotube catalyst support, grown on MEMS plates, gives minimal heat and electrical impedance, maximizing power output capability and efficiency. MEMS backing plates replace the flow field plate, gas diffusion layer and catalyst support with precision micro feature control and high producability of semiconductor processing.
Technology keywords
Not reported
Other awards by this recipient
Verified by the same UEI. These are other public SBIR/STTR award pages, not a merged company record.
- Dual Purpose Laser Range Finder and LIDAR Sensor
- MicroEW Intelligent Satellite Threat (MIST) Warning Sensor
- Dual Purpose Laser Range Finder and LIDAR Sensor
- RAdar Disruption Systems
- Atmospheric Winds LIDAR Profiler
Awards with the same topic code
Verified by an exact topic code match. This is not a text-similarity match.
- High-Pressure, Fuel Cell Flow-Field Design Solution for High-Altitude Airships (HAA)
- Weight-Reduced Regenerative Fuel Cell Solutions for High Altitude Airships (HAA)
- High-Pressure, Fuel Cell Flow-Field Design Solution for High-Altitude Airships (HAA)
Research funding history
206 SBIR/STTR records share this UEI (1987–2025). Reported award amounts total $59,199,771. Reported amounts are not federal obligations.
Phases: Phase I, Phase II, Phase II – Direct to Phase II
Agencies: Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation