Fuel Metering Bellows Pump

The Navy needs electric fuel pumps with accurate metering control for high viscosity particle slurry fuels. Existing cruise missiles are fueled with JP-10, which has a viscosity between 0.01 and 0.18 Stokes. High energy density slurry fuels with viscosities as high as 1.5 St have the potential to increase the range of existing missiles, however, new fuel pump technology is needed to field reliable missile systems that are powered by slurry fuels. Existing positive displacement pumps have presented challenges in terms of metering accuracy and pump wear due to the hard particles in the slurry. In this Phase I program, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop the Fuel Metering Bellows Pump (FMBP). The FMBP is a compact fuel pump driven by an integrated electric motor which is designed to precisely meter slurry fuels independent of their viscosity. PSI will fabricate and test the custom pumping elements in the Phase I program. At the conclusion of the program we will create a detailed design of a full FMBP for fabrication and comprehensive performance testing in a Phase II program.