Compact Micropump For High Viscosity Fuels and Slurries with Built-In Metering

To counter the emerging threats posed by China, and to a lesser extent by Russia, an effective deterrence relies in part on unquestionable, overwhelming offensive superiority. Long-range hypersonic strike weapons play a key role in establishing that superiority, which requires the fielding of a large number of systems. This is only possible if these systems can be developed and produced at affordable prices, and do so while maintaining high performance. The proposed high viscosity fuel and slurry pump plays a key role in these systems, ensuring the availability of affordable high-performance propulsion systems for hypersonic missiles (operating on high density fuels, with low SWaP). The Phase I effort focuses on the proof-of-concept design/build/test of the proposed innovation. A follow-on Phase II will increase the technology readiness level (TRL) and lead to flight qualification. Flight Works is proposing to use its extensive experience in the development and fielding of positive displacement pumps used, among others, in UAV fuel systems and spacecraft propulsion to the development of a pump capable of meeting the Department of the Navy (DON) requirements. These include supplying high viscosity fuels and slurries from as low as 1.14 L/min (6% of full flow) and to 18.9 L/min while providing precise control (0.38 L/min, or 2% of full-scale) and metering over that range. The proposed pump is a gear pump driven by a brushless electric motor. The proof-of-concept Phase I effort focuses on the development and characterization of a near-half-scale unit, with the goal of demonstrating 5 to 100% throttle with fine control over that range (< 2%). Test data obtained with high viscosity fluids on an existing smaller unit show promise of meeting the targeted performance, mass and envelope requirements at full scale. With the proposed agile design/build/test approach, the goal is to converge to a design which would be near flight-ready by the end of Phase II.