Sonex Combustion System (SCS) Small, Rugged Internal Combustion Engine Operating on Heavy Fuels

Sonex Research, Inc. proposes to develop a small (5 lb.), rugged (gun- launchable), low-cost, spark-ignited (SI) internal combustion engine that runs on a shipboard-safe heavy fuel for application to aircraft propulsion and electric power generation. The design will use an innovative extension of the Sonex Combustion System (SCS). SCS itself is now being applied to convert gasoline fueled engines to use heavy fuels in small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) such as EXDRONE and is undergoing UAV testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the USMC Systems Command in Quantico, and the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River. Commercial SI gasoline engines will be identified and their SCS conversion potential assessed. The SCS NRL design will be scaled to the engine most suitable for this application. Under subcontract, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of McLean, VA will help design modifications to the engine necessary to meet the 9000g setback acceleration and other SBIR transition interface requirements. The contract deliverable will be a Final Report detailing the project objectives, work performed, results obtained, including testing on a prototype engine, and estimates of technical feasibility.