Self-Sustaining Portable Pyrolysis Reactor for Producing High Energy Dense Fuel

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) is developing a self-sustaining, portable pyrolysis unit to produce high energy density bio-char (<30MJ/kg) with high efficiency. This high energy density fuel will be stored and then converted to electrical energy when needed. The successful development of the full system will increase the range and endurance of today’s robotic & autonomous systems (RAS). The stored bio-char fuel will be converted to heat using a combustor and the heat converted to electricity using a Stirling engine. The electricity can be used to either charge soldier devices or to power the motion of the robot. In Phase II, the portable pyrolysis prototype will be designed, built, and tested. Additionally, the feasibility of producing electricity from bio-char using a Stirling engine will be demonstrated. In Phase III, the separate pyrolysis and Stirling engine systems will be integrated to reduce the overall weight and size.