December 2023 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract by the Naval Air Warfare Center to develop a type-II superlattice (T2SL) imaging detector array with tunable, metasurface-enhanced narrowband absorption in the midwave infrared (MWIR). PSI will work with the University of Texas at Austin (UT) to leverage critical innovations in ultrathin T2SL detectors and metasurfaces to achieve in-band D* of 4×10¹¹ Jones at 200K.

This technology will significantly reduce the size, weight and power (SWaP) of MWIR imagers and sensors by eliminating the need for the large dewar-based cooling assemblies that are currently needed to reduce dark current of existing detector technologies to acceptable levels.

The addition of multi-spectral functionality directly into the focal plane array will further reduce SWaP and enhance the sensing capabilities of MWIR detection systems.

For more information, contact:

Dr. David Woolf
Group Leader, Structured Optical Materials
dwoolf@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Naval Air Warfare Center. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy to develop an oil quantity sensor that greatly improves the method of measuring and assessing oil quantity, volume, and/or level of aircraft propulsion and power lubrication tanks, independent of oil reservoir size/form/shape during all flight conditions.

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a sensor for real-time measurement of oil quantity, temperature and contaminants with high sensitivity/dynamic range under variable flight conditions. The sensor is based on a sensing technique applicable for high-speed measurements, incorporating multiple sensors in a single cable that is placed within the oil tank enabling spatially resolved multi-point detection. During Phase I, PSI will develop theoretical models to simulate flight conditions and measurement characteristics of the envisioned oil quantity sensor. A prototype sensor system with ten sensing elements (5 for oil quantity, 3 for temperature, and 2 for oil contamination) will be developed and tested to demonstrate feasibility. The successful feasibility experiment will lay the foundation for the Phase I Option development of a low-cost, low power, lightweight sensor design and the testing of a neural network to compensate for the influences of the splash-lubricated gearbox and dynamic flight conditions. Successful completion of the Option program will reduce remaining risk for the development and testing of a complete oil quantity sensor demonstrated under simulated flight conditions during Phase II. The effort leverages prior PSI experience developing sensing technologies for fluid-based measurement systems.

For more information contact:

Mr. William J. Kessler
Vice President, Applied Optics
kessler@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under the Naval Air Warfare Center. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a low-cost (<$4 /kg), high capacity (>4.5 wt%) hydrogen storage medium using easily manufactured, structured carbon materials.

Hydrogen fuel is very attractive because it can be easily generated from renewable sources, it has high energy density, and hydrogen combustion does not produce harmful emissions. Hydrogen storage and transportation are key challenges to widespread adoption. Hydrogen is conventionally stored as a compressed gas or in a cryogenic liquid state, which involves very high pressures and/or low temperature to store sufficient quantities. Storing hydrogen in this manner is expensive, inefficient, and unsafe for mobile applications.

The goal of PSI’s project is to create low-cost materials with high hydrogen sorption capacity to increase hydrogen storage density at reduced pressure. This novel material achieves high hydrogen loading by combining advanced carbon supports, with activating functionalization that promotes hydrogen affinity through spillover. Manufacturing is achieved through simple and scalable processing steps using abundant, low-cost precursor materials. The material will be leveraged into a hydrogen storage system with tunable operating conditions and form factor.

In this SBIR program, PSI will optimize the material production process to maximize the hydrogen uptake performance while using scalable synthesis processes and low-cost material precursors. PSI will perform an initial cost study based on the developed process to support the commercialization potential. Beyond this project, PSI is collaborating with businesses in the hydrogen energy market, to integrate and evaluate the novel material in a commercially viable hydrogen storage system.

For more information contact:

Dr. David P. Gamliel
Group Leader, Materials Integration & Engineering
dgamliel@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps to develop a mobile lightweight folding/expandable (LIFE) bridge. USMC has a need for lighter, more nimble applications rather than the existing tank-sized approach.

Existing mobile bridges are big, heavy, expensive, armored and transported by Abrams class vehicles. The PSI solution provides gap crossing for a new era of smaller independent vehicles without committing large, dedicated resources. PSI’s mobile Lightweight Foldable/Expandable (LIFE) bridge solution is transported within weight and volume constraints of the MTVR. The LIFE bridge can be deployed and retrieved within 5 minutes, and can support loads for MLC-60 standards to span a 15 m gap.

For more information contact:

Dr. Sean Torrez
Area Manager, Deployable Structures
storrez@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the U.S. Marine Corps. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army to develop a high pressure common rail fuel pump that has an increased operational lifespan when pumping JP-8 jet fuel.

The Army requires a High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel pump for combat and tactical vehicle engines that is capable of operating with F-24/JP-8 fuel. Existing fuel-lubricated HPCR pumps have experienced accelerated wear and premature failure when running with F-24 due to its worse lubricity properties and lower viscosity than the diesel fuel, the pumps were designed for. In order to meet the Army’s needs, PSI has developed the High Pressure Bellows Pump (HPBP), which has an oil lubricated bottom end to increase the life of the pump. During the successful Phase I program, PSI fabricated and tested a reduced-flow-and-pressure breadboard prototype, completing 1.5 million cycles at a pressure of 12.5 bar and flow rate of 0.48 L/min, which mitigated the highest technical risks surrounding the pump dynamics and fatigue life. In the Phase II program, PSI will design and test a HPBP prototype that produces at least 1.3 L/min flow at a pressure of 2500 bar, which will allow the pump to directly integrate with over 200,000 DoD ground vehicles and commercial aviation platforms including the ULTV, JLTV, Grey Eagle UAV and Cessna 172 aircraft.

For more information contact:

Dr. Sean Torrez
Area Manager, Deployable Structures
storrez@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the United States Army. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps to develop a portable, rapidly deployable hydroelectric generator with a power output up to 1.5 kW.

The U.S. Marine Corps needs a portable, hydroelectric generator to provide electrical energy to recharge batteries and power equipment. Electrical energy used in the field today is primarily generated using diesel generators. Having the option to use an energy source present in the environment, such as a river or stream, reduces the need to transport and store fuel. In order to meet the Marine Corps’ needs, PSI is developing the Modular, Collapsible Hydro-Electric Generator (MCHEG). During a Phase I SBIR program, PSI successfully fabricated and tested a prototype MCHEG module, experimentally demonstrating its hydrokinetic turbine geometry. In this Phase II program, PSI will develop an advanced, collapsible MCHEG turbine array that meets the USMC electrical power generation, weight, stowed volume and deployment time requirements.

For more information contact:

Dr. Sean Torrez
Area Manager, Deployable Structures
storrez@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the United States Marine Corp Systems Command. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.