Press Release
Share
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop Plasma-Assisted Combustion (PAC) technology to enhance ignition, combustion stability, and combustion efficiency in air breathing naval combustors.
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop and demonstrate strategies for using plasma assisted combustion with enhanced repetition (PACER) control in airbreathing propulsion systems. Using nanosecond plasma discharges, PSI will evaluate plasma assisted combustion strategies with very high discharge frequencies (~100 kHz) to enhance combustion efficiency and/or reduce combustion resonance time. Coupled with a unique sensing capability, plasma assisted combustion will also be used as a combustion stability control strategy, enabling reduced lean blowout limits and shorter combustors. In Phase I, experiments will take place across a variety of combustor styles used in propulsion systems, including rotating detonation combustor testing at PSI. PSI will also obtain guidance from our OEM partner and conduct system-level trade studies. The Phase I will conclude with the selection of a single PAC strategy for further development in Phase II. Phase II will include a critical design review (CDR), fabrication, and testing with JP-5 fuel in order to demonstrate the down-selected strategy in a full-scale test article that translates directly to an OEM engine platform.
For more information contact:
Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Vice President, Propulsion & Energetics
jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003
Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Office of Naval Research. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.