BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LiquidPiston, the main innovator of environment friendly engine expertise and hybrid energy methods, introduced a $9 million award from the U.S. Army to design, construct and display a complicated, heavy-fueled combustion engine that makes use of as much as 30% much less gas than comparable gasoline-powered engines in the identical energy class and reduces measurement and weight by as much as 10x over diesel engines with comparable energy output. The engine might be optimized for Jet A, JP8 and F24 fuels, and might be able to integrating inside hybrid electrical propulsion methods and mills. With these main advances, the LiquidPiston engine will assist improved energy and propulsion for unmanned plane methods (UAS), prolonged vary for floor, sea and air autos, extra environment friendly auxiliary energy items (APUs), and elevated energy functionality with lowered logistical burden for Army personnel on account of a lighter, smaller, and therefore extra transportable mills.
“The current UAS engines are not designed for military fuels. This causes performance and reliability issues with the component technologies,” mentioned Dr. Mike Kweon, Program Manager, Versatile Tactical Power and Propulsion Essential Research Program (VICTOR ERP) on the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL). “DEVCOM ARL’s Versatile Tactical Power and Propulsion Essential Research Program has partnered with industry, academia and other government organizations in the development of technologies to address this void. By engaging with combustion engine innovators like LiquidPiston, ARL is demonstrating our commitment to modernizing the U.S. Army’s power and propulsion systems to support our Warfighters with unmatched capabilities.”
Heavy-fuel-capable engines within the energy class required for small to medium UAS propulsion aren’t offered by present small piston engine producers. Currently-available engines are designed for gasoline, aviation gasoline (or Avgas) and different “light” fuels which necessitate a second gas provide chain for the US navy, with the related further prices and dangers to personnel. Additionally, most UAS engines aren’t manufactured domestically within the U.S., presenting potential provide chain points, and undergo from insufficient efficiency, suboptimal reliability, and elevated life-cycle prices.
To tackle these challenges, LiquidPiston has kicked off a undertaking to assist the event of a brand new, compact, heavy-fuel-capable engine and energy system to be used in future UAS and mills. These efforts assist the wants of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, and Soldier Lethality Modernization Priorities.
“This ARL award will help us progress the technology readiness of our X-Engine, topping off the work of over 15 years of R&D and more than 70 patents,” mentioned Alec Shkolnik, Founder and CEO of LiquidPiston. “We are honored by the Army’s support and look forward to making a significant contribution to the VICTOR ERP Goals, with the introduction of an ultra-compact, lightweight, and heavy-fueled engine to power the Army’s future vehicles and generators.”
LiquidPiston’s Compact Efficient Rotary Engine Program will give attention to additional growth of the Company’s X-Engine™ which makes use of the breakthrough thermodynamic ideas of the corporate’s patented High-Efficiency Hybrid Cycle™ (HEHC) in a completely re-imagined compact rotary engine structure that overcomes the restrictions of the standard Wankel rotary engine. The result’s a purpose-designed energy supply for auxiliary and hybrid-electric propulsion platforms the place portability, effectivity, low upkeep and jet gas compatibility all work to beat present vary and payload shortcomings.
About LiquidPiston: LiquidPiston, Inc., a Bloomfield, Conn-based expertise startup, is main the facility methods trade’s growth of environment friendly, fossil- or renewable fuel-capable combustion engines which can be compact – delivering 1.5 HP/lb – and scalable – from one horsepower (HP) to over 1,000. The firm’s patented High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle™ (HEHC), along with breakthrough improvements in engine structure, assist next-generation fuel-energy conversion options for hybrid energy methods, together with for UAS, cellular energy era, and APU purposes.
To be taught extra, go to www.liquidpiston.com.
Media Contact
Kaitlyn Gartling
CSG for LiquidPiston
[email protected]
A photograph accompanying this announcement is offered at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a28b5cb-ec7d-40b0-820f-7703644e4f5c
