LiquidPiston announced a $1.7-million Phase II award from the US Army to continue the development of the company’s Hybrid Electric X-Engine (HEXE) propulsion system. (Earlier post.) The Phase II award is a result of successful completion of a Phase I xTechSearch Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award previously announced.
LiquidPiston’s HEXE propulsion system, prototyped and demonstrated at the end of Phase 1, will deliver fuel-efficient power as well as advanced take-off and inflight capabilities to meet the Army’s Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) goals, including compatibility with military-grade heavy fuels such as JP8.
The hybrid system changes the concept of operation, allowing quiet, electric-only cruise in addition to electric-assist sprint and climb modes.
LiquidPiston’s X-Engine utilizes the breakthrough thermodynamic concepts of the company’s patented High-Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC) in a totally re-imagined compact rotary engine architecture that overcomes the limitations of the traditional Wankel rotary engine.
The result is a purpose-designed power source for a hybrid-electric propulsion platform where portability, efficiency, low maintenance and jet fuel compatibility all work to overcome current range and payload shortcomings. In particular, the X-Engine propulsion system can toggle power between all-electric, engine-only, or a combination of both—all on demand—while being able to restart the engine in-air on jet fuel.
The system recharges batteries in flight, so that the batteries can be sized to provide power vertical takeoff and landing as well as up to 30 minutes of quiet (electric) cruise. The HEXE VTOL system allows the Army to launch and land in small areas, and set up and stow quickly.
Additionally, by combining electric and engine power on the main propeller shaft, the system achieves increased flight velocity (electric-assist “sprint”) and climb rates as well as optimized hybrid-electric range.
One of the Army’s major areas of focus for modernization is Future Vertical Lift (FVL). Over the past few years, Army xTech judging panels have repeatedly recognized LiquidPiston’s technological developments in holding great promise for supporting critical Army requirements for FVL modernization. We are pleased to see their efforts advance with this Army Phase II SBIR program.—Zeke Topolosky, Strategic Partnerships Office, US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory
LiquidPiston has more than 70 patents related to thermodynamics and advanced engine design that will enable a new family of engines and generators that are lightweight, compact, highly efficient and portable. This Phase II contract builds on more than 10 years of R&D with DARPA, the Army, and industry leaders to improve the maturity of the X-Engine technology.
Posted on 16 September 2022 in Aviation & Aerospace, Engines, Hybrids, Market Background | Permalink | Comments (1)
It would be nice as a range extender if you could get the whole system: (engine, generator, fuel tank, exhaust++) into a compact package, and use a fuel that won't "go off" if stored for a long time.
Q: why has it taken them so long to get this working...
Posted by: mahonj | 16 September 2022 at 01:30 AM
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
(You can use HTML tags like <b> <i> and <ul> to style your text.)
(Name is required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)
Name is required to post a comment
Please enter a valid email address
This weblog only allows comments from registered users. To comment, please enable JavaScript so you can sign in.