SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Solid state RF and millimeter wave weapons systems require substantial power to operate. Pure solid state systems have limited energy density and require charging over the typical use cycle. The directed energy system must be compact enough to mount on a vehicle such as a HMMWV, a small trailer or a structure such as found within an embassy compound. Current power systems are much too large and heavy to meet the SWaP (size, weight, and power) requirements of the system; therefore a higher power density solution is required. Candent Technologies is proposing a microturbine based power generation system, designed to provide 300 kW on a continuous basis, ready to use at any time with no limitations of on/off time or duty cycle that could render the system unavailable at a critical moment. The system consists of a small, single shaft gas turbine directly driving a high speed alternator at constant rpm, with rectified output providing DC power. The gas turbine is fitted with a waste heat recovery system (recuperator), which results in fuel efficiency same as similar power diesels. This proposed system has only one eighth the weight and one third the volume of equivalent diesel systems.
