Top technologies for 2002

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December 2002
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Portable fuel-cell units from Ball Aerospace

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has shipped eight portable power systems (PPS) to its military customers. The Maryland Procurement Office purchased four PPS units, and Natick Soldier Systems purchased two. The U.S. Marine Corps has also received two units. These represent the first sales of PPS units, which are being developed commercially to replace batteries and generator sets as power sources.

The small, lightweight units provide portable power using fuel-cell technology for applications requiring power in any location. The portable fuel-cell systems provide supplemental power to work in conjunction with batteries and to recharge them, or to serve as an alternative to batteries, motor generators, and utility grid power.

Ball Aerospace offers several portable fuel-cell power systems. The PPS-100 supplies 100 W of power at 24 V and weighs about 8.5 lb. The unit features near noise-free power and a low-thermal signature. Its polycarbonate construction is designed to withstand shock, vibration, and outdoor environments. The second product offered by the company is the PPS-50 system, which supplies 50 W of power at 12 V and weighs 6.5 lb.

Fuel-cell power systems provide clean, direct current electricity by harnessing the electrochemical energy created by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Ball Aerospace integrates fuel-cell stacks into complete systems that are portable, easy to operate, and extremely rugged. The PPS units have been designed to operate in desert-like conditions, rugged field exercises, and for continuous autonomous operation over several days.

For more information from Ball Aerospace, circle 35

Infrared deicing gaining acceptance

Radiant's InfraTek system consists of a facility structure equipped with an array of energy process units (EPU) and a computer control system.

The Kalamazoo/Battle-Creek International Airport in southwestern Michigan has finished construction on its new InfraTek Deicing Service Center developed by Radiant Energy Corp. The facility is a taxi-through preflight ground deicing system that uses targeted infrared energy to melt ice and snow from an aircraft's surface. The new procedure is said by Radiant to be faster than glycol applications.

The InfraTek system consists of a facility structure equipped with an array of energy process units (EPU) and a computer control system. The system's structure consists of a highly rigid framework covered by polyvinyl fabric treated with specific topcoat films designed to meet individual airport requirements. The topcoats increase the fabric's ability to withstand the aircraft exhaust and allow snow and ice to easily slide off. The frame and fabric materials are also designed not to interfere with aircraft/airport communications during deicing operations. The structure can be designed to withstand harsh winter environments with winds traveling up to 120 mph and 54 psi of ground snow.

EPUs produce infrared rays that are directed to an aircraft's surface where they stimulate the molecules on the surface, causing them to move more rapidly and generate heat that will deice the airplane.

The system's EPUs are designed to convert gas fuel to infrared heat energy at a targeted wavelength, which will be used to melt ice and snow on the aircraft's surface. When the infrared rays strike an aircraft's surface, they stimulate the molecules on the surface, causing them to move more rapidly and generate heat. The energy is either absorbed or reflected by the surface.

Because infrared energy is transmitted in the form of waves or rays, a variety of wavelengths can be used. This option enables the EPUs to tailor the wavelengths to a preferred range to maximize energy absorption and optimize the heat transfer process.

Commercial carriers such as Continental Airlines have also embraced the idea of infrared deicing.

InfraTek's computer control system enables a single operator to initiate and control the entire deicing process. Programming algorithms for the system were developed from data collected in cooperation with the FAA. The computer control system cycles EPU equipment according to the desired model of operation. At the end of each cycle, the EPUs are kept in standby mode. The computer system also collects and records operational information for retrieval and analysis at a later time.

For more information from InfraTeck, circle 36

JSF STOVL testing

The Boeing X-32-B JSF demonstrator performed its first in-flight transition from conventional flight to STOVL flight.

Pratt & Whitney has completed accelerated mission testing of the Lockheed Martin X-35B's short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) JSF119-611 propulsion system, clearing the way for full STOVL flight testing. The propulsion system test was performed at Pratt & Whitney's West Palm Beach, FL, engine test facility in which twice the anticipated mission usage of the planned X-35B flight-test program was simulated. The engine and vertical lift system performed a total of 132 simulated missions that included 118 h of STOVL operation and 174 dynamic STOVL mode conversions.

The Boeing Co. has also been conducting STOVL tests. Its X-32B JSF STOVL demonstrator completed its first in-flight conversions—from conventional to STOVL mode and back to conventional. During the aircraft's third test flight, Boeing Test Pilot Dennis O'Donoghue demonstrated the first flow-switch transition, redirecting the X-32B's engine thrust from the cruise nozzle to its lift nozzles and then back again. The transition was accomplished at 180 kt and 9500 ft during the 58-min flight.

On the same day, during the aircraft's fourth flight, O'Donoghue completed seven flow-switch transitions at speeds ranging from 140-185 kt and altitudes between 6000 and 9500 ft. The aircraft spent approximately 40 min of the 52-min flight in STOVL mode. Handling qualities tests, including throttle transients and lift-nozzle thrust vectoring, were also completed during the flights.

For more information from Pratt & Whitney, circle 37; for more information from Boeing, circle 38

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