Aerospace & Government Markets

Battery Charger (Power Mode)

The US military is seeking portable energy sources to recharge the batteries carried by troops, and specifically desires the use of specialized JP-8 fuel. MicroPower Chips could be combined with a catalytic microburner, and management and control electronics, into a highly-integrated package to fill this need.

One of the most significant problems faced by modern soldiers is the amount of equipment they are required to carry over vast distances, and often harsh terrain. Replacing existing chargers with a far lighter MicroPower-based unit would consequently be a huge benefit.

Infrared Imaging (Cooling Mode)

Infrared imaging products are intended for military, law enforcement, homeland security and industrial security applications, in locations such as nuclear plants, oil refineries and pipelines, water treatment plants, port authorities and penitentiary facilities.

Products provide video images using the infrared portion of the spectrum to allow viewing in darkness or through fog, smoke or clouds. Image resolution quality improves if the focal plane arrays of the cameras are cooled to temperatures as low as liquid nitrogen temperature, which is approximately 77K (-321°F). For handheld or portable operation, it is important that the cooling technology be lightweight, small and energy efficient.

Shipboard Distributed Power Generation (Power Mode)

The US Navy aspires to be all-electric in order to allow stealth designs, which are free from the noise and vibration of present day propulsion systems, and in order to enable complete control of all the ship’s power for flight or stand-and-fight functions. The US Navy requires direct conversion of thermal energy to electricity with generation distributed throughout the vessel. Submarines are the primary targets for this application.

Additionally, it is anticipated that outfitting navy vessels with thermoelectric generators that harvest waste heat from the primary propulsion engine will become widespread.

Aircraft Power Generation (Power Mode)

MicroPower thermoelectric generators capturing waste heat could be used in the two areas of the aircraft industry: commercial aircraft, and military aircraft. In both cases, electricity can be produced by a MicroPower thermoelectric generator, harvesting exhaust heat produced by the main engine. Many of the other transportation sectors share common waste heat technologies (reciprocating engines with exhaust pipes or steam systems with cooling pipes) and consequently will share common thermoelectric solutions. Jet engine technology along with mission critical safety will require a careful and lengthy development process.

In this regard, MicroPower has been working together with a leading aerospace manufacturer in the US to secure relevant funding and develop an application for the commercial market. Using conservative targets, it is estimated that the solution could reduce fuel consumption by 0.5%, which, if implemented solely in the US, would save passenger and cargo airlines more than $12 million every month, and reduce global carbon emissions by 0.03%.