Creare LLC, a leading developer of technology solutions for government and industry clients, will present three talks about successful SBIR Phase II Projects during the Navy Forum for SBIR/STTR Transition. The Creare presentations are scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2018 at the Gaylord National Convention Center, National Harbor, MD.   This event is co-located with the 2018 Sea Air Space Symposium.

Carbureted Fuel Injection System for Augmentor Stability

Monday April 9, 2:40pm Annapolis Room 4

Augmentor stability is critical to the operational performance of military aircraft that rely on gas turbine propulsion. Compared to early augmentor designs, the distance between the point of fuel injection and the flameholder has become progressively shorter in modern augmentors. These so called close-coupled designs help avoid autoignition issues associated with higher augmentor inlet temperatures. However, close-coupled designs do not optimally mix fuel in the flame holding region leading to static and dynamic stability issues. Improved fuel placement will lead to more robust augmentor combustion and enhanced static and dynamic stability. Creare’s solution increases stability margin for current systems and enhanced potential for thrust growth.

Augmentor stability is critical to the operational performance of military aircraft.

A Compact System for Shipboard Pipe Reinforcement

Monday April 9, 4:00pm Annapolis Room 4

Typical piping joint designs in the fuel systems of Navy ships are susceptible to weakening due to poor inherent weld quality and localized corrosion. The current composite patch and other processes that represent the state-of-the-art for reinforcing weakened areas are expensive; they also lack durability, are difficult and potentially hazardous to install.  Creare’s Compact Repair System (CRS) provides an innovative solution to reinforce weld joints and other difficult-to-access areas in fuel system piping.  We have adapted a conventional welding process currently used for large-scale manufacturing and miniaturized the technology to facilitate material addition for reinforcement. Our CRS is ideally suited to portable systems for shipboard pipe reinforcement applications. We successfully developed and demonstrated that our proof-of-concept CRS produces excellent reinforcement of weakened joints with a pressure rating far exceeding the Navy’s requirements.

Creares compact system for shipboard pipe reinforcement (CRS).

Compact, Inexpensive Microchannel Recuperators for Small Gas Turbines

Monday April 9, 2:30pm Annapolis Room 4

Increased endurance expands mission capability for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Creare’s advanced recuperators will increase endurance by reducing fuel consumption in turboshaft-powered UAVs.  Our innovative microchannel heat exchanger technology enables highly efficient heat transfer in very compact, lightweight cores with low pressure losses. Innovative fabrication and assembly methods enable these heat exchangers to be built at low cost and to conform to available space around the engine. Prior Creare projects have proved the feasibility of our approach, developed full-size fabrication methods and demonstrated thermomechanical durability.  We have validated thermal and flow performance, and designed and produced full-size recuperator modules.  In the next few months, we will integrate a full-size recuperator with a common turboshaft engine, and demonstrate that the recuperated engine meets goals for reduced fuel consumption and durability.

Creare’s microchannel design enables highly efficient heat transfer in very compact heat exchanger cores.