Rapidly Deployable Vertical-Axis Hydraulic Turbine Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-147 Topic Title: Rapidly Deployable Vertical-Axis Hydraulic Turbine Proposal No.: N112-147-0415 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Applied Technologies Division 1845 West 205th Street Torrance, California 90501 Contact: Pedram Boghrat Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy's need for a person-portable microhydropower system to provide power in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, as well as forward operating bases, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new RApidly Deployable Vertical-Axis Hydraulic Turbine (RAD-VAHT). This proposed device is based on a new design that utilizes POC-developed tested components and COTS components, as well as a new collapsible low-weight and -volume turbine design. The innovation in turbine design will enable the RAD-VAHT system to provide >500 Watts of continuous power, as well as 10 kilowatts for 60 seconds and 2 kilowatts for 2 hours, from water sources. As a result, this complete power harvesting system offers efficient power generation, light weight (<80 pound) person-portable modules, rapid single-person (<4 hour) setup, and a flow/head-to-power mapping methodology, which directly address the OASN requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of RAD-VAHT by developing a prototype to perform power harvesting and determine power conversion efficiency. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a complete person-portable microhydropower system and demonstrate its efficiency in a real-world environment over varying operating (flow/head) conditions. Benefits: The RAD-VAHT can be used in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations where petroleum-based fuel sources are scarce. It can also be used to produce power at remote locations for electronic devices such as emergency equipment, and in any water-accessible system or application where carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution are a concern. The device can be used to prolong the effective lifetime of any water sensor system that relies on battery power, such as beacon markers, portable electronics, and emergency equipment. Similar but scaled-up versions can be connected to energy grids to supply residential and industrial energy needs of shoreline cities. Return