North Haven, CT (February 18th, 2022) – Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) announced today that it has been awarded a NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II contract to continue development of a novel solid electrolyte fuel cell system designed for operation in extreme environments, including deep space and lunar missions.
The effort, in collaboration with University of Connecticut, builds upon PCI’s successful Phase I program and focuses on maturing a high-performance fuel cell with the ability to withstand low temperatures, high pressures, and propellant-grade reactants. The project will culminate in the development and delivery of a breadboard system to NASA for demonstration testing in a relevant environment.
“Our work under this Phase II contract supports NASA’s long-term mission needs for reliable power generation and energy systems that can operate in the harsh conditions of space,” said Anthony Anderson, Director, Marketing and Business Development at PCI. “We are focused on delivering compact, rugged hardware that meets strict performance and durability requirements while advancing the readiness level of our technology.”
The fuel cell features a solid electrolyte integrated with internal reforming catalysts in a lightweight and thermally efficient package. Capable of cycling through extreme cold temperatures down to below 150 Kelvin, the cell design recovers over 98% of its performance post-cycling, achieves high current density during steady-state operation and over transient loads. The fuel cell also meets NASA’s requirements for vibration and pressure resilience, and is designed to function using available propellant streams without performance degradation.
“This award reflects our continued development in compact, mission-ready energy systems,” said Kevin Burns, President of PCI. “Our work under this STTR contract helps address critical power challenges for NASA’s Moon-to-Mars objectives, while building a strong foundation for related defense and commercial applications.”
At the conclusion of the Phase II effort, PCI will deliver a breadboard prototype system to NASA for testing. This technology supports NASA’s goal for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), energy storage, and Lunar/Mars surface operations.
About Precision Combustion, Inc.
Precision Combustion, Inc. is a clean energy and environmental technology company developing new reactors and systems for energy and environmental sector applications.
For more information, contact:
Anthony Anderson
Director, Marketing and Business Development
Phone: 203-287-3700 ext. 290
Email: aanderson@precision-combustion.com
