The DARPA Palm Power program challenged participants to deliver viable battery alternatives which convert the logistic energy-dense liquid fuel, JP-8, into usable electrical power.  PCI (along with Sunpower, Inc. and  Yale University) developed a wearable, JP8-fueled, 35 We free-piston Stirling engine (FPSE)-based soldier power source.

The main components consist of the fuel nozzle/ electrospray system, a stack of catalytically coated Microlith^® grids through which fuel conversion and heat release is achieved and a recuperator to improve the system thermodynamic efficiency (see drawing at right).

Systems of this type will enable the military to achieve their goal of portable electrical power generation using JP-8 or other logistic fuels. The work also has potential for commercial portable power generation applications.

Diagram of a recuperative JP-8 burner
(click for larger view)