NASA SBIR SUCCESS STORY Glenn Research Center
1989 Phase II

Special Coatings in a Rotary Engine

Moller International

Davis, CA

INNOVATION
    Special coatings, applied to rotary engines that will substantially improve specific fuel consumption, reduce wear and emissions, and have multi-fuel capabilities
Rotapower Engine
Rotapower Engine

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Tests by the California Air Resources Board proved the coated engine meets ultra-low emissions standards
  • Endurance tests show that the time between overhaul can exceed 8,000 hours
  • The Rotapower (Moller’s trademark) engine has demonstrated its ability to operate on a variety of fuels-a truly multi-fuel engine
COMMERCIALIZATION
  • Manufacturers have provided letters of intent for large quantities (over 500,000) of these engines. They are now conducting tests of the engines installed in their products
  • Approximately $25 million in private funding has been applied to Rotapower engine development
  • Huge markets for Rotapower engines have been identified in Asia and Mexico where air pollution is a major problem. A subsidiary firm, Freedom Motors, Inc., has been created for production and distribution
  • Five patents are pending on various features of the engine
  • The firm has 21 employees with six new positions created
GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
  • Manufacturability of the Rotapower engine was significantly enhanced under a contract with the USAF Sacramento Air Logistics Center. A detailed manufacturing plan was developed and successfully tested
  • A subsequent SBIR contract with the U.S. Army proved that the Rotapower engines operate very effectively using diesel fuel
  • Potential government applications of Rotapower engines include powerplants for the Moller Skycar, a high-speed VTOL aircraft that has been the subject of numerous studies by the Army Battle Labs military applications includes MEDEVAC, search and rescue and fast logistic support
For more information about this firm, please send e-mail to company representative

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Power/Propulsion, Materials, Mechanical


Curator: SBIR Support
          05/15/06