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September 11, 2020

North Haven company secures contract for aircraft tech

PHOTO | Pixabay.com
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Precision Combustion, Inc. of North Haven has secured a $1.75 million federal contract to work on technology for all-electric aircraft power generation.

The company, based at 410 Sackett Point Road, is focused on clean energy technology, including developing and manufacturing solutions with applications for the energy and environmental sectors. It has a range of customers, including the government, military and commercial businesses.

The new contract is through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) “Range Extenders for Electric Aviation with Low Carbon and High Efficiency” (REEACH) program. PCI was among eight companies selected to receive funding. 

The program aims to develop energy technologies to extend the range of electric aircraft by converting carbon-neutral liquid fuels into electric power for propulsion, according to PCI.

PCI President Kevin Burns said in an announcement that improving the carbon footprint of air travel helps protect the environment, resulting in a better future for everyone.

“We’re developing potential game-changing advances for the U.S. aerospace industry to lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, working to overcome barriers to all-electric air propulsion and mobile power, with potential to apply the solutions across multiple applications,” Burns said.

PCI will use the funds to develop a hybrid solid oxide fuel cell, or SOFC, power generator and energy storage system. The goal is to provide all-electric propulsion of narrow-body commercial aircraft, according to the company. It will assess performance and durability for aircraft operations.

Subir Roychoudhury, PCI’s vice president and principal investigator, said the company is excited ARPA-E has chosen to invest in its technology.

“This award builds on PCI innovations and experience in developing groundbreaking SOFC generators for mobile and space applications,” Roychoudhury said.

This summer, PCI secured a contract with NASA to develop technology to help keep the air inside spacesuits healthier for astronauts.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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