The P3 Power Generation System for Advanced Missile Defense Applications

The P3 project was to develop and demonstrate a highly flexible, highly modular power system for advanced missile defense applications. With its flexible, modular design, the P3 power system has the potential to become the basic building block around which the Army can build power sources for a wide variety of military platforms. The P3 can provide increased mission endurance and flexibility due to its flexible operation requirements. The P3 power generation system can be operated to produce power from both low and high quality waste heat sources, as well as, operate as a stand alone power supply. For example, hot surfaces such as electronic cases, exhaust pipes, or vehicle surfaces are all viable candidates as heat sources. In addition, the P3 power system can use waste heat from other power producing devices. The heart of the P3 power system is a piezoelectric membrane generator in which mechanical power is converted to electrical power. The use of piezoelectric materials to produce power promises some special advantages. Some of these advantages are high energy density, simplicity of fabrication, and amenability to batch manufacturing with resultant economies of scale. The primary deliverable for this project is a P3 power generation prototype. The complete system will consist of a system of engines capable of producing power from waste heat.