Micro-heat engines, gas turbines, and rocket engines - The MIT microengine project

TLDR

MIT is developing MEMS‑based micro gas turbine, turbogenerator, and rocket engines fabricated via semiconductor manufacturing, achieving power densities comparable to full‑size counterparts. The goal is to scale these microengines to produce up to 100 W of power using hydrocarbon fuels. The engines are SiC micro‑heat engines 1 cm × 3 mm that generate 10–20 W or 0.05–1 N thrust on <10 g h⁻¹ H₂, and a bi‑propellant liquid‑fuel rocket motor of similar size can produce >3 lb thrust with integrated turbopumps and valves on a single chip. These devices could enable new concepts in propulsion, fluid control, and portable power generation.

Abstract

This is a report on work in progress on microelectrical and mechanical systems (MEMS)-based gas turbine engines, turbogenerators, and rocket engines currently under development at MIT. Fabricated in large numbers in parallel using semiconductor manufacturing techniques, these engines are based on micro-high speed rotating machinery with the same power density as that achieved in their more familiar, full-sized brethren. The micro-gas turbine is a 1 cm diameter by 3 mm thick SiC heat engine designed to produce 10-20 W of electric power or 0.050.1 Nt of thrust while consuming under 10 grams/hr of H 2 . Later versions may produce up to 100 W using hydrocarbon fuels. A liquid fuel, bi-propellant rocket motor of similar size could develop over 3 lb of thrust. The rocket motor would be complete with turbopumps and control valves on the same chip. These devices may enable new concepts in propulsion, fluid control, and por table power generation.