Universities Succeed in Small Hybrid Propulsion System Demonstrator Published Nov. 30, 2011 By Dr. Thomas Brown, RZOP Propulsion WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The objective of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Small Engine Research Laboratory (SERL) Capstone Project was to develop a ground-based demonstrator platform to evaluate small, hybrid-electric propulsion/power systems of particular interest to the RPA development community. The project leveraged resources and collaboration efforts of the SERL with academia to promote engineering education, design, and application of scientific fundamentals in a competitive capstone project environment. Each of the four undergraduate engineering teams was given an all-electric, ground-based propulsion system (an electric motorcycle) and challenged to extend the range by modifying the system into a hybrid propulsion system. Two of the universities -- Colorado State University and University of California-Davis -- created an electro-chemical energy conversion hybrid system utilizing a hydrogen fuel cell. The other two teams (Brigham Young University and the University of Dayton) were challenged to tackle the problem via a thermo-chemical energy conversion approach utilizing a small 6-hp class IC engine, exploring both series and parallel hybrid approaches. The teams were able to able to develop up to a 50% increase in system range and up to a 10% reduction in system weight.