» Power Plant development and production funding programme for the AFG, ARFG & J2000

Briggs Aerospace Technologies is holding an engineering programme, open to any person, business or company worldwide to obtain an engine (or engines) for the J2000 HYT and the AFG and ARFG Neecenow. This programme provides development money to the six best designs, then capital to the best 3 designs to produce the power plant. The three best designs will be tested by the Karaya V-1 through to V-5 series, to be built in Australia using “Double your money” program funding: capital to be considered the fastest accrued due to the faster gratification and lesser funds required. Engine development funds will come from the portion sales from the HYT programme.

AFG, ARFG Neecenow and J2000 HYT programmes require power plants to taxi, climb, sustain a Mach 7.4 cruise speed at altitudes up to 150,000 feet, with a minimum endurance of 2.3 hours. Total fuel use over this flight should be less than 200 tonnes of fuel for the ≈600 tonne ARFG, and equal to or less than 50 tonnes preferred (but up to 100 tonnes allowable) for the ≈ 250 tonne AFG.

This engine will be used to obtain and sustain hypersonic cruise for the AFG and ARFG, and also be used on the HYT Aerospaceplane missions, climbing to 150,000ft with a probable dive to accelerate to the highest speed possible with a pitching up again through 150,000ft - where rocket engines will complete the climb into orbit. Additional speed and altitude above the specified AFG and ARFG cruise of Mach 7.4 and ceiling specifications (of 150,000ft) are advantageous. Fuel consumption to 150,000ft reference altitude for HYT missions is preferred be a total of 50 tonnes or less to enable more fuel for the rocket engines: preferably the same fuel for weight and complexity savings. HYT will have six engines, with a higher thrust to weight ratio than the ARFG Neecenow it is derived from, giving a faster rate of climb.

To obtain this power plant, which may be a single or multiple engine hybrid, BAT is holding development programme open to any person, business or company Worldwide most compliant within the specifications outlined below.

 Forward your entry to BAT by the 8th January, 2012

» The development and production programme is offering money to the best design. Money is offered to two stages:

  1. Development stage where three entrants will be awarded capital of six billion dollars (United States currency value) in June 2012. This capital is to provide the winner finance to build prototype production versions. Initially two engines must be provided within 18 months for testing by the Karaya hypersonic test aircraft. After one year of testing a further five engines must be provided for advanced testing.
  2. Developers of the best two Power Plants found by this fly off contest will be given forty billion dollars and thirty seven billion dollars (second best) respectively to produce their engines, expected at the end of 2014 or 2015.

» Fuel Notices

The long term forecast is for kerosene fuel prices to rise with the increasing scarcity of this asset.  Neecenow and HYT development may exceed ten years by which time available oil output in many countries will be in serious decline.  By designing engines for the Neecenow and HYT which use sustainable fuels creates and environment where fuel costs will only decrease is more advantageous for the long term.  Oil prices will only rise as supplies decrease, meaning engines will need to be designed for sustainable fuels regardless.  Although Kerosene is easier to store, particularly in Space, than hydrogen the benefits of hydrogen in other areas exceeds kerosene, such as Specific Impulse: Bio-fuels may be considered in place of fossil fuels. Entries should incorporate the weight of fuel tanks in their estimates with a developed rocket engine of recommended product: current performance outlines are based upon two Space Shuttle derived main engine derivatives.

» Development capital

Three sets of six billion dollars (United States currency) will be given to produce seven engines for the hypersonic engine fly-off and test programme. A further billion dollars of free flight testing will be provided by the Karaya, which includes for early flights rocket propulsion to obtain Mach 7.4; Neecenow’s future cruise speed.

 

Initially, forty percent ($2.4 billion) of this funding will be granted in a supervised build process ensuring the engines are built as outlined by the entrant’s specification. The first two engines must be produced within 18 months of receipt of funding. Contestants must resort to working round the clock if so required to achieve this goal. These two engines will be as close to the full production engine as possible, though will be used to refine the engine design with research derived by test flights over a one year (or less) period.

 

Within 18 months of receipt of the first two engines (considered more test purposes), the next five power plants must be delivered; these must be very close to full production standard. The rest of the funds will be provided to the designer/manufacturer candidate to build these five engines. Delays will be seen as inability to overcome problems and be used as a vote against the power plant provider. If delays are such that the contestant cannot provide their power plant in the allotted time the remaining development programme money will not be provided and the contestant may be disqualified.

 

A tertiary manufacturer or designer who does not win the development prize may still be eligible for the main funding prizes. This power plant must be verified in flight in a test programme via the Karaya Hypersonic test aircraft using the manufacturers or designers own capital.

 

Only two entrants will be awarded production funding: forty billion dollars for first and thirty seven billion dollars for second. If there is a large performance discrepancy between first and second place, Briggs Aerospace Technologies reserves the right to provide the winning engine design to another candidate or engine manufacturer to test and build. If this is the case a premium will be paid to the winning manufacturer for this privilege: the actual figure will be decided by an independent tribunal. The recipient of the engine design is expected to make advances in this design with the remaining money, as well as provide a product at a competitive price.    

 

Due to the J2000 programme paying for this engine, the cost of this Power Plant will be regulated due to the fact that if this engine is too expensive it will reduce the rate and total of Neecenow sales, affecting the entire enterprise including the power plant manufacturer profits.

» Production payment

Production payments will be awarded to the two or three best engine designs meeting or bettering the performance specifications as described here in 2014.

Best design payment (U.S. $) $25,000,000,000. ($25 Billion)

Second best design payment $22,000,000,000. ($22 Billion)

Optional third best design payment $17,000,000,000 ($17 Billion)

This will be paid once capital from sales of the development cost portions for the Neecenow and HYT syndicates is derived, either progressively or outright, dependent upon the speed of sales, from first best to third if applicable. The main prize will be used to complete testing, refine the power plant and set up full production; remaining capital spent at the winners’ discretion. The second or third best entrants may be awarded production capital and given the design of the first best design to build, should this engine be above 10% more efficient than any other development capital recipient, or alternative entrant received.

» Engine Programme Briefing

AFG, ARFG and J2000 commerical products require suitable power plant, to taxi, climb to cruise altitude of 150,000ft, attain and sustain Mach 7.4 for 3 hours with adequate fuel reserve, descend, approach, land and taxi with complete safety.

Performance criteria will be assessed in 7 main categories: it is recommended each is met consecutively. Certain points overlap, such as climb to altitude and speed transition.

  1. Ability to start unassisted, taxi and take-off

  2. Ability to climb at the required ascent rate; averaging 6000 ft a minute to 150,000ft

  3. Ability to transition to supersonic speed

  4. Ability to attain and sustain the 150,000ft cruise ceiling for AFG and ARFG:  (possibly higher for J2000 HYT)

  5. Ability to attain and sustain Mach 7.4 cruise (possibly higher for the J2000 transition to orbit stage)

  6. Ability to cruise at speed for a minimum of two and a half hours with fuel reserves to meet IFR standards (i.e. including diversion and holding fuel) upon arrival at the destination at subsonic speed. Preference is given to designs with capability to meet ETOPS requirements in case of depressurisation incidents over the ocean.

  7. Ability to transition to land with reverse thrust, taxi, shut down unassisted

  8. Ability to start up for a long range flight within two hours of shutdown.

NOTE: Entry does not have to be a Scramjet, so long as it satisfies the Performance criteria.

The weight of the AFG will be approx. 250 tonnes, ARFG 600 tonnes and J2000 700 tonnes, it is recommended to consider allowing a ten percent addition to this figure typical of the difference between design and actual.  Afterburning is not permitted with the Neecenow series; additional power will be required to overcome HYT's higher weight so afterburning is permitted. The intake is also considered part of the design which must be attached to the rear of the main fuselage. To give a low frontal area engines are expected to be recessed in the core of the fuselage with openings in the Scramjets (if applicable) to feed them during taxiing, take-off, climb approach and landing.  Much of the secret of this engine design will lay in tricks with intake geometry precisely dictating air temperature and pressure at the turbine face. 

 It is left up to entrants to decide on whether to develop with an existing power plant manufacturers engine, significantly modify an existing engine and combine with the Mach-cruise engine (eg. Scramjet but also other designs), or develop the entire engine outright: the capital will be available to fabricate this engine should the applicant win a development prize with an appropriate production plan as outlined.  Remember the aircraft has to "rotate" for take-off and landing, and allowances must be made for this high nose-pitch angle.

Take-off thrust requirements will possibly require as much or more thrust than existing engines such as GE-90; producing 50 tonnes of thrust for take-off. Although used by several large supersonic aircraft, turbofans have poor high altitude thrust performance: this may change with fan-blade revision. Turbojets will find difficultly meeting noise requirements. Speed differences between the maximum attainable speed by a fan based jet engine and Scramjet initial operational speed are substantial, so a three stage engine using conventional thinking may be required; from Jet to Ram to Scram, with the jet engine shrouded to prevent heat/pressure damage. Pratt and Whitney’s pure-power PW1000G engine has lighter weight and high performance, expansion of the geared jet engines envelop into this category has high potential. PDE’s and the English “Bond” engine have been fielded as possible hypersonic engines, except these engines have maximum speeds of around Mach 5 - Mach 7.4 is the speed requirement. 

Fuel type is up to the candidate since the fuel is open. Hydrogen has a much higher specific impulse at hypersonic speeds so potentially much more efficient in fuel performance and burn rate, except tank insulation/weight will have the effect of reducing total fuel load by about fifteen percent. Liquid hydrogens cold temperatures may be useful in producing more thrust/cooling to various components. Kerosene engines may suffer from soot build up on components similar to rocket motors, increasing maintenance.

Engine designs may bypass the requirement to provide power, pressurisation and life support systems. It is recommended these issues are addressed if your design excludes such components from the main engines, since additional compressors, oxygen and auxiliary power units add weight: it may be lighter to use these separate components rather than restrict the engines or subject parts to enormous heat. Neecenow is designed very much like a submarine, protected from the heat and very low air pressure by almost complete encapsulation of components to prevent heat damage.

The climb phase is a critical aspect of Neecenow operations, occupying a large percent of total flight time.  Much of the rate of climb requirement may be achieved by a faster climb speed, much like the Convair B-58 which climbed at over 400knots.  The balance o the average rate of climb may be achieved at any phase of the flight although abnormal climb vectors (about 30o pitch angle) are not acceptable.  It may work in terms of engine noise to reduce power straight after take-off and for the first 10,000 feet - where speeds are often limited to 250 knots and Neecenow types will be transitioning to a "supersonic let-down area"  - leaving the bulk of the climb to the latter parts of the ascent when speeds - and thereb climb rates - are higher.

It is recommended candidates start with their concept and expand it into a product able to fulfil the performance criteria: you are not expected to start with all answers, which usually turn up when least expected.  The winning bids will best meet all requirements with a solid production/manufacturing plan.

The winning entrant will be the finest balance of these guidelines:

All engines are preferred to be located together in the aft fuselage. Intake designs coupled close together around a circular fuselage (preferred), elliptical or flat fuselage - catering to BAT’s design options. Applicants using certain designs may in fact design the entire aft section of the airliner/spacecraft. Note the fuselage will be around 8m for the ARFG and J2000, and 4.5m for the AFG. Fuel vent, Intake and thrust nozzle(s) must cater to considerations such as take-off and landing “rotation” or “flaring” and drag reduction. The aft nozzle must not interfere with the rotation of the airliner on take-off and landing.
Engineers may design the entire rear section of the airplane which would fit to the back of the Neecenow and HYT fuselage pressure wall. Two engines are preferred for the 200 seat AFG, and four engines preferred for the HYT and ARFG. Allowances will be made to other designs if they meet or exceed performance and economy and noise expectation figures.
CRITICAL: Noise - meet or exceed future legal standards on take-off, approach and landing. Due to the departure times and arrival times of HYT airliners required to meet time-zone difference, engine combination/designs meeting future night laws preferred. Internalised engines and their location in the aft fuselage should reduce noise significantly from in front and below aspects. The fast climb times will also artificially reduce relative engine noise to short durations. 
Cheap to operate: low maintenance costs. Easy, quick and simple to maintain, replace and operate. Note#: Supersonic types such as Concorde, the SR-71 and the Convair B-58 had maintenance times approaching 30 hours per flight hour: Maintenance times are preferred to be completed within a similar average or even lower times/a continuance of low maintenance times (independent of aircraft age) an advantage (give reasons).  The goal of this is to provide cheaper maintenance than current subsonic airliner standards.
Meet cruise thrust requirements of hypersonic flight at Mach 7.4 to a ceiling of 150,000 feet
Preference given if thrust can be maintained or increased to higher speed and altitude for the J2000 HYT climb phase.
Engines must produce climb rates on each AFG, ARFG and J2000 versions exceeding a sustained average of 6,000 feet per minute to operational altitudes of up to 150,000 feet.
MANDATORY: the acceleration time from brake release (take off) to 150,000ft and Mach 7.4 must be 30 minutes or less, with due considerations to airways regulations.
Able to meet the endurance requirements of AFG and ARFG – 2.3 hours hypersonic, plus ascent and descent times, plus IFR standards subsonic approach minimum legal standard (up to 1.5 hours).
Main engine-casing/housing is preferred to be 25 metres or less in length (intake tip to outlet): exceptions will be made if engine design is extremely efficient.
No excessive warm up period after engine start or other (due to thick engine oils etc).
Engine weight must not exceed 23 tonnes per engine or combined engine unit.
Preferred fuels: Full clearance for normal Jet fuel, however sustainable types such as Hydrogen, methane, bio-fuels etc favoured.
Combination engines designs(example: turbofan or turbojet engine plus a Scramjet engine) accepted/expected.
AFTERBURNING: AFG and ARFG - take off - prohibited; may be used for supersonic transition but discouraged.  J2000 - permitted: full envelop clearance.
Engine design to have an expected minimum engine life (TBO) of 700 hours (preferred progressive TBO).
Cheap to produce: fixed maximum production purchase price of $60 million per engine/combination when taken as 2 engines in AFG, 4 engines ARFG and J2000. If this price is not competitive, fewer aircraft will sell, and all manufacturers then lose sales.
Maximum fuel weight preferred to be under 250 tonnes for ARFG, and 80 tonnes for the smaller AFG: consumption over maximum range preference 2/3’s of this or less. If using fuels with special tank requirements the added weight displaces total allowable total fuel weight, so consideration must be made here.
Preference given to power plants able to provide extended subsonic endurance in case of mid-ocean depressurisation to meet ETOPS requirements.
Power plants providing to life support, power and pressurisation systems (both types of engine on combination engines favoured although such systems must not have potential problems involving toxic leakages or heat breaches). This point is optional though candidates must outline where these typical systems will originate if not from the engines.
Reliable: turbofan/jet engines and Scram engine must be able to start properly after any heat soaking to permit quick turn-around for return flights.
Start redundancy if using hybrid engines (air and mechanical etc) preferred: it is presumed the climb or descent engine is shut down while the airliner is in cruise flight in this situation and visa versa.
Engine designs preferred with fewest parts: both mechanically and fuel delivery systems (weight-reliability facet).
Safety – ability to cope with any failure without compromising safety
Reap considerable benefits from the Ram principle unless fuel targets are otherwise met.
As “un-start” proof as possible.
Fuel, tank weight will be considered important, if hydrogen fuel is used. Kerosene based fuels do not require tank calculations since these are already considered as part of the estimated weight.  Hydrogen fuels Insulation weight must be added, subtracting total available fuel load.  Hydrogen has a much higher specific impulse so potentially much more efficient in fuel performance and burn rate except if total available fuel weight is reduced excessively by tank insulation and airframe reinforcement weight increases.
Ecologically sound in operation: meet environmental regulations and considerations at both low and high altitudes over the long term. This is meeting emission targets as well ass noise.
Low in profile (low-drag and weight facet): particularly if using combined engines thrust rather than a single (one power plant for the entire flight) engine. Preference will be given to engines that have the ability to be integral to a fuselage rather than requiring intakes above the fuselage boundary layer. Address the incompressible layer at hypersonic velocity.
Inter-changeable aspects and design(s) that reduce servicing costs preferred but not compulsory. This means the air intakes of the upper fuselage may be swapped with the side or lover fuselage intakes.
Thrust to weight ratio notice: AFG: MTOW will be around 250 tonnes: ARFG MTOW will be about 700 tonnes: J2000 MTOW will be 750 tonnes. Concorde and the SR-71 had thrust to weight ratios of around 38% of MTOW. Climb requirements can be increased with a higher climb speed; especially above 10,000ft (most countries have a 250kt speed limit below 10,000ft: The Convair B-58 Hustler climbed at 400KIAS). The design can take this into consideration when planning ascent profile.
Considerations of production; able to set up engine production for the prize amount or less.
Proven performance an advantage (wind tunnel/flight testing).
Reverse thrust deliverable during aborted take-off and landing phases.
Any additional benefits external to these criteria favoured.
Cylindrical intake is preferred due to the lighter weight and higher thrust available.
Heat soaking problems are preferred to be overcome during the descent and approach phase of flight as the airliner transitions though the Stratosphere, so the aircraft is able to be serviced as a normal airliner after landing.

» Production Notes

Applicants must include a brief production plan with their entries.
Production plan must demonstrate an ability to produce the engine with the above parameters including dimensions, weight reliability and cost.
Address the issue of spare parts and overhauls.
If unable to provide production plan, applicants must specify sub-contract an how they are going to build their prototype.

» Design submission entry format

Entries for the development programme money must be received by the 27 June 2011.

Provide entries in a clear, jargon free context; note many engine designs received will be similar in concept and configuration, so there must be evidence of performance claims: this is why present manufacturers of power plants will be favoured.

The contract programme is open to all comers with genuine performing engine designs and demonstrated ability via a development plan to build them. This allows talented individuals, university groups, companies and others with a design and production plan to enter, whose entries must be superior in every respect to present manufacturers to succeed.

Winners of both the development programme money and production funding will be judged upon best meetings of the guideline criteria.

Entries to obtain development prize and be eligible for the 3 production funding allotments are to be in the following format only:

Main engine brief must be contained to 5 sheets of A4 paper with a normal type-face format, including a development through to production, and operational use plans for the engine, with the funds to be granted by BAT if your entry is successful.
Additionally, applicants must address entry criteria, where their product/design exceeds, meets or fails to meet guidelines with brief reasons or evidence (an argument for the use of hydrogen for example) *maximum 3 A4 sized pages*
All of this must be completed in the English language.

Desired points may assist your entries chances but are not compulsory:

A scale model of the engine if desired. An additional sheet may accompany a model of the engine clearly and basically explaining how it works
A video/film, maximum of 5 minutes explaining the engine will be accepted as part of the entry if desired.

Forward this to BAT headquarters by 27 June, 2011.

» BAT development concepts

BAT had engine concepts under research and is offering the concept to programme entrants as a potential design option, encouraging broader thinking and development. This also opens the development and production programme electrical engineers and other experts. By providing this expertise outwards it accelerates the operational debut of both AFG and ARFG Neecenow and the J2000 HYT and avoids anti-trust laws.

» Development #1

The BAT concept used electrical currents/arcs moving length-wise down the engine cone and crosswise (increasing the time the air has to super-heat inside) to provide the expansive thrust at hypersonic speed, coupled with Ram thrust. The design is based upon bolts of lightning being at least 2x hotter than the Sun: much hotter intake temperatures than hydrogen or kerosene fuels.

  More efficient if correctly planned.

  Virtually Un-start proof.

  More reliable.

  Easier to service.

  Cheap to service.

  Environmentally sound.

The electricity would have been derived from internal capacitors, static sources off the airframe or other. Electrical engines would be cleaner than any existing/foreseen hypersonic engine concept options.  The method could be from arcing between electrodes or from another means. Such concepts must include shielding designs from any electromagnetic radiation and any other potentially problematic effects. As usual with BAT; existing technology is preferred.

» Development #2

The thrust could be increased and decreased if the shockwaves inside the engine core are able to be amplified via mechanical or other source or manipulation within the intake. The amplification of shockwaves will exponentially increase the thrust, similar to the process that increases the intensity of explosions.

This is magnified by integrating incompressible airflows experienced at hypersonic velocity: the shock-waves striking each other will produce higher compression and heat: if applicable.

» Development #3

BAT has been studying the use of lasers to ignite the fuel in the hypersonic chamber. This would be a broad spectrum laser which would ignite more fuel than conventional ignition processes. With development it will be able to ignite nearly 100% of the fuel, in comparison to some present methods which can see over two-thirds of the fuel unburnt.

 The lasers may “trim” best ignition point by being able to move forward or back to provide an efficiency capability: there may be a kinetic advantage to ignite the fuel at an earlier of later stage in the chamber at certain points at different speeds or temperatures. This facet permits a reduction of the fuel flow. The movement of the lasers would advantage transitions establishing an accelerative thrust to a cruise thrust, rather than a mere throttle action of boosting fuel flow. This also reduces the amount of moving parts required. Another benefit would be the reduction or complete elimination of un-starting and other ignition disruptions.

This technology could be adapted for use in cars and other combustion motors such as generators.

Varulkarie

“Your Varulkarie design will require” add point

· Any other innovations welcome and of advantage

If no suitable designs are fielded by the given dates BAT will produce an engine to be sold-off for production by present engine manufactures.



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