Mainstream Engineering Awarded Contract from the Navy to Develop Enhanced Refrigerant Distribution Microchannel Evaporator to Improve Air Conditioner Efficiency

ROCKLEDGE, FL – September 11th, 2014 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a 28-year-old Brevard County manufacturer with a history of leading-edge research and development, has been awarded a contract from the Navy to develop an enhanced refrigerant distribution microchannel evaporator which has been demonstrated to improve the efficiency of air conditioners.

Military air conditioning is one of the greatest consumers of electric energy in forwarding operating bases (FOBs). Even small increases in efficiency can lead to significant reductions in generator fuel consumption. Additionally, microchannel evaporators are smaller, lighter, and lower cost than their tube-fin counterparts. This technology will result in smaller, lighter, and more efficient air conditioners for military and commercial A/C applications. Mainstream is the current supplier for the new high-efficiency Improved Environmental Control Unit (IECU) and this improved evaporator design will further improve this high-efficiency unit.

Mainstream strives to transition efficiency improvements derived from military R&D into the QwikProducts™ (www.qwik.com) line of air conditioning products that can benefit everyday consumers.

Cooling to cryogenic temperatures improves the efficiency and operating life of many electronic systems, including high-speed computers, IR detectors, solid-state lasers, and wireless communication transceivers. Stirling cryocoolers are common in these applications because of their high efficiency and long, maintenance-free operating life. However, existing Stirling cryocoolers do not meet the size and weight requirements of many applications.

Mainstream has identified a method to make a significant improvement to the power density of Stirling cryocoolers, particularly in aerospace applications, and is developing an advanced prototype that will allow cryogenic cooling to be applied to systems where previously the size and weight of the cryocooler were prohibitive.

About Mainstream Engineering
Mainstream Engineering Corporation is a solutions-oriented research, development, and manufacturing small business with a history of leading-edge research and development that has resulted in advanced, lean-manufacturing, cost-competitive products, which are all made in the USA. Founded in 1986, Mainstream’s mission is to transition advanced thermal control, energy storage, and energy conversion technology into high-quality, cost-effective, environmentally-safe green, commercial products. Products include lightweight diesel/JP8-fueled engines (including generators and hybrid vehicle drive trains), advanced thermal control units, advanced biomass conversion technologies, refrigerators/freezers for shipping containers, and the QwikProduct™ line of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) products. Areas of advanced research include thermal control, energy conversion, engine and emissions research, turbomachinery, chemical technology, and materials science.