ROCKLEDGE, FL – November 14, 2005 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a leading research and development company specializing in advanced thermal control, energy conversion, and chemical-based heating, cooling and sorption technologies, has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) to demonstrate and optimize a self-contained Portable Sterilization System (PSS).

The military often posts troops for long periods of time in austere and remote locations where power and clean water are difficult to obtain. At these locations, a light-weight, portable device is needed to provide sterilization for medical or dental instruments because autoclaves are not possible to carry, or are logistically impractical.

Mainstream’s PSS will allow surgical/dental procedures to be performed with assterilized instruments. A chemical method of creating the steam will eliminate the need for power, and keep the total weight and volume of the sterilization device small. This chemical sterilization device will be safe, storable for one year and environmentally friendly. When completed, the chemical system component will be optimized with steam generation kinetics, temperature control, and microorganism efficacy. Mainstream’s PSS will also be designed and fabricated to be passively operated.

Mainstream’s experience in this field includes a successful system for NASA’s SCAPE suits.

This work is supported by the USAMRAA under contract number W81XWH-06-C-0042.

ROCKLEDGE, FL – November 14, 2005 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a leading research and development company specializing in advanced thermal control and energy conversion, has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center to demonstrate a self-heating self-hydrating combat ration.

Individual Warfighters need to have beverages and rations that can be heated while on the move. The current Flameless Ration Heater (FRH) provides an acceptable means for heating prepackaged foods that are already hydrated. However, it is inadequate for heating dehydrated rations and for providing water for beverages.

Mainstream’s unique self-heating, self-hydrating pouch can be used not only to heat but also to hydrate beverages and dehydrated meals. This pouch integrates advanced membrane technology with water purification and hydrogen capture technology to provide a flameless ration heater that is safer and lighter then current MRE flameless heaters.

ROCKLEDGE, FL – October 10, 2005 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a leading research and development company specializing in advanced thermal control and energy conversion, successfully demonstrated the world’s first hydrocarbon-based environmental control unit (HECU) for military shelters. The 60,000-Btu/hr (5-tonR) HECU uses propane as the working fluid.

Why use Propane? Europe has already banned HCFC refrigerants and will also be banning the use of HFC refrigerants in the near future because of their very large Global Warming Potential (GWP). Although the new “environmentally safe” HFC-410A has no Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), it has a GWP of 1890. Alternatively, propane has zero ODP and an extremely low GWP of only 11.

Europe is currently taking steps to meet the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for quantitative reduction of greenhouse gases (including HFCs) for the period 2008-2012. This includes restricting the use of any refrigerant with a GWP in excess of 150 and will result in the eventual ban of HFC-410A from use in these NATO nations.

Mainstream has a demonstrated history of leadership in this area, being the only ECU manufacturer offering an environmentally safe HFC-410A ECU, known as the MECU. Once again, Mainstream has anticipated future trends by developing the next step in reduced environmental impact with the HECU.

According to Dr. Scaringe of Mainstream, “Our HECU system has outstanding environmental qualities and unbeatable efficiency and performance.” Mainstream’s HECU is smaller, lighter and more efficient than existing military ECUs, including the HCFC22-based A/E32C-39, the HFC134a-b

ROCKLEDGE, FL – August 22, 2005 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation’s oil-less refrigeration compressor was recently transported to the International Space Station (ISS) on NASA’s Space Shuttle Mission STS-114 to begin service in the ISS refrigerated centrifuge.

This unique compressor requires no oil for lubrication; instead it uses self-lubricating materials and permanently greased bearings. Conventional refrigeration compressors have gravity-assisted oil lubricating systems that would not adequately lubricate in a microgravity environment. This compressor was developed for Lockheed-Martin Space Operations and NASA to overcome the gravity-assisted lubrication of conventional refrigeration compressors.

Mainstream Engineering has been at the forefront of vapor compression refrigeration, cooling, and thermal control technology development since 1986. Mainstream developed the world’s first oil-less magnetic-bearing centrifugal refrigeration compressor in 1995. In addition to continuing research in high-power spacecraft thermal control applications, Mainstream is developing high-speed magnetic-bearing centrifugal air compressors for the production of medical-grade oxygen for use in forward deployed military field hospitals. This advanced R&D is incorporated into Mainstream’s QwikProducts, which are used worldwide by air conditioning and refrigeration technicians to improve the performance or repair commercial and residential A/C and refrigeration units, automotive A/C units and commercial building thermal control systems.

Mainstream worked with the U.S. Air Force developing a new compact, environmentally safe, modular environmental control unit (MECU). This unit is a highly reliable, compact, lightweight tent air conditioner specifically designed to operate in the very sandy and hot desert environments of the Middle East. With the goal of continuing support of U.S. troops, Mainstream’s engineers have used their technological strengths to develop the world’s smallest and lightest 2 kW diesel generator for use by the U. S. Marine Corps. Since these generators must be hand carried, Mainstream dramatically reduced the weight by 42%! This achievement is highly significant considering outdoor temperatures in the Middle East can climb to over 120°F.