The combustor technology has potential application for aircraft turbine engines, both for military and commercial markets. In November 1996, a long-term business agreement to develop, manufacture, and sell new catalytic combustor products for Westinghouse Power Generation machines was announced. The work is geared to enable gas turbine manufacturers to meet new and stricter environmental regulations. In 1994, Marshall Space Flight Center began an SBIR program developing PCI's ultra-compact catalytic converter for spacecraft life support. The company has been concurrently developing this technology as a compact, lightweight, and high efficiency catalytic converter for automobiles.
Prototypes are in test with major U.S. auto manufacturers.
Recent testing of the converter has demonstrated emissions reduction that exceeds the new ultra-low emission vehicle standards of the day. PCI has been selected as one of only five small businesses included in an EPA effort, the Environmental Technologies Initiative Program. PCI is currently exploring strategic alliances for scaling up production and developing a pilot manufacturing plant. Other products in the development pipeline include a durable catalytic grow plug for diesel and gas turbine engines, and hybrid electric vehicle and fuel cell components, which provide a long-term stream of proprietary technology products fueling future company growth. Dr. Paul Menacherry, a PCI research and development engineer, is working with a custom-built test rig used to simulate automotive exhaust gas.