Sandia Test Loop

We have learned a great deal about the engine and its characteristics. We have made minor modifications to the design, mostly around improving ease of maintenance, but also to accommodate changes and improvements in the bearings. Bearings have been the main area of early failures, but our team has worked with our bearing supplier on enhancements that have proven quite effective.

We currently have over 80 hours of run time on the most recent version and which continue to perform without issue. We will extend the testing in its current mode for a few hundred more hours and then will move into a start-up/shut down regimen. The engine is extremely quiet, and you actually have to listen carefully to discern its signature high pitch whine. The following is an audio/video run that captures the shutdown sequence and sounds of test #38 at Sandia: