A Tucson-based startup has developed a new kind of jet engine that promises greater power and fuel efficiency for power generation and aerospace propulsion.
David Wichner A Tucson-based startup is in the thick of a race to develop a new kind of jet engine that promises greater power and fuel efficiency for power generation and aerospace propulsion.
Founded in 2021 by former Raytheon engineer James Villarreal and three former Raytheon colleagues, Nobel Works is now testing a small prototype of its engine as part of a development program under Shell Energy’s GameChanger business accelerator program for early-stage tech startups. “Especially with the emergence of ‘green’ hydrogen or different fuels, being able to save an appreciable amount of fuel is a big driver to reduce CO2 but also a big way to save money in your wallet — a little bit of efficiency variance is a big deal,” Villarreal said.
Villarreal enlisted three former Raytheon colleagues as co-founders: Brad Goodman, the company’s chief technology officer, who spent more than 12 years at Raytheon as a design engineer; Thomas McIntyre, chief business and financial officer and a former Raytheon program manager; and Rick Nelson, chief operating officer and a retired Raytheon vice president.
Nobel Works says it has demonstrated fuel savings of 15%, but 25% is possible with its engine. For aerospace applications, such increased fuel efficiency can translate into longer range. “Obviously, long term we’d like to scale that technology and increase the size but, you know, crawl, walk run ... when you start smaller, you reduce your technical risks to a certain extent and then also the capital risks because the bigger these are, the more expensive they become,” McIntyre said. “And, you know, we really are focused on proving out the technology to create that self-contained unit that generates electricity.
Big playersStill, there are some heavy hitters involved in rotational detonation engine tech, particularly for aerospace applications, including the Air Force Research Lab and partners Raytheon, General Electric and Aerojet, a major military rocket-engine maker.
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