5390277http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/390277Development of an economically and environmentally attractive fusion energy source is the goal of the Fusion Energy Sciences program. Numerical simulations of fusion plasmas are an important component of this program used in the design, operation and performance assessment of existing and proposed fusion experiments. Numerical stability analysis of plasma equilibrium is one of the most important steps in evaluating feasibility of different plasma confinement approaches. Axisymmetric toroidal magnetic plasma confinement devices, such as Tokamaks and Reversed Field Pinches, are considered as promising candidates for a future fusion reactor. An efficient numerical Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability analysis tool of axisymmetric equilibria is required for an accurate analysis of plasma confinement in these devices. FAR-TECH, Inc. proposes to parallelize code MARS, to extend its capabilities and to significantly improve its performance. MARS calculates eigenmodes in axisymmetric toroidal equilibria within the ideal MHD, resistive MHD and MHD-kinetic plasma models. The new parallel code will be able to handle an extended scope of physics problems which are too demanding to solve by currently available tools, making it the efficient MHD stability analysis tool much needed by the fusion community. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The code will be used in nuclear fusion research institutions in the design and performance assessment of existing and proposed fusion experiments. It will help to expand the knowledge base of plasma confinement in different regimes. The main public benefit of the project is the availability of an efficient tool which will be used in creation of safe, clean and economical energy source based on nuclear fusion. The developed parallel algorithm will also be used to study laboratory and astrophysical plasmasDOESBIR12012Far-tech, Inc.372968http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/372968Development of new, more efficient gas turbine engines is a lengthy process of engine test iterations to maximize performance. This engine development cycle time is driven to a large extent by the manufacturing process used to produce the engine hot section turbine components. Barber-Nichols Inc. (BNI) proposes combining a newly developing rapid manufacturing process technology Electron Beam Melting (EBM) with Electro Chemical Machining (ECM) to reduce manufacturing cycle time and cost by replacing the existing investment casting and/or multi-axis machining methods used to produce turbine nozzles, blades and blisks. Successfully combining the near-net shape rapid manufacturing EBM process with the rapid removal rate afforded by the ECM process in relevant high temperature superalloys such as Inconel 625 or MAR-M-247 would enable manufacturing cycle time reductions of critical turbine components by a year or more and at a lower cost. During Phase I, BNI with support from Teledyne Brown Engineering, will demonstrate feasibility by rapidly manufacturing representative high-quality, dimensionally-accurate turbine blade geometries and internal cooling passages in both Inconel 625 and MAR-M-247 materials. Also during Phase I, verification of elevated temperature material tensile properties will give confidence that more extensive material tests in Phase II will enable usage of the EBM/ECM process for the rapid manufacture of turbine components to be tested at the end of Phase II in a representative gas turbine engine. Upon successful completion of Phase II, commercialization of the EBM/ECM process will begin to gain acceptance by gas turbine manufacturers with the utilization of EBM/ECM as a means to reduce development cycle time and cost of new, more efficient industrial gas turbine engines. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The benefits of the EBM/ECM process will span across all industries including medical, aerospace and others that require casting of parts during development and/or require limited production. The process provides a low-cost, rapid manufacturing alternative to casting and machining of complex parts in a broad range of structural metals.DOESBIR12011Barber-Nichols, Inc.244056http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/24405672639-The properties of waterborne organic coatings for several demanding applications are inadequate. By incorporating nanoparticles in the matrix, the properties and performance of organic coatings can be significantly improved in ways that had not been possible until now with coarser micron and sub-micron size particles. This project will develop waterborne polymer nanocomposite coatings that not only will have significantly better properties (e.g., UV stability, abrasion and mar resistance, and chemical resistance) than those of the base polymer, but also will allow the properties to be tailored to fulfill specific needs. In Phase I, polymer nanocomposite coatings based on commercially used formulations were synthesized. It was demonstrated that the properties of polymer coatings can be greatly enhanced by dispersing surface engineered nanoparticles. In particular, the wear and solvent resistances increased significantly with relatively low amounts of nanoparticles. In conjunction with organic coating manufacturers and end-users, Phase II will design and develop polymer nanocomposite coatings that ideally suit the needs of specific applications. The chemistry of polymer nanocomposite formulations will be optimized to achieve coatings with the best performance. Additionally, the synthesis process for producing gallon quantities of surface modified nanoparticles in polymeric resins with reproducible properties will be scaled, and protoype parts will be coated and tested. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The new high-performance polymer coatings should have immense potential in a wide range of applications, including medical devices, automobile finishing, aircraft transparencies, structural steel, fuel tanks, fabrics, and floors. Because the polymer nanocomposite coating technology is for the most part water-based, it should be environmentally benign. As such, it can replace solvent-based coatings in several industrial and special purpose applications.DOESBIR12004NEI Corporation244058http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/24405872639-The properties of waterborne organic coatings for several demanding applications are inadequate. By incorporating nanoparticles in the matrix, the properties and performance of organic coatings can be significantly improved in ways that had not been possible until now with coarser micron and sub-micron size particles. This project will develop waterborne polymer nanocomposite coatings that not only will have significantly better properties (e.g., UV stability, abrasion and mar resistance, and chemical resistance) than those of the base polymer, but also will allow the properties to be tailored to fulfill specific needs. In Phase I, polymer nanocomposite coatings based on commercially used formulations were synthesized. It was demonstrated that the properties of polymer coatings can be greatly enhanced by dispersing surface engineered nanoparticles. In particular, the wear and solvent resistances increased significantly with relatively low amounts of nanoparticles. In conjunction with organic coating manufacturers and end-users, Phase II will design and develop polymer nanocomposite coatings that ideally suit the needs of specific applications. The chemistry of polymer nanocomposite formulations will be optimized to achieve coatings with the best performance. Additionally, the synthesis process for producing gallon quantities of surface modified nanoparticles in polymeric resins with reproducible properties will be scaled, and protoype parts will be coated and tested. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The new high-performance polymer coatings should have immense potential in a wide range of applications, including medical devices, automobile finishing, aircraft transparencies, structural steel, fuel tanks, fabrics, and floors. Because the polymer nanocomposite coating technology is for the most part water-based, it should be environmentally benign. As such, it can replace solvent-based coatings in several industrial and special purpose applications.DOESBIR22004NEI Corporation346190http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/346190THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A MAN-PORTABLE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH MASS SPECTROMETER (GCMS) IS OUTLINED, TOGETHER WITH ITS APPLICATION AS A DETECTOR OF A BROAD RANGE OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY-RELATED SUBSTANCES. THE PRINCIPAL BENEFITS OF SUCH AN INSTRUMENT ARE ITS PORTABILITY WHICH ALLOWS MEASUREMENTS TO BE MADE ON-SITE, ITS RUGGED, SIMPLE OPERATION, AND ITS SENSITIVITY AND ABILITY TO GIVE UNAMBIGUOUS IDENTIFICATION OF UNKNOWN COMPOUNDS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR SUCH AN INSTRUMENT, DETERMINE ITS TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY FOR MEASUREMENT OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY-RELATED SUBSTANCES, AND PERFORM LIMITED TESTING OF A SAMPLING OF MINIATURIZED GCMS DEVELOPED FOR THE VIKING MARS LANDER. AMONG THE SPECIFIC TECHNICAL CHALLENGES ARE TO EXTEND THE MASS RANGE OF THIS INSTRUMENT, REDUCE THE SCAN RATE, MODIFY AND IMPROVE THE SAMPLE SEPARATOR, DESIGN TERRESTRIAL SAMPLE INLET SUBSYSTEM, AND DEVELOP AN INTERFACE WITH A MICROPROCESSOR FOR OPERATION AND DATA ANALYSIS.DOESBIR11983Viking Instruments Corp.