Award Data

ABSTRACT:The reduction of aerodynamic/hydrodynamic noise caused by violent turbulence is of strategic importance to many military systems. These include modern fighter jets, unmanned weapons with sensitive electronics, and surface and underwater vessels. For all these systems, aerodynamic or hydrodynamic noise can produce unacceptable levels of operational loads or acoustic vibrations, or be detri ...

Fuel cells convert chemical energy in a fuel directly to electrical power. They have several advantages over other energy sources including: highly efficient energy conversion, fuel flexibility, reduced air pollution, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced oil consumption, and expanded use of renewable power. State-of-the-art Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) use lanthanum strontium cobalt iron oxi ...

Opportunities exists to use high moment magnetic nanoparticles CoxFe100-x to replace annealing-stabilized high induction -FeCo phase as the primary phase in the currently used soft magnetic materials (e.g. HITPERM). The key to this development is to design advanced nanocomposites containing high moment nanoparticles for small, lightweight passive inductors, by using an innovative cost-effective ...

State of the art modern gasoline drivetrains have seen improvements in fuel economy thru common methods that include increased static compression ratios, Direct injection, reduced pumping work thru variable cam timing, improved Knock Sensing approaches, engine downsizing, variable displacement, increased transmission gear ratios, & amp; lower numerical axle ratios. Unfortunately, fuel economy impr ...

Hyrax Energy, Inc. is the first company to spin-out of the DOEs Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) and is the exclusive owner of intellectual property that enables biorefineries based on ionic liquids that that operate at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint of competing technologies. Ionic liquids are true solvents for cellulose, which promises amongst other things to greatly si ...

The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified the need for tools and technologies to ensure the safety of personnel who carry out decontamination and decommissioning work at unused nuclear facilities. Strippable, fixative coatings with a visual indication of contaminant (e.g., elemental mercury and its ions) capture would improve safety and minimize hazards and waste during the demolition process ...

The storage of industrially generated carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep geologic formations is being seriously evaluated as a method for reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, and CO2 injection is being used for enhanced oil recovery, leaving two thirds of the CO2 stored underground. Reliable and cost-effective monitoring is required to demonstrate that the geologic storage is safe and ...

Li-ion battery calendar and cycle life degrade at elevated temperatures due to processes involving the interaction of electrolyte salt, solvents and battery electrode materials. The major factor impacting automotive Li-Ion battery pack safety is the use of high vapor pressure and low flashpoint carbonate electrolyte solvents. Development of high voltage cathode materials requires new solvents and ...

Regular inspection of piping for corrosion damage is crucial in nuclear power plants to prevent leakage of radioactive material into the environment, and to allay concerns of residents living within the vicinity. However, currently used methods for detecting corrosion on interior surfaces of reactor components are difficult to apply in confined spaces and do not always provide enough information. ...

Development of high-speed rail services in the US is one of the priorities of the current administration. High-speed rails have the potential to change the nations energy consumption landscape in transportation at a time when both the highway and railroad capacities are being saturated with increased demand. In preparation to expand the transportation infrastructure for the coming decades, railro ...