Award Data

To ensure safe and reliable power production by nuclear power plants, a wide variety of materials and components need to undergo inspections and maintenances at pre-determined intervals. Condition based maintenance is highly desirable because it can potentially avoid unnecessarily costly maintenance actions and associated error induced failures. Consequently, it can help achieve nearly all the mai ...

This proposal is based on a transformational and disruptive technology of utilizing electrochemical compression to operate heat pump cycles. Xergy Inc. has exhibited a demonstration unit of its Kuel-cell device, and engaged in thermodynamic simulations utilizing water as the working fluid in order to propose the use of this Kuel-cell technology for hybrid hot water systems. Simulations utilizing ...

The reliability of wind turbine systems is greatly impacted by hidden defects. Therefore, an improved method of inspection is sought for the manufactured composite materials used in these systems. In addition, an inspection method is also needed in the field, to assure quality during and after installation. This project will develop a reliable, portable, instrumentation system that can be utili ...

Several hundred beam lines are used around the world at today¿s third-generation synchrotron facilities. These facilities must deal with monochromator-based performance problems due to high heat load. Many have resorted to the use of costly, complicated, high maintenance cryogenic cooling of silicon crystals. Single crystal diamond monochromators present an advantage over the silicon crystals ...

Novel, inline measurement techniques are needed to improve the quality and performance of new solar cells. Manufacturers today measure cell performance inline under white light conditions, but are unable to obtain the cell response as a function of wavelength without extensive offline testing. They are also unable to extract detailed spatial maps of full-spectrum spectral response. This informatio ...

Process intensification methodologies are need for the chemical processes and bioprocesses used in a biorefinery, in order to make the biorefinery a viable commercial alternative to the production of fuels and chemicals. Because the molecular mixing of reactants can enhance reactions, it is a key to process intensification. Significant process inefficiencies can occur (especially with highly react ...

The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of developing flex hoses for hydraulic and other piping system interfaces that can withstand high pressure environments, hydrodynamic, and other forces unique to deep submergence system operating environments. This hose and connecter system coined FlexiHOSE© proposed by MEI-Charlton, Inc. (MEIC) will meet the need of operating under ...

This SBIR Phase I proposal is aimed to develop advanced soft magnetic nanocomposite materials with low loss, high flux density, and capability to operate at high frequency ranges (100kHz-10MHz). With Spectrum Magnetics & apos; proprietary technique, we will develop magnetic flake materials with thickness in the nanometer scale, which effectively reduces the eddy current loss and eliminates undesir ...

Quantifying oceanic CO2 uptake and ocean acidification and understanding their impact on global climate and ocean ecology are key goals of NOAA’s climate change research programs. NOAA’s request for Development of a long-term Lagrangian pH and pCO2 drifter (SBIR Subtopic 8.3.1C) aims to address these goals by developing technology that measures both pCO2 and pH that can be widely deployed in t ...

Many refinery product streams, particularly those from Ultra Low Hydrodesulfurisation units, are prone to haze due to water emulsions. Haze is also problematic for biodiesel production, as hazy fuel cannot be used until the haze settles or is removed, which creates costly scheduling and shipping delays. This project will develop a novel membrane process for the removal of dissolved and dispersed ...