Award Data

Most conventional air conditioning systems based on mechanical vapor compression cycle (VCC) suffer from low efficiency and cause adverse environmental effect. In addition, air conditioning is a major contributor of electric utility peak loads. In the times of rising energy prices and ever-increasing concern of environment, it is imperative to invest in more efficient and clean cooling technology. ...

The U.S. faces increasing vulnerability as it depends on expensive, non renewable energy supplies from politically unstable regions. The most common renewable energy sources - wind, solar, geothermal, and traditional hydroelectric - are not growing at an adequate pace to meet demand. The U.S. needs additional innovative, pragmatic alternatives to achieve energy security.Lucid Energy Technologies, ...

In the US today, over 1,800 trillion BTU/year is lost as waste heat from industrial processes as has been identified by the DOE. The energy loss in this category is primarily derived from the waste heat contained in flue gas and drying operation exhausts generated from a wide array of manufacturing processes. The recovery of this

Biodiesel production has grown substantially in the past few years in response to the increased price of imported fossil energy and significant interest in the private and public sectors for a clean renewable energy source, a desire to reduce dependence on foreign oil, and a desire to provide opportunities for American agricultural products. The U.S. market is expected to grow to between 1 to 2 bi ...

Heat exchangers are a used in a commercial, residential, and military cooling systems. Their thermal performance is measured by their ability to efficiently transfer heat. By increasing the heat exchanger efficiency, the size and weight of the system can be reduced. This work explores the use of twisted tape technologies and the use of advanced nanofluids for improving thermal performance. ACT ...

Heat exchangers are a used in a commercial, residential, and military cooling systems. Their thermal performance is measured by their ability to efficiently transfer heat. By increasing the heat exchanger efficiency, the size and weight of the system can be reduced. This work explores the use of twisted tape technologies and the use of advanced nanofluids for improving thermal performance. ACT ...

Efficient and environmentally friendly power generation is a national goal. While large scale power plants are demonstrating thermal efficiencies of 50%, the cost and environmental impact of increasing the size of current power plants and expansion of the grid to distribute this power are making this approach increasingly difficult and expensive. Alternative distributed power gen systems driven by ...

This project involves a feasibility study for a rapid scanning near-infrared/infrared spectrometer for transient, simultaneous measurements of CO2 and H20 concentrations, soot volume fractions and temperatures. Such measurements can lead to improved understanding of the structure of turbulent and laminar flames. A commercial instrument that can reliably provide simultaneous gas concentrtaion, so ...

Broodshrimp are given natural (wild-capture) foods for maintenance and maturation. This practice causes problems with production schedules and diseases, limits management options, and raises production costs. Conventional feed processing can degrade high quality ingredients-essential nutrients and other natural biochemicals- such that they become ineffective for broodshrimp reproduction. The pu ...