Award Data

The goal of the GENSETS program is to realize an affordable generator-engine system with 1 kW of electrical output, fuel energy content to electricity conversion efficiency exceeding 40%, long life, and low emissions. A system can be broken into 5 primary subsystems: (1) a chemical combiner or burner, (2) an engine, (3) an alternator, (4) a heat rejector, and (5) a controller. This work focuses on ...

Reliable, cost-competitive thermal storage is critical to the growth of the concentrated solar power market. The proposed program focuses on a key component which impacts future trough systems, addressing chronic reliability problems, and providing a pathway to higher plant operating temperatures and resulting higher efficiency. Todays solar trough plants use synthetic oil heat transfer fluids whi ...

Current and next-generation power systems require power devices that operate at high voltages and high frequencies beyond the reliable operating limit of the present silicon- and silicon carbide- based power devices. The material properties of AlN permit power devices to operate at these extremes, promoting device shrinkage for automotive applications as well as faster switching and more efficient ...

Radioxenon monitoring systems are an important tool for detecting nuclear weapon tests around the world. These systems must be reliable and have low contamination potential because nuclear detonations can occur without warning and the opportunity to detect these events is relatively brief. Additionally, mobile systems must be compact, lightweight, and efficient to support onsite inspection and nea ...

The United States and other countries are investing in neutron scattering facilities due to their promise for research that can catalyze advances in energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, plastics, transportation, biotechnology, and health. One new type of instrument, the wide-angle polarized neutron spectrometer, is severely constrained by the volume of high-quality polarized 3He gas that can ...

The objective of this technology transfer effort is to leverage technology developed by our partner to produce a high efficiency, carbon nanotube array enhanced, portable proportional counter for neutron detection. We will develop a portable proportional counter for neutron detection utilizing nanostructured field emitters. Unlike traditional proportional counters, which are typically arranged in ...

72808-The conversion of cellulosic biomass to commodity products via biological processing could benefit society by improving energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting rural economies. However, commercial application is impeded by the current absence of low-cost technology to overcome the recalcitrance of cellulosic biomass. This project will develop a strain of Clostridi ...

73089-DOE Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (NA) applications, especially in the area of software radio, drive wide bandwidths and therefore require high-density super-computing-class I/O, memory, and signal processing capabilities. General-purpose processors do not provide enough performance density to effectively address these applications. The introduction of super-computing boards b ...

In the wake of the September 11th attacks and subsequent Anthrax scares, researchers worldwide are working to expand our ability to rapidly assess what poses a terrorism threat to the public. The rapid detection of specific pathogens is required for biod

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A NEW CLASS OF BIOSENSORS BASED ON THE USE OF COLLOIDAL GOLD DIRECTLY OR DEPOSITED AS A POROUS GOLD FILM. THE KEY TO THE APPROACH ISTHE IMMOBILIZATION OF ENZYMES ON GOLD SURFACES THAT PROVIDE FOR HIGHFLUX, HETEROGENEOUS ELECTRON TRANSFER. THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING THIS NEW CLASS OF BIOSENSORS WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE END OF PHASE I. THE OBJECTIVES ...