Award Data

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 ...

Higher efficiency solar cells are needed to reduce mass, volume, and cost of DoD space missions. However, to achieve higher efficiency and radiation hardness of the best to date multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices, several challenges must be addressed. This project aims to develop: 1) Quantum Well (QW)-based multi-junction cell that exhibits enhanced efficiency, and 2) Radiation-hardened PV c ...

The cost of dewatering particles is inversely proportional to particle size. Costs dramatically increase as particle size approaches 10

Hydrogen produced today from coal, natural gas, or biomass must be separated and purified outside the reactors using pressure swing absorption (PSA), a process that requires significant additional space and energy. Placing hydrogen-permeable membranes inside the reactors themselves would allow hydrogen to diffuse out, thereby reducing the cost of hydrogen production. In this Phase I effort, Mainst ...

Superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities are being successfully used for acceleration of charged particle beams worldwide. The application of the SRF cavities for manipulation of the beam properties in the transverse direction is both immanent and appropriate. The use of superconducting (SC) structures helps maximize the accelerating gradient, which is a highly desirable trait for applicat ...

The highest priority in the Nuclear Physics program is, at present, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. In the longer term it is likely that a high priority will be an Electron Ion Collider, and several concepts are under development. In order to achieve the high luminosities that would be required to make such a machine attractive, some kind of bunch crabbing system will be required. For example ...

The only HEP laboratory left in the US is Femilab and the operation of the Tevatron will cease soon after the LHC at CERN starts accumulating data, either in 2010 or 2011. In order for a presence in HEP to be retained in the US, Fermilab is exploring a number of options, centered around what is called Project X. Several scenarios are being considered but will likely include a ~2GeV proton accelera ...

Hypersonic missile defense systems are being designed to reach global threats. During flight, external surfaces are predicted to reach temperatures in excess of 2200C. As a result, innovative, high performance thermal protection systems (TPS) are of great demand. Among ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTC), it is well known that ZrB2- and HfB2-based materials have high melting temperatures and ...

This Phase II effort will further develop a technique to improve current seeker discrimination and tracking capabilities using a unique particle filter algorithm (PFA) approach. The advancement represents a significant upgrade to current and future seekers facing advanced threats in stressing environments. Quantifiable improvements over many facets of the current approach have been realized during ...

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) seeks technical investigations related to the development and application of advanced electronic materials, processes, and devices to meet its need for radiation hardened, high performance electronics for critical space and missile applications. With the advent of smaller transistor dimensions and reductions in price per bit, significant changes in materials and pr ...