Award Data

The life expectancy of offshore wind turbines is at least 20 years, during which they must operate optimally with respect to power production, minimization of mechanical stresses, plant wake distribution, and more, in a range of atmospheric conditions.These conditions are currently observed using meteorological masts, which provide inadequate observations, thus resulting in suboptimal turbine desi ...

The feasibility of fusion as a practical energy source needs to be improved significantly by removing some of the restrictions that low-temperature superconductors put on the fusion magnet systems.One method to simplify the magnet system is by using high-temperature superconductors (HTS) that allow for a higher magnet performance and much larger temperature margins.Successful application of HTS in ...

A commonly noted sensor need for nuclear power systems is flow sensing in the various heat transfer mediums and to monitor medium velocities and characterize mixing and/or cooling.This is particularly needed for small modular reactors (SMR) and molten salt reactors (MSR).Such sensors must be able to tolerate high temperatures, high pressures, highly corrosive liquids, and radiation (neutron and ga ...

Aqwest LLC proposes to further develop a "Front End" laser for an advanced inertial fusion energy (IFE) laser driver, integrate it with final amplifier (FA) modules developed by Aqwest for the Department of Energy (DOE), and conduct a parametric test evaluation.The development and commercialization of IFE is impeded by the lack of efficient and economical laser driver.IFE offers to tap almost unli ...

Reimagining a trusted technology (data diodes) into a low-cost plug and play appliance, to provide greater situational awareness and predictive analytics, while safeguarding the infrastructure.That is the Fend mission, and SBIR Phase I helped to demonstrate the need and feasibility for this solution.Solar energy operators need real-time situational awareness and the insight of advanced analytics t ...

For over a century, the structure of the electric utility business has been a supplier driven model with consumers receiving and paying for electricity without any participation in how the electricity is produced, transmitted, or consumed.However, advances in renewable energy technologies (e.g., PV panels), battery storage, smart devices, as well as financing models have given rise to prosumers - ...

Fundamental improvements to the energy, brightness, and stability of lepton beams from next generation plasma-based accelerators are essential to maintain rapid innovation and scientific productivity within the field of advanced accelerators.Meeting these goals requires improvements in the design and control of the plasmas used for injection and acceleration.Laser plasma accelerators benefit from ...

Storage of hydrogen is challenging due to high storage pressures and potential for hydrogen embrittlement.Pressure vessels are currently retired from service under conservative guidelines due to the inability to identify damage until damage is imminent.There exists a need for a system that can resolve micrometer-scale features and relate these to the damage state of pressure vessels for accurate l ...

The electricity produced from fossil fuels is essential to the world’s prosperity and security, but the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations caused by the fossil fuel combustion are implicated in global warming.Although there are several methods for separating CO2 from the flue gases, all have significant drawbacks, including loss of efficiency and increased capital and operating costs that ...

The commercial success of the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles will require significant reductions in the cost of hydrogen fueling.Current fueling stations require pre-cooling equipment that chills the hydrogen to -40°C; this is needed to offset the temperature rise caused by compression during fueling and keep the polymer liner of the vehicle’s tank below its maximum operating temperature of 85?C.I ...