Award Data

In order to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants and mitigate their impact on global climate change, DOE has called for technologies that can capture at least 90% of CO2 emissions from an existing coal-fired power plant with & lt; 35% increase in the cost of electricity (COE). One approach with the potential to achieve these goals is the use of advanced solvents to separa ...

ITN Energy Systems (ITN), along with Texas A & amp;M University, proposes to demonstrate a proof-of- concept feasibility of a low cost, oxygen separation (enrichment) system that works on the interception effect of a gradient magnetic field in the presence of magnetic polymer beads. At present much of the oxygen enrichment market is based primarily on cryogenic systems, ion transport membranes mad ...

Problem statement: For low cost manufacturing of high efficiency solar cells and solar modules, manufacturers are ever looking for effective tools to measure the problematic defects and performance variations in their critical processes. Approach to addressing the problem: The light, or laser, beam induced current (LBIC) technique has been used in the laboratory to produce detailed images of the o ...

In 2011, the US electricity generation was 4344 billion kWh gross with 821 TWh (19%) from nuclear power reactors. The US has 104 nuclear power reactors, 69 pressurized water reactors and 35 boiling water reactors, in 31 states, operated by 30 different power companies. Almost all of the US nuclear generating capacity comes from reactors built between 1967 and 1990. There have been no new construc ...

Li-ion battery calendar and cycle life degrade at elevated temperatures due to processes involving the interaction of electrolyte salt, solvents and battery electrode materials. The major factor impacting automotive Li-Ion battery pack safety is the use of high vapor pressure and low flashpoint carbonate electrolyte solvents. Development of high voltage cathode materials requires new solvents and ...

Conventional lighting systems for corridors and other public spaces in hospitals, long-term care facilities, progressive- care living centers, residential units for seniors, dormitories, and prisons often operate at full power throughout the night using white light sources such as fluorescent lamps. These white light sources provide energy at wavelengths that are known to stimulate the human circa ...

Current commercial reactor fuel performance monitoring uses external power range monitors, and evaluates coolant water for contamination that would indicate failure of a fuel element. Estimates of the localized fission rates and temperature distributions within the reactor core are approximated using nuclear simulation codes. Real-time characterization of local in-core radiation field parameters w ...

Regular inspection of piping for corrosion damage is crucial in nuclear power plants to prevent leakage of radioactive material into the environment, and to allay concerns of residents living within the vicinity. However, currently used methods for detecting corrosion on interior surfaces of reactor components are difficult to apply in confined spaces and do not always provide enough information. ...

Robust and high-temperature-capable fiber optic temperature sensors are needed to improve the efficiency and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in power generation using fossil fuels. While these devices are commercially available, their costs are too high. A novel design for the thermal probe of a fiber optic temperature measuring system utilizing a phosphor microsphere is being proposed. I ...

Mikro Systems, Inc (Mikro) has a breakthrough manufacturing technology that can dramatically reduce the time and cost of designing, prototyping, and testing advanced high-temperature turbine components. The gas turbine industry needs rapid and cost effective prototyping methods to produce advanced high- temperature parts from application specific materials that can be used in hot test rigs and tes ...