Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
BEETIT
Award:
$2,399,492
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Innovative Miniaturized Heat Pumps for BuildingsGeorgia Tech Research Corporation is using innovative components and system design to develop a new type of absorption heat pump. Georgia Tech's new heat pumps are energy efficient, use refrigerants that do not emit greenhouse gases, and can run on energy from combustion, waste heat, or solar energy. Georgia Tech is leveraging enhancements to heat and mass transfer technology possible in micro-scale passages and removing hurdles to the use of heat-activated heat pumps that have existed for more than a century. Use of micro-scale passages allows for miniaturization of systems that can…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
BREAKERS
Award:
$3,650,000
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
EDISON - Efficient DC Interrupter with Surge ProtectionGeorgia Tech is developing a novel hybrid direct current (DC) circuit breaker that could enable multi-terminal DC power systems. The breaker’s mechanical switch enables switching speeds 10 times faster than existing technology, severing the mechanical linkage, while the power electronics-based circuit handles the fault current. A new configuration of the fast switch and solid-state devices/circuits will reduce steady-state losses compared to state-of-the-art hybrid circuit breakers. A new control scheme dramatically reduces the peak fault current levels, enabling more compact packaging and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
CIRCUITS
Award:
$1,859,120
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Modular Solid State TransformersGeorgia Tech Research Corporation and its project team will develop a solid-state transformer for medium-voltage grid applications using silicon carbide with a focus on compact size and high-performance. Traditional grid connected transformers have been used for over 100 years to 'step down' higher voltage to lower voltage. Higher voltages allows for delivery of power over longer distances and lower voltages keeps consumers safe. But traditional distribution transformers lack integrated sensing, communications, and controls. They also lack the ability to control the voltage, current,…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
GENI
Award:
$2,009,908
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Autonomous, Decentralized Grid ArchitectureGeorgia Tech Research Corporation is developing a decentralized, autonomous, internet-like control architecture and control software system for the electric power grid. Georgia Tech's new architecture is based on the emerging concept of electricity prosumers—economically motivated actors that can produce, consume, or store electricity. Under Georgia Tech's architecture, all of the actors in an energy system are empowered to offer associated energy services based on their capabilities. The actors achieve their sustainability, efficiency, reliability, and economic objectives, while…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
GRID DATA
Award:
$784,945
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
High-fidelity, Large-scale, Realistic Dataset DevelopmentGeorgia Tech will generate publicly releasable large-scale, high-fidelity datasets using techniques developed under GRID DATA funding (the team was originally funded as the University of Michigan). These datasets will be based on the RTE transmission system and conform to the technical and mathematical requirements of the Grid Optimization (GO) Competition’s Challenge 2, which focuses on the security-constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) problem. SCOPF takes preventive and corrective scenarios into account. Georgia Tech will validate the feasibility and realism of these datasets to ensure…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$474,982
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Hollow Fibers for SeparationsGeorgia Tech Research Corporation will develop hollow fiber membranes containing metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films to separate propylene from propane. The nanoporous MOF film is supported on the inside surfaces of the tubular polymeric hollow fibers. Chemicals introduced into the center of the tube are separated through the MOF membrane by a molecular sieving process. Traditional olefin production processes are performed at pressures up to 20 bar, requiring large energy and capital costs. A key feature of the team’s technology is the ability to synthesize membranes at near-ambient…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IMPACCT
Award:
$998,928
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Composite Membranes for CO2 CaptureA team of six faculty members at Georgia Tech Research Corporation is developing an enhanced membrane by fitting metal organic frameworks, compounds that show great promise for improved carbon capture, into hollow fiber membranes. This new material would be highly efficient at removing CO2 from the flue gas produced at coal-fired power plants. The team is analyzing thousands of metal organic frameworks to identify those that are most suitable for carbon capture based both on their ability to allow coal exhaust to pass easily through them and their ability to select CO2 from that exhaust for…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$3,598,640
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
High-Efficiency Solar Fuel ReactorGeorgia Tech Research Corporation is developing a high-efficiency concentrating solar receiver and reactor for the production of solar fuels. The team will develop a system that uses liquid metal to capture and transport heat at much higher temperatures compared to state-of-the-art concentrating solar power facilities. This high temperature system will be combined with the team’s novel reactor to produce solar fuels that allow the flexibility to store and transport solar energy for later use or for immediate power production. Higher temperatures should result in much higher efficiencies and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$2,114,999
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Graphene-Based SupercapacitorsGeorgia Tech Research Corporation is developing a supercapacitor using graphene—a two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms—to substantially store more energy than current technologies. Supercapacitors store energy in a different manner than batteries, which enables them to charge and discharge much more rapidly. The Georgia Tech team approach is to improve the internal structure of graphene sheets with ‘molecular spacers,’ in order to store more energy at lower cost. The proposed design could increase the energy density of the supercapacitor by 10–15 times over established capacitor technologies…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$3,674,039
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Power Generation Using Solar-Heated Ground AirGeorgia Tech Research Corporation is developing a method to capture energy from wind vortices that form from a thin layer of solar-heated air along the ground. “Dust devils” are a random and intermittent example of this phenomenon in nature. Naturally, the sun heats the ground creating a thin air layer near the surface that is warmer than the air above. Since hot air rises, this layer of air will naturally want to rise. The Georgia Tech team will use a set of vanes to force the air to rotate as it rises, forming an anchored columnar vortex that draws in additional hot air to sustain itself.…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$2,350,288
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Resilient, Cyber Secure Centralized Substation ProtectionThe Georgia Tech Research Corporation will design an autonomous, resilient and cyber-secure protection and control system for each power plant and substation on its grid. This will eliminate complex coordinated protection settings and transform the protection practice into a simpler, intelligent, automated and transparent process. The technology will integrate protective relays into an intelligent protection scheme that relies on existing high data redundancy in substations to (a) validate data; (b) detect hidden failures and in this case self-heal the protection and control system; (c)…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$2,982,389
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
High Power Density Compact Drive Integrated Motor for Electric TransportationThe Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC) will develop a new approach to internally cool permanent magnet motors. The technology could dramatically improve electric motors’ power density and reduce system size and weight. To do so, the team will integrate motor and drive electronics into a unique system packaging incorporating an embedded advanced thermal management system. They will also develop wide bandgap power electronics packaging to enable high power density operations at higher temperature. The new design could substantially increase the power and torque density above the state of…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
PERFORM
Award:
$3,250,000
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Risk-Aware Market Clearing for Power Systems (RAMC)The increasing use of renewable energy resources challenges grid operations, which have traditionally relied on highly predictable load and generation. Future grid operators must balance generation costs and system-level risk, shifting from deterministic to stochastic optimization and risk management. Georgia Tech’s Risk-Aware Market Clearing (RAMC) project will provide a blueprint for an end-to-end, data-driven approach where risk is explicitly modeled, quantified, and optimized, striking a tradeoff between cost and system-level risk minimization. The RAMC project focuses on challenges…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REBELS
Award:
$1,230,755
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Fuel Cell Tailored for Efficient Utilization of MethaneGeorgia Tech Research Corporation is developing a fuel cell that operates at temperatures less than 500°C by integrating nanostructured materials into all cell components. This is a departure from traditional fuel cells that operate at much lower or much higher temperatures. By developing multifunctional anodes that can efficiently reform and directly process methane, this fuel cell will allow for efficient use of methane. Additionally, the Georgia Tech team will develop nanocomposite electrolytes to reduce cell temperature without sacrificing system performance. These technological advances…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
TRANSNET
Award:
$2,981,746
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Network Performance Monitoring and Distributed SimulationResearchers with the Georgia Tech Research Corporation will combine real-time analysis of transportation network data with distributed simulation modeling to provide drivers with information and incentives to reduce energy consumption. The team’s system model will use three sources of data to simulate the transportation network of the Atlanta metro area. The Georgia Department of Transportation’s intelligent transportation system (ITS) data repository, hosted at Georgia Tech, will provide 20-second, lane-specific operations data while team partner, AirSage, will provide highway speeds…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$783,738
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Wind-Driven Direct Air Capture System Using 3D Printed, Passive, Amine-Loaded ContactorsGeorgia Institute of Technology aims to develop a simple, scalable, and modular device that can remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The device will be designed such that ambient wind is sufficient to contact the CO2-laden air with the materials that filter CO2 out. The filtered CO2 will then be concentrated using localized electric heating, which allows the device to be easily deployed and integrated with renewables or the existing electrical grid. The proposed technology is driven solely by electricity with only two moving parts (a damper and a vacuum pump), which dramatically simplifies scale-…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$3,953,827
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
TESLA: Tough and Ecological Supercritical Line Breaker for ACLeakage from SF6-insulated circuit breakers and power equipment has been raising environmental concerns due to the high GWP of SF6. Georgia Tech proposes TESLA, an SF6-free high-voltage circuit breaker. Recent breakthroughs in the dielectric properties of supercritical fluid research show the promise of using it as a dielectric and arc-quenching medium for high-voltage AC circuit breakers instead of SF6. TESLA opens possibilities for an SF6-free electric apparatus. The team will design and build the proposed circuit breaker rated at 245 kV, 4 kA and validate the design and functionality using…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REFUEL
Award:
$1,499,186
Giner
Anion Exchange Membrane Ammonia ProductionGiner will develop advanced membrane and catalysts electrolyzer components that can electrochemically generate ammonia using water, nitrogen and intermittent renewable energy sources. Their electrochemical reactor operates at a much lower pressure and temperature than conventional methods, which can lead to significant energy savings. Some of their key innovations include metal nitride catalysts and high temperature poly(aryl piperidinium) anion exchange membranes (AEM) to boost the ammonia production rate and enhance process stability. The components will be integrated into Giner's…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$500,000
Giner
Direct Air Capture Utilizing Hydrogen-Assisted Carbonate ElectrolysisDirect capture of CO2 from ambient air is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Due to the dilute nature of the CO2, capturing it in ambient air is challenging and requires different strategies than carbon capture from concentrated CO2 waste streams. Giner, Inc., (Giner) proposes a novel process that uses a liquid solvent, regenerated electrochemically, to capture dilute CO2 from air to produce a purified, concentrated CO2 stream. The stream can be redirected for use as a feedstock for a wide variety of applications, including chemical manufacturing and syngas…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Electrofuels
Award:
$6,438,793
Ginkgo Bioworks
Biofuels from E. ColiGinkgo Bioworks is bypassing photosynthesis and engineering E. coli to directly use carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce biofuels. E. coli doesn't naturally metabolize CO2, but Ginkgo Bioworks is manipulating and incorporating the genes responsible for CO2 metabolism into the microorganism. By genetically modifying E. coli, Ginkgo Bioworks will enhance its rate of CO2 consumption and liquid fuel production. Ginkgo Bioworks is delivering CO2 to E. coli as formic acid, a simple industrial chemical that provides energy and CO2 to the bacterial system.
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
SC
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$1,000,000
Glass WRX SC
Industrial-scale Upcycling of Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Ash into Engineered Cellular MagmaticsGlass WRX SC’s technology transforms post-consumer waste glass stored in landfills into porous ceramics called engineered cellular magmatics used in a wide variety of applications. By incorporating municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) ash into their existing and new processes, they will introduce industrial-scale upcycling into MSWI operations. MSWI will become “beyond zero waste,” eliminating landfilling ash byproducts of the incineration process and landfill space currently taken up by unrecycled glass at the same time. Glass WRX SC estimates the incorporation of MSWI ash into its…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$2,474,999
Glint Photonics
Stationary Wide-Angle Concentrator PV SystemGlint Photonics in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), will develop a stationary wide-angle concentrator (SWAC) PV system. The SWAC concentrates light onto multi-junction solar cells, which efficiently convert sunlight into electrical energy. A sheet of arrayed PV cells moves passively within the module to maximize sunlight capture throughout the day. Two innovations allow this tracking to occur smoothly and without the expense or complexity of an active control system or a mechanical tracker. First, a fluidic suspension mechanism enables nearly frictionless…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$2,723,044
Glint Photonics
Self-Tracking Concentrator PhotovoltaicsGlint Photonics is developing an inexpensive solar concentrating PV (CPV) module that tracks the sun’s position over the course of the day to channel sunlight into PV materials more efficiently. Conventional solar concentrator technology requires complex moving parts to track the sun’s movements. In contrast, Glint’s inexpensive design can be mounted in a stationary configuration and adjusts its properties automatically in response to the solar position. By embedding this automated tracking function within the concentrator, Glint’s design enables CPV modules to use traditional mounting…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMOTE
Award:
$4,500,000
GreenLight Biosciences
Cell-Free Bioconversion of Natural GasGreenLight Biosciences is developing a cell-free bioreactor that can convert large quantities of methane to fuel in one step. This technology integrates biological and chemical processes into a single process by separating and concentrating the biocatalysts from the host microorganisms. This unique “cell-free” approach is anticipated to improve the productivity of the reactor without increasing cost. GreenLight’s system can be erected onsite without the need for massive, costly equipment. The process uses natural gas and wellhead pressure to generate the power needed to run the facility. Any…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$499,985
Grid Logic
Nanostructured Core/Shell Powders for MagnetsThe Grid Logic team is adapting a form of vapor deposition technology to demonstrate a new approach to creating powerful hybrid magnets. This “physical vapor deposition particle encapsulation technology” utilizes an inert atmosphere chamber, which allows for precisely controlled and reproducible pressure, gas flow, and fluidization conditions for a powder vessel. The team will use this specialized chamber to fabricate nanostructured exchange-spring magnets, which require careful control of material dimension and composition. Nanostructured exchange-spring magnets are composite magnetic…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$3,828,075
Grid Logic
High-Power SuperconductorsGrid Logic is developing a new type of electrical superconductor that could significantly improve the performance (in $/kA-m) and lower the cost of high-power energy generation, transmission, and distribution. Grid Logic is using a new manufacturing technique to coat very fine particles of superconducting material with an extremely thin layer—less than 1/1,000 the width of a human hair—of a low-cost metal composite. This new manufacturing process is not only much simpler and more cost effective than the process used to make today’s state-of-the-art high-power superconductors, but also it…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
GRID DATA
Award:
$1,680,748
GridBright
Power Systems Model RepositoryGridBright and Utility Integration Solutions (UISOL, a GE Company) will develop a power systems model repository based on state-of-the-art open-source software. The models in this repository will be used to facilitate testing and adoption of new grid optimization and control algorithms. The repository will use field-proven open-source software and will be made publicly available in the first year of the project. Key features of the repository include an advanced search capability to support search and extraction of models based on key research characteristics, faster model upload and download…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,399,900
GridBright
Secure Grid Data Exchange Using Cryptography, Peer-to-Peer Networks, and Blockchain LedgersGridBright will develop a simple and secure solution for sharing grid-related data to improve grid efficiency, reliability, and resiliency in a manner that preserves security and integrity. GridBright will use the Agile development model to construct several proof-of-concept software pipelines, performing penetration and compromise testing and a quantitative evaluation of each against existing requirements. The solution will create a simpler secure grid data exchange process for the electric grid and utility industries.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HEATS
Award:
$3,303,719
Halotechnics
Molten Glass for Thermal StorageHalotechnics is developing a high-temperature thermal energy storage system using a new thermal-storage and heat-transfer material: earth-abundant and low-melting-point molten glass. Heat storage materials are critical to the energy storage process. In solar thermal storage systems, heat can be stored in these materials during the day and released at night—when the sun is not out—to drive a turbine and produce electricity. In nuclear storage systems, heat can be stored in these materials at night and released to produce electricity during daytime peak-demand hours. Halotechnics new thermal…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Electrofuels
Award:
$4,194,124
Harvard University
Fuel from Bacteria, CO2, Water, and Solar EnergyHarvard University is engineering a self-contained, scalable electrofuels production system that can directly generate liquid fuels from bacteria, carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and sunlight. Harvard is genetically engineering bacteria called Shewanella, so the bacteria can sit directly on electrical conductors and absorb electrical current. This current, which is powered by solar panels, gives the bacteria the energy they need to process CO2 into liquid fuels. The Harvard team pumps this CO2 into the system, in addition to water and other nutrients needed to grow the bacteria. Harvard is also…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$498,566
Harvard University
Transistor-less Power Supply TechnologyHarvard University in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories will develop a transistor-less 16kW DC to DC converter boosting a 0.5kV DC input to 8kV that is scalable to 100kW. If successful, the transistor-less DC to DC converter could improve the performance of power electronics for electric vehicles, commercial power supplies, renewable energy systems, grid operations, and other applications. Converting DC to DC is a two-step process that traditionally uses fast-switching transistors to convert a DC input to an AC signal before the signal is rectified to a DC output. The Harvard and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$499,727
Harvard University
Mining the Deep Sea for Microbial Ethano- and PropanogenesisHarvard University will develop new methods to harness naturally occurring microbial communities for the biological production of ethane and propane. Strong indirect evidence suggests that ethane and propane are produced in the ocean by communities of benthic microorganisms in unique deep-sea sediments under specific conditions. The team will target the microbial communities in the ethane- and propane-rich hydrothermal sediments of the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California. During the project, the team will recover and characterize seafloor sediment from the basin with the goal of…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$4,340,035
Harvard University
Organic Flow Battery for Energy StorageHarvard University is developing an innovative grid-scale flow battery to store electricity from renewable sources. Flow batteries store energy in external tanks instead of within the battery container, permitting larger amounts of stored energy at lower cost per kWh. Harvard is designing active material for a flow battery that uses small, inexpensive organic molecules in aqueous electrolyte. Relying on low-cost organic materials, Harvard’s innovative storage device concept would yield one or more systems that may be developed by their partner, Sustainable Innovations, LLC, into viable grid-…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,386,582
Harvard University
GaN NMR Spectrometer Integrated Circuits Towards Broadly Distributed On-line Monitoring and Management of Subsurface Oil/Gas Reservoirs and DownstreamHarvard University will develop a compact NMR system to provide detailed information on composition and environment in subsurface oil exploration and production. By building the electronics for the system with gallium-nitride-based integrated circuitry, the team seeks to greatly miniaturize the NMR system, reducing both the volume and weight by two orders of magnitude, and enabling it to withstand the high temperatures found in a deep drill hole. The proposed technology will place the majority of the essential NMR electronics on a single board. This will reduce the complexity and bulkiness of…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ECOSynBio
Award:
$2,985,025
Harvard University
CIRCE: Circularizing Industries by Raising Carbon EfficiencyThe Harvard University team will draw from efficient infrastructures for cheap sugar supply, maturing gas fermentation technology, and sophisticated strategies to engineer fatty acid metabolism. Current bioproduction platforms are limited regarding to carbon efficiency, product versatility or productivity. These platforms have left legacies that will aid Harvard in developing the next generation of carbon-efficient bioproduction, however. It will leverage these to develop a road map for transitioning to a carbon-efficient, highly productive bioeconomy for energy-rich long-chain carbon…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MINER
Award:
$1,889,308
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$476,811
Heirloom
A Transformative Low-Cost Approach for Direct Air Mineralization of CO2 via Repeated Cycles of Ambient Weathering of Metal OxidesOne promising method for reducing atmospheric CO2 is a repeated enhanced weathering process, in which a natural reaction between CO2 in air and magnesium- and/or calcium-rich minerals is accelerated to form a solid carbonate that can be processed to regenerate the minerals for reuse and create a captured CO2 stream. The proposed technology combines enhanced weathering innovations with an engineered system that passively exposes these reactive minerals to the air. The approach may significantly reduce the cost of permanent, high-quality carbon removal, and the resulting pure CO2 can be…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ALPHA
Award:
$3,971,263
Helion Energy
Compression of FRC Targets for FusionHelion Energy's team will develop a prototype device that will explore a potential low-cost path to fusion for a less expensive, simplified reactor design. In contrast to conventional designs, this prototype will be smaller than a semi-trailer – reducing cost and complexity. The smaller size is achieved by using new techniques to achieve the high temperatures and densities required for fusion. The research team will produce these conditions using field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas, a special form of plasma that may offer significant advantages for fusion research. FRC plasmas are…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,191,608
Hewlett Packard Labs
Ultra-Energy-Efficient Integrated DWDM Optical InterconnectHewlett Packard Labs will develop a low energy consumption, ultra-efficient, high-speed technology to transmit data as light in high-performance computing systems and data centers. The team will combine recent breakthroughs in low-cost laser manufacturing and ultra-efficient photonic tuning technology with their established platform. It will demonstrate a fully integrated optical transceiver capable of sending data faster than 1,000 gigabytes per second over 40 simultaneous channels, even in rigorous practical operating conditions with widely varying temperatures.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NC
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$2,807,237
HexaTech
Semiconductors that Improve Electricity FlowHexaTech is developing new semiconductors for electrical switches that will more efficiently control the flow of electricity across high-voltage electrical lines. A switch helps control electricity: switching it on and off, converting it from one voltage to another, and converting it from an Alternating Current (A/C) to a Direct Current (D/C) and back. Most switches today use silicon or silicon-based semiconductors, which are not able to handle high voltages, fast switching speeds, or high operating temperatures. HexaTech has developed highest quality, single crystalline Aluminum Nitride (AlN…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NC
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$499,833
Hi Fidelity Genetics
Plant Root PhenotypingHi Fidelity Genetics will develop a low-cost device to measure the characteristics of plant roots and the environmental conditions that affect their development. Their device, called the "RootTracker," is a cylindrical, cage-like structure equipped with sensors on the rings of the cage. Before a seed is planted, farmers can push or twist the RootTracker directly into the soil. A seed is then planted at the top of the cage, allowing the plant to grow naturally while sensors accurately measure root density, growth angles, and growth rates, while having minimal impact on the growth of…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MD
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$500,000
HighT-Tech
Advanced Catalyst Manufacturing Enabled by Direct Joule HeatingAmmonia synthesis reactions, enabled by the Haber-Bosch process, account for approximately 3% of the world’s total energy use. HighT-Tech proposes a cascade reactor with a sequence of non- platinum group metals catalyst compositions tailored to a specific stage of the synthesis reaction. HighT-Tech’s novel, direct joule (electric current) heating process enables synthesizing high entropy alloy nanoparticles with various catalyst compositions. This method will produce ammonia synthesis catalysts that deliver more ammonia per pass and require significantly less capital cost and energy to…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MD
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$2,994,607
HighT-Tech
Scalable Manufacturing of High-Entropy Alloy Catalysts for Ammonia OxidationHighT-Tech aims to develop advanced high-entropy alloy (HEA) catalysts for ammonia oxidation with enhanced catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. HighT-Tech’s technical approach includes scalable high-temperature thermal shock manufacturing of uniformly mixed multi-metallic nanoparticle HEA catalysts, reduced precious metal contents by >50%, reduced operating temperature, enhanced selectivity to desired reaction products, and extended catalyst lifetime. The team will scale up HEA catalyst manufacturing, perform studies mimicking industrial operation conditions to compare catalytic…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
IL
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$5,754,096
Hinetics
Cryogen-Free Ultra-High Field Superconducting Electric MotorHinetics will develop and demonstrate a high-power density electric machine to enable electrified aircraft propulsion systems up to 10 MW and beyond. Hinetics’ technology uses a superconducting machine design that eliminates the need for cryogenic auxiliary systems yet maintains low total mass. The innovative concept features a sub-20 K Stirling-cycle cooler integrated with a low-loss rotor to maintain the SC coils below 30 K. This design could enable a 10 MW, 3000 RPM aircraft propulsion motor weighing less than 250 kilograms that rejects up to 10 times less total heat to the ambient…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
VA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MEITNER
Award:
$2,773,305
HolosGen
Transportable Modular ReactorHolosGen is developing a transportable gas-cooled nuclear reactor with load following ability. The reactor concept is essentially a closed-loop jet engine (Brayton cycle) with the typical combustor replaced by a nuclear heat source. The nuclear heat source is comprised of multiple subcritical power modules (SPMs) that only produce power when they are positioned in close proximity, allowing sufficient neutron transfer to reach criticality (steady-state). The modules will be positioned using an exoskeletal structure with fast-actuation technologies currently employed by the aviation industry.…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
AZ
Project Term:
-
Program:
ASCEND
Award:
$6,860,117
Honeywell International
Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS)Honeywell Aerospace and the University of Maryland propose to develop a novel high-voltage 500 kW advanced electric propulsion system (AEPS) with a high efficiency and a high-power density. The system will provide direct drive to the propulsive device without using a torque amplifier for low weight, cost, and volume, and high reliability. The major components, the electric rotating machine (motor) and the motor drive (power and control electronics), will be heavily integrated for better performance, sharing a common chassis and cooling system. The AEPS will include a highly effective and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ADEPT
Award:
$5,425,912
HRL Laboratories
Compact, Interactive Electric Vehicle ChargerHRL Laboratories is using gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors to create battery chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) that are more compact and efficient than traditional EV chargers. Reducing the size and weight of the battery charger is important because it would help improve the overall performance of the EV. GaN semiconductors process electricity faster than the silicon semiconductors used in most conventional EV battery chargers. These high-speed semiconductors can be paired with lighter-weight electrical circuit components, which helps decrease the overall weight of the EV battery…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
SWITCHES
Award:
$3,510,986
HRL Laboratories
Vertical GaN TransistorHRL Laboratories will develop a high-performance, low-cost, vertical gallium nitride (GaN) transistor that could displace the silicon transistor technologies used in most high-power switching applications today. GaN transistors can operate at higher temperatures, voltages, and currents than their silicon counterparts, but they are expensive to manufacture. HRL will combine innovations in semiconductor material growth, device fabrication, and circuit design to create its high-performance GaN vertical transistor at a competitive manufacturing cost.
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$2,601,986
HRL Laboratories
Surface Laser Architected Magnets (SLAM)HRL Laboratories’ surface laser architected magnets (SLAM) approach can reduce the use of HRE by locally optimizing the crystallographic orientation of the microstructure on the magnet’s surface. Using laser-based post-processing methods, SLAM magnetically hardens the weakest points on a NdFeB magnet surface against demagnetization, which enables higher torque and more energy efficient motors. By increasing demagnetization resistance, the extent of usable magnetic energy produced at elevated operating temperatures can be increased up to 2X in permanent magnets. Magnet and motor size and mass…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
OH
Project Term:
-
Program:
ASCEND
Award:
$2,910,479
Hyper Tech Research
Cryo Thermal Management of HIGH-POWER Density Motors and DrivesHyper Tech Research Inc., aims to design and demonstrate a multi-MW, high-efficiency, and high-power density integrated electric propulsion motor, drive, and thermal management system that meets the performance requirements of future hybrid electric, single-aisle passenger aircraft. The proposed technology incorporates an advanced and high-performance induction electric motor and drive system with novel advanced thermal management techniques for synergistic cooling that safely uses cryogenic bio-liquified natural gas (LNG) as the energy source for power generation and a large thermal-battery…