Status:
ALUMNI
State:
GA
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
Special Projects
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:
ALUMNI
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REFUEL
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 existing…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
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
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:
ACTIVE
State:
SC
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
ACTIVE
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
ALUMNI
State:
WA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ALPHA
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
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
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
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:
ACTIVE
State:
MD
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
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:
VA
Project Term:
-
Program:
MEITNER
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
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
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
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:
OH
Project Term:
-
Program:
ASCEND
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…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
OH
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
Hyper Tech Research
Power Transmission Cable for Electric Aircraft using Bio LNG for Cooling and Thermal ManagementThere are two key engineering challenges in the development of 10 kV, 10 MW electric power distribution cables for double-aisle passenger aircraft. One is providing sufficient electrical insulation at high voltages and the second is transferring heat away from the conductors. Hyper Tech Research will decrease the resistivity of copper-clad aluminum conductors by a factor of three by maintaining the temperature of the conductors at around 120 Kelvin. The goal of the technology is to reduce the conductor size, cryostat size, and cable volume and weight to significantly lower the mass-…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
VA
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
HyperJet Fusion
Plasma Guns for Magnetized Fuel Targets for PJMIFHyperJet Fusion is advancing a potentially faster and cheaper approach to fusion energy that would result in reduced energy emissions. In plasma jet driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF), an array of discrete supersonic plasma jets is used to form a spherically imploding plasma liner, which then compresses a magnetized plasma target to fusion conditions. HyperJet Fusion has been developing the plasma guns required for an experimental demonstration of the plasma liner formation. The proposed project focuses on developing the magnetized plasma target. The concept could potentially introduce an…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NM
Project Term:
-
Program:
SWITCHES
iBeam Materials
GaN LEDs on Flexible Metal FoilsiBeam Materials is developing a scalable manufacturing method to produce low-cost gallium nitride (GaN) LED devices for use in solid-state lighting. iBeam Materials uses an ion-beam crystal-aligning process to create single-crystal-like templates on arbitrary substrates thereby eliminating the need for small rigid single-crystal substrates. This process is inexpensive, high-output, and allows for large-area deposition in particular on flexible metal foils. In using flexible substrates, in contrast to rigid single-crystal wafers, the ion-aligning process also enables roll-to-roll (R2R)…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
DIFFERENTIATE
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Model-based Reinforcement Learning with Active Learning for Efficient Electrical Power Converter DesignIBM Research will develop a reinforcement learning (RL)-based electrical power converter design tool. Such converters are widely used and critically important in many applications. Designing a specific converter is a lengthy and expensive process that involves multiple manual steps—selecting and configuring the correct components and topologies; evaluating the design performance via simulations; and iteratively optimizing the design while satisfying resource, technology, and cost constraints. In this project, the design problem will be formulated as mixed integer optimization to be…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
ENLITENED
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Optical Network using Photonic SwitchesThe IBM T.J. Watson Research Center will develop datacenter networking technology incorporating extremely fast switching devices that operate on the nanosecond scale. At the heart of the process is the development of a new type of photonic switch. The dominant switching technology today are electronic switches that toggle connections between two wires, each wire providing a different communication channel. A photonic switch toggles connections between two optical fibers, where each individual fiber themselves can carry many communication channels allowing immense numbers of data transfers.…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
ENLITENED
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Multi-Wavelength Optical TransceiversIBM T.J. Watson Research Center will develop a two-pronged approach to improve future datacenter efficiency.. New optical interconnect solutions can provide a path to energy-efficient datacenters at higher bandwidth levels, but they must also meet key metrics including power density, cost, latency, reliability, and signal integrity. IBM's team will use their expertise with vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) to develop VCSEL-based optical interconnect technology capable of meeting the necessary future demands. VCSEL-based interconnects offer an appealing combination of low power…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
MONITOR
IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Multi-Modal Methane Measurement SystemIBM’s T.J Watson Research Center is working in conjunction with Harvard University and Princeton University to develop an energy-efficient, self-organizing mesh network to gather data over a distributed methane measurement system. Data will be passed to a cloud-based analytics system using custom models to quantify the amount and rate of methane leakage. Additionally, IBM is developing new, low-cost optical sensors that will use tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) for methane detection. While today’s optical sensors offer excellent sensitivity and selectivity, their high cost…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
ID
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
Next-Generation Metal FuelINL and its partners are proposing a next generation metal fuel in support of a megawatt-scale compact fast reactor – being developed by Oklo Inc – that is uniquely sized for off-grid applications. The team seeks to develop a fuel with a demonstrated production process and validated performance that incorporates engineered porosity to absorb and retain produced gasses, allowing for higher operating temperatures, as well as a diffusion barrier between the fuel alloy and the cladding to avoid material degradation, which removes the need for the complicated-to-manufacture sodium bond between…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
TX
Project Term:
-
Program:
Solar ADEPT
Ideal Power
Lightweight PV InvertersPV inverters convert DC power generated by modules into usable AC power. Ideal Power's initial 30kW 94lb PV inverter reduces the weight of comparable 30kW PV inverters by 90%—reducing the cost of materials, manufacturing, shipping, and installation. With ARPA-E support, new bi-directional silicon power switches will be developed, commercialized, and utilized in Ideal Power's next-generation PV inverter. With these components, Ideal Power will produce 100kW inverters that weight less than 100lb., reducing the weight of conventional 3,000lb. 100kW inverters by more than 95%. The new…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
IL
Project Term:
-
Program:
CIRCUITS
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Solid State Circuit Breakers for MicrogridsIllinois Institute of Technology (IIT) will develop autonomously operated, programmable, and intelligent bidirectional solid-state circuit breakers (SSCB) using transistors based on gallium nitride (GaN). Renewable power sources and other distributed energy resources feed electricity to the utility grid through interfacing power electronic converters, but the power converters cannot withstand a fault condition (abnormal electric current) for more than a few microseconds. Circuit faults cause either catastrophic destruction or protective shutdown of the converters, resulting in loss of power…
Status:
CANCELLED
State:
IL
Project Term:
-
Program:
RANGE
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Nanoelectrofuel Flow Battery for Electric VehiclesIllinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is collaborating with Argonne National Laboratory to develop a rechargeable flow battery for EVs that uses a nanotechnology-based electrochemical liquid fuel that offers over 30 times the energy density of traditional electrolytes. Flow batteries, which store chemical energy in external tanks instead of within the battery container, are typically low in energy density and therefore not well suited for transportation. However, IIT’s flow battery uses a liquid electrolyte containing a large portion of nanoparticles to carry its charge; increases its energy…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
IL
Project Term:
-
Program:
Special Projects
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Superconducting Momentary Circuit Interrupter: Fault Protection with Ultralow Loss and Ultrafast Response for Future Electric AviationFault protection must be provided for future turboelectric aircraft’s medium-voltage direct current power systems, but not necessarily from conventional circuit breakers. Illinois Institute of Technology will develop a 10 kV/150A superconducting momentary circuit interrupter (SMCI) to provide fault protection with ultralow power loss (<1 W), ultrafast response (<10 μs or ten millionth of a second), and high-power density. The architecture comprises an SMCI with a fast mechanical disconnect switch. Under normal operation, the SMCI conducts a DC load current through a high-temperature…