Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
GEMINA
Award:
$5,194,982
University of Michigan
SAFARI: Secure Automation For Advanced Reactor InnovationThe University of Michigan will develop physics-based, model-centric, and scalable capabilities, data-enabled via AI-enhanced algorithms, to achieve unprecedented integrated state awareness for advanced reactor power plants. Individual modules include (1) a scalable digital twin that combines different scales and different fidelities as needed; (2) a maintenance proactive evaluator to monitor usage and assess the health conditions and maintenance needs of advanced reactors; (3) an operations intelligent controller to achieve autonomous control during normal and accident conditions; and (4) an…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
SHARKS
Award:
$3,900,000
University of Michigan
RAFT: Reconfigurable Array of High-Efficiency Ducted Turbines for Hydrokinetic Energy HarvestingThe project team, led by the University of Michigan, proposes the RAFT concept as a solution for hydrokinetic energy harvesting. The project aims to develop multi-physics models, design processes, and optimization tools; augment control and system health monitoring algorithms; demonstrate novel RAFT concepts; and deliver an integrated solution for riverine and tidal applications. The project team brings expertise in hydrodynamics, structures, electrical systems, iterative optimization, and control co-design. The proposed RAFT, made up of multiple micro-turbines, has a modularized architecture…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$950,000
University of Michigan
Battery Separator for Completely Stopping DendriteThe University of Michigan aims to develop a new type of battery separator that can completely stop dendrite formation. The key innovation is a special mechanism that suppresses dendrite growth with the University of Michigan’s wet-process-synthesized film as a separator or coating. When an electrode surface starts to lose stability upon lithium deposition, any protrusion will cause deformation of the film, generating a local shielding effect that deflects lithium ions away from the tip of the protrusion. This slows down the tip growth and makes the lithium metal surface flat. Lithium ions…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMEDY
Award:
$2,278,401
University of Michigan
REMEDY using SABRE (Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year using Systems of Advanced Burners for Reduction of Emissions)The University of Michigan and Southwest Research Institute will use state-of-the-art methods to eliminate methane emissions from oil and gas (O&G) flares, vents, and other equipment. The approach will quantitatively characterize high- and low-volume methane sources at an actual O&G field site and demonstrate Systems of Advanced Burners for Reduction of Emissions (SABRE) technology for high-efficiency (> 99.5%) methane conversion of the high- and low-volume sources of methane. The SABRE approach leverages site resources and customizes flare technology to local equipment needs. The…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$1,108,412
University of Michigan
Systematic Evaluation of Claims Of Excess Heat Generation Form Deuteration Of Palladium-Nickel NanocompositesThe University of Michigan proposes to systematically evaluate claims of excess heat generation during deuteration and correlate it to nuclear and chemical reaction products. The team plans to combine scintillation-based neutron and gamma ray detectors, mass spectrometers, a calorimeter capable of performing microwatt-resolution measurements of heat generation, and ab-initio computational approaches. The proposed research will experimentally and theoretically explore the origin and mechanisms of excess heat generation and LENR.
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$902,213
University of Michigan
Ionizing Radiation Detection for Exploratory Experiments In Low-Energy Nuclear ReactionsUniversity of Michigan will provide capability to measure hypothetical neutron, gamma, and ion emissions from LENR experiments. Modern instrumentation will be coupled with best practices in data acquisition, analysis, and understanding of backgrounds to interpret collected data and evaluate the proposed signal.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MI
Project Term:
-
Program:
DIFFERENTIATE
Award:
$1,923,957
University of Michigan, Dearborn
ML-ACCEPT: Machine-Learning-enhanced Automated Circuit Configuration and Evaluation of Power ConvertersThe University of Michigan-Dearborn will develop a machine learning-enhanced design tool for the automated architectural configuration and performance evaluation of electrical power converters. This tool will help engineers consider a wider range of innovative concepts when developing new converters than would be possible via traditional approaches. This tool is expected to leverage a number of ML techniques—including decision trees, supervised learning and reinforcement learning—and is expected to reduce the cost and time required to develop new ultra-efficient power-converter designs.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
HEATS
Award:
$3,598,892
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Solar Thermochemical Fuels ProductionThe University of Minnesota (UMN) is developing a solar thermochemical reactor that will efficiently produce fuel from sunlight, using solar energy to produce heat to break chemical bonds. UMN envisions producing the fuel by using partial redox cycles and ceria-based reactive materials. The team will achieve unprecedented solar-to-fuel conversion efficiencies of more than 10% (where current state-of-the-art efficiency is 1%) by combined efforts and innovations in material development, and reactor design with effective heat recovery mechanisms and demonstration. This new technology will allow…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
NEXTCAR
Award:
$1,399,999
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Optimized Delivery VehiclesThe University of Minnesota (UMN) will lead a team to develop technology to improve the fuel efficiency of delivery vehicles through real-time vehicle dynamic and powertrain control optimization using two-way vehicle-to-cloud (V2C) connectivity. The effort will lead to greater than 20% fuel economy improvement of a baseline 2016 E-GEN series hybrid delivery vehicle operating as part of the United Parcel Service (UPS) fleet. Large delivery vehicle fleet operators such as UPS currently use analytics to assign routes in such a way to minimize fuel consumption. Algorithms mine historical data…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
NODES
Award:
$3,150,000
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Enabling the Grid of the FutureThe University of Minnesota (UMN) will develop a comprehensive approach that addresses the challenges to system reliability and power quality presented by widespread renewable power generation. By developing techniques for both centralized cloud-based and distributed peer-to-peer networks, the proposed system will enable coordinated response of many local units to adjust consumption and generation of energy, satisfy physical constraints, and provide ancillary services requested by a grid operator. The project will apply concepts from nonlinear and robust control theory to design self-…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2009
Award:
$2,200,000
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Biofuel from Bacteria and SunlightThe University of Minnesota (UMN) is developing clean-burning, liquid hydrocarbon fuels from bacteria. UMN is finding ways to continuously harvest hydrocarbons from a type of bacteria called Shewanella by using a photosynthetic organism to constantly feed Shewanella the sugar it needs for energy and hydrocarbon production. The two organisms live and work together as a system. Using Shewanella to produce hydrocarbon fuels offers several advantages over traditional biofuel production methods. First, it eliminates many of the time-consuming and costly steps involved in growing plants and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$1,765,334
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Ultra-Thin Membranes for Biofuels ProductionThe University of Minnesota (UMN) is developing an ultra-thin separation membrane to decrease the cost of producing biofuels, plastics, and other industrial materials. Nearly 6% of total U.S. energy consumption comes from the energy used in separation and purification processes. Today’s separation methods used in biofuels production are not only energy intensive, but also very expensive. UMN is developing a revolutionary membrane technology based on a recently discovered class of ultra-thin, porous, materials that will enable energy efficient separations necessary to prepare biofuels that…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,864,840
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Rapidly Viable and Sustained GridThe University of Minnesota (UMN) will develop a net-load management framework that rapidly identifies neighborhood-units to support grid infrastructure and enable ultrafast coordinated management. UMN’s project will rethink power recovery from near blackout conditions with a focus on rapid energization and maximizing power duration. This project’s approach could fundamentally change the way large contingencies are managed. It would transition power systems and critical infrastructure from fragile to robust using intelligent, self-organizing control for coordinating resources, enhancing…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
REACT
Award:
$4,250,931
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Iron-Nitride-Based MagnetsThe University of Minnesota (UMN) is developing an early stage prototype of an iron-nitride permanent magnet material for EVs and renewable power generators. This new material, comprised entirely of low-cost and abundant resources, has the potential to demonstrate the highest energy potential of any magnet to date. This project will provide the basis for an entirely new class of rare-earth-free magnets capable of generating power without costly and scarce rare earth materials. The ultimate goal of this project is to demonstrate a prototype with magnetic properties exceeding state-of-the-art…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
REFUEL
Award:
$3,098,000
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Wind Energy to Ammonia SynthesisThe University of Minnesota (UMN) will develop a small-scale ammonia synthesis system using water and air, powered by wind energy. Instead of developing a new catalyst, this team is looking to increase process efficiency by absorbing ammonia at modest pressures as soon as it is formed. The reactor partially converts a feed of nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonia, after which the gases leaving the reactor go into a separator, where the ammonia is removed and the unreacted hydrogen and nitrogen are recycled. The ammonia is removed completely by selective absorption, which allows the synthesis to…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
ECOSynBio
Award:
$1,110,525
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Cell-free Bioelectrocatalytic Platform for Carbon Dioxide ReductionThe University of Minnesota will design a cell-free biocatalytic system that will reduce CO2 efficiently into formate, an important feedstock for chemicals and fuels, with energy supplied from electricity. Renewable electricity is now competitive with and in many instances less expensive than fossil fuel-derived electricity, but its storage remains challenging. Energy storage in chemical bonds through electricity-driven carbon reduction offers higher energy densities and greater safety and transportability than batteries. The efficient electrochemical reduction of kinetically and…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MN
Project Term:
-
Program:
REMEDY
Award:
$2,141,876
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Plasma-assisted In-situ Reforming of Flare Gases to Achieve Near-Zero Methane EmissionsThe University of Minnesota will develop a non-thermal, low-temperature, plasma-assisted system for (1) in-situ flare gas reforming, (2) ignition, and (3) flame stabilization for small, unmanned pipe flares. Flares safely dispose of waste gases by burning them under controlled conditions. The new system will substantially enhance fuel reactivity by producing intermediate species such as ethylene, acetylene, and hydrogen. These hydrocarbons are highly reactive compared with methane and dramatically increase flare efficiency. This plasma system is ideal for infrequently maintained pipe flares…
Status:
Selected
State:
TBD
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
ROSIE
Award:
TBD
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Ultrafast Hydrogen Microwave Plasma Reduction of Iron OreThe University of Minnesota is developing a fully electrified microwave hydrogen plasma process to replace blast furnace technology. The proposed approach uses microwaves to generate an ionized hydrogen gas that supplies significant gas heating at ambient pressures. The technology will use blast furnace and direct reduction grade iron ore concentrates, eliminating the emissions associated with the palletization, sintering, and coke-making steps in the conventional blast furnace process.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MO
Project Term:
-
Program:
DIFFERENTIATE
Award:
$447,458
University of Missouri
Deep Learning Prediction of Protein Complex StructuresThe University of Missouri will develop deep learning methods to predict inter-protein amino acid interactions and build three-dimensional structures of protein complexes, which are useful for designing and engineering protein molecules important for renewable bioenergy production. Proteins in cells interact and form complexes to carry out various biological functions such as catalyzing biochemical reactions. The team will use the deep learning methods it develops to construct green algae protein complexes that play important roles in biomass and biodiesel production. The technology and…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MO
Project Term:
-
Program:
HITEMMP
Award:
$1,982,144
University of Missouri
UHT-CAMANCHE: Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Additively Manufactured Compact Heat ExchangersMissouri S&T will combine a novel additive manufacturing technique, called ceramic on-demand extrusion, and ceramic fusion welding techniques to manufacture very high temperature heat exchangers for power cycles with intense heat sources. Enabling turbine operation at significantly higher inlet temperatures substantially increases power generation efficiency and reduces emissions and water consumption. The developed heat exchangers will use ultra-high temperature ceramic materials and state-of-the-art design tools and manufacturing techniques to operate under temperatures of 1100-1500°C (…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
MO
Project Term:
-
Program:
PNDIODES
Award:
$2,431,099
University of Missouri
GaN Doping through Transmutation ProcessingThe University of Missouri will develop neutron transmutation doping of GaN to fabricate uniform heavily doped n-type GaN wafers. GaN has long been proposed as a superior material for power electronic devices due to the intrinsic material advantages such as greater breakdown voltages and greater stability. Unfortunately, the fabrication of GaN wafers with uniform and high levels of dopants is challenging due to a lack of sufficient control during the existing crystal growth methods. The neutron transmutation doping process, which consists of exposing GaN wafers to neutron radiation to create…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
MO
Project Term:
-
Program:
COOLERCHIPS
Award:
$1,649,281
University of Missouri
Dual-mode Hybrid Two-phase Loop for Data Center CoolingThe University of Missouri will develop a hybrid mechanical-capillary-drive two-phase loop that could serve as an ideal cooling solution for data centers. The proposed technology offers numerous advantages over existing phase-change processes such as flow boiling and condensation, including dual-mode operation, low thermal resistance, high heat flux, low pumping power consumption, high power density, reliable operation, and a fully scalable design.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NE
Project Term:
-
Program:
IDEAS
Award:
$493,349
University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL)
Electromagnetic Induction Power ConverterThe University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL) will develop an innovative concept for an electromagnetic induction-based static power converter for AC to AC electrical conversions. Their method will use a new device, the magnetic flux valve, to actively control the magnetic flux of the converter. The voltages induced across the device can be controlled by varying the magnetic fluxes. By synthesizing the induced voltages appropriately, the converter can take an AC input and generate an AC output with controllable amplitude, frequency, and waveform. During this project, the team plans to prove the…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
NE
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$3,052,157
University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL)
Novel Commercial Farm-field Network to Quantify Emissions and Carbon Storage from Agricultural Bioenergy Feedstock ProductionThe University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL) will leverage existing data sets and new data collection methodologies to quantify fertilizer- and biomass-induced emissions, biomass nitrogen content, carbon dioxide uptake, and soil organic carbon sequestered—while providing agronomic management insights to farmers, farming communities, and agricultural supply chains. This team will use eddy covariance flux towers and static chamber methods to quantify field-scale emissions, while using active chambers to quantify fertilizer and soil surface biomass emissions. UNL will combine the data with site-…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NE
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$375,000
University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL)
Extrapolation Domains for Aggregating Environmental Outcomes from Local to Regional LevelsThe University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UN-L) team will use their unique technology extrapolation domain (TED) framework to select agricultural sites to measure, aggregate, and validate local and regional environmental outcomes, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The team will provide a proof of concept leveraging data from SMARTFARM Phase 1 projects case studies, including soil organic carbon data, topographical data, soil pH, remote imagery, and other data collected by soil sensors, soil chambers, and eddy flux covariance towers. The UN-L team will support other TED applications as…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NV
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$2,342,430
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
Fire-Resistant Solid ElectrolytesThe University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is developing a solid-state, non-flammable electrolyte to make today’s Li-Ion vehicle batteries safer. Today’s Li-Ion batteries use a flammable liquid electrolyte—the material responsible for shuttling Li-Ions back and forth across the battery—that can catch fire when overheated or overcharged. UNLV will replace this flammable electrolyte with a fire-resistant material called lithium-rich anti-perovskite. This new electrolyte material would help make vehicle batteries safer in an accident while also increasing battery performance by extending vehicle…
Status:
Selected
State:
NV
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
ROSIE
Award:
TBD
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
Fast Electrowinning via Rotors for Responsible Iron Creation (FERRIC)The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is developing technology to use electrowinning to convert pulverized iron ore into pure iron that is deposited on a cathode. The approach leverages a rotating impeller to speed up chemical reactions ten-fold and facilitate the transport of iron to the electrode. The goal is to create a laboratory-scale prototype of an impeller-accelerated reactor that maintains the production of one kilogram per hour of over 98% pure iron for 100 hours.
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
NV
Project Term:
-
Program:
MINER
Award:
$1,000,424
University of Nevada, Reno
Accelerated Reactive Carbonation Process (ARCP) for Energy Efficient Separation of Rare Earth MineralsThe University of Nevada, Reno, aims to develop a new beneficiation process for energy efficient comminution and separation of rare earth elements (REEs) from domestic sources. The team will develop and test an accelerated reactive carbonation process integrated with ore sorting and high-pressure grinding rolls to enable improved mineral liberation, energy-efficient comminution (grinding), and enhanced separation of rare earth elements from low-grade bastnaesite-bearing ores. Ore sorting will pre-concentrate silicate rich REE bearing ores which will be pre-crushed by high pressure grinding…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
ME
Project Term:
-
Program:
MARINER
Award:
$1,323,867
University of New England (UNE)
Modeling Tool for Ocean-Deployed FarmsThe University of New England (UNE) will lead a MARINER Category 3 project to develop a high-resolution, 3D computational modeling tool for simulating hydrodynamic forces on macroalgae cultivation and harvest systems. Advanced modeling tools can help inform decisions about farm structure and the significant capital investment required. UNE’s modeling tool will quantify fluid dynamics and mechanical stress at the sub-meter level. The tool will have the capability to evaluate a wide range of offshore macroalgae systems and allow specification of components to withstand storm events, prevent…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NM
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2015
Award:
$3,187,273
University of New Mexico (UNM)
Efficient Ammonia ProductionThe team led by the University of New Mexico will develop a modular electrochemical process for a power-to-fuel system that can synthesize ammonia directly from nitrogen and water. The proposed synthesis approach will combine chemical and electrochemical steps to facilitate the high-energy step of breaking the nitrogen-nitrogen bond, with projected conversion efficiencies above 70%. By operating at lower temperature and pressure and reducing the air-separation requirement, this technology reduces overall system complexity, thus potentially enabling smaller-scale production at equal or lower…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
ND
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$471,353
University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (UND-EERC)
Water-Efficient Power GenerationUniversity of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (UND-EERC) is developing an air-cooling alternative for power plants that helps maintain operating efficiency during electricity production with low environmental impact. The project addresses the shortcomings of conventional dry cooling, including high cost and degraded cooling performance during daytime temperature peaks. UND-EERC’s device would use an air-cooled adsorbent liquid that results in more efficient power production with no water consumption. The technology could be applied to a broad range of plants including…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
ND
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$500,000
University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (UND-EERC)
Hydrolytic Softening of Ocean Water for Carbon Dioxide RemovalHydrolytic softening is a lower-cost process to remove CO2 from the oceans. It has similarities to processes at conventional water treatment facilities, which mix hydrated lime to “soften” water by precipitating dissolved inorganic carbon as calcium carbonate. In hydrolytic softening, however, instead of a consumptive use of lime, the calcium carbonate is decomposed. This releases CO2 gas for sequestration or industrial use and regenerates the lime for continued cycles of carbon removal. Hydrolytic softening can reduce energy input costs for CO2 removal by 77% compared to state-of-the-art…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
TX
Project Term:
-
Program:
CURIE
Award:
$2,711,342
University of North Texas (UNT)
Self-powered Wireless Hybrid Density/Level Sensing with Differential Pressure Sensors for Safeguarding and Monitoring of Electrochemical Processing of Nuclear Spent FuelThe University of North Texas (UNT), University of Michigan, Northeastern University, General Electric Research Center, and Idaho National Laboratory are researching a novel self-powered wireless differential pressure sensor for long-term, in situ, real-time monitoring of high-temperature (600 ºC) molten salt density and level for safeguarding and monitoring electrochemical processing of nuclear spent fuel. The team will use micro-electromechanical systems technology to fabricate the pressure sensor which enables measurements of great sensitivity, accuracy and high repeatability. To provide…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
IN
Project Term:
-
Program:
BEETIT
Award:
$2,601,715
University of Notre Dame
Carbon Dioxide and Ionic Liquid RefrigerantsThe University of Notre Dame is developing an air-conditioning system with a new ionic liquid and CO2 as the working fluid. Synthetic refrigerants used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems are potent GHGs and can trap 1,000 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2 alone—making CO2 an attractive alternative for synthetic refrigerants in cooling systems. However, operating cooling systems with pure CO2 requires prohibitively high pressures and expensive hardware. Notre Dame is creating a new fluid made of CO2 and ionic liquid that enables the use of CO2 at low pressures and requires…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
IN
Project Term:
-
Program:
IMPACCT
Award:
$2,559,562
University of Notre Dame
Phase-Changing Ionic LiquidsThe University of Notre Dame is developing a new CO2 capture process that uses special ionic liquids (ILs) to remove CO2 from the gas exhaust of coal-fired power plants. ILs are salts that are normally liquid at room temperature, but Notre Dame has discovered a new class of ILs that are solid at room temperature and change to liquid when they bind to CO2. Upon heating, the CO2 is released for storage, and the ILs re-solidify and donate some of the heat generated in the process to facilitate further CO2 release. These new ILs can reduce the energy required to capture CO2 from the exhaust…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
IN
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$334,318
University of Notre Dame
GaN Core-shell Nanofin Vertical Transistor (CoNVerT): A New Direction for Power ElectronicsUniversity of Notre Dame will develop a novel low-cost power transistor design that leverages the properties of the semiconductor gallium nitride for mid-range voltage applications and could disrupt the market for devices in electric vehicles, renewable energy grid integration, industrial power control, and grid resilience. The proposed design could lead to possible energy savings of one quadrillion British Thermal Units (BTU) per year, roughly equivalent to 1% of annual energy consumption in the U.S.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
OK
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$608,333
University of Oklahoma
An Innovative Zero-Liquid Discharge Intermediate-Cold-Liquid Eutectic-Freeze Desalination SystemThe University of Oklahoma will develop a novel, zero-liquid discharge freeze system to remove dissolved salt from contaminated water, such as is produced by industrial processes like oil and gas extraction. The project will take advantage of the density difference between water and ice to extract pure ice from a salty brine, using a cooling approach that maximizes efficiency and avoids the need for energy-intensive evaporation methods. The system will operate under atmospheric pressure and be capable of treating highly concentrated/contaminated water. If successful, the treated water would…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
HESTIA
Award:
$2,407,364
University of Pennsylvania
High Performance Building Design with 3D-printed Carbon Absorbing Funicular StructuresThe University of Pennsylvania will develop a comprehensive building structure strategy with high-performance, prefabricated, funicular structures for minimized mass and maximized surface area for carbon absorption. The team will use innovative carbon-absorbing, 3D printable concrete as a primary structural material and bio-based carbon-storing materials for the building's envelope and finishes. Additive manufacturing technology will be used in fabrication to reduce waste. The building design’s thermal mass, adaptive envelope, and electrified building systems with heat pumps will reduce…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ULTRAFAST
Award:
$2,240,309
University of Pennsylvania
All-Optical Control of Isolated High Voltage Power Systems Using Integrated Electronic, Photonic, and Microfabricated Sensing and Breaker TechnologyThe University of Pennsylvania is developing an integrated module featuring wide-bandgap power devices to improve electric grid control, resilience, and reliability. The proposed co-packaged module integrates high-speed gate driving, optical power delivery, signal isolation, remote sensing, and protection. The module will non-invasively monitor the voltage and current of wide-bandgap devices and would have higher noise immunity than state-of-the-art.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
OPEN 2012
Award:
$2,400,000
University of Pittsburgh
CO2 Thickeners for Enhanced Oil and Gas RecoveryThe University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is developing a compound to increase the viscosity of—or thicken—liquid carbon dioxide (CO2). This higher-viscosity CO2 compound could be used to improve the performance of enhanced oil recovery techniques. Crude oil is found deep below the surface of the earth in layers of sandstone and limestone, and one of the ways to increase our ability to recover it is to inject a high-pressure CO2 solvent into these layers. Unfortunately, because the solvent is less viscous—or thinner—than oil, it is not robust enough to uniformly sweep the oil out of the rock and…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
REPAIR
Award:
$999,999
University of Pittsburgh
Innervated Pipelines: A New Technology Platform for In-Situ Repair and Embedded IntelligenceThe University of Pittsburg team will pursue a new vision for in-situ repair and rehabilitation of pipelines with value added embedded sensing to complement existing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and in-line inspection techniques. The team will demonstrate robotically deployable cold spray-based processes for producing a metallic pipe within the original structure and explore the feasibility of embedded fiber optic sensors within the newly constructed internal pipe. Acoustic NDE methods will be coupled with embedded fiber optic sensors as well as machine learning-based frameworks to…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
PA
Project Term:
-
Program:
FLECCS
Award:
$789,486
University of Pittsburgh
Natural Gas/Direct Air Capture Hybrid PlantThe University of Pittsburgh’s team will develop a hybrid plant model consisting of a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant coupled with membrane and sorbent carbon capture systems. During peak hours, the NGCC plant produces power, and the two sequential carbon capture systems capture roughly 99% of the CO2 produced by the combustion of natural gas. During off-peak hours, the NGCC plant powers the two carbon capture systems to capture the CO2 from the air, as well as capturing all the CO2 produced by the plant. The team will optimize the hybrid model to minimize cost and study how the…
Status:
Selected
State:
TBD
Project Term:
TBD
Program:
SEA-CO2
Award:
TBD
University of Pittsburgh
Hybrid Distributed pH, CO2, Temperature, and Acoustic Sensing for Monitoring and Verification of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal ApplicationsUniversity of Pittsburgh is developing buoy-based optical fiber sensors for measuring pH and carbon dioxide in seawater from the ocean’s surface to the seafloor. Using chemically selective and optically sensitive coatings, the proposed project would integrate a fiber optic sensing technology into low-cost commercial fibers used for marine buoy sensor systems. A reel-to-reel continuous manufacturing approach enables straightforward large-scale manufacturing. University of Pittsburgh’s approach would aid monitoring of nearshore marine carbon dioxide removal technologies, particularly those in…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
BETHE
Award:
$1,749,960
University of Rochester
Advanced Inertial Fusion Energy Target Designs and Driver DevelopmentThe University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics ($1.75M) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) ($1.75M) will advance inertial fusion energy (IFE) by developing (1) innovative direct-drive, high-bandwidth, high-gain target designs using high-bandwidth laser technologies with < 1 MJ of laser input energy, and (2) high-efficiency, high-bandwidth IFE drivers to eventually enable experimental demonstration of the advanced target designs. The new laser-driver technologies, including both diode-pumped solid-state and excimer lasers, are expected to mitigate laser-plasma…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
MOSAIC
Award:
$3,069,168
University of Rochester
Planar Light Guide Concentrated PhotovoltaicsThe University of Rochester along with partners Arzon Solar and RPC Photonics will develop a micro-CPV system based on Planar Light Guide (PLG) solar concentrators. The PLG uses a top lenslet layer to focus and concentrate sunlight towards injection facets. These facets guide and redirect light, like a mirror, towards a PV cell at the edge of the device. Combined, these methods lead to higher efficiency over conventional FPV systems. At fewer than 3 mm thick, the system will be thin and flat, similar to traditional FPV panels. The PLG system also reduces complexity and costs by only requiring…
Status:
ACTIVE
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
BETHE
Award:
$2,249,095
University of Rochester
A Simulation Resource Team for Innovative Fusion ConceptsNumerical simulations are critically important for the design and development of fusion concepts. However, establishing an adequate simulation capability for a fusion concept can easily be more expensive and time-consuming than building the first experiment. This Capability Team will provide simulation support for fusion-concept teams and independent analysis of fusion concepts. The FLASH, TriForce, and OSIRIS codes were chosen for this project because they are flexible, high-performance, multi-dimensional codes, all with the potential to be used by concept teams to carry out their own…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
NY
Project Term:
-
Program:
Exploratory Topics
Award:
$1,000,000
University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
LLE Diagnostic Resource Team for the Advancement of Innovative Fusion ConceptsForm a diagnostic resource team to provide travelling diagnostics, calibrations, analysis techniques, and diagnostic consultants to fusion projects. The diagnostics that will be provided are a neutron time of flight detector, neutron activation detectors, and a time-resolved x-ray imaging system.
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
SC
Project Term:
-
Program:
REBELS
Award:
$3,200,000
University of South Carolina
Bi-functional Ceramic Fuel Cell Energy SystemThe University of South Carolina is developing an intermediate-temperature, ceramic-based fuel cell that will both generate and store electrical power with high efficiencies. Reducing operating temperatures for fuel cells is critical to enabling distributed power generation. The device will incorporate a newly discovered ceramic electrolyte and nanostructured electrodes that enable it to operate at temperatures lower than 500ºC, far below the temperatures associated with fuel cells for grid-scale power generation. The fuel cell’s unique design includes an iron-based layer that stores…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
FL
Project Term:
-
Program:
HEATS
Award:
$2,664,640
University of South Florida (USF)
Efficient Phase-Change MaterialsThe University of South Florida (USF) is developing low-cost, high-temperature phase-change materials (PCMs) for use in thermal energy storage systems. 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. Most PCMs do not conduct heat very well. Using an…
Status:
ALUMNI
State:
CA
Project Term:
-
Program:
ENLITENED
Award:
$3,100,000
University of Southern California (USC)
Photonic Project EvaluationThe University of Southern California (USC) will develop a framework and testbed for evaluating proposed photonic and optical-electronic interconnect technologies, such as those developed under the ARPA-E ENLITENED program. These new approaches will develop novel network topologies enabled by integrated photonics technologies, which use light instead of electricity to transmit information. USC’s effort aims to offer an impartial assessment of these emerging datacenter concepts and architectures and their ability to reduce overall power consumption in a meaningful way. The team will focus on…