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Nanobiomimetic Electrolyte-free and Air-independent Energy storage and Harvesting
MemCap® is an innovative nano-biomimetic memcapacitor systems provide flexible high energy and power density for energy storage and stable longer discharge based on memristor/memcapacitor and meminductor engineering design and nanobiomimetic membrane with more than 30% reduction of power consuming compared with conventional fuel cell and supercapacitor for daily operation plus 100-times lighter weight and 100-fold smaller size. It is reversible and low frequency to high frequency switchable without noise. After Raytheon’s 3 years mentorship, ABS developed many dozens prototype devices demonstrated scalability in multiple module assembling. Because the device is memcapacitor and mem-inductor in nature, it is great be used in power grid switch stations without produce heat and without lose energy. Several demos were shown to visitors.
Nanobiomimetic Reagent-free sensing and energy storage
MemCap® is an innovative nano-biomimetic memcapacitor systems provide flexible high energy and power density for energy storage and stable longer discharge based on memristor/memcapacitor and meminductor engineering design and nanobiomimetic membrane with more than 30% reduction of power consuming compared with conventional fuel cell and supercapacitor for daily operation plus 100-times lighter weight and 100-fold smaller size. It is reversible and low frequency to high frequency switchable without noise. After Raytheon’s 3 years mentorship, ABS developed many dozens prototype devices demonstrated scalability in multiple module assembling. Because the device is memcapacitor and mem-inductor in nature, it is great be used in power grid switch stations without produce heat and without lose energy. Several demos were shown to visitors.
Situation Awareness for Humanitariarian Assistance /Disaster Response
The technology is a first marrying of a)cognitive systems that search historic data sets and response actions to b) real-time weather, infrastructure, seismic, flood and wildfire sensor suites - to forecast damage areas, supply needs, and impacted populations. Agent -based simulations run in parallel and generate images and graphics based solutions. This is a first COTS with real-time response (3-second ) to provide service and damage mission critical forecasts during HADR events. This technology transforms from just reporting data to put on-line and real-time impact modeling and course of action option sets in the hands of the responder. Generated data sets from each new event provides a training set for future forecasts.The product is both a webview and an ios app. For the first time, responders and the public will have mobile device access to not just streaming single dimension data , but what is about to happen to lifeline utilities and actions they can take. Prototype interfaces include:1) augmented reality for trained SME to walk through rural line crews repairing key assets; 2) augmented reality e-learning training for response crews: 3) micro-grid management during large grid outages; 3) public instruction during evacuation events.
High performance crash box for future EV
The objective of our product was to implement both material enhancement and structure optimization in the design of energy absorber on automobiles to achieve both large safety margin and low cost. SMAT treatment was adopted to enhance the material properties. The SMAT treatment system was also updated for the tubular structure for treating both interior and exterior surfaces. A numerical simulation platform was developed for structure design of the crash box. Meanwhile, both static test (uniaxial tensile test) and dynamic test (drop-hammer test) were carried out to examine the performance enhancement of material and product. Both simulations and test results showed that the new design of crash box had advantages of high energy absorbing ability, steady reaction force distribution, light weight and economic manufacture cost compared to similar products on the present market. The car crash is an important problem which has been studied for decades. The crashworthiness of vehicles has gained more and more attentions henceforth. The concept of energy absorption has been incorporated into the structural design of light-vehicles and limousine. These designs can benefit from our product.
Increased Capacity Retention of Silicon Anodes for Lithium Batteries
There is a race to add silicon to Li-ion negative electrodes due to the tenfold improvement in theoretical capacity over the industry standard of graphite. Technology startups are pushing majority silicon active materials, yet none have made a significant impact. While all offer >3x capacity of graphite, material manufacturing cost is high due to complicated, multi-step synthesis procedures. This also means scaling to support tonne-level production required for Li-ion battery supply is painfully slow and capital intensive. Ecellix delivers a majority silicon active material without these production challenges. While maintaining the >3x capacity, Instead of individual silicon synthesis and carbon coating steps, Ecellix combines everything into a simple one step process. This reduces the manufacturing costs by 50% vs. other silicon startups and has the advantage of being highly scalable, bringing kg to tonne level production to market rapidly, at up to a 75% reduction in production time. Ecellix retains the promises of high performing silicon Li-ion electrodes without the typical manufacturing complexity and price.
Modular, Scalable Hydrogen Production from Waste Materials
Eco Energy International has developed new technology that economically converts over 80% of waste going to landfills into clean, renewable and profitable energy (hydrogen and syngas), significantly reducing the need for landfills. Since all of the biogenic materials are converted, we eliminate the production of carbon dioxide and methane gases typically associated with landfills. This is a new modular, scalable technology that can produce hydrogen anywhere from multiple locally available feedstocks. This technology can use renewable feedstocks such as: • Municipal Solid Waste • Agricultural Solid Waste • Food Industry Waste • Lumber Industry Waste • Biomass: Grass, Grain, Crops, Algae, Sawdust, Cellulose • Alcohols: Methanol, Ethanol, Crude Ethanol, E95, Ethylene Glycol, Glycerol (byproduct of bio-diesel production) • Sugars and Starches Advantages: • Minimizes/eliminates waste going into the landfill; avoiding production of greenhouse gases and conserving valuable real estate • Minimizes/eliminates the need for costly incinerators and their associated emissions • Generates revenue via the sale of clean, renewable hydrogen • Production costs are competitive with existing large scale hydrogen facilities • Modular and scalable, these systems can be located nearer users reducing or eliminating expensive transportation costs • No greenhouse gases and all carbon is sequestered
BAMalloy Coated Engine Cylinder for Improved Thermal, Friction & Wear Performance
BAMalloys by up-converting BAM powder with select alloys in metals to form novel materials used in cladding and AM through a patent pending concept filed 2015 (US #62242002). BAM (AlMgB14), gained attention in 2008 when Ames Research lab in Iowa recognized its unique low fiction qualities and high hardness. The DOE in 2009,states: “Full implementation of the technology into the targeted markets equates to a U.S.- based energy savings potential of over 100 trillion BTU per year by 2030” . Satisfactory utilization of this unique material in engine applications has not been possible until the recent development of BAMalloys. One formulation developed, BAMalloy A51, is a tough low friction wear coating for nickel and steel base materials ready for industrial adoption. BAMalloy A51 has the combination of properties needed for sliding metal surface such as bond strength, impact toughness, wear resistance, machinability, chemical stability and friction reduction. Incorporating degradation-resistant BAMalloy coatings into the most energy-intensive industries is expected to conserve significant amounts of energy. Anthropogenic emissions from engines is appreciable and this technology will provide opportunities for lower emissions and assist in developing a sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly future.
Improved Natural Sorbents for Toxic Substance Remediation
Background:Remediation methods for natural disasters, such as oil spills, need to consider the physical location of the spill, ecosystem fragility, and economic priorities. Current remediation methods for oil spills meet some of these considerations but fail to address the others. Both natural and synthetic materials are used as sorbents; natural sorbents are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, but they are not as effective in selective oil sorption due to their hydrophilic nature. Technology: Researchers from the Georgia Tech School of Materials Science and Engineering have improved the performance of natural sorbents with a new approach to surface modification. This method transforms cellulosic products, such as cotton, into more hydrophobic materials better suited for oil sorption applications. The transformation is achieved by deposition of inorganic species on the product surface using volatile metalorganic precursors. The transformed cellulosic products are able to perform at full capacity in real-world conditions.
Advanced anode for rechargeable batteries
Currently, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), are the most reliable energy storage devices, and the development of a high capacity LiB anode material would have a profound and direct impact on current commercial and emerging markets, such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, electric grid storage and Internet of Things (IoT). Graphite-based LiBs, which exhibit high energy and power density and high current efficiency, are commonly used in many applications, although their capacity is low (372 mAh/g). Our technology offers a new class of high capacity graphitic material for use as an anode in LiBs. The proposed anode material is a newly-discovered thin graphene porous networks, consisting of incommensurately-stacked multilayer graphene (IMLG) layers assembled in three-dimensional (3D) form. Our recent achievements have demonstrated the feasibility of preparing this IMLG 3D graphene structures using commercially available catalyst powders of nickel, copper or their alloys and methane gas as a carbon source. Catalyst-free pure graphene exhibits an extremely high reversible capacity up to 1600 mAh/g when used as an anode material in LIBs cells. The prototype battery devices demonstrate good cycling stability, reproducibility, and no lithium plating which offers to develop high energy density, ultralight, and safety batteries.
Photochromic Device a.k.a. The Chameleon Glass(tentative name), Color Changing Window
Our photochromic glass is pale yellow at its original state with average transmittance of 70% at 600 ~ 700nm. When it is exposed to sunlight, it turns to greenish blue and the transmittance of sunlight at 600 ~ 700nm can be reduced to around 15% and even more. The response time to darken is only around 10 minutes regardless of the device’s dimension. The response time to turn back to the original state is much longer as it takes 4 hours under dark condition at present. Nevertheless, there is possibility to reduce this time by modifying the materials. Our photochromic glass does not need external power to operate and its transmittance is automatically tuned by sunlight. It consists of two thin films assembled between two soda lime glasses and the constituent materials are earth abundant, environmentally benign and inexpensive.
ThinMet membranes for energy efficiency and environmental emission control
Two new membrane product platforms are developed by Molecule Works Inc. (MWI) with addressable market of tens of billions US dollar per year. The proprietary manufacturing processes are demonstrated at pilot scales. MWI is looking for investors or partners to move the technology into production stage. One type of membrane is made of thin porous metal sheets, which look like a metal foil but provides uniform pores at sub-micrometer level. The thin porous metal sheet can be used for filtering of bacteria, virus and small particulates from gas or liquid fluid streams with advantages of high flux, and chemical and thermal stability. For example, the thin porous metal sheet can completely filter out various carbon black or soot particulates. Another type of membrane is made by growing molecular sieve membranes on the thin porous metal sheet. The molecular sieve membranes can be used for molecular separation, such as removal of water from air, gas or liquids. Its exceptional performances are demonstrated for dehumidification of hot humid air and for dewatering of ethanol fuels. The thin membrane sheets can be packaged into a compact membrane module or device for processing of large volume gas or liquid fluids.
Black Ghost
Black Ghost is a ceramic turboshaft gas engine for unmanned aerial vehicles that has increased fuel consumption and uses new ceramic materials and designs to lower the weight, enable superior heat transfer capabilities, and to support mechanical strength. Fuel consumption is reduced by increasing the turbine inlet temperature by using a heat exchanger to recycle waste heat from the exhaust. Small turbines already operate at the temperature limit of metals so NRL is using a new ceramic composite that is less dense than metals, retains creep resistance at higher temperatures, resists crack growth, and has low thermal expansion to reduce thermal stress. Ceramic injection molding (CIM) is being used to manufacture complex parts at low cost and high yield rates. The engine with a ceramic turbine rotor and stator can operate at 1225 degrees C, about 300 degrees C hotter than typical uncooled metal turbines. The new gas engine design reduces operating and maintenance costs. It provides more onboard electric power for small long-endurance UAVs, which improves payload and mission capabilities
Ultrahigh safety battery separator
Using inorganic nanowires, our battery separator can shutdown at low temperature and is stable to more than 600 degree Celsius, providing extremely high safety for lithium ion battery no other battery separator can offer. This is an revolutionary separator technology.
Potassium-Ion Batteries with Carbon Electrodes
Li-ion Batteries (LIBs), the state-of-the-art batteries, fall short of meeting requirements for stationary batteries that are indispensible to enable the deployment of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power. This is due to the scarcity and high cost of lithium. The basic requirements for stationary batteries are low cost and minimum maintenance. This calls for alternative battery technologies based on Earth abundant elements. Na-ion batteries (NIBs) and K-ion batteries (KIBs) are very attractive because sodium and potassium are far more abundant than lithium. For NIBs, fast progress is being made on the cathode side, where Na-ion based layered metal oxides and polyanionic compounds demonstrate encouraging capacity and cycling life. However, the real hurdle that prevents NIBs from commercialization is the lack of high performance anodes. This technology for the first time shows that graphite, soft carbon and hard carbon can reversibly insert K ions with a capacity up to 260 mAh/g in a non-aqueous electrolyte. This capacity is very close to 279 mAh/g when assuming KC8 forms. The fact that graphite functions as a KIB anode does provide an advantage for KIBs over NIBs considering the scale of the graphite anode industry established for LIBs.
Beyond Silicon Panels: Reducing the Cost of PV Generation at Utility Scale
The unique technology being developed and commercialized by REhnu for utility scale solar generation exploits the super-efficient multijunction PV cells developed for spacecraft. Sunlight is focused by a dish mirror and relayed at high concentration onto an array of very small cells, which convert solar radiation into electricity with twice the efficiency of silicon panels. The price for silicon panels and plants has dropped sharply, but is now approaching the limit set by material costs. A conventional 100 MW plant with single-axis trackers uses around 200 tons of ultrapure silicon, costing around $30 million, and around 10,000 tons of steel, glass and aluminum costing an additional $30 million. By contrast, a 100 MW REhnu plant will use only 25 kg of gallium-arsenide-based PV cells, projected to cost around $3 million when made in volume, and significantly less glass, steel and aluminum. Summing the materials costs, we find totals of $45 million for a conventional silicon module plant and $20 million for a REhnu plant. For plants manufactured at the same high production volume and realizing the same economies of scale, we can expect the REhnu plant to halve the combined cost of manufacture and installation.
SHAKER Shield
Populations continue to increase in areas that have high levels of seismic activity. By 2030, approximately 60 percent of the global population (approximately 5 billion people) are expected to live in such urban areas. Building construction and the propensity for buildings to collapse significantly contribute to mortality during earthquakes. Due to the significant risk of mortality and morbidity caused by structural collapse or blunt force trauma from falling objects, there is a market need for inexpensive and portable solutions to protect individuals that live in earthquake-prone areas. Rowan University is developing a seismic hazard and kinetic energy risk reduction system, the Shaker Shield. The Shaker Shield is a portable system designed to protect people from being crushed or badly injured by structural failure due to seismic events. It is comprised of thermal-bonded 1,100 decitex, triple layered, polyurethane. The Shaker Shield uses compressed nitrogen to rapidly inflate the puncture-resistant canopy that can stay inflated indefinitely; and is augmented underneath by the mattress on the bed thereby distributing impact forces over a wide area. The Shaker Shield combined with the mattress could potentially protect in situations involving a building collapse. It also floats and protects from flying debris
Control System for Active Damping of Inter-Area Oscillations
Power systems with large generation centers and load complexes separated by long transmission lines can develop power grid oscillations. Poorly damped inter-area oscillations can lead to widespread outages during stressed grid conditions. Undamped oscillations have been implicated as primary contributors to the wide-area blackout across the west coast of North America in August 1996. Sandia has developed a control system for active damping of inter-area oscillations in the western North American Power System (wNAPS). Currently, the only approach to mitigating grid oscillations and avoiding blackouts is to maintain power flows well below transmission capacity, which is an un-economical use of existing infrastructure. Sandia's system, by actively damping these oscillations, will enable power flows to approach transmission capacity. Our controller commands a range of total power equal to twenty 737 jet engines at full throttle - enough power to satisfy nearly 200,000 homes. The control system is the first successful grid demonstration of real-time control using wide-area measurement system feedback in North America. This application of recently deployed advanced measurement technology is a game-changer. It enable the use of widely-distributed networked energy resources transforming our existing power grid into the future smart grid.
Aero-MINE (Motionless INtegrated Extraction) of Distributed Wind Energy
Aero-MINE (Motionless INtegrated Extraction) patent-protected wind energy harvesters offer safe, distributed electricity generation with no external moving parts. Aero-MINEs easily integrate onto existing buildings and have large swept-areas, making them transformative in effectiveness, safety and reliability. In comparison, micro-wind turbines have small swept-areas yielding small energy production, require large stand-off distances for safety, and are susceptible to vibrational failures. Large, utility-scale turbines require costly installation and maintenance at significant height. Unlike solar, Aero-MINEs operate day and night and use inexpensive materials and simple manufacturing. Aero-MINEs have a much larger swept-area compared to micro-wind turbines, resulting in proportional increases in energy extraction. They can be installed stand-alone or complementary to distributed solar photovoltaics (PV). They are much less costly to manufacture than solar PV, produce day and night, and are economically superior at average annual wind speeds across much of the U.S. The initial commercialization markets include data centers (Google, Amazon, Facebook) and box stores (Target, Walmart, Costco). These companies have goals of between 30 and 100 percent renewable operating power. Generating a conservative 50 kW per building on one-third of this market, Aero-MINEs could produce 4e11 kWh/yr, offsetting 0.3 GTon of greenhouse gases each year.
Microgrid Design Toolkit (MDT)
The Microgrid Design Toolkit (MDT) is a decision support software program that provides designers information they need to identify optimal microgrid designs for their needs, early in the design process. Employing powerful algorithms, the MDT searches the trade space of alternative microgrid designs in terms of user-defined objectives, such as performance, reliability, and cost. It then produces a Pareto frontier of efficient microgrid solutions. The user graphically inputs a one-line diagram of their system, including all known topological information and design variables representing expected degrees of freedom in the final design. These degrees of freedom can be optimized in a multi-objective manner to provide solutions that demonstrate the efficient trade-offs between many different metrics (i.e., energy service, costs, fuel requirements, operational behaviors, footprint, etc.). The multi-dimensional results allow the MDT to provide a suite of visualization and data mining capabilities that aid in understanding the trade-offs resulting from design decisions. The trade space is embodied by the Pareto frontier, showing all efficient solutions found that represent sensible trade-offs between the design objectives.
Energy harvesting Triboelectric power generator
Recently, as technology that generates friction between materials using external mechanical energy and that artificially generates frictional electricity, thereby producing high-power energy, has been researched, a triboelectric power generator attracts attention as a highly efficient, low-cost next-generation power generator because the triboelectric power generator achieve considerably high efficiency and has a much simple structure than a conventional power generator using mechanical energy. The triboelectric power generator is based on the principle in which, when friction occurs between two materials, the materials are either negatively or positively charged depending upon a characteristic of material. Such triboelectric generator has an advantage in which temporal and spatial limitations are small in that the triboelectric generator can be applied in various forms and can generate energy in any place in which mechanical energy is present. Furthermore, output power can be improved through combination with another material into a composite material, material control such as surface treatment, a structural change. Furthermore, applications to various fields can be implemented using such clean energy. The present technology includes optimal materials, structure to imporve output power and effficiency and to be applied to various products(textile, mobile phone..).
Ultrahigh-rate supercapacitors with large capacitance based on edge oriented graphene coated carbonized cellulous paper as flexible freestanding electrodes
Large-capacitance and ultrahigh-rate electrochemical supercapacitors (UECs) with frequency response up to kilohertz (kHz) range are reported using light, thin, and flexible freestanding electrodes. The electrode is formed by perpendicularly edge oriented multilayer graphene/thin-graphite (EOG) sheets grown radially around individual fibers in carbonized cellulous paper (CCP), with cellulous carbonization and EOG deposition implemented in one step. The resulted ∼10 μm thick EOG/CCP electrode is light and flexible. The oriented porous structure of EOG with large surface area, in conjunction with high conductivity of the electrode, ensures ultrahigh-rate performance of the fabricated cells, with large areal capacitance of 0.59 mF cm−2 and 0.53 mF cm−2 and large phase angle of −83° and −80° at 120 Hz and 1 kHz, respectively. Particularly, the hierarchical EOG/CCP sheet structure allows multiple sheets stacked together for thick electrodes with almost linearly increased areal capacitance while maintaining the volumetric capacitance nearly no degradation, a critical merit for developing practical faraday-scale UECs. 3-layers of EOG/CCP electrode achieved an areal capacitance of 1.5 mF cm−2 and 1.4 mF cm−2 at 120 Hz and 1 kHz, respectively. This demonstration moves a step closer to the goal of bridging the frequency/capacitance gap between supercapacitors and electrolytic capacitors.
Bio-inspired catalyst for electrolytic hydrogen production
The development of cheaper and more efficient catalysts is necessary to make water electrolysis cost competitive with the fossil fuel based methods currently used for hydrogen production. In particular, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of the water splitting process suffers from slow kinetics and impractically large over potentials when operated in neutral aqueous media, which is the ideal environment for cost effective electrolyser construction and running conditions. We have developed a series of OER catalysts that are composed of closely proximate, co-located, Ca and Mn oxide species layered on a graphene based material. The graphene layer can additionally be functionalized with an organic moiety to aid electron transport and conduct the electrons between the catalyst and the electrolytic circuit. When layered on a suitable substrate this composite material facilitates the electrolytic oxidation of water and can be used as the anode in an electrolytic cell. Using a model electrochemical cell (with a Pt cathode) we have demonstrated that this system has the lowest over-potential for electrolytic water splitting in neutral pH (~ 1.3V vs Ag/AgCl), of any existing synthetic system, that we are aware of.
Printable and High Performance MnO2 Based Rechargeable Sodium Batteries
Inkjet-printed MnO2 electrode can serve as cathode material for high performance rechargeable sodium batteries.As-assembled full-cell could reach maximum energy and power densities of 147Wh·kg-1total and 4.6kW·kg-1total with average working voltage(2.3V) and ca.100% capacity retention after 100 cycles,which could be anticipated for practical energy applications.
Micro magnetic driven bidirectional turbine used in urban water mains for hydropower generation
There are two transformations in this technology. Firstly, this technology provides an effective method for constant and reliable power supply to water monitoring system. Secondly, the application of magnetic coupling in the developed turbine for avoiding leakage and water pollution make the turbine more reliable. Currently, most water monitoring sensors or meters are powered by chemical batteries which need to be replaced frequently, resulting in a high cost and a huge demand for labor. As water flow is constantly available and excess water head exists in the water mains, it is more reliable and stable to supply power to water monitoring system using the proposed turbine. As the proposed turbine has huge commercialization potential because a considerable length of water mains has approached the end of their service life in many countries and regions. The manufacture and product distribution could generate huge economic benefits for the industry and markets. For the society, application of the developed turbine is helpful to continuous monitoring of leakage and water quality. Besides, the proposed technology can reduce environmental influence caused by waste batteries.
Flexible and Foldable Lithium-ion Battery
The technology is based on coating of active materials on conductive textiles to fabricate textile-based electrodes, and to assembled them into textile-based lithium-ion battery full cells. Different from current technology which utilizes metal foils as current collector, this technology is based on highly wearable textile materials. As such, Lithium-ion batteries fabricated based on this technology is of great flexibility and foldability, which is far better than the state-of-the-art devices available in the market. The 3D structure of textiles also improves the electrochemical stability and power density significantly. The energy density can reach as high as 200 Wh/kg while the devices can be folded for more than 1000 cycles without affecting the electrochemical properties. This technology can not only find huge impact in battery industry, but also provide competitive energy storage products for the next generation consumer electronics such as bendable/foldable smartphones, wearable healthcare equipment, etc.
Transparent Colourless Luminescent Solar Concentrators
A new class of organic compounds have been developed which will allow any surface (opaque or transparent) to convert ambient light into electricity. The ability to passively capture electricity from the sun can drastically reduce our carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency, and decrease operating and maintenance costs, without hindering the aesthetics and functionality of those surfaces. The new organic compounds can be doped into a poly(methylmethacrylate) matrix, and the resultant luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) displays ideal absorption and emission profiles with negligible band overlap, high photo-luminescent quantum yield (PQLY) values, large Stokes shifts and thermal stabilities greater than 310 ºC. Monte-Carlo ray tracing simulations have also been performed using proof-of-concept devices. This revealed comparable, if not superior, performance when compared to state-of-the-art transparent LSC devices.
Affordable Self-Assembling Engine Coatings for Reversing Wear and Improving Efficiency
TriboTEX coatings provide an easy to use solution that reverses wear in legacy mechanical systems. The flagship product formulated for the consumer automobile market provides an easy to use, one step applicator that delivers a wear reversing, friction reducing coating that assembles during normal operation. This technology has the potential to transform the pollution profile of passenger vehicles by improving fuel economy in vehicles already on the road today and extending their life-cycle. TriboTEX nanomaterial coatings are different from existing coating, solid lubricant and additive technologies in their mechanism of action. Most lubricant additives work to improve the existing lubricant performance to improve efficiencies and reduce wear. TriboTEX nanosheets do not interact with the lubricant, using it as a carrier to the internal component interfaces. Existing solid lubricant technologies improve friction characteristics but do not attach at the interface, TriboTEX nanomaterials form a physical layer protecting underlying surfaces. Coating technologies perform similarly to TriboTEX coatings but are costly, need to be applied during fabrication, and cannot improve vehicles on the road today. TriboTEX coatings provide an easy, method for improving efficiencies in existing vehicles and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the transportation and industrial sectors.
Non-Oxidative Glycolysis for Production of Acetyl-CoA-Derived Compounds
As the demand for fossil fuels exceeds the earth’s natural supply, the production of synthetic fuels from biomass feedstock presents an attractive alternative to lessen dependence on petroleum-based fuels as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative fuels such as bioethanol are produced by fermentation, the conversion of precursors such as simple sugars to alcohol through glycolysis. A typical glycolysis pathway involves the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate, followed by decarboxylation to acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA), and further processing into various downstream products including ethanol. The decarboxylation step is a major source of carbon loss and greatly impacts the overall atom economy and efficiency of these types of biorefinery processes. Dr. James Liao and his team have designed a cyclic non-oxidative glycolysis (NOG) pathway based on a series of enzyme-mediated carbon rearrangements, which occur via acetyl-CoA intermediates. This novel pathway converts one molecule of glucose into three molecules of acetate, a precursor of other bioalcohols, achieving 100% carbon conversion with no loss of CO2. This has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo using genetically engineered E. coli bacteria.
Novel Polymers for Polymer Solar Cells, Transistors, and Sensors
Prof. Yang Yang and researchers have developed a novel class of conjugated polymers with low bandgaps (1.4 eV-1.5 eV) for polymer-based energy generation materials. The optical, electrochemical, and electronic properties of the material are readily tuned by the chemical structure.
Solar Bubble Receiver
Our patent pending solar receiver/reactor with heat transfer/reaction medium employs a bubble column reaction medium together with a cavity solar receiver. Concentrated solar radiation is first absorbed on the inner side of the cavity. The absorbed heat is then transferred to the heat transfer fluid bath. The system can be applied in a beam up configuration or other orientations and configurations. Secondary concentrators can be employed at the aperture to increase the concentration ratio of the inlet solar radiation heat flux using parabolic or other profiles. The cavity receiver and bubble column are integrated within the insulated pressure vessel and different metal/metal oxides. Reactant and non-reactant gases and configurations for the solar receiver can be employed.
Hybrid Solar Receiver Combustor
The system integrates a tubular solar receiver and a combustor into a single device used to harness energy from both solar and combustion sources with design considerations for process heat applications and electricity generation. It is designed to operate in three modes: solar-only, combustion-only and mixed-mode. It can be mounted on a solar power tower system or on the ground surrounded by a heliostat field with a beam-down configuration. Key features: • Cavity operable as a combustion zone (employing fuel as source), with an aperture to admit concentrated solar radiation; • One or multiple burners directly associated (fluid communication) with the cavity to direct a flame into the device. • An aperture cover to seal the combustor in absence of solar radiation or during periods of low insolation; • Heat recovery system from hot combustion products, whereby heat is circulated back into the system; • Heat-transfer fluid or a working fluid heat exchanger within the cavity that receives heat energy from both energy sources. • For electrical power, the working fluid can be heated directly or indirectly. In the case of direct heating, the fuel used to collect heat also drives a turbine.
Photo-Catalytic Conversion of CO2 to Hydrocarbon
We use novel catalysts (sub-nanometer metals) to react carbon dioxide with water to produce methane and other hydrocarbons. This photocatalytic process is a type of "artificial photosynthesis" that directly generates hydrocarbons. A chemical approach of this nature has many advantages such as vastly reduced material/space; simple to scale; and can be constructed anywhere with a solar source, all leading to significant advantages over other solar conversion methods. In the first step, water undergoes photocatalytic conversion into hydrogen and water (water splitting) using a titanium dioxide semi-conductor material irradiated with light. The process incorporates a co-catalyst to attract electrons to the material surface necessary for the reaction. Typically, expensive platinum nanoparticles are used as co-catalyst. Our co-catalyst are made up of sub-nanometre sized gold clusters that are embedded into photo-active TiO2, that perform up to 60 times more efficiently than platinum. The second step uses chemical transformation reactions combining carbon dioxide with hydrogen to make methane (the Sabatier reaction). This well-known reaction can be coupled with the water-splitting reaction. When combined, the system only requires carbon dioxide, water and light as inputs and produces methane. Our approach is to optimize operating conditions and improve catalytic efficiencies.
Biofuel Production with Co-solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation
UCR researcher have developed a new pretreatment process that can dramatically reduce enzyme loadings and costs, thereby improving the competitiveness for biological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels. Using existing dilute acid method, the sugar yield was only about 70 percent of the maximum possible after 14 days when two milligrams of enzymes were used. That percentage increased to about 85 percent in 14 days when 15 milligrams of enzymes were added. By contrast, the pretreatment increased sugar yields to about 95 percent of the maximum possible regardless of whether two milligrams, five milligrams, or 15 milligrams of enzymes were added. Furthermore, the time required to reach these high yields dropped to five days when five milligrams of enzyme were used and two days when 15 milligrams of enzyme were used. In addition to such drastic cutting of the amount and cost of enzymes needed to realize nearly theoretical sugar yields, the pretreatment is capable of dissolving and extracting up to 90 percent of the lignin in corn stover and woody biomass.
Fuel Sensor for Smart Combustion of Natural Gas-Powered Devices
UCR researchers have developed a simple, online method for analyzing Wobbe number continuously that can accurately identify the Wobbe number by measuring thermal conductivity and pressure of the gas with the help of signal interpretation algorithms. The higher the energy content level (also known as the BTU level or Wobbe Index), the better the natural gas, but depending on the source, energy content levels can vary by more than 10 percent. This ruggedized, cost-effective technology can be incorporated into gas-powered devices including boilers, engines, and turbines and allow the devices to compensate for the varying fuel properties. The potential impact of this fuel sensor is that it can significantly increase the efficiency and usability of natural gas-powered devices, thereby significantly reducing the cost of using renewable nature gas as well as reducing emissions.
Silicon-based Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries
UCR researchers have synthesized nanocomposites of silicon and tin as well as silicon and carbon as anode materials for Li-ion batteries that have demonstrated excellent cycling stability and rate performance with tripling the charge capacity of graphite. Anodes based on the structure of the synthesized nanocomposites have a capacity that is significantly higher than that of either the silicon-only or tin-only anodes. The nanocomposites also overcomes the limitation of silicon due to physical volume expansion and contraction during charging-recharging that damages the electrode and electric contact. Achieving such a significant increase in energy capacity could means electric vehicles that have significantly more range, mobile devices that could last significantly more hours before needing to recharge, and drastic reduction in the overall costs per watt for batteries, thereby increasing wider adoption of electric vehicles and reduce emissions.
Steam Hydrogasification Reaction for Renewable Natural Gas Production
UCR researchers have developed a steam hydrogasification system that uses high pressure and heat to break down carbonanceous materials such as biomass waste into renewable natural gas, which can be then be converted into liquid fuel or electricty. The process differs from traditional dry gasification in that it allows wet materials to be processed without a drying step. Analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy has shown that the process is 12 percent more efficient and can process materials 10 times faster than conventional dry gasification systems. The potential impact is the more efficient, cost-effective production of renewable natural gas converted from waste that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Laser System for Horticultural Lighting
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used for horticultural lighting for many years alongside other lighting technologies such as high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. The total “five-year” cost of a LED horticultural lighting system is estimated to be about 2x higher than that of high pressure sodium lamps, primarily due to high capital cost. In contrast, laser diodes (LDs) can produce more power per chip area, leaving a smaller device footprint, and ultimately reducing capital cost. One LD could potentially provide similar output to tens of LEDs. Laser Diodes also act as point sources, enabling novel luminaire form factors, such as fiber-guided lighting. Additionally, semiconductor LD’s are intrinsically polarized, meaning the emitted electric field travels along a preferential direction. This increases the direction and amount of light transmitted and absorbed by plant leaves. Other benefits of LDs include full-spectrum lighting which is more representative of a true sunlight cycle.
Hybrid Supercapacitor and Battery System
Supercapacitors and batteries are the two leading forms of electrochemical energy storage. Both have unique advantages and are employed depending on the application. Supercapacitors (electric double-layer capacitors) have high power densities and long cycle lifetimes, but, because of their low-to-moderate energy densities, their charge does not last as long so they are not used as stand-alone energy sources. On the other hand, batteries can maintain a longer charge but have a lower power output. This technology is a hybrid device that combines the advantages of batteries and supercapacitors. This device has a battery-level energy density with capacitor-level durability and power density. It is non-flammable, low-cost, and has a constant power output, putting it ahead of the competitors of the past. Halogens (I– and Br–) are promising aqueous redox-active species as they are inexpensive, electrochemically reversible redox couples with high solubility. Initially the corrosive and volatile nature of bromine generated at the positive electrode limited the utility of this system. This technology uses viologen, tetraalkylammonium, and/or zinc in electrolytes overcomes the limitations of a typical halogen aqueous redox system. This technology has the potential to benefit a variety of industries: consumer electronics, industrial automation, power & energy, medicine, and transportation.
Harvesting Hydrokinetic Energy in an Environmentally Compatible Way
The primary challenge the world faces today is generation of renewable energy in an environmentally sustainable way at a competitive cost. Dams create major environmental problems. Turbines require an average of 5-7knots to be financially viable, while the vast majority of currents flow at speeds of less than 3 knots. Concerns have also been raised regarding impact of turbines on marine life. This technology utilizes Flow Induced Vibrations (primarily Vortex Induced Vibrations and galloping), which are natural instability phenomena, and further enhances them using passive turbulence control and fish biomimetics. VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibration for Aquatic Clean Energy) is designed to: enhance rather than spoil vortex shedding; maximize rather than suppress VIV; harness rather than mitigate VIV energy. In 2005, the concept was model-tested in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water Channel (LTFSW Channel) of the Marine Renewable Energy Lab. VIVACE takes the naturally catastrophic FIM's and successfully transforms them into a means of tapping into a virtually untapped energy source: the hydrokinetic energy of currents with speeds even less than 2 knots. VIVACE is equally effective at high speeds as VIV is highly scalable. VIVACE is environmentally compatible technology estimated to generate energy at $0.055 -$0.10/kWh at maturity.
VAST Cycle Turbines and Combined Heat and Power systems
VAST® patented power cycles control combustion and recover exhaust heat by steam and hot water. VAST displaces ~90% of excess combustion cooling air, cutting compressor size by ~60%. These boost 100 MWe efficiency by 40% (to 52%), increasing with pressure. They boost net power by ~75-104% thru the same expander area at pressure ratios of 40 to 80. Efficiency increases with steam-water fraction at higher pressures. Modular Once Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) improve reliability, heat recovery, efficiency while reducing installation costs. Direct contact condensors recover net potable water for sale, while cleaning intake dust and exhaust particulates. Lab experiments of VAST’s “wet” combustion confirmed ultra clean emissions predicted by models. VAST’s next generation combustors appear scalable across wide ranges of pressure and size. They should reduce emissions >90% to California emission standards (sub ppm NOx and CO, UHC, particulates) without catalysts, ammonia or urea, up to 1500 ℃ class turbines or higher. Wet compression may cut exit temperature increase by >70%, cutting compression power by 27%, reducing tip gap and boosting compressor efficiency. Distributed delivery dramatically quiets combustion noise (~30 dB). Operating methods offer standby spinning reserve, the fastest power transient response and startup (<10 minutes), boosting grid stability.
