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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR
NOTE: The Solicitations and topics listed on this site are copies from the various SBIR agency solicitations and are not necessarily the latest and most up-to-date. For this reason, you should use the agency link listed below which will take you directly to the appropriate agency server where you can read the official version of this solicitation and download the appropriate forms and rules.
The official link for this solicitation is: http:--science.doe.gov-grants-pdf-SC_FOA_0000969.pdf
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Available Funding Topics
To achieve energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction objectives, the United States must develop and deploy clean, affordable, domestic energy sources as quickly as possible. Nuclear power will continue to be a key component of a portfolio of technologies that meets our energy goals. Nuclear Energy R&D activities are organized along four main R&D objectives that address challenges to expanding the use of nuclear power: (1) develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors; (2) develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to enable nuclear energy to help meet the Administration's energy security and climate change goals; (3) develop sustainable nuclear fuel cycles; and (4) understanding and minimization of risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. To support these objectives, the Department of Energy is seeking to advance engineering materials for service in nuclear reactors.
Grant applications are sought to develop improved ceramic, ceramic composite, or coated materials that can be used in the Generation IV Gas-Cooled and Liquid Fluoride Salt-Cooled Reactors at temperatures up to 850C, in a thermal neutron spectrum environment during normal operations and accidents. These ceramic or coated materials should have the following characteristics: (1) low thermal expansion coefficients, (2) excellent high-temperature strength, (3) excellent high-temperature creep resistance, (4) good thermal conductivity, (5) ability to endure a high-neutron-flux environment, (6) ability to be fabricated to required geometries, (7) capable of being joined, and (8) ability to survive air and-or water ingress accidents. Because high temperature strength and corrosion resistance may be difficult to achieve with a single material, composite or coated systems may be required. In addition, grant applications are sought to develop methods for real-time in situ monitoring of the condition of these ceramic, composite, and coated materials. Approaches of interest include the development of sensors that can monitor the mechanical and thermo-physical properties of these materials during their service lifetime.
Grant applications are sought to develop technologies for the in situ mitigation and repair of materials degradation in Light Water Reactor systems and components, in order to extend the service life of current light water reactors. Approaches of interest include new techniques for the repair of materials degradation in metals, concrete, and cables; and methods that can mitigate irradiation and aging effects in existing reactors and components.
In addition to the specific subtopics listed above, the Department invites grant applications in other areas that fall within the scope of the topic description above.