In the processing of solids, rapid methods are needed to determine organic and mineral parameters which can be related to process behavior. this proposal suggests the development of photoacoustic fourier transform infrared (pa-ft-ir) spectroscopy for on-line monitoring of fossil fuel feedstocks and… More

To satisfy air force requirements to improve aviation reactive atmospheres in a unique, contractor-owned entrained flow reactor with on-line, in-situ analysis of volatile species, temperature and radiation absorption characteristics by fourter transform infrared (ft-ir) spectroscopy. these data will… More

Significant savings in cost and displacement of valuable petroleum fuel can be achieved by burning coal when appropriate for dod power generation requirements. this proposal offers a cost effective, portable, computer controlled and integrated coal analysis system for assessing a coal's combustion… More

This project is to develop an improved non-intrusive method of temperature determination for pulverized coal combustion based on ft-ir spectroscopic measurement of its emissions. in phase i spectral measurements will be made of the radiation from combusting coal particles in a laboratory furnace.… More

If coal water fuels (cwf) are to be used with the convenience and reliability of liquid or gaseous fuels, choices must be made in slurry formulation, coal rank, degree and method of cleaning, atomization technology, combustion parameters, and sorbent additives. a laboratory-scale method is needed… More

The atmosphere contains many naturally occurring and manmade fine particles and aerosols. these particles affectweather, air quality and communications. knowledge of theirconcentration, composition, distribution and transport is important to the prediction of weather, detection and control of… More

Many chemical and energy conversion processes involve multi-phase feed or product streams. unfortunately, very little is available in process monitoring equipment for such streams. this proposal suggests development, validation and calibration of an innovative method for measuring the chemical… More

In coal combustion, knowledge of radiative heat transfer is important in predicting the heat-up of the incoming coal and the emission of heat from the burning char, volatiles, and ash. the calculation for particulates requires knowledge of many little known parameters including: the radiative… More

Many important problems in characterizing materials in the earth's lithosphere involve determining both organic and inorganic constituents. recent progress has been made in the use of thermal analysis in which the sample is taken through a temperature excursion and its weight loss or evolved… More

The recent discovery of high temperature superconducting materials has led to renewed interest in the application of superconductivity. the new ceramic superconductors offer the opportunity of using these materials as detectors of infrared radiation more conveniently that the older, classical… More

A particle size sensor is required for on-line process con- trol in a metal powder forming facility. instruments available commercially for this sensing rely on measurements of light scattering at very small angular increments. it is probable that the highly turbulent environment in which the metal… More

It has been determined in bench scale and pilot scale coal liquefaction experiments that a pretreatment at moderate temperatures prior to liquefaction can substantially improveliquefaction yields and quality. however, there is little basic understanding of the processes that give rise to the… More

Due to the complexity of the calculations and the lack of effective standards, chemical engineers and chemists have been left behind their mechanical and electronic counterparts in having the benefits of a computer workstation addressed to their requirements. a need exists for the means to integrate… More

The efficient development of advanced aircraft concepts or introduction of new fuels will require increased mechanistic understanding and models to predict thermal stability in order to eliminate the requirement for extensive empirical testing. the proposal is for a combined experimental,… More

The recent discovery of perovskite-like copper-oxide superconductors with transition temperatures above liquid nitrogen temperatures has led to renewed interest in the application of superconductivity. these new ybacuo (yba[2]cu[3[o[7-x]) materials offer the opportunity to use these materials as… More

An important aspect of many energy intensive processes is the ability to have on-line monitoring. this ensures operator and environmental safety as well as proper operation of the plant. consequently, there is a great needfor diagnostic instruments for multiphase media which can function in… More

Thin film diamond has a rare combination of properties that makes it one of the most important engineering materials to emerge recently. flame chemical vapor deposition (cvd) is anew synthetic method developed in the past year. researchers in both japan and the u. s. have discovered that an… More

The goal of this project is the development of a rugged, relatively inexpensive, sensitive and versatile detector for the simultaneous on-line analysis of composition, concentration and temperatures of gases and particles in process streams. the innovation is phase sensitive fourier transform… More

For surfaces at high temperature the emitted spectrum of electromagnetic radiation is the most convenient probe of temperature, if the spectral emittance of the sample is known. this proposal suggests the application of fourier transform (ft) spectroscopy to the measurement of spectral emittance.… More

A renewed interest in the applications of superconductivity has resulted from the recent discovery of perovskite-like copper-oxide superconductors with transition temperatures above liquid nitrogen temperatures. although the thin films as deposited generally have the appropriate y:ba:cu… More

The recent discovery of perovskite-like copper-oxide superconductors with transition temperatures above liquid nitrogen temperatures has led to renewed interest in the application of superconductivity. these new ybacuo (yba(2)cu(3)o(7-x) materials offer the opportunity to use these materials as… More

The discovery of superconductors with transition temperatures above liquid nitrogen temperature has led to renewed interest in the application of superconductivity. these new materials can potentially be used as detectors more conveniently than can "classical" superconductors. the larger energy gap… More

Composites offer the potential for obtaining materials with significantly improved structural properties (stiffness, damage tolerance, high temperature capabilities) compared to that of any of the individual components alone. diamond would be a very interesting component in a composite material… More

The use of transverse pressure wave separation provides the opportunity for solution of the problem of hot-stream particle removal. using a repetitive pressure pulse with a fast rise and slower relaxation, particles can be steadily segregated to one side of the flow. the larger particles are the… More

The u.s. doe is interested in developing advanced coal combustion systems that reduce the emission of harmful species into the environment. the effectiveness of any pollution control strategy is greatly enhanced by the ability to have on-line monitoring of the cleanup device. reducing costs is a… More

Carbon materials are a much higher added value product than nearly any other products from which could be produced from lignin. this is especially true in the case of carbon fibers, which can sell for tens to hundreds of dollars per pound. consequently, the development of processes which utilize… More

It is commonly agreed that the development of ultra-high density and very high speed electronics for computing and signal processing is presently limited not by the circut components themselves but rather by the electronic packaging. high-temperature superconductor (htsc) films are expected to make… More

There has been recent interest in the small scale productionof liquids from coal by mild gasification which can be integrated into the current energy infrastructure. while most work on mild gasification is addressing dense phase reactors or large particles, several laboratories report that flash… More

For surfaces at high temperature, the emitted spectrum of electro-magnetic radiation is the most convenient probe of temperature, if the spectral emittance of the sample is known. this proposal suggests the application of a novel, non-intrusive surface temperature measurement technique for the… More

The u.s. epa estimates that 290 million tons of hazardous waste are produced annually in the u.s. the most promising method for the permanent disposal of organic wastes is high-temperature incineration. while solar incineration offers significant promise as a waste disposal technology, there is a… More

One of the most important processes in combustion is the formation and destruction of soot. the concentration of soot controls the energy radiated by the flame and hence theflame temperature. the effectiveness of soot destruction controls the combustion efficiency and the environmental acceptability… More

The most widely used instrument for infrared spectral analysis is the fourier transform infrared (ft-ir) spectrometer. when applied to non-repetitive samples this instrument has limited time resolution. it is proposed to use a different transform, a wavelet transform, for the ir interferograms, to… More

For the continued development of coal liquefaction processes, on-line diagnostic techniques are needed that allow one to "see" inside the various process stages and monitor parameters such as catalyst activity, upgrading of liquids, depletion of solvent, heteroatom removal, etc. this project is… More

Nucleation remains an obstable to the growth of single crystal films of diamond on non-diamond substrates. two key factors control the nucleation of diamond on si: the formation of a sic layer between the si and the film, and spontaneous nucleation of the sic on the contaminated si surface.… More

Ferroelectrics (fe) have a large commercial potential as piezoelectric elements, dielectrics for capacitors, and in optical guided-wave devices. materials processing has limited applications in microelectronics and photonics, however, and few methods are capable of depositing high quality thin films… More

Project objectives are advancing the fabrication and design technology of ir detectors from bulk hgcdte to the emerging technology of thin films; making progress toward films on silicon wafers; and implementing the technique of pulsed laser deposition (pld) for the fabrication of these… More

The army has a requirement for development of a real-time measurement system to mesure dust concentrations with small sensing units suitable for mounting on military vehicles undergoing dust testing. light scattering is a leading choice of techniques. however, the scattering data must permit a… More

The substitution of polymers for metals and other materials is occurring at an increasing rate in several u.s. industries (e.g., automotive, aerospace, computer). the motivation is that polymers often have significant advantages in terms of weight and/or cost. however, the degradation of polymers is… More

This proposal will apply fourier transform infrared (ft-ir) spectroscopy as an in-situ diagnostic for the deposition of amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-si:h). successful plasma deposition of a-si:h on a commercial scale will require simultaneous knowledge of many process variables within the… More

Time-temperature modeling of organic matter maturation has become an important tool in petroleum and gas exploration inrecent years. the most serious difficulties in applying these models are: 1) obtaining accurate downhole geological information, and 2) estimation of kinetic parameters. single… More

Applications of high-temperature superconducting materials to tunneling devices have been limited by fabrication problems related to the intrinsic anisotropy of these materials, to their extremely short superconducting coherence length, and to the poor electrical properties of the native surface… More

To provide a realistic fire resistance ranking of high temperature materials, limiting oxygen index (loi), measurements should be made at elevated temperature. the more fire resistent the material, the higher the temperature required. current commercial instruments have the capability of operating… More

The measurement of temperatures of molten glass is importantto control the manufacturing process. there is a need for better non-contact measurements of surface temperatures and temperatures within the bulk glass. the required surface temperature measurements can be made using radiance data at the… More

Requirement of heavy and voluminous permanent magnets in devices such as microwave generators, non-reciprocal circulators, isolators and their devices makes them unattractive of many space and weight restricted applications. incorporation of these devices in large numbers for active apemure radar… More

The particles that are a natural product in the hot gas exhaust of coal gasifiers and combustors must be removed, or they will cause major damage to downstream equipment designed to extract energy from the flow. a hot, particle-laden exhaust is an extreme environment that places severe constraints… More

In the practical applications of hydrocarbon fuels in advanced aircraft, the most important consideration is to know under what circumstances the fuel will degrade to the extent that a deposit is formed. the development of this understanding of fuel behavior has been hampered by the lack of… More

Significant improvements in efficiency for coal-fired powerplants can be achieved by cycles that employ a high temperature, highly recuperative gas turbine topping cycle. the principal difficulty in employing a gas turbine in a coal fired power generation system is the possible erosion and corrosion… More

It has recently been shown that caged carbon clusters, fullerenes, are produced in significant quantities in a carbon arc in a helium atmosphere at about 150 torr. it was also shown that the fullerenes are soluble in common organic solvents. these two important discoveries opened the door to several… More

Liquefaction of low rank coals offers the potential of high oil yields. however, because of their small aromatic ring cluster size, low rank coals are more difficult to liquefy in the first (solubilization) stage under conditions optimized for bituminous coals. it is likely that crosslinking… More

Conventional methods of infrared (ir) spectroscopy utilize either a small throughput (ir flux) optical element for dispersion followed by a detector (or array), or a large throughput, scanning interferometer followed by a detector. a new, smart detector design is proposed here for accomplishing… More

AVALANCHE PHOTO DETECTOR. With this novel design, enhanced sensitivity and high speed can be obtained in a high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) microelectronic device, using a shingle layer of HTSC thin film. A collaboration between David Genner's group at Advanced Fuel Research Inc, (East… More

Liquid oxygen systems are currently used in all high specific impulse, high thrust space propulsion systems. Although more energetic oxidizers have been demonstrated to exhibit superior performance, they have not been used because of their reactivity with materials and/or their hazards. Mixtures of… More

Future technology for fast switching HTSC devices will require large-area arrays of thin-film switches and materials and device compatibility with semiconductor devices. Advanced Fuel Research will: 1) take advantage of the high normal-state resistivity of HTSC to provide impedance matching directly… More

The disposal of 280 million tires generated each year in theu.s. by landfill is increasingly becoming an unacceptable solution. the tires take up large amounts of valuable landfill space and also represent a fire hazard. a better solution from an environmental and economic standpoint is tothermally… More

Aerosol processing is a popular method to produce submicron particles for technologies like pigments and sinterable ceramics. although the particle size distribution (psd) often controls the quality of the final product, this parameter cannot currently be measured on-line because of the dense… More

Successful plasma processing and the elucidation of the unknown plasmachemistry require simultaneous knowledge of many process variables within the plasma reactor. these variables include 1) gas temperature and composition, 2) substrate temperature, and 3) film thickness, composition, and index of… More

Innovative concepts are needed in advanced on-line sensors for application in industrial control systems leading to decreased energy consumption, better environmental control, better quality control, and increased productivity in u.s. industry. during the last several years, fourier transform… More

2Phase II will develop an advanced dynamically-balanced "isolation interferometer" whose mirror motion is decoupled from external vibrations. Such an interferometer can be employed to make an FT-IR instrument which is immune to vibration and is permanently aligned. Advanced Fuel… More

A number of advanced fiber-reinforced organic matrix composites employed in a variety of Army systems are exposed to environmental weathering and/or in-service loading. This may induce chemical, physical, and mechanical changes in the composite material, and ultimately lead to component failure.… More

The great limitation of microwave ic design is the resistance of normal metals. monolithic microwave integrated circuits (mmic), now dominated by gaas technology, can be revolutionized if the normal-metal components are replaced by htsc materials. the innovation for the project is to demonstrate the… More

A continuous emission monitoring system based on a combinatio fourier transform infrared and raman spectrometer (ft-ir/ft-raman) is planned for analysis of flue gas and combustion efficiency to enhance the development of u.s. fossil resources for energy conversion. the unique instrument design… More

When a solar cell array is designed to power an electric motor car or is used for a space mission, a favorable power-to-weight ratio is important for its energy storage unit. compared with batteries, the most frequently used energy storage technology, a thin film ferroelectric (fe) capacitor bank,… More

Effective teaching and learning at all levels of education is enhanced by demonstration equipment that relates text book concepts to physical observations. not only does the teacher become more effective in his or her ability to explain a phenomenon, but the triggering of interest and enthusiasm by… More

Numerous processes are being developed for the manufacturing of advance composites which incorporate ceramics, polymers, metals and/or metal alloys. the success of these manufacturing processes is critically dependent on the ability to both monitor and control the processing conditions. of… More

An instrument capable of making on-line, in-situ measurements of residual carbon content in flyash would be a valuable asset in the optimization of power plant efficiency and in achieving pollution control goals. current instruments available to measure residual carbon fly ash are based on… More

Lignin is the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer. given the relatively low cost, high abundance, and renewable nature of this resource, it is not surprising that many attempts have been made to develop higher value products from lignin. carbon materials have a much higher added value than… More

Although many potential technologies exist for depositing exotic thin film devices, controlling the material properties has been a major stubling block to achieving successful and reproducible device properties. in the case of pulsed laser deposition (pld) of high tc superconductor films, the… More

Conventional methods of infrared (ir) spectroscopy for analysis of chemical species are limited to off-line instruments. the applications of a new, smart-detector design for ir spectral resolution is planned. this innovation accomplishes spectral resolution of ir directly on the detector chip… More

The innovations of the proposed program are: 1) advancing thin-film deposition technology to achieve fully epitaxial growth of ferroelectric heterostructures on silicon substrates, by using the highly successful pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique; 2) replacing the Pt bottom electrode with the… More

The objective of this project is to develop a model of the growth (thickness and doping profile) of epi-silicon layers. This model will be used in conjunction with on-line Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) reflectance measurements to control epi-silicon growth in a cluster tool. AFR has… More

The development of advanced high speed aircraft using hydrocarbon fuels will require fuels which have very high thermal stability, including fuels which are stable above the critical temperature and pressure. The elucidation of the chemcial mechanisms for fuel degradation would greatly benefit from… More

SiC is an attractive material for high temperature, high frequency and high power electronic applications because of its wide band gap, high thermal conductivity, and high breakdown voltage. Two polytypes of SiC which have received the most attention are the 3C cubic structure and the 6H hexagonal… More

The inability to fabricate copper-based superconductors capable of transporting or circulating high current densities over large volumes has severely limited applications for wires and levitation. Difficulties in texturing these ceramic materials is due to the requirement for nearly perfect grain… More

Recent legislation in the u.s. and abroad, driven primarily by environmental concerns, has led to the development of technology to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxide (nox) emitted from combustion facilities. application of this technology to coal-fired power generation facilities has been… More

Removal of contaminants from hot gas streams fed to downstream equipment if essential to successful development of advanced coal utilization and conversion processes. the operation and optimization of such removal process often requires diagnostic instrumentation to measure concentrations and… More

Approximately 200,000 total knee replacements and 200,000 total hip replacements are performed yearly in the united states. the prostheses must be as reliable as possible. ceramics are well known and valuable clinical materials, but find limited use due to their brittleness. it was found that… More

Researchers have pioneered a technique to determine temperatures along a line-of-sight into transparent materials. it involves measuring infrared radiance spectra for materials with well-characterized, temperature-dependent optical constants. the project demonstrates that fourier transform… More

The primary contaminants from combustion processes are particulates, unburned hydrocarbons, chlorinated compounds, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia. an important aspect of pollution control strategies is the ability to have on-line monitoring of the cleanup device. this ensures… More

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (xas) based at synchrotron facilities is an established research tool in a variety of fields including biochemistry, catalysis, and materials science. for trace analysis, xas offers important phase information as well as elemental composition. commercialization will… More

This Phase I project will develop certain innovations in silicon wafer micromachining, and pulsed-laser deposition, to fabricate arrays of pyroelectric detectors from epitaxial metal-oxide thin films. These pyroelectric materials will be ferroelectric metal-oxides and hence have very large electric… More

The flue gases of combustion-type power plants contain small, respirable ash andfume particles which originate from the inorganic species in the fuel. Coalburning power plants, for example, have a notorious reputation for spewing outflue gas particles originating from the mineral mater in the coal.… More

Fires kill nearly 10,000 people each year in the u.s. and cause nearly 300,000 injuries and over 6 billion dollars in property damage. the per capita loss of life due to fires in the u.s. is higher than for any other industrial country. consequently, there is a great need for additional research on… More

Future manufacturing of integrated circuits (IC's), will require analytical instrumentation that can provide on-line process monitoring linked to real time process control. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy can be effectively utilized to meet this need. As an example, Advanced Fuel… More

We propose to develop manufacturable high-temperature superconducting (HTS) Josephson junctions on silicon substrates. This technology will make available a wide range of silicon fabrication methods, allowing superconducting and semiconducting circuit elements on the same chip. The ultimate goal is… More

Important technologic obstacles must be removed before semiconductor devices monolithically integrated with oxide ferroelectrics can become a practical reality. the innovations of the program are; (1) advancing thin-film deposition technology to achieve fully epitaxial growth of ferroelectric films… More

Over the next decade there will be a renewed emphasis on the production of chemicals and liquid fuels from biomass, the use of agricultural wastes as feedstocks, and the development of crops and farming techniques optimized for fuel production. In view of the tremendous diversity of biomass… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will fabricate an array of gas-sensing elements from pulsed-laser deposited (PLD) metal oxide thin films on silicon wafers, which will be integrated with fiberoptics and a digital signal processor (DSP) for device operation, readout, and signal… More

A typical Air Force base will produce several thousand gallons per year of used turbine engine lubricants. These lubricants can be collected on site and sold at relatively low cost for other uses (e.g., plasticizer). The potential for contamination of the collected lubricants, particularly with… More

The Air Force has requirements for site cleanup and environmental compliance related to contaminated groundwater. Remedial operations of water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) presently utilize technologies such as air stripping, activated carbon treatment, reverse… More

Additive technology has been developed which will extend the operating temperature of common aviation fuels like JP-5. However, the currently available additive packages cannot extend the operating temperature high enough to meet the anticipated requirements of future gas turbine engine… More

The AF requires a portable instrument to measure thermal reflectance signatures from target surfaces. In the field, measurements include 1) total integrated scatter; 2) retro-reflected scatter; 3) angular scatter from normal incidense to 75 degrees off-normal; and 4) parallel and perpendicular… More

SOI technology offers the potential for creating radiation hard integrated circuits which can operate at low power and high speed. These advances are important for DoD and space applications and for battery operated devices. SOI is excellent for rad-hard applications because dielectric isolation of… More

Infrared spectroscopy has ong been recognized as an excellent tool for sending and monitoring chemical species and thermal signatures. There is a need for low-cost devices which can be used in these applications. Advanced Fuel Research Inc (AFR) is presently developing a micro-machined graded… More

40246 November 6, 1996 Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. Advanced thermal coating materials are being developed for use in the combustor section of high performance turbine engines. To optimize their use, accurate surface temperature measurements are… More

Major improvements in process control, compliance monitoring, and environmental decisionmaking could be made if more accurate, less costly, more rugged techniques were available for continuous monitoring of multiple gas phase pollutants. As part of the solution, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR)… More

Not Available The intent of this research is to develop an advanced nozzle for mixing and reacting iodine (I (sub 2) or I) and singlet-delta oxygen [O (sub 2) ((sup 1) increment)] flows in COIL devices. The ultimate goal is to develop a more efficient COIL. Specific avenues for the proposed… More

Not Available Intelligent Automation, Inc. proposes to develop the Team Readiness Assessment Program (TRAP). TRAP will be an assessment tool to measure the effectiveness of training battle groups in the performance of mission essential tasks as individuals or as a team. TRAP will use Latent… More

Not Available Modus Operandi, Inc. (MO) enthusiastically proposes an innovative strategy for managing and optimizing the allocation of scarce flight training resources that enhances management's decision making and planning capabilities through the innovative use of modeling and decision analysis… More

Not Available This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a real-time, whole wafer sensor for process monitoring and fault detection in advanced semiconductor and thin film fabrication processes. The production of future semiconductor and optoelectronic devices will… More

65805 High rate energy storage devices, such as ultracapacitors, are a critical enabling technology for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). The best electrode materials for use in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) possess three characteristics: (1) high surface area; (2) high electrical… More

65030 Advanced gas turbine engines for energy generation suffer turbine blade failure due to overheating, resulting in loss of energy generation and high repair costs. New in-service diagnostics are required to provide lifetime predictions and warnings for the impending catastrophic failure of… More

The overall goal of the proposed program is to provide military personnel with a hand-held analyzer capable of detecting chemical and biological agents, as well as toxic industrial chemicals. This will be accomplished through the use of a newnanocomposite material (metal-doped sol-gel) that… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel microchip chemical analyzer that incorporates a new nanomaterial that performs both separation and detection of small quantities of chemicals and biochemicals. This will be accomplished by developing the required… More

Fuels in high altitude and latitude aircraft (e.g., the U-2) must have freezing point temperatures well below -60 ¿C, and must maintain flow to similar temperatures (e.g., viscosity of ~ 6 cSt). JPTS, a high purity kerosene based fuel has the requiredproperties, but costs ~ 3 times more than… More

Crested multi-layer tunnel barriers have been proposed, which offer a revolutionary solution to overcome density to speed trade-offs characteristic of present data storage technologies. Practical implementation of the proposed technology will involve useof thin film materials which are readily… More

This subtopic solicited Phase I R&D for an advanced Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) system that would provide fast-scanning high resolution (3 scans/sec at 1cm-1 resolution), low noise, mid-infrared measurements for characterization of spray flames. In Phase I, Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.… More

During aircraft turbine engine operation, augmentor (afterburner) operation is often associated with combustion instabilities (oscillations) that can be potentially detrimental to the turbine engine if the resonant amplitude levels are excessive.Oscillation in the frequency range of 50-100 Hz is… More

During aircraft turbine engine operation, augmentor (afterburner) operation is often associated with combustion instabilities (oscillations) that can be potentially detrimental to the turbine engine if the resonant amplitude levels are excessive.Oscillation in the frequency range of 50-100 Hz is… More

This subtopic solicited Phase I R&D for an advanced Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) system that would provide fast-scanning high resolution (3 scans/sec at 1cm-1 resolution), low noise, mid-infrared measurements for characterization of spray flames. In Phase I, Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.… More

"The overall goal of the proposed program is to provide military personnel with a hand-held analyzer capable of detecting chemical and biological agents, as well as toxic industrial chemicals. This will be accomplished through the use of a newnanocomposite material (metal-doped sol-gel) that… More

65805 High rate energy storage devices, such as ultracapacitors, are a critical enabling technology for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). The best electrode materials for use in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) possess three characteristics: (1) high surface area; (2) high electrical… More

65805 High rate energy storage devices, such as ultracapacitors, are a critical enabling technology for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). The best electrode materials for use in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLC) possess three characteristics: (1) high surface area; (2) high electrical… More

This project addresses two environmental problems: (1) removal and recovery of mercury from combustion/incineration flue gas with concurrent control of SO2 and NOx; and (2) reprocessing of waste tires into value-added products. Coal combustion and incineration of municipal and hazardous wastes… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the feasibility of producing regenerable sorbents for trace-contaminant control (mainly for on-board waste incineration systems) using a by-product (char) of an on-board waste pyrolysis process. The overall objective is to develop a… More

In this research project, Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., addresses two important environmental problems: (1) removal and recovery of mercury from combustion/incineration flue gas, and (2) reprocessing of waste tires into value-added products. Coal combustion and incineration of municipal and… More

Combustion instability in air breathing propulsion engines can lead to catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately, as engines are operated at conditions to minimize pollutant emissions, the risk of crossing the boundary to unstable combustion increases. This Phase I project twill demonstrate the… More

In this research project, Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., addresses two important environmental problems: (1) removal and recovery of mercury from combustion/incineration flue gas, and (2) reprocessing of waste tires into value-added products. Coal combustion and incineration of municipal and… More

"Many of the naval bases proposed to accept deployment of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) are in non-attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for the emissions of ozone precursors: oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and reactive volatile organiccompounds (VOCs). The emissions of… More

In this research project, Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., addresses two important environmental problems: (1) removal and recovery of mercury from combustion/incineration flue gas, and (2) reprocessing of waste tires into value-added products. Coal combustion and incineration of municipal and… More

Crested multi-layer tunnel barriers have been proposed, which offer a revolutionary solution to overcome density to speed trade-offs characteristic of present data storage technologies. Practical implementation of the proposed technology will involve useof thin film materials that are readily… More

The SAE smoke number has been an important measurement for prevention of black, sooty plumes in military and commercial aviation. The current method, however, requires the use of a complex extraction system to bring engine exhaust through a filter paper,and then requires a person to remove the soot… More

Both pyrolysis and incineration steps have been considered as the key solid waste processing step for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). Pyrolysis is more amenable to handling mixed solid waste streams in a microgravity environment, but produces a more complex product stream.… More

The NASA objective of expanding the human experience into the far reaches of space will require the development of regenerable life support systems. On-board carbon dioxide (CO2) removal units play a key role in such systems ensuring high quality cabin air for crew members. Similar but more compact… More

In this research project, Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., addresses two important environmental problems: (1) removal and recovery of mercury from combustion/incineration flue gas, and (2) reprocessing of waste tires into value-added products. Coal combustion and incineration of municipal and… More

Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. (AFR) has developed a technology to provide radiation shielding, while simultaneously increasing the capacity of hydrogen storage tanks. This technology uses carbon foam filler with a complex pore structure (?microporosity?). The tank with the filler has,… More

The SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 1179C is the regulatory method for determining the exhaust Smoke Number from jet engines. This methodology is slow and cumbersome and requires handling and analyzing paper filters which have been exposed to the jet engine exhaust effluent which has been… More

The NASA objective of expanding the human experience into the far reaches of space will require the development of regenerable life support systems. On-board carbon dioxide (CO2) removal units play a key role in such systems ensuring high quality cabin air for crew members. Similar but more compact… More

The objective of the Phase I SBIR program was to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating pyrolysis and incineration steps into a system for processing of spacecraft solid wastes. The Phase I study involved a combination of bench scale experiments and data analysis. This work was accomplished in… More

Sensors are vital during advanced turbine engine development testing. Sensor data expedite engine development programs and bring new advanced propulsion and ground-power engines to market sooner. Ceramic thermal barrier coating (TBC) on first-stage turbine blades is now a vital component of advanced… More

Agricultural activities produce large quantities of animal wastes in the form of manures. Currently, the accumulation of manures from animal husbandry operations is a serious threat to water supplies. The technology for conversion of poultry manure into fuel gases by using heat can be integrated… More

75640-This project addresses the environmental problem of the removal and recovery of carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion/incineration flue gas in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, carbon-dioxide will be removed from flue gas by using sorbents based on amines that are… More

This Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of providing panoramic stereoscopic images for remote-controlled robotic space operations using three fixed-position cameras. Remote-controlled robot operations are an important element in orbital and planetary space missions. Advanced display… More

Sensors are vital during advanced turbine engine development testing. Essential data expedite engine development programs and accordingly bring new advanced propulsion and ground-power engines to market sooner. Ceramic thermal barrier coating (TBC) on first-stage turbine blades is now a vital… More

Agricultural activities produce large quantities of animal wastes in the form of manures. Currently, the accumulation of manures from animal husbandry operations is a serious threat to water supplies and challenges the capacity of existing landfills. However, this potential problem also represents… More

In this project, the development of a novel panoramic, stereoscopic video system was proposed. The proposed system, which contains no moving parts, uses three-fixed position cameras equipped with NASA's Panoramic Refracting Optic (PRO) to generate stereoscopic images over a hemispherical work area.… More

This project addresses two vital problems for long-term space travel activities: radiation shielding and hydrogen storage for power and propulsion. While both problems have been studied for many years, there is currently no satisfactory technology for providing adequate non-parasitic shielding. … More

A number of high-energy laser weapons currently under development by and for the U.S. military will provide our armed forces with capabilities that are unmatched by conventional armaments. Laser weapons allow targets to be destroyed from remote locations without the delays associated with the… More

The innovation proposed is a flight-worthy optical sensor that will monitor propulsion system performance and health characteristics, including identifying the onset of combustion instability, in air-breathing engines such as turbojets and ramjets. It is an innovation for three reasons: 1) the… More

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I research project's objectives are to build and validate an artificial star simulation application for the study of astronomical objects, and to assess its commercial potential for the professional and serious amateur astronomer communities. The… More

This project addresses two vital problems for long-term space travel activities: radiation shielding and hydrogen storage for power and propulsion. While both problems have been studied for many years, there is currently no satisfactory technology for providing adequate non-parasitic shielding. … More

This project addresses two vital problems for long-term space travelactivities: radiation shielding and hydrogen storage for power and propulsion. While both problems have been studied for many years, there is currently no satisfactory technology for providing adequate non-parasitic shielding. … More

There is a troubling decline in the number of US citizens training to become scientists and engineers. There are insufficient numbers of qualified science teachers in the middle schools, where interest in science must be kindled. Technology enhanced learning environments (TELEs), which could improve… More

Up until the early twentieth century, several commodity chemicals were produced by the pyrolysis of hardwoods (e.g., methanol, acetic acid, acetone) or the extraction of softwoods (turpentine, terpenes, rosins, pitches, and tars). The expected long term increase in petroleum and natural gas prices… More

There is a troubling decline in the number of US citizens training to become scientists and engineers. There are insufficient numbers of qualified science teachers in the middle schools, where interest in science must be kindled. Technology enhanced learning environments (TELEs), which could improve… More

Modern turbine engines undergo extensive ground testing in test cells during development. These engines are instrumented with numerous strain gages for high-frequency dynamic strain measurements. Currently, analog signals from these gages are routed out of the test cell to remote data acquisition… More

Political, economic, and environmental considerations require that the national dependence on petroleum-based transportation fuels, especially imported oil, be reduced by accelerating the development of domestic renewable alternatives. The United States has the potential to generate, sustainably,… More

There is a troubling decline in the number of US citizens training to become scientists and engineers. There are insufficient numbers of qualified science teachers in the middle schools, where interest in science must be kindled. Technology enhanced learning environments (TELEs), which could improve… More

The release of volatile organic compounds from industrial processes can have negative impacts on the environment while also posing significant health and safety concerns. In the environment, many of these chemical are considered precursors to ground-level ozone, which is the primary component of… More

The Air Force is in need of a system to measure stray laser energy during the open-air test-range firing of high-energy laser weapons such as the Airborne Laser. In Phase I, a laboratory-scale system composed of four hemispherical-imaging laser-scattering detectors was constructed to monitor light… More

Radiological sources are in everyday use in numerous industries. Illicit removal of this material from storage could result in construction of a Radiological Dispersal Device or Dirty Bomb. A pervasive means of securing radiological materials and identifying breaches in security is required.… More

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will employ a staged pyrolysis and combustion process as a method to ""recycle"" mixed solid waste materials (paper and plastic packaging, and food scrap) from restaurants. The hydrogen-rich fuel gases generated from these solid waste… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the development of improved high-performance, low-cost carbon electrodes for ultracapacitors. The proposed innovation is the use of proprietary carbon-preparation techniques to produce high-performance, low-cost carbon… More

Ceramic thermal barrier coating (TBC) on first-stage turbine blades is a vital component of advanced engines under development for future military aircraft, protecting the metal alloy blades from the extreme combustion temperature in these high-performance engines. TBC must be proven as a reliable… More

The Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project will address the need for an advanced process control system for improved manufacturing of photovoltaic cells. Thin film silicon photovoltaic modules offer a potentially lower cost alternative to crystalline silicon modules… More

Radiological sources are in everyday use in numerous industries. Illicit removal of this material from storage could result in construction of a Radiological Dispersal Device or "Dirty Bomb." A pervasive means of securing radiological materials and identifying breaches in security is required.… More

Both pyrolysis and oxidation steps have been considered as the key solid waste processing step for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). Pyrolysis is more amenable to handling mixed solid waste streams in a microgravity environment, but produces a more complex product stream.… More

Under sponsorship of the Air Force SBIR program, the small business Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. (AFR) is developing an innovative sensor system to map the surface temperature of thermal barrier coated (TBC) turbine blades during operational testing of advanced military jet engines. Temperature… More

Gas turbine engine development requires sensors to measure gas path properties in engines during ground testing. The data collected with these sensors are critical to the development of advanced engines with high performance, high efficiency, and low emissions. While instrumentation is available to… More

Pyrolysis processing can be used in near term missions for volume reduction, water recovery (drying), stabilization, and enhanced water and oxygen recovery through thermochemical reactions. For longer term missions, the added benefits include production of fuel, multi-purpose carbon, and reactants… More

The Air Force is seeking new technology that will provide the means to accurately measure and monitor turbine inlet gas temperature in gas turbine engines, particularly in advanced engines operating at very high temperatures (>3,100 degree F). In Phase I of this program, Advanced Fuel Research,… More

Auscultation, or listening to internal sounds made by the body of a patient, is an important tool in medical diagnostics. Heart, lung, intestine, and circulatory function can be assessed through careful listening. There are numerous situations, however, where the faint sounds collected using an… More

The NASA objective of expanding the human experience into the far reaches of space requires the development of regenerable life support systems. This proposal addresses the development of a regenerable air-revitalization system for trace-contaminant (TC) removal for the space suit used in… More

ABSTRACT: The Leadership Agreement signatures on this Commercialization Readiness Program (CRP) project Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Technology Transition Plan (STTP 2011-51) formalize an agreement to develop the technology maturation and transition strategies, and pending funding and… More