The Utah Innovation Center congratulates five Utah companies that received awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue advanced scientific instrumentation and technologies to address climate change. Six projects were funded through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program among the five companies.
SBIR and the corresponding program, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), allow businesses to conduct high-risk, innovative research and technology development with potential for commercialization, spurring innovation, and job creation.
Alpha Tech Research Corp, Coreform, LLC, and Visionary Products Inc., worked with the Innovation Center on their proposals.
Development of a Robust Thermodynamic Reference Electrode for Flouride-based Molten Salt Applications (Amount Awarded: $198,800)
- Thermodynamic Reference Electrodes (TRE) enable electrochemical techniques for molten salt data measurement. Still, current TREs cannot survive the harsh molten salt environment for more than approximately one week.
- This project will develop a TRE design to be robust enough to last at least six months.
Integrated, remote Workflow for Neams Applications (Amount Awarded: $206,500)
- Powerful DOE-developed simulation technologies could greatly improve nuclear energy efficiency and safety; however, the potential of these resources to advance nuclear technology is hampered by the expertise required to use them effectively, especially in concert with high-performance computing (HPC) resources.
- This project develops technology that will drastically simplify and streamline the user experience of performing advanced simulation analyses with HPC resources, providing means to accelerate vital advances in nuclear engineering design, analysis, and operation for current and future reactor designs.
Reaction Engineering International
Two Awards:
Rotary Kiln Approach to Produce Biochar from Invasive Scrub Species for Soil Remediation and Carbon Sequestration (Amount Awarded: $200,000)
- A low-cost, mobile, and modular rotary kiln gasifier will be developed to produce hydrogen-enriched syngas from co-located coal waste and biomass to facilitate hydrogen economy, remove environmental concerns and help the revitalization of local underserved communities.
Development of Allothermal Rotary Gasifier with CO2 Acceptor for Hydrogen Production from Coal Waste and Biomass (Amount Awarded: $250,000)
- Biochar can improve soil quality while acting as carbon storage, but most biochar production systems in the field remain rudimentary or not well characterized. In collaboration with the underserved community, this proposed program seeks to develop a continuous and systematic biochar production system that is affordable, mobile, and modular for wide application, easy deployment, and flexible capacity expansion.
Inflatable Low-cost Exterior Window Attachments (Amount Awarded: $200,000)
- Heat waves have become increasingly common in large urban “heat islands” over the past 50 years. Air conditioning costs consume a disproportionate income for disadvantaged populations, particularly in dense, low-income urban communities.
- This project will explore the creation of an innovative automated exterior window shade that will carry a very low cost and the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption required to cool apartments and homes.
Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals, Inc.
Development of Allothermal Rotary Gasifier with CO2 Acceptor for Hydrogen Production from Coal Waste and Biomass (Amount Awarded: $250,000)
- A low-cost, mobile, and modular rotary kiln gasifier will be developed to produce hydrogen-enriched syngas from co-located coal waste and biomass to facilitate hydrogen economy, remove environmental concerns and help revitalize local underserved communities.