Argonne wins four R&D 100 awards for innovative technologies
ARGONNE , Ill. (July 9, 2004) — Four technologies developed or co-developed
at Argonne have been recognized with R&D 100 Awards, which highlight
some of the best products and technologies newly available for commercial
use from around the world. This is the 41st year the technology awards
have been given by R&D magazine to
recognize the "100 most technologically significant new products" from
the entries the magazine receive.
Argonne 's award-winning technologies are:
Hydrogen transport membrane for the separation of pure hydrogen
at high temperatures;
Grancrete bonded phosphate ceramic construction spray-on
structural cement and rapid construction process for low-cost housing;
Three-dimensional multiphase computer code to model glass
furnace design and performance;
Powertrain system analysis toolkit to aid in design of advanced
hybrid vehicles.
“In every case these awards represent the outcome of Argonne scientists
working closely with industry to apply basic science to meet real needs
of the market for benefits to users,” said Stephen D. Ban, director of
Argonne's Office of Technology
Transfer, which drives Argonne's efforts
to link companies to appropriate Argonne-developed technologies. “The spectrum
of exciting emerging products represented – from membranes for hydrogen
production to low-cost housing in developing countries to advanced hybrid
vehicle design – is indicative of the contributions scientists at Argonne
and other national laboratories are making to improve the quality of life
across the planet. Support of basic and applied science by the Department
of Energy makes this spectrum possible and will greatly enhance the economy
when these applications enter the marketplace.”
The hydrogen transport membrane for the separation of pure hydrogen
at high temperatures was developed by Argonne scientist Balu Balachandran
and colleagues Stephen Dorris and Tae Lee, in collaboration with Gary J.
Steigel, Richard Dunst and John Winslow at the National
Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh . This ceramic membrane provides pure hydrogen
gas by selectively separating hydrogen from gas mixtures generated by fossil
fuel-based processes. The membrane operates at the high temperatures and
pressures required by such processes as coal gasification and methane reforming,
without becoming embrittled by its interactions with hydrogen and sulfur.
The membrane was patented in 2003, and development of the technology is
underway with industrial partners Eltron
Research, Inc., and ITN Energy Systems, Inc. The technology is expected advance the “hydrogen economy” by
enabling the economical and environmentally friendly production of hydrogen
from carbon-based feedstocks, permitting the highly efficient generation
of electricity via fuel cells.
Grancrete spray-on structural phosphate ceramic cement was developed
by Argonne scientist Arun Wagh in collaboration with Jim Paul of Casa Grande
International of Mechanicsville, Va. The Grancrete magnesium-phosphate
cement powder would be mixed at a construction site with water and sand
into a slurry that would be sprayed onto polystyrene foam sheets in frames
and set as structural cement.
Within two to four hours, Grancrete system forms a rigid, long-lasting
structural wall or ceiling that is permanently bonded to the panels. The
resulting structures make it possible to offer long-lasting, easily maintained
housing to a large segment of the world's population that could not previously
obtain adequate shelter. A Grancrete structure of approximately 800 square
feet, for example, would cost $6000 in labor and materials to construct.
The Glass Furnace Model was developed by Argonne scientist Brian
Golchert and colleagues Steve Lottes, Michael Petrick, Chenn Qian Zhou
and the late Shen Lin Chang as a three-dimensional computer code, developed
for the glass industry to evaluate furnace design, performance and operation.
The code is used to generate a computer simulation that allows engineers
to “visualize” critical heat transfer, flow and reaction patterns within
the interior of a glass furnace. The simulation is used to conduct extensive
experiments, inexpensively on the computer, by varying key operating and
design parameters to determine their impact of overall furnace performance
and lead to higher efficiency and increased productivity.
The Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit allows vehicle designers
to develop realistic hybrid and powertrain control systems and
assess performance of components. Developed by Argonne engineers Aymeric
Rousseau, Phillip Sharer and Sylvain Pagerit, the computer
simulation provides accurate performance, fuel economy and emissions
simulations, allowing automotive and truck manufacturers and their
suppliers to select appropriate advanced technologies, bringing
them more quickly to the market in improved hybrid vehicle systems.
The Toolkit was released in 2003, and licensed not only to industry, including
Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler
Corp., General Motors, Exxon/Mobil, and
Lockheed Martin, and also to universities using the program to develop
designs for student competitions.
Argonne National Laboratory brings
the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and
creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology.
The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic
and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne
researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities,
and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific
problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for
a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed
by UChicago
Argonne, LLC for
the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please
contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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