Success Stories

New Material Provides Greater Thermoelectric Conversion Efficiency

The breakthrough reveals another example
of the strategic importance of rare-earth elements

To read the full article, please click the link: https://www.ameslab.gov/news/news-releases/thermoelectric-conversion

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Ames Laboratory and Korean Institute of Industrial Technology partner on rare-earth research

Contacts:                                                                          For Release: June 7, 2011
Debra Covey, Ames Laboratory, 515-294-1048
Breehan Gerleman Lucchesi, Public Affairs, 515-294-9750

Ames, IA -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology, or KITECH. The agreement promotes international collaboration in rare-earth research.

The memorandum establishes a framework for the Ames Laboratory and KITECH to work together to make advancements in rare-earth processing techniques, to transfer rare-earth discoveries to industrial applications and to educate the next generation of rare-earth scientists and engineers.

"International challenges call for international collaborations, and this Memorandum of Understanding brings together the principal centers of rare-earth research from South Korea and the United States,” said Ames Laboratory Director Alex King. “We look forward to collaborating on projects that benefit both nations.”

King and KITECH President Kyoung-Hoan Na signed the agreement in Korea in April following the First International Workshop on Rare Metals, sponsored by the Korea Institute for Rare Metals, or KIRAM. King was an invited keynote speaker at the workshop. KIRAM officials also invited King to serve on its International Committee on Rare Metals.

“The importance of rare metals including rare earths is growing increasingly evident,” said Na.  “We are at the point where research and development in rare earths is of paramount importance.  I believe signing a memorandum of understanding with the Ames Laboratory is very meaningful, and I look forward to actual joint research and the exchange of technical information and technical professionals between Ames Lab and KITECH.

The Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory operated by Iowa State University. The Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems.

 

Work for Others: Transferring the unique capabilities and knowledge of The Ames Laboratory's research efforts to others.

The Ames Laboratory and the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) Immersive Engineering Laboratory (IEL) have worked together for several years to create real-time graphical and user interfaces for VE-Suite, an open source software toolkit that lets engineers interact with analysis data and graphical models to create an immersive engineering decision-making environment.  ARDEC was seeking an immersive engineering environment that could test the potential effects of different road conditions on its highly mobile multi-wheeled vehicles (HMMWV) and, therefore, sought out Dr. Mark Bryden and Associate Scientist Dr. Doug McCorkle at the Ames Laboratory’s Simulation, Modeling, and Decision Science (SMDS) program for assistance. This is one of the only groups in the country with expertise in this area of research. The goal of the project was to enable Army engineers to move from their desktop workstations with their engineering content (e.g. computer aided design data, engineering analysis data, geographical data) to a multi-wall immersive environment to communicate and explore different design scenarios with other project stakeholders. 

Ames Laboratory and ARDEC have developed the tools to create graphical models, eliminating the need for physical prototypes, saving time and money.  In addition, because the Army can interact with their subcontractors in an immersive engineering environment, they are actively involved in the decision-making process long before any metal is cut.

To experience this innovative work in action, please view the following video: