DOE announces SBIR/STTR FY16 Phase 1 Release 1 awards; four for fuel cell membrane development
28 January 2016
The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the 2016 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 1 Awards, including four projects focused on durable and inexpensive polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) for transportation and stationary fuel cell applications. (Earlier post.)
These projects are awarded through the Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Award winners are:
NanoSonic Inc., of Virginia, will develop and demonstrate high-temperature, hydrocarbon-based membranes that meet the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties necessary to qualify for the demanding environments that exist within a fuel cell vehicle’s lifetime.
NEI Corporation, of New Jersey, will develop a novel PEM, using highly proton-conducting heteropolyacids in an organic matrix in a novel way.
Amsen Technologies LLC, of Arizona, will develop a new low-cost, proton-conducting membrane for intermediate-temperature fuel cells based on a novel composite approach, which encompasses both the development of new, highly proton-conducting ionomers and the integration of an innovative membrane support.
Giner Inc., of Massachusetts, will develop novel hydrocarbon-based ionomeric membranes with high conductivity and mechanical strength for use in high-temperature fuel cell applications.
A combined cycle power plant in Germany has an efficiency of 61% electricity that is almost equal to most fuel cells or better if conversion to hydrogen is considered. The Emma Maersk ship engine gets 50% to propeller shaft. Both of them also use engine waste heat as co-generators. Co-generation for all buildings is the fastest cheapest way to implement carbon release reduction in the world. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 31 January 2016 at 05:23 AM
There has not been a lot of development in membranes for a while, this is a good effort.
SOFCs running natural gas with a turbine afterburner, combined cycle and combined heat an power for a process plant would use resources more efficiently.
Posted by: SJC | 01 February 2016 at 08:01 AM