Energy Secretary focuses on American leadership during ORNL visit
During his first visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Energy Secretary Chris Wright compared the urgency of the lab’s World War II beginnings to today’s global race to lead in artificial intelligence, calling for a “Manhattan Project 2.”
Wright heard how ORNL capabilities are advancing fundamental research including through user facilities, unlocking nuclear energy potential, strengthening grid resilience and security, realizing quantum information technologies, and delivering manufacturing innovation.
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New ORNL Inventions
Enhancing Drain Water Heat Exchanger Performance by Increasing Wetted Surface Area
202405705 // Energy and Utilities
Hot water is extensively used in both residential and commercial buildings. Water heating alone accounts for 18% of residential electricity consumption. The hot water is drained without recovering its wasted heat after usage, contributing to approximately 80-90% of energy loss in water heating. The enhanced drain waste heat exchanger improves the typical performance of a drain recovery heat exchanger by up to 2.5 times.
Rapid Prototyping Molecular Beam Epitaxy
202305327 // Materials // Manufacturing
The Rapid Prototyping Molecular Beam Epitaxy (RPMBE) is a novel method designed to simplify and reduce the cost of traditional Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) reactors used in academic research as well as the semiconductor and microelectronics industries. By replacing hot filaments with infrared (IR) lasers to heat the crucibles, RPMBE reduces the complexity, size, and expense of MBE reactors, allowing for rapid material discovery and prototyping without risking costly equipment.
Solventless Encapsulation of Inorganic Phase Change Materials
202305359 // Energy and Utilities // Materials
The invention addresses the long-standing challenge of inorganic phase change materials use in buildings envelope and other applications by encapsulating them in a secondary sheath. This technology is highly useful for applications such as in reducing building heating cooling loads, refrigerators, ice chests, water supply pipe systems, battery thermal management systems, and several other thermal energy storage applications.
A Self-Supervised Method for Accelerated Training of Neural Communication Receivers
202305374 // IT and Communications
This invention utilizes new techniques in machine learning (ML) to accelerate the training of ML-based communication receivers.
Electric Vehicle Bi-Directional Isolated DC-DC Charger
202305508 // Transportation // Energy and Utilities
The invention is related to the implementation of an bi-directional and isolated electric vehicle charger. The bidirectionality allows the electric vehicles to support the grid in case of disturbances thereby reducing the stress on the existing infrastructure. The invention is related to the specific implementation of such a high power charger while achieving high efficiency, low EMI and high power density across the wide operating range required for both 400 V class and 800 v class vehicles.
Polymer-cellulose Nanocomposite Mats via Scalable Wet-laid Process via Nanofibrillar Dispersion
202405697 // Manufacturing // Materials
The technologies describe polymer cellulose nanocomposite mats and the process for construction.
Detecting Masquerade Attacks in Controller Area Networks Using Graph Machine Learning
202405750 // Security and Defense // Transportation
This invention introduces a novel framework for detecting masquerade attacks in the CAN bus using graph machine learning. By representing CAN bus frames as message sequence graphs (MSGs) and enriching each node with contextual statistical attributes from time series, we can enhance detection capabilities across various attack patterns compared to using only graph-based features. This method ensures a comprehensive and dynamic analysis of CAN frame interactions, improving robustness and efficiency.
High Temperature Resistant Attachment Method for Optical Fiber Sensors
202405775 // Detectors and Sensors // Energy and Utilities
A novel method that prevents detachment of an optical fiber from a metal/alloy tube and allows strain measurement up to higher temperatures, about 800 C has been developed. Standard commercial adhesives typically only survive up to about 400 C; they detach at >500 C at the higher operating temperatures. This problem has been solved by the novel technique, permitting operation up to 800 C, which are representative of extreme molten salt reactor temperatures at which measurements are to be made.
Sustainable and Biomaterial Based Sizing for Synthetic and Natural Fibers
202405787 // Chemicals // Materials
We proposed and developed a carbon nanofiber (CNF) suspension-based sizing agent, that resulted in improved interfacial, and mechanical properties. The CNF dispersed sizing agent can be applied in a relatively simpler way (by passing the continuous tow through it).
Coil Configurations to Enable Combined Wireless and Conductive EV Charging
202405788 // Energy and Utilities
The invention discusses charging coil designs that can be utilized as a transformer for plug in EV charging, as well as inductive coils for wireless charging. This invention enables providing both inductive wireless and plug in EV charging at the same facility by adding a minimum number of components.
Integrated Conductive and Inductive Charging Architecture
202405789 // Transportation
The invention integrates conductive and inductive charging in a single electric vehicle charger.
High-Capacity, 120V Heat Pump Water Heater for Gas Replacement
202405806 // Energy and Utilities // Healthcare and Biology
A compact, energy-efficient 120V (15 amp) heat pump water heater (HPWH) for seamless replacement of conventional residential water heaters has been developed. This solution addresses common barriers in retrofitting existing units while maintaining performance standards.
Innovative Process for Activated Carbon Fibers
202405809 // Materials // Transportation
Activated carbon fibers play a vital role in filtration, gas separation and purification, but conventional production methods require high energy input and multiple processing steps. This technology streamlines the manufacturing process, reducing energy consumption while maintaining high adsorption efficiency. By optimizing key treatment steps, the method offers a scalable and cost-effective approach to producing high-performance activated carbon fibers, making it suitable for industries seeking more sustainable and economical material solutions.
Flat to Form Architectured Structures
202405814 // Manufacturing
Manufacturing large composite structures presents challenges related to cost, time and mold complexity. This novel approach leverages multi-functional materials and stiffness-based architectures to transform flat structures into complex 3D surfaces without the need for large molds. Inspired by origami and kirigami principles, this technology enables rapid, scalable production of intricate geometries for a variety of industries.
Additively Manufactured Structures for Pressure Relief of Irradiation Capsules
202405817 // Manufacturing // Energy and Utilities
Researchers have developed a compact, additively manufactured pressure-limiting structure (PLS) designed for critical environments, such as irradiation capsules in nuclear research reactors. This innovative design enhances safety by providing a controlled pressure release mechanism that does not negatively impact the design function of the original component but improves safety performance by preventing catastrophic failures.
System and Method for Part Porosity Monitoring of Additively Manufactured Components Using Machining
202405819 // Manufacturing // IT and Communications
Detecting porosity in additive manufacturing (AM) parts is essential for ensuring quality and optimizing process parameters. This technology provides a method for identifying porosity in AM components by monitoring machining operations. Using external sensors and tool position data, the system pinpoints porosity locations along the machining pass.
Hard Carbon Anode for Sodium-ion Batteries
202405829 // Materials // Energy and Utilities
This technology introduces a novel method for producing high-performance hard carbon anodes from biomass and plastic waste, addressing both energy storage challenges and environmental concerns. The innovative approach transforms waste materials into cost-effective, high-energy-density anodes that enhance the efficiency and lifespan of sodium-ion batteries.
Resilient Entanglement Distribution in a Multihop Quantum Network
202405834 // IT and Communications // Security and Defense
As quantum networks evolve, ensuring reliable and scalable entanglement distribution is crucial for secure communications, computing, and metrology applications. Researchers have demonstrated a multihop quantum network designed to enhance connectivity and maintain service despite link failures. This system integrates quantum and classical networking elements, leveraging adaptive resource management and link recovery techniques to optimize performance and resilience.
Radio Frequency Spectrum Audit to Inventory Private Cellular Base Station Infrastructure
202405835 // Security and Defense // Energy and Utilities
Unauthorized private cellular base stations pose a significant cybersecurity risk, enabling malicious activities such as data interception, privacy violations, and unauthorized network access. This novel technology provides a passive detection method for identifying and locating these rogue devices within designated areas, such as campuses, research facilities, or critical infrastructure. Unlike traditional methods, this approach does not require interaction with cellular networks or service provider infrastructure, ensuring a non-intrusive and cost-effective security enhancement.
Terpenes Conversion to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
202405839 // Transportation // Energy and Utilities
A new catalytic process enables the conversion of biomass-derived monoterpenes into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This approach provides an alternative route to producing essential fuel components, including aromatics and cycloalkanes, which are necessary for aviation fuel performance.
Method to Reduce Energy Costs for CO2 Capture by Mineral Looping
202405846 // Energy and Utilities
This technology introduces an energy-efficient process for regenerating magnesium-based CO2 capture materials, reducing the thermal requirements traditionally associated with sorbent reuse. By employing a novel regeneration method, this approach enhances material longevity and maintains CO2 capture performance while lowering operational costs.
Development of the SAGE Genetic Toolkit in Fungi
202405851 // Chemicals
The Serine recombinase-assisted genome engineering (SAGE) toolkit is a breakthrough technology that enhances metabolic engineering in filamentous fungi and yeasts, making the process more efficient and scalable. By enabling precise, site-specific, and iterative DNA integration while recycling selectable markers, SAGE simplifies strain development and drives innovation across industrial biotechnology, from bio-based materials to sustainable manufacturing.
Sustainable Multifunctional Vitrimers for 3D Printing and Composites
202505865 // Chemicals // Materials
A novel approach enables the upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into dynamically bonded vitrimer materials with superior recyclability and mechanical performance. By incorporating bio-based dynamic crosslinkers, these materials offer enhanced durability, high tensile strength and self-healing properties.
To learn more about these technologies, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call
865-574-1051.
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