SPECIAL NOTICE
44 -- TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Electric Current Enhanced Diffusion Welding for Manufacturing High-Temperature Compact Heat Exchangers
- Notice Date
- 9/27/2023 8:34:22 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 332410
— Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE�DOE CNTR Idaho Falls ID 83415 USA
- ZIP Code
- 83415
- Solicitation Number
- BA-1335
- Response Due
- 9/27/2024 8:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 09/27/2024
- Point of Contact
- Andrew Rankin
- E-Mail Address
-
andrew.rankin@inl.gov
(andrew.rankin@inl.gov)
- Description
- TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Electric Current Enhanced Diffusion Welding for Manufacturing High-Temperature Compact Heat Exchangers A new approach to fabricating compact heat exchangers for high-temperature applications Opportunity:�� Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering to enter into a license or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this new diffusion welding technology for manufacturing high-temperature compact heat exchangers. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: �����Diffusion welding of high-temperature materials such as Alloy 617 is technically challenging, costly, and in some cases, nearly impossible due to surface preparation needs, residual porosity, precipitate formation at weld interfaces, and significantly reduced elevated-temperature mechanical properties. Researchers at INL have developed a method to overcome these challenges through Electric Current Enhanced Diffusion Welding enabled by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). This new process enables cost-effective fabrication of compact heat exchangers for elevated-temperature applications such as nuclear microreactors and concentrated solar power plants. Experiments have demonstrated that Alloy 617 components joined with this process have superior grain growth across the interfaces, which is critical to acquire mechanical properties like the base metal. This technique overcomes challenges with the existing diffusion welding techniques. The primary challenge in the current state of the art of SPS processing is the limited capacity to manufacture large parts, such as heat exchanger components. However, INL's recently designed and built DCS-800 unit, the most extensively known SPS system in the world, will be able to fabricate plates that meet the size requirements to qualify for diffusion welding. Benefits:��� ������ Superior grain growth across the component interface and eliminate diffusion welding interfaces. The diffusion welds are homogenous across the width of the plate. Limit precipitate formation at the interface. Enhanced performance in grain boundary migration compared to previous studies. Improved overall weld quality using EFAS compared to hot pressing and hot isostatic pressing methods. Significant energy savings (70�90%) in manufacturing compact heat exchangers compared with diffusion welding using hot pressing and hot isostatic pressing. Target Applications:�� � Fabrication of compact heat exchangers for elevated-temperature applications, including advanced nuclear reactors, concentrated solar power, and chemical processing plants. Development Status:� TRL 3; undergoing proof-of-concept work. � IP Status: ������� Patent Application No. 18/183,513, �Methods of Forming Articles by Applying Electric Current and Pressure to Materials, and Related Articles,� BEA Docket No. BA-1335. � Additional Information: Zhang, X, Rupp, RE, Rufner, JF, & McMurtrey, MD. ""Electric-Field-Assisted Diffusion Welding to Fabricate Alloy 617 Compact Heat Exchangers."" Proceedings of the . Volume 4A: Materials and Fabrication. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. July 17�22, 2022. V04AT06A005. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/PVP2022-83842 INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment�s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/94bf6fadb7e14b8a9974ec2681cc7d79/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
- Zip Code: 83415
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 83415
- Record
- SN06846644-F 20230929/230927230056 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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