SBIR Phase II: Scaling of a Rapid Aerogel Insert Manufacturing System for High Performance Windows.

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是开发一种具有成本效益的、透明的、基于气凝胶的窗口插入物，可用于制造适合双窗格足迹的高性能窗口，并实现三窗格的性能。该项目将为扩大创新气凝胶制造工艺相关的技术挑战提供知识。使用这些基于气凝胶的高性能窗户将通过降低建筑供暖和制冷成本以及减少温室气体排放来改善美国公民的健康和福利。该项目还将通过与学术界的持续和扩大合作，雇用来自不同背景的学员和实习生，为美国多元化STEM劳动力的发展做出贡献。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目将推进用于高性能窗户的大型透明气凝胶插入物的制造知识。使用气凝胶插入物将使窗户行业在目前的双窗格窗户基础设施中实现三窗格性能，并满足2022年能源之星规范的更高性能要求。到目前为止，高透明度的嵌件已经成功地在实验室规模上制造出来，并集成到原型窗口产品中。该二期项目将通过以下方式扩大这些插入件的生产规模：(1)完成中试气凝胶制造设备的安装和测试；(2)将气凝胶材料的生产规模扩大到中试插入件和批量生产；(3)批量生产中试气凝胶插入件，供客户和行业合作伙伴测试。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a cost-effective, transparent, aerogel-based window insert that can be used to make high-performance windows that will fit in a double-pane footprint and achieve triple-pane performance. This project will contribute knowledge to the technological challenges associated with scaling up an innovative aerogel manufacturing process. Use of these aerogel-based high-performance windows will improve the health and welfare of US citizens by reducing building heating and cooling costs as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This project will also contribute to the development of a diverse STEM workforce in the U.S. through continued and expanded collaborations with academia, to hire trainees and interns from diverse backgrounds.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance knowledge in the manufacturing of large transparent aerogel inserts for high-performance windows. Use of the aerogel insert will allow the window industry to achieve triple-pane performance in the current double pane window infrastructure and meet the higher performance requirements of the 2022 ENERGY STAR specifications. To date, highly transparent inserts have been successfully manufactured at the laboratory scale and integrated into prototype window products. This Phase II project will scale up production of these inserts by: (1) completing installation and testing of a pilot aerogel manufacturing device, (2) scaling production of the aerogel material to pilot insert and batch sizes, and (3) producing pilot aerogel inserts in bulk for customer and industry partner testing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.