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

这个小型企业创新研究（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，基于气凝胶的窗户插入物，可用于制造高性能窗户，适合双窗格足迹并实现三窗格性能。该项目将为与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，雇佣来自不同背景的学员和实习生，为美国培养多元化的STEM人才做出贡献。该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将推进高性能窗户用大型透明气凝胶插入件的制造知识。使用气凝胶插入物将使窗户行业在当前的双窗格窗户基础设施中实现三窗格性能，并满足2022年能源星星规范的更高性能要求。到目前为止，高透明嵌件已在实验室规模上成功制造，并集成到原型窗户产品中。该第二阶段项目将通过以下方式扩大这些插件的生产：（1）完成中试气凝胶制造装置的安装和测试，（2）将气凝胶材料的生产按比例放大到中试插入物和批量大小，以及（3）该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

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.