SBIR Phase I: Examination of Diamond Cathodes to Advance Thermionic Energy Conversion-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology for Use in Onsite, DC, Power Generation Needs

该项目的广泛影响/商业潜力是深远的，因为TEC-SOFC发电机的成功示范将极大地惠及众多民用和军事部门，并鼓励对这种创新发电方法进行进一步的科学研究。老化的美国电网缺乏足够的冗余，可能会使美国容易受到连锁停电的影响，这为追求高效、安全和可靠的发电方案提供了明确的动机。TEC-SOFC发电机可以作为住宅或工业应用的现场发电机，消除消费者对当前美国电网的依赖。初步估计，以天然气为燃料的发电量是从电网购买电力成本的1/20，同时产生的温室气体排放量明显低于目前以化石燃料为基础的方法。此外，这种便携式技术作为一种战术发电机将立即使军方受益，因为它比现有的发电机设计大大提高了燃料效率。计算表明，军方广泛采用TEC-SOFC发电机可以将与燃料相关的成本降低60%。这项研究的有益科学影响预计包括更详细地了解先进阴极材料的热电子发射性能，从而使一系列实用的TEC设备能够被科学地实现和商业化。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目旨在开发一种新的、高效的发电技术，特别适合于小规模、移动和离网型应用。这项专有技术结合了热离子能量转换(TEC)和固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)这两项高效技术，创造了一种具有以下前景的发电机：1)大大提高了燃料效率，2)减少了温室气体排放，3)降低了运营成本。由于由此产生的TEC-SOFC发电机是基于成熟的物理和工程原理，我们预计产品开发将快速(五年)。在第一阶段SBIR项目中进行的研究旨在证明使用先进电极材料的低温(1000oC)TEC器件的可行性，同时推进已经很有希望的初步成果。具体任务将旨在确定各种电极成分和配置的特性，然后将其应用到预原型中。第一阶段完成后，预计在低于1000 oC的温度下，TEC的功率输出水平将超过0.1 mW/cm2。预计到第二阶段结束时，功率输出水平将继续提高到5W/cm2，届时将开始全面TEC-SOFC发电机的开发、测试和商业化。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is far-reaching, as successful demonstration of a TEC-SOFC generator will significantly benefit numerous civilian and military sectors, and also encourage further scientific research into this innovative power generation method. The aging U.S. electrical grid, which lacks sufficient redundancy and can leave the country susceptible to cascading blackouts, provides clear motivation for pursuing efficient, safe, and reliable power generation schemes. A TEC-SOFC generator could serve as an onsite generator for residential or industrial applications, eliminating consumer dependency on the current U.S. electrical grid. When fueled by natural gas, preliminary estimates indicate power production at 1/20th the cost of purchasing from the grid, while producing significantly less greenhouse gas emission than current fossil-fuel based approaches. Additionally, this portable technology would immediately benefit the military as a tactical electric generator due to its greatly improved fuel efficiency over existing generator designs. Calculations suggest that widespread adoption of TEC-SOFC generators by the military could reduce fuel-associated costs by 60%. Beneficial scientific impacts from this research are expected to include a more detailed understanding of the thermionic emission performance from advanced cathode materials, so that a range of practical TEC devices can be scientifically realized and commercialized.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop a novel, highly efficient power generation technology particularly suited for small-scale, mobile, and off-grid type applications. This proprietary technology involves the combination of thermionic energy conversion (TEC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)?two highly efficient technologies?to create a generator with prospects of: 1) Greatly improved fuel efficiency, 2) Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and 3) Cheaper operating costs. Because the resulting TEC-SOFC generator is based on well-established physical and engineering principles, we anticipate rapid product development (five years). Research to be conducted during this Phase I SBIR project is meant to prove the feasibility of low temperature (1000oC) TEC devices that utilize advanced electrode materials while also advancing already promising preliminary results. Specific tasks will aim to characterize various electrode compositions and configurations, which will then be implemented into a ?pre-prototype.? Upon completion of Phase I, TEC power output levels in excess of 0.1mW/cm2 at temperatures below 1000oC are anticipated. Power output levels are expected to continually increase up to 5 W/cm2 by the end of Phase II, at which time the development, testing, and commercialization of the full TEC-SOFC generator will commence.