New ORNL inventions

Modified Plasma Treated Porous Carbon Fiber for Carbon Capture with Electrical Current Desorption
202104985 // Energy and Utilities // Manufacturing
This technology is a porous carbon fiber mat for which an electrical current allows easy desorption of captured carbon, allowing for configuration in air handling units without pressure drop issues. Carbon fiber mats, however, have minimal chemical functionality that allow for carbon capture, and thus must be post-modified for desirable synthetic procedures. Plasma techniques applied to the mat surface changes the chemical functional groups which makes this possible for proper post-chemical functionalization. 

Vehicle Wireless Charging through Dual Dynamic Operations
202105013 // Transportation
Technologies are described directed to vehicle wireless charging through dual dynamic operations.

Zero Voltage Switching AC-DC Converter Based on Zero State Modulation
202205089 // Energy and Utilities
Power conversion is required in many applications including grid-interfacing battery storage, solar, fuel-cell and electric vehicle chargers. Converting from AC to DC power using a power convertor is critical, but its size, cost and performance have not been optimized. The increase in switching frequency reduces the size of inductors/capacitors and improves control, but often results in switching loss and electromagnetic interference (EMI). This technology is a novel implementation of an AC to DC power converter that will allow the converter to operate at high switching frequencies while minimizing switching loss and EMI and improving power density. 

Chip Enabled Raised Pavement Markers for Enhanced Perception and Sensing in Intelligent Transportation Systems
202205166 // IT and Communications
Technologies are described directed to chip enabled raised pavement markers (CERPMs) for enhanced perception and sensing in intelligent transportation systems (ITS).

Optimal Regional Architecture Generation for Electrified National Transport
202205225 // Energy and Utilities // Transportation
This invention is a concept for an optimal on-road transportation system architecture. In this solution, the vehicle powertrain architecture, the operations systems, energy flow and infrastructure subsystems are integrated for total system optimization. ORNL has developed an advanced commercial vehicle, road and freight network, and energy systems assessment called the OR-AGENT modeling framework. This framework assimilates critical data for operating scenarios — including freight mobility, traffic, weather and energy pathways — to provide a regional specific constrained-optimal infrastructure deployment solution.

Architected High Stiffness Thermal Protection Material
202305275 // Materials // Security and Defense
A material with a high elastic modulus (above 100 gigapascals), low thermal conductivity and high working temperature (above 500 degrees Celsius) was needed for high temperature cutting tests. No bulk material properties satisfied these three conditions. Architected materials are a class of materials for which cellular architecture defines the properties in addition to chemistry and microstructure. Leveraging the additive capabilities of ORNL, an architected material was developed to have increased stiffness and reduced thermal conductivity.

Mixed Monopole and Bi-Pole Architecture for Multi-Terminal DC Systems
202305295 // Energy and Utilities
Multi-terminal DC (MTdc) systems based on high-voltage DC (HVDC) transmission technology is an upcoming concept. In such systems, either asymmetric monopole or bi-pole systems are generally employed. Such systems are not suitable for easy expansion. In this invention a novel MTdc architecture suitable for easy expansion is proposed. This architecture enables connection of HVDC converters of different power ratings to the MTdc system.

Projected Patterns for Enhancing Background Oriented Schlieren
202305368 // Detectors and Sensors
The invention enables background-oriented schlieren (BOS) in an unobtrusive and/or stealth way with background of insufficient texture, in dark and nighttime applications, and with tuned feature geometry and size to enhance BOS sensitivity.

Direct Air Capture of CO2 Using Rotating Air Contactor with Potassium Hydroxide and Guanidine-Based Ligands
202305397 // Chemicals // Energy and Utilities
The solution proposed in this invention disclosure combines a rotating air contactor system with the utilization of environmentally friendly amino acid salts, specifically potassium hydroxide, and guanidine-based ligands to address the challenges of direct air capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Methods of Energy Efficient Sorbent Regeneration Used for Direct Air Capture
202305436 // Energy and Utilities // Materials
Direct air carbon capture (DAC) is needed to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. DAC can be performed using sorbents, which need to be continuously regenerated and recycled. Regeneration requires thermal energy. Based on direct steam stripping, this technology is a cost-effective and energy-efficient regeneration process for solid sorbents used for DAC. Steam regeneration is expected to avoid sorbent degradation. Furthermore, this system will significantly increase the regeneration rate, simplify the overall carbon dioxide capture process, and reduce energy costs compared to conventional conductive thermal regeneration. The technology consists of a direct-steam sorbent regeneration reactor that could efficiently regenerate the CO2 sorbent with up to 99% release of CO2 through direct steam exposure.

To learn more about these technologies, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call
865-574-1051.