SBIR/STTR Research Award

Increased Energy Efficiency: Applications of Highly Conductive Aluminum Covetic

Award identifier c75617f71b010725afa30dc0babbd50c5f1502e21f77c2cfe94f7298f20ef4ccAwarding agency Department of Energy

Award amount

$150,000

Program and phase

SBIR · Phase I

Award year

2016

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Award details

Awarding agency
Department of Energy
Branch
Not reported
Recipient company
GDC Industries LLC
Proposal award date
2016-02-19
Contract end date
2016-08-21
UEI
Not reported
Solicitation number
DE-FOA-0001366
Topic code
12b

Research abstract

The electrical energy transmission and distribution system in the United States loses 6% on average of the energy because of system inefficiencies. The energy inefficiency of electrical conductors accounts for the majority of these losses. The use of highly efficient conductors can improve energy efficiency by 50%. The development of a highly efficient aluminum conductor will deliver a 50% improvement in the transmission and distribution of electrical energy. Aluminum infused with nanocarbons via a special electrical process can provide this improvement by increasing the electrical conductivity of aluminum. Nanocarbons offer significant increases in energy efficiency as electrical conductors. The ability to incorporate them into metals allows the United States to unlock their potential. Aluminum covetic will create the next generation of electrical conductors that will offer the country a 50% improvement in energy efficiency of our electrical energy transmission and distribution network. Commercial Application and Other Benefits: Ohmic losses across the system are a major loss mechanism in transmission lines and in transformer windings. Replacing aluminum conductors with the more energy efficient covetic will cut Ohmic losses by 50%, ensuring a 50% energy savings in service over current commercial conductors. The US has produced roughly 172 quads of electricity since 2000. 10.8 quads have been lost because of inefficiencies in the T&D system. A 50% improvement in transmission efficiency would have save roughly 5.4 quads.

Technology keywords

Not reported

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Agency intelligence

Department of Energy

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