{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":18186,"title":"Heat Harvesting by Artificial Muscles","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10597,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10593,"level":3,"code":"TX03.1.4","title":"Dynamic Energy Conversion","definition":"Dynamic energy conversion generates electrical power or mechanical work through the conversion of heat using mechanical heat engines.","exampleTechnologies":"Advanced Stirling radioisotope generator; 1-10 kWe Stirling fission power system; Brayton and Rankine cycle generators with solar, fission, or chemical energy sources","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"The expected results of the Phase I project will provide a strong technical base for Phase II follow-on research and development work, so as to apply this technology to NASA's roadmap in the discipline area of Space Power and Energy Storage (SPES) for Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD). In addition, the National Research Council has identified \"Increase Available Power\" as a NASA Top Technical Challenge. Also, a NASA Grand Challenge is \"Affordable and Abundant Power\" for NASA mission activities. As such, novel energy harvesting technologies are critical toward supporting future power generation systems to begin to meet these challenges. NASA has many unique needs for space power that require special technology solutions due to extreme environmental conditions. These missions would benefit from the advanced thermal energy harvesting technology proposed here. It will provide a valuable supply of electricity obtained from harvesting waste heat from diverse sources such as engines, solar cells, microchips, warm soils, as well as heat sources in extra-terrestrial locations.
The proposed technology will provide a valuable supply of electricity obtained from harvesting waste heat from diverse sources such as jet engines, vehicle engines and exhaust pipes, microchips, solar cells, warm soils, power stations, boilers, oil refineries, steel manufacturing, glass manufacturing, gas pipelines, compressors, furnaces, ovens, incinerators, etc. This in turn will reduce the net power consumption. Market sectors with attractiveness for waste heat recovery include oil and gas extraction, petroleum and coal products manufacturing, chemical plants, pulp and paper mills, steel, metal, glass, and brick manufacturing, etc. Of special interest is heat waste harvested in remote locations, helping to provide independence from the electric grid.","description":"NASA emphasizes the need to implement energy harvesting in its future mission activities. By harvesting energy from the ambient surroundings, there is less dependence on a primary power supply (e.g., combustion engines, fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, etc.). Overall power consumption is thereby reduced, equipment weight goes down and logistical supply needs are simplified. Future NASA missions will need innovative energy harvesting methods that are cost effective with reduced mass, reduced volume, and that accommodate extreme operating conditions. For this STTR application, Lynntech has teamed Dr. Ray Baughman (Director of NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas) to pioneer the use of artificial muscles (also known as coiled polymer actuators) as an advanced method for heat-to-electricity energy harvesting. Our primary application is to harvest waste heat from airplane engines, but it could be adapted for use in many other applications where waste heat is generated.","startYear":2014,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2014,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":507010,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Anuncia","lastName":"Gonzalez-Martin","fullName":"Anuncia Gonzalez-martin","fullNameInverted":"Gonzalez-Martin, Anuncia","primaryEmail":"anuncia.gonzalez-martin@lynntech.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":3164170,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Scott","lastName":"Jensen","fullName":"Scott Jensen","fullNameInverted":"Jensen, Scott","primaryEmail":"Scott.L.Jensen@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"caption":"Heat Harvesting by Artificial Muscles Project Image","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303551,"fileName":"STTR_2014_1_BC_T3.01-9927","fileSize":21252,"objectId":300101,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"20.8 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303551,"fileName":"STTR_2014_1_BC_T3.01-9927","fileSize":21252,"objectId":300101,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"20.8 KB"}],"id":300101,"title":"Project Image","description":"Heat Harvesting by Artificial Muscles Project Image","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":18186,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[{"transitionId":69352,"projectId":18186,"transitionDate":"2014-12-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":307951,"fileName":"STTR_2014_1_FSC_T3.01-9927","fileSize":42180,"objectId":69352,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"41.2 KB"},"transitionId":69352,"fileId":307951}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"December 2014"},{"transitionId":69353,"projectId":18186,"partner":"Other","transitionDate":"2015-05-01","path":"Advanced To","relatedProjectId":33895,"relatedProject":{"acronym":"","projectId":33895,"title":"Heat Harvesting by Artificial Muscles","startTrl":3,"currentTrl":6,"endTrl":6,"benefits":"The expected outcome of the Phase II will allow applying this technology to NASA's roadmap in the area of Space Power and Energy Storage (SPES) (Energy Harvesting is listed under Power Generation) for Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, Space Operations Mission Directorate, and Aeronautics Mission Directorate. In addition, the National Research Council has identified \"Increase Available Power\" as a NASA Top Technical Challenge. Also, a NASA Grand Challenge is \"Affordable and Abundant Power\" for NASA mission activities. As such, novel energy harvesting technologies are critical toward supporting future power generation systems to begin to meet these challenges. NASA has many unique needs for power that require special technology solutions due to extreme environmental conditions. These missions would benefit from the proposed versatile, advanced thermal energy harvesting technology. It will provide valuable mechanical and electrical energy from heat harvesting from diverse sources (both in space and terrestrial) to power multiple electronic devices and operate diverse mechanical devices. Additionally, the proposed technology will help enhancing the sustainability of NASA's facilities.
The proposed technology will provide a valuable supply of mechanical and electrical power obtained from harvesting waste heat from diverse sources such as jet engines, vehicle engines, rocket engines, exhaust pipes, microchips, solar cells, warm soils, power stations, boilers, cooling towers, power plants, oil refineries, steel manufacturing, glass and brick manufacturing, gas pipelines, compressors, furnaces, ovens, incinerators, refrigerators, electronic devices, etc. This in turn will reduce the net power consumption. Market sectors with attractiveness for waste heat recovery include oil and gas extraction, petroleum and coal products manufacturing, chemical plants, pulp and paper mills, steel, metal, glass, and brick manufacturing, etc. It can power multiple electronic devices (including wireless sensors) and operate diverse mechanical devices (including valves and thermal switches). Of special interest is heat waste harvested in remote locations, helping to provide independence from the electric grid.","description":"NASA emphasizes the need to implement energy harvesting in its future mission activities, as well as to conserve on energy and to enhance the sustainability of NASA's facilities. By harvesting energy from the ambient surroundings, there is less dependence on a primary power supply (e.g., combustion engines, fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, etc., and even AC electricity for ground applications), and a possibility for independent operation of assorted electronic and mechanical devices, including remote and wireless sensors. Differential heat sources are very abundant, both in ground and space scenarios. For this STTR application, Lynntech has teamed up with Dr. Ray Baughman (Director of NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas) to pioneer the use of artificial muscles (also known as coiled polymer actuators) as an advanced method for energy harvesting. The proposed innovative technology for efficient capture and conversion of thermal energy is very versatile: it can convert heat into mechanical and electrical energy, and it can heat harvest under typical ambient environments, under high intensity energy environments (as found in propulsion testing and launch facilities), and under cryogenic temperatures. Therefore, the proposed technology can be adapted for use in multiple space and ground applications for heat capture and conversion.","startYear":2015,"startMonth":5,"endYear":2017,"endMonth":5,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":452,"endDateString":"May 2017","startDateString":"May 2015"},"infoText":"Advanced within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (Heat Harvesting by Artificial Muscles)","dateText":"May 2015"}],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303551,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":300101,"description":"Heat Harvesting by Artificial Muscles Project Image","projectId":18186,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"leadOrganization":{"canUserEdit":false,"city":"College Station","congressionalDistrict":"Texas 17","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":2656,"organizationName":"Lynntech, Inc.","organizationType":"Industry","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"TX","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Texas","stateTerritoryId":29},"stateTerritoryId":29,"ein":"461467295 ","dunsNumber":"184758308","uei":"PMVAL8J63516","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"Industry"},"supportingOrganizations":[{"acronym":"SSC","canUserEdit":false,"city":"Stennis Space Center","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4859,"organizationName":"Stennis Space Center","organizationType":"NASA_Center","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"MS","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Mississippi","stateTerritoryId":41},"stateTerritoryId":41,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"},{"canUserEdit":false,"city":"Richardson","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":9838,"organizationName":"University of Texas Dallas","organizationType":"Academia","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"TX","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Texas","stateTerritoryId":29},"stateTerritoryId":29,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"Academia"}],"statesWithWork":[{"abbreviation":"MS","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Mississippi","stateTerritoryId":41},{"abbreviation":"TX","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Texas","stateTerritoryId":29}],"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":779,"endDateString":"Dec 2014","startDateString":"Jun 2014"}}