TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY High-Voltage Insulator Having Multiple Materials

Notice ID:

IL-13496

Department/Ind. Agency:

ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF

Sub-tier:

ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF

Sub Command:

LLNS – DOE CONTRACTOR

Office:

LLNS – DOE CONTRACTOR

All Dates/Times are:

(utc-07:00) pacific standard time, los angeles, usa

Updated Published Date:

(utc-07:00) pacific standard time, los angeles, usa

Original Published Date:

2023-05-12 10:57:00

Original Response Date:

jun 11, 2023 11:00 am pdt

Inactive Policy:

15 days after response date

Original Set Aside:

Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop its high-voltage insulator having multiple materials. Background: High voltage applications utilize insulator materials that can handle mechanical stresses as well as high intermittent heat loads. Combining materials, segmenting them in a device, can take advantage of differing material properties for higher tolerances and an overall better performance. Description: The approach is to build a high voltage insulator consisting of two materials: Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone (“PEEK”) and Machinable Ceramic (“MACOR”). PEEK has a high stress tolerance but cannot withstand high temperatures, while MACOR has high heat tolerance but is difficult to machine and can be brittle. MACOR is used for the plasma-facing surface, while PEEK will handle the stresses and high voltages. This approach also uses a precision-machined threaded insulator design with gaskets and grease to seal the parts. Advantages/Benefits: Allows mating two unlike materials to take advantage of differing physical properties Does not require epoxy that can trap gas in the parts, require curing, and may need additional pieces to align the parts The thread and gasket designs make the track length across the material long enough for the failure modes to arc through the material Potential Applications: High-voltage insulators with plasma facing components (e.g., Dense Plasma Focus, Z-machine) Plasma rail-gun construction Development Status: Current stage of technology development: TRL 3 (Analytical and experimental critical function and characteristic proof of concept) LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention. U.S. Patent No. 10,978,225 High-Voltage Insulator Having Multiple Materials issued 4/13/2021. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0327615 HIGH-VOLTAGE INSULATORS HAVING MULTIPLE MATERIALS published 10/21/2021. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's high voltage insulators should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. 3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's high voltage insulators. The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Innovation and Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-779 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: IL-13496

7000 East Avenue

Livermore , CA 94551

USA

Primary Point of Contacts:

Genaro Mempin

Secondary Point of Contact:

Charlotte Eng