Active

Contract Opportunity

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 and commercialize its ceramic nanofiber materials and their incorporation into novel design of ceramic filters for fluid treatment applications.

Background:

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration is an air treatment technology for removing ultra-fine particles from an air stream. A conventional filter consists of a large sheet of corrugated filter medium sealed in a filter housing. The corrugated structure increases surface area of the media and reduces the pressure drop across the filter. Although very expensive metal HEPA filters exist, typically the filter medium is non-woven paper, polymer, or fiberglass microfibers. These materials degrade under non-ambient conditions, which limits their use in industrial high temperature, corrosive and flammable settings, where a leak could cause serious hazards. LLNL has invested over a decade in the design of ceramic HEPA filters for the nuclear industry to address fire and corrosion concerns. The advantage of ceramic nanofibrous structures, including 3D-printed structures has been clear to LLNL researchers. However, the technology development lags behind the technology of developing nanofibrous materials of other compositions. The main challenge for developing the ceramic materials is shrinkage and embrittlement associated with the thermal treatments required to convert pre-ceramic precursors into ceramics.

Description:

LLNL researchers developed a novel method in preparing the ceramic nanofibrous material, which are used to attract and hold particles as well as unique filter designs. The ceramic fibers are prepared via electro spinning to make sheets of nanofibers. The sheets can then be formed into tubes of high surface area. Randomly packed tubular structures can be incorporated into segments of a filter pack for fluid (air or water) treatment applications. Alternatively, 3D printing techniques can be used to create novel grid like arrangements of ceramic filters with high surface area, which can be arranged in multiple filter stacks while maintaining a low pressure drop across the filter pack.

Advantages/Benefits:

• Can be used in harsh environments - inherent properties of ceramics including fire and corrosion resistance.


• Novel nanofiber forming process allows for the selection of chemical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of the ceramic nanofibers for different applications of interest.


• High surface-to-volume ratio of the ceramic nanofibers


• A variety of ceramics can be implemented into the filter pack.


• Optimized arrangement/stacking of filters can lower pressure drop through the filter pack.


• The innovative fiber design limits product loss, lowering cost; the self-supporting geometry can shrink freely, unlike the commonly used substrates that cause tearing or cracking.


• The geometry of mini tube structures provides better strength compared to a conventional membrane. The rolled ring structures have thicker walls, allowing for the support of higher stresses before failure occurs.

Potential Applications:

Filtration, fluid treatment, HEPA filters in extreme environments, gas treatment, porous ceramics

Development Status:

Current stage of technology development: TRL 3

LLNL has patent(s) on this invention.

U.S. Patent No. 11878261 System and method for engineered ceramic packages for use in fluid treatment technologies published 1/23/2024

U.S. Patent No. 11439932 System and method for engineered ceramic packages for use in fluid treatment technologies published 9/13/2022.

U.S. Patent No. 11433331 System and method for engineered ceramic packages for use in fluid treatment technologies published 9/6/2022

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 Ceramic Nanofiber Filter Pack for Fluid Treatment Technologies 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 Ceramic Nanofiber Filter Pack for Fluid Treatment Technologies.

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-13332 and IL-13377

Attachments/Links