INL Innovation Spotlight Precision Enhancement for Thermocouples: A Leap in Measurement Accuracy
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- BA-1531
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 221113 Nuclear Electric Power Generation
- PSC
- 4470 Nuclear Reactors
- Place of performance
- Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
This Special Notice is from the Department of Energy for an innovation spotlight opportunity focused on precision enhancement for thermocouples. The notice describes a groundbreaking method developed by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to extend the lifespan and accuracy of thermocouples, which are critical for temperature measurement across numerous industries. The technology introduces a precise method of short-range ordering on thermocouple wires through ohmic heating, which rearranges the atomic structure to combat drift and instability, ensuring long-term accuracy and reliability.
The purpose of this opportunity is to provide strategic access to this proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. There are no set-asides or deadlines, as this is an ongoing opportunity for businesses to engage with INL and explore licensing the technology. Eligible contractors span a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, energy production, scientific research, and healthcare, where precise temperature measurement is paramount. INL offers tailored licensing terms and provides support to help businesses leverage this innovative thermocouple solution.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
INL Innovation Spotlight
Precision Enhancement for Thermocouples: A Leap in Measurement Accuracy
This technology stabilizes thermocouples using ohmic heating, improving their accuracy and lifespan and meeting the need for reliable temperature measurements in various industries.
Overview:
Thermocouples, the backbone of temperature measurement in virtually every industry, suffer from accuracy drift over time, especially under high temperatures or radiation. This affects the quality and safety of processes and leads to frequent replacements and downtime. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a groundbreaking method to extend the lifespan and accuracy of thermocouples, addressing these challenges head-on. With a market spanning from manufacturing to aerospace, where precision is paramount, this solution opens the door to unprecedented reliability in temperature monitoring. As industries strive for efficiency and sustainability, the demand for durable, accurate thermocouples is more pronounced than ever, positioning INL's technology as a critical advancement.
Description:
The technology introduces a precise method of short-range ordering (SRO) on thermocouple wires through ohmic heating. This process rearranges the atomic structure of the thermocouple's alloys to combat drift and instability. This procedure can be performed in situ and post-manufacture, ensuring that thermocouples retain long-term accuracy. Unlike traditional calibration methods, which are often cumbersome and less effective, this approach uniformly treats the entire length of the thermocouple, ensuring consistent accuracy and significantly reducing the potential for drift. This method is a step forward in thermocouple technology and represents a paradigm shift in how temperature is measured and managed across applications.
Benefits:
- Enhanced Accuracy and Stability: Ensures high precision in temperature measurement over an extended period.
- Increased Lifespan: Reduces the need for frequent replacements, offering substantial cost savings and less environmental waste.
- Time and Energy Efficiency: Offers a 100-300x faster process than traditional heat soak methods, saving significant time and energy in calibration.
- Uniform Treatment: Applies corrections uniformly along the thermocouple length, eliminating discrepancies in measurement.
- Revolutionary Application Potential: This can be retroactively applied to existing thermocouples in the field, enhancing their performance without needing complete replacement.
Applications:
- Manufacturing and Industrial Processing
- Aerospace and Aviation
- Energy Production, including Nuclear and Renewable Sources
- Scientific Research and Development Laboratories
- Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
Development Status:
TRL 8 - Testing and demonstration were completed, and the system was validated.
IP Status:
US Patent Application No. 18/525,563, “Methods for Heat Treating Thermocouples Using Ohmic Heating and Related System,” BEA Docket No. BA-1531.
INL Tech Partnerships: Your Gateway to Innovation
INL offers strategic access to proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. We cater licensing terms to each business we work with, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Engage with our diverse technology offerings to propel your company forward.
Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
INL’s Technology Deployment department focuses exclusively on licensing intellectual property and partnering with industry collaborators capable of commercializing our innovations. Our goal is to commercialize the technologies developed by INL researchers. We do not engage in purchasing, manufacturing, procurement decisions, or providing funding. Additionally, this is not a call for external services to assist in the development of this technology.
Update #1 ·
INL Innovation Spotlight
Precision Enhancement for Thermocouples: A Leap in Measurement Accuracy
This technology stabilizes thermocouples using ohmic heating, improving their accuracy and lifespan and meeting the need for reliable temperature measurements in various industries.
Overview:
Thermocouples, the backbone of temperature measurement in virtually every industry, suffer from accuracy drift over time, especially under high temperatures or radiation. This affects the quality and safety of processes and leads to frequent replacements and downtime. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a groundbreaking method to extend the lifespan and accuracy of thermocouples, addressing these challenges head-on. With a market spanning from manufacturing to aerospace, where precision is paramount, this solution opens the door to unprecedented reliability in temperature monitoring. As industries strive for efficiency and sustainability, the demand for durable, accurate thermocouples is more pronounced than ever, positioning INL's technology as a critical advancement.
Description:
The technology introduces a precise method of short-range ordering (SRO) on thermocouple wires through ohmic heating. This process rearranges the atomic structure of the thermocouple's alloys to combat drift and instability. This procedure can be performed in situ and post-manufacture, ensuring that thermocouples retain long-term accuracy. Unlike traditional calibration methods, which are often cumbersome and less effective, this approach uniformly treats the entire length of the thermocouple, ensuring consistent accuracy and significantly reducing the potential for drift. This method is a step forward in thermocouple technology and represents a paradigm shift in how temperature is measured and managed across applications.
Benefits:
- Enhanced Accuracy and Stability: Ensures high precision in temperature measurement over an extended period.
- Increased Lifespan: Reduces the need for frequent replacements, offering substantial cost savings and less environmental waste.
- Time and Energy Efficiency: Offers a 100-300x faster process than traditional heat soak methods, saving significant time and energy in calibration.
- Uniform Treatment: Applies corrections uniformly along the thermocouple length, eliminating discrepancies in measurement.
- Revolutionary Application Potential: This can be retroactively applied to existing thermocouples in the field, enhancing their performance without needing complete replacement.
Applications:
- Manufacturing and Industrial Processing
- Aerospace and Aviation
- Energy Production, including Nuclear and Renewable Sources
- Scientific Research and Development Laboratories
- Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
Development Status:
TRL 8 - Testing and demonstration were completed, and the system was validated.
IP Status:
US Patent Application No. 18/525,563, “Methods for Heat Treating Thermocouples Using Ohmic Heating and Related System,” BEA Docket No. BA-1531.
INL Tech Partnerships: Your Gateway to Innovation
INL offers strategic access to proprietary technology, enhancing small business growth and contributing to economic and public advancement. We cater licensing terms to each business we work with, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Engage with our diverse technology offerings to propel your company forward.
Learn more about our licensing opportunities and the support we provide at https://inl.gov/technology-deployment/. For specific discussions on how your business can benefit, please contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
Similar open opportunities
| Opportunity | Agency | Set-aside | Responses due |
|---|---|---|---|
| TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: ThermaSpin High-Temperature Viscometer | Department of Energy | No set-aside | |
| Technology Licensing Opportunity: Room-Temperature Electrochemical Metallization of Rare Earth Elements | Department of Energy | No set-aside |
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity