Sandia National Laboratories, the lead research and development laboratory for the Department of Energy’s physical security needs, is seeking one or more business partners in the area of hydrogen production via nuclear energy field, develop Sandia’s Integrated Boiler, Superheater, and Decomposer for Sulfuric Acid Decomposition technology.

DETAILS

Solicitation Number: 09_327

Sandia is seeking a company or companies to commercially license the technology described in this posting, and expects the successful company(ies) to engage in the creation of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Sandia to further develop the technology. Commercial licensees will have the opportunity to obtain a license to the intellectual properties for reasonable compensation. It is expected that the company(ies) that works with Sandia to develop the Integrated Boiler, Superheater, and Decomposer for Sulfuric Acid to Sulfur Dioxide technology will promptly incorporate it into a commercial product.

Potential partners must provide Sandia information describing their ability to research, design, develop, manufacture, distribute, market, and service fully functional diagnostics systems.

Sulfur-based thermochemical cycles, including the Sulfur-Iodine cycle and the Hybrid Sulfur cycle, are used to produce hydrogen from water. A chemical process common to these sulfur-based cycles is the degradation of sulfuric acid to produce sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water. The acid is heated to boiling, superheated to the decomposition temperature, >750ºC, and decomposed. The combination of high temperatures and sulfuric acid produces a highly corrosive environment and high temperature connections between equipment. A method and apparatus, constructed of ceramics and other corrosion resistant materials, for decomposing sulfuric acid into sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water using an integrated boiler, superheater, and decomposer unit comprising a bayonet-type, dual-tube, counter-flow heat exchanger with a catalytic insert and a central baffle to increase recuperation efficiency is described. By using corrosion resistant components and integrating the three processes into a single operation, problems with corrosion and high-temperature connections of equipment are eliminated.

CONTACT

To express interest in this opportunity, please respond by mail to Christopher Cuaron by 31 October 2009. Please indicate the date and title of the FBO notice. Include company and contact information, as well as a description of how your company meets Sandia’s criteria and could best contribute to the formation of a CRADA partnership or license and the subsequent commercialization of this technology

Contracting Office Address: PO Box 5800MS: 0115 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185

Primary Point of Contact.: Christopher Cuaron

ccuaron@sandia.gov

Phone: (505) 844-8046