Brian Krier directs TRESP, the Translational Research in Energy Support Program, for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northern and Central Pennsylvania. He says the program invested $500,000 in promising research with a high probability of commercial application or viability. The eight projects range from chemical solutions to biomass experiments to developing new heat exchangers.
At Penn State‘s main campus, projects include finding new electrolytes to work on medium-temperature fuel cells, catalytic conversation of biomass into liquid fuel, and developing the jatropha, a Central American oil seed plant, for additional yield. In Erie, Gannon University researchers will work on producing hydrogen and synthesis gas, in collaboration with Fluid Engineering, and a Penn State Erie team will explore the processing of high-temperature ceramic materials with SpinWorks and Visual Composite.
Penn State Altoona is developing models to design and develop seasonal thermal storage for solar arrays, capturing solar energy from spring and summer daylight. At Clarion University, power plant bi-products like waste heat and fly ash from power plants will be applied to construct and heat a greenhouse for sustainable agriculture.
Krier says investments in the nine-month projects range from $25,000 to $100,000 and are funded by Ben Franklin through the governors energy program.
Source: Brian Krier, Penn State University
Writer: Chris OToole