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TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Compliant Heat Transfer Coupling for Externally Heated Power Conversion Devices A liquid puddle heat transfer interface that enables a mechanically compliant thermal i... TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Compliant Heat Transfer Coupling for Externally Heated Power Conversion Devices A liquid puddle heat transfer interface that enables a mechanically compliant thermal interface between the heat exchanger and the source. Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this new heat transfer coupling. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: In unique nuclear programs, the heat source may carry unique interface requirements that are difficult for appliance designers to satisfy. Historically, these unique requirement sets have resulted in difficulty or impossibility of building and demonstrating appliances, even at a prototype level. Without successful prototype experience, widespread use, or commercial application, it’s impossible for these programs to progress further. The magnitude of future green power markets is uncertain, but may be enhanced when enabled by a flexible thermal coupling. Description: Locating and retaining a ‘closed-cycle’ power conversion device physically above a heat source, with its absorber heat exchanger portion submerged within a contained volume of liquid heat transfer will result in a mechanically compliant thermal interface between the heat exchanger and the source. When the liquid heat transfer media is in intimate contact with both the power convertor and the heat source, heat transport becomes enhanced due to buoyancy/gravity driven circulation of the interface media. This natural circulation enhancement of heat transfer occurs during terrestrial operation of such devices, or when any acceleration field simulating earth-gravity is present to drive media circulation from the higher cold zone to the lower-elevation hot zone. Though natural circulation of heat transfer media is a well-known phenomenon, using the liquid puddle as a compliant heat transfer interface is a novel and enabling application of the known art. The liquid pool interface allows for easy coupling/separation between the power convertor and the heat source. Power convertors become removeable from the source, and can carry their own design requirements, not inheriting requirements from the heat source that are unique to that heat source Benefits: Helps enable the progression of next-gen nuclear reactors. The idea is simple and reliable, not requiring any special equipment. Smaller, simpler, cheaper, and more reliable than other compliant interfaces like thermal radiation or gaseous convection solutions. Applications: Designed for use in the nuclear field: Nuclear fission Nuclear isotopes Nuclear isomers Concentrated solar thermal storage Other heat thermal storage of any type Fluidized bed or packed bed heat transfer systems Gaseous heat transfer systems of any type Solid sources of heat that require cooling Development Status: TRL 4, system has been validated in a laboratory environment. IP Status: Patent Application No. 17/805,250, “Energy Production Devices and Associated Components, and Related Heat Transfer Devices and Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1309. INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.