spacecoast plasma & high energy electrostatics research
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Spacecoast Plasma & High energy Electrostatics Research & Engineering Laboratory-II
A Proposed Center of Excellence For Regional, National and Global Collaboration
Matthew TravisExecutive DirectorARES Institute, Inc.
VisionCreate Proprietary Research Capabilities in the Emerging
Discipline of Plasma Science & Engineering, Desirable Enough
to Attract Esteemed Visiting Researchers, New Faculty,
Doctoral Candidates, and Grad Students, for the Opportunity to Use its “Signature Instrument(s)”
in their Own Investigations.
Existing Resources
• Activities Relevant to the Plasma Lab Include:– Homegrown Plasma Vapor Deposition Units– Multipumped CO2 Laser Plasma Studies– High Qe Photokinetic Combustion Technology– High Energy Accelerator Programs (Int’l.)– Hydrogen Photochemistry Research– BioEnergy Technology Lab Alternative Fuels Program– Research Center for Waste Utilization– Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics– Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Mining Florida’s High-Tech Heritage
Goals
• Functional 500Kv+ IEC and PMK Reactors
• >$250,000 in Grants/Contracts in Fy’13– Recruit/Initiate Support for 1 PhD Dissertation– Initiate Support for 3 M.S. Thesis Projects– Four Papers for Publication in Refereed Journals
• Novel Proprietary MHD/MPD Spectrometer
• >$1,000,000 Grants/Contracts by Fy’15– Second PhD and Two Additional Grad Students– Six Papers for Publication w/ Three Presented– Begin planning for a “Plasma Frontiers” Conference
Building ‘Money Machines’
Lab Development
• Economically Creating a World Class Facility to Attract Leading Researchers:– Unique Instruments which Perform Unusual Experiments,
Custom Fabricated as Senior Project, MS Thesis, PhD Dissertation Research in EE, MAE, PSS, Chem/E
– Greatly Expanded CNC Capabilities of Available Machine Shop Facilities Through New/Used Equipment Donations In-Kind Donations Could Include (Example only):
• 27,000 Volt DC Transformers• Mercury-filled Ignitron Tubes • Photocombustion Reactor Static Test Unit Prototype• Near Net Shape 304 Stainless Components• Load Bearing Metal Desks, Shelving & Computers
“Plasma Research can be economical”
Undone Plasma Experiments:
• Deeper High Voltage Potential Well for Inertial Electrostatic Confinement
• Production of Larger, More Stable Autoconfining Magnetoplasmoids
• Quantum Analysis of Photocombustion for Kistiakowski’s Photokinetic Catalysts
“Knowing which Envelopes to Push”
Electrostatic Potential Well
• Create Deeper Electrostatic Well– Initial Potential 675,000 Volts– 3.375x Greater than UWisc. Upgrade– Target >1,000,000 Volts in Fy’17
• Incorporate Augmenting Features– Magnetic Assist– Photo-Catalytic Chemistry
• Progression to Advanced Fuels
• Safe Neutron Source for Other Research Requirements
Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement Fusor
Magnetoplasmoid Formation
• Larger, More Persistent PMKs– >25 centimeters Diameter– >5 seconds Stability
• Adiabatic Isobaric Compression– Pneumatic Architectures– Detonation, Acoustic, Solenoid
• Progression to Advanced Aneutronic Fuels
• Corporate Industry & University Teaming.
The Plasmak Reactor
Quantum Analysis of High Qe Photokinetics
• Replicate HCl Plasma Reactions with DCl– Activation Regime above 246 Kcal/Mole– Reaction Kinetics >700,000 fps– Seeking to Drive Isp Beyond 1816 secs– Reaction Spikes <5u secs.
• Control Experiments– Ultraviolet Decomposition of CH4 w/ O2
• Possible Corporate Partnerships.
The Mk. II Photocombustion Reactor
Synergistic Focus
• Confirmation of Magnecular Bonding via Plasmas
• IEC/PMK Plasma Process Integration (World’s First)
• u Wave Wireless Plasma Antenna Architectures
• u Wave CO2 Plasma Dissociation/Carbon Accretion
• Al2 O3 Plasma Dissociation/Deposition Studies
• Microsatellite Flight Demonstration Project– Collaborative with Florida universities and colleges
Research Thrusts Pending Funding
Principal Objectives
• Develop a Versatile, Low Cost Experimentation Testbed for Alternative Plasma/Fusion Research Studies
• Conduct Key Internal Experiments– Papers for Publication– Theses & Dissertations
• Attract Funded Guest Researchers
• Obtain Industrial Applications Contracts
Seeding Federal R&D Contracts
Timetables
• Complete Funding for Lab Build-Out by End of FY 2013
• IEC Reactor IOC & Supporting Equipment by Beginning of 2014-15 Academic Year
• Substantial Body of Work in Progress by 01 Jan 2016 (Grad Students, Papers, Proposals Pending Review)
• Detailed Project Management Plan in Preparation (A Detailed Facilities Inspection is Required Before GANTT Charts Can be Made)
Very Rapid Ramp Up to Funding
Costs
• High leverage from investments in instrument construction in seeking new grants and contract awards
• Would attract strong student volunteer support for lab construction and operations & local media coverage.
• >$25,000 in seed funding already underwritten in-kind from private sources
• Would be a partner in one of a University’s most valuable physical assets
• Detailed budget in preparation
Initial Investment: < 4 Mos. P.I. D/L
Other Funding Sources
• Federal:– NSF (Proposal in Dev.)
– NASA OCT
– DHS (Neutron Source)
• State of Florida:– Florida Energy Office
– TRDA EIFF Program
– Enterprise Florida / Space Florida
Corporate:Siemens WestinghousePratt & WhitneyLockheed MartinNorthrop GrummanBoeingGeneral ElectricHarrisIntersil
Aggressive Proposal & Presentation Efforts. Potential future audience could include (examples only):
Other Material Sources
• Local Industry– AstroToo Electronics
– Machine Tool Group
– Photokinetics Corp.
– Aerobeam Corp.
FoundationsF.W. Olin
Guggenheim
Allen
Others (TBA)
Upon Authorization & Logistics, Substantive Private/Foundation Fundraising will be Undertaken by the P.I. and a Team of Supporting Community
Partners
Purchase, In-Kind, Licenses or Non-Contract Gra Potential future audience could include (examples only):
Follow-up Strategies• Market Research Study of Potential Lab Users
– 400 Telephone Interviews with Researchers Nationwide
• Build Consortium with other universities & Regional Counterparts’ Departments of Physics/EE. For example:
– Embry Riddle Aeronautical University– Brevard Community College
• Educational Outreach to Feeder Institutions, for example:
– Florida Air Academy– Brevard County Public Schools
• Integral Telescience Capabilities from Day 1
Widening the Circle of Collaboration
Proposed Team
• Matthew Travis, Executive Director
• Principal Investigator (PhD – To Be Named)
• Faculty Reps from Physics/Space Sciences, Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering– TBD (Invitations Pending Approval)– Special Invitations Emeriti (Angelo, Nunn, Caraway)
• First EE Grad Student (BSEE/BSME)
Internal Steering Committee for Initial Proposal
Proposed TeamExternal Advisory Board for Initial Proposal
TBD
OrganizationTBD
Summary
• SPHERELab-II’s Signature Instruments will put partner schools on the map as essential institutions for plasma physics research and green power and propulsion
• Broad benefits in hands-on undergraduate education, graduate studies, recruitment
• Focus for high priority R&D federal funding
Strategic Points
For More Information Contact:
• Matthew TravisExecutive Director ARES Institute, Inc.
316 Rutgers Ave. Melbourne, FL. 32901