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Technology Scanning Finding New Ideas from Other Industries NAHB Research Center Technology Scanning Across Industries Update February, 2001 1 1 ATH Technology- Road mapping The PATH Technology Road mapping effort is first identifying technologies that can be used to reach affordability and value goals in the residential housing industry . Then defining specific research & development activities required to bring those technologies to application in residential building. Technologies collected in the PATH Inventory are predominantly from the US Building Industry and current research centered around this industry. Many are incremental existing technologies. Technology from : 1) US Building Industry One key area for finding new breakthroughs is to search other industries, other countries for ideas and technology that can be transferred and re-applied in this industry. In conjunction with Road mapping technologies known within the industry, a 12 month ongoing effort has been searching & identifying technologies from other industries that could have application to residential building. This process called “Technology Scanning” seeks out new and existing technologies, from private industry, university research, government labs, and international research entities, developed for another industry or use but having potential application to Housing. Technology Scanning identifies potential technology that could be applied in our industry towards reaching goals, solving problems and creating new opportunities in residential building. With a process being established for ongoing Technology Scanning, technology transfer becomes possible; • linking& streamlining research efforts • linking public & private sector efforts • allowing quicker adoption using familiar technology from another industry. PATH Inventory • • • 2) International Building • Industry • • • • 3) Other Industries • Technology Transfer: The practice of using technology, knowledge, or information developed in one industry, organization, or area and applying it in whole or part to another • Cost Effective • Efficient • Time Expeditious Means to.. • Solving Industry Issues • Creating New Opportunities • Achieving PATH Goals This report highlights the findings 2to date in the “Technology Scanning Process 2 The process of…. Technology Scanning Other Industries • Agriculture • Apparel /Textiles • Automotive • Aerospace • Boat / Marine • Civil Engineering • Cable / Wire • Chemical Engineering • Communications • Defense • Education • Electrical Engineering • Energy / Utilities • Environmental Protection • Exhibit / Displays • Furniture • Industrial Safety • Invention/ Innovation • Materials/Composites • Material Handling • Mining • Plastics / Rubber • Safety/ Security • Space Exploration (NASA) • Surfaces • Pipeline/ Petroleum • Water / Irrigation •Internet Search Engines •Trade Shows •Universities Tech. Research •Government Agency Research •Trade Publications •Science & Industry Publications Technology Transfer Types of Transfer : 1) Direct technology & application transfer 2) Technology transferred into new application 3) Technology refined, advanced, or combined with other technology, then applied Application of ideas & technology from other industries starts by examining similarities in”purpose”. For example: • the Textiles/garment Industry (clothing,/ outerwear) is trying to keep the “occupant comfortable & protected” , similar to the shell of a house. • the water/irrigation or petroleum industries are” efficiently moving liquids” as is plumbing in house • Exhibit/Display industry is trying to “assemble panels /modules simply, quickly, w/minimal labor”, • Material Handling/Logistics industry “processes’ & tools to move, track quantities of diverse materials&, tasks related to using them” Each has increasing level of cost and time … 3 2 Cost 1 Time3 3 What if... Why can’t… On the Horizon... •Emerging •New to the industry •Basic Research •Applied research •Ready to use Extending the Thinking Where we could go... We must first seek out, identify and understand what’s out there. Then we must integrate our thinking to incorporate the possibilities with what’s currently going on. On the following pages are findings to date of technology and ideas that exist in another industry either in basic research form or existing application form. These have been singled out in the technology scanning process as ones that could hold potential use or application in some form to issues, opportunities and achievement of goals in the Housing Industry. The technologies are displayed under a potential building related category that they hold benefit for. They are organized as follows to start extending the thinking in the categories of: International Building Industry Research /learning Design & orientation ideas that reduce environmental impact Building Exterior Envelope technologies Basic Materials, Coatings, Durability technologies Thermal & Moisture Protection Indoor Environment Quality Mechanical Systems & Power Creation/Conversion Alternate Use/Waste Stream Reuse Streamlined Process & Documentation General or Misc Technologies Included is brief description of the technology, its current use, or suggested application, Who’s involved with it, along with contact information to learn more or to begin preliminary investigation into its potential application or inclusion into combined research activities 4 International Building Industry Research Technology Scanning Summary Korea Institute of Construction Technology, Seoul, Korea (KICT) www.kict.re.kr/enghome/index.asp Self- placing concrete (MelFlow)—reduces amount of water used, optimizes water/cement ratio, increase’s strength & durability, 30-40% reduction in mixing time. Self -compatible and selfconsolidating, no tamping or vibrating, density without segregation. Contact : Meca Engineering Ltd, 3 rd Kumho Bldg 123-25, Karrak-Dong Songpa-Ku, Seoul, Korea Phone: +82-2-443-3497 Use of used concrete and industrial sludge in new concrete mixtures Energy Conservation studies within structures and heat recovery systems Mechanization and automation of construction works –remote controlled equipment reduces # of skilled workers needed while improving worker safety, mechanization of work that today requires skilled labor, application of electronic technology to machinery and tasks where manpower is insufficient. Advanced systems development for indoor environment Disaster control technologies for building structures Materials Durability research and development Introduction & dissemination of advanced technologies into construction Technical exchange with other research facilities around the world CSIRO Thermal & Fluids Engineering, Melbourne, Australia (from Building Innovation & Technology issue #10) Contacts: Dr Dilip Manuel, Business Development Manager, David Proctor, primary researcher Telephone: 61-3-9252-6073, email: [email protected] Pulse Combustion Technology—new generation pulse combustion technology reduces fuel consumption by 50%, reduces greenhouse gases by 30% through cleaner emissions. New breakthrough research and design of heat chamber produces higher heat transfer coefficient and thermal efficiencies of 97%. Under research for commercial and manufacturing uses, but with further research could be applied to residential heating systems. CSIR Boutek –South Africa—aligns R&D with current and future needs in South Africa, bringing latest technology to bear on applied solutions Materials research focused on durability aspects in cement/concrete Assessment of new innovative structural applications (modeling & simulation, physical testing) Extensive study of waste materials turned into construction product Ceramics use & application in bldg products Contacts: Theuns Knoetze, Programmer Phone +27 12 841 4985 Neo Moikangoa, Div.Director, Phone +27 12 841 3763 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] ParaBeam 3D Glass Fabrics- demonstrated cutting edge technology in making impregnated lightweight sandwich panels and skins from glass fabrics. Panels or skins are ideal basis for easy finishing with other laminates or foils. Foam cores can be integrated for thermal purposes. Properties include lightweight, excellent strength and stiffness, full service adhesive properties, easy reparability, corrosion and water-resistant. Applications in Europe include storage tank walls, high-speed water craft skins, truck and cargo floors, train and bus exteriors, Building cladding, interior partitions. Contact: Parabeam, the Netherlands, Tel: +31 (0) 492 570625 Fax: +31 (0) 492 570733 Canada & Japan collaborate to provide improved ventilation in houses, in joint venture focused on development of international standards for non-forced air systems. Japan’s Building Research Institute (BRI) has built a test house using alternative systems. Testing, data collection, and experiments are done jointly, with exchange of ideas and information to find better alternatives for indoor home comfort. The collaborative effort is also investigating thermal comfort and noise reduction for mechanical ventilation systems. The two agencies will bring findings to manufacturers, designers, and regulatory agencies in an effort to create better ventilation and indoor air quality strategies than are currently used. Contact: National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in Construction, Dr. James Reardon, (613) 993-9700 email: [email protected] 5 5 Technology Scanning Summary Design/Layout Low Energy Architecture & Community Design Reducing Urban Heat Islands through Design: Lawrence Berkley National Labs, Environmental Energy Division is working on a project which uses light (cooler) surfaces and specific trees strategically placed to reduce the effects of urban heat islands on cooling loads. Urban Heat islands increase the cooling loads on surrounding areas and accelerate formation of urban smog. The research looks at solar reflectivity of building materials and paving materials, uses computer modeling of climate and air quality to see the effects of large-scale changes in solar reflectivity. Several demonstration buildings and landscapes are located in San Jose, Sacramento, Gilroy, and Downy, California. The next stage of the project will use the information learned to date to work with roofing manufacturers to develop cooler materials, paving companies to look at next generation of paving materials, and with city and municipalities to offer incentive to use the new materials, and landscape strategies. They also have begun to draft roof reflectivity standards and codes. Project ref LBNL-7 Contact – Hashem Akbari, LBL National Lab, Environmental Energy Div, Phone: 510-486-4287 email: [email protected] Urban Micro-Climate/Urban Geometry Dept of Architecture and Urban Design, University of Constantine, Algeria (no contact listed) Urban Micro-climate (the effect of cluster of homes on each individual home) is often neglected in many urban designs. Example: In hot dry climates, the compact clusters of homes generates a large thermal mass attenuating the ambient conditions around each home, making each homes air conditioner work harder and longer. Proper street orientation and layout of homes can have considerable effect on the shading, which affects the urban micro-climate and environmental performance of the homes. Building heights, proximity, and street width influence the heat generation characteristics of the street surfaces and surrounding grounds in the local urban micro-climate. - North/South Street orientation can result in street shading between 40% and 80% (dependent on latitude). - Street orientation of NW/SE can only manage shading between 30% and 50 % of street area throughout the year. - East/ West Street orientation can only achieve 30 % street shading In addition to street orientation, urban layout affecting energy use: - Inner tier suburb streets with very mature trees provide added shading and reduced energy costs to each home in the area - New developments often built in farm fields or large tracts of open land are some of the worst “heat sinks” and continue to be for 10-20 years assuming trees were planted. - Concrete streets reflect more heat back into the atmosphere; asphalt streets absorb and store more heat. Yet because of first cost more asphalt streets and driveways are put in than concrete. - Wide streets poorly shaded generate added heat for the homes around them vs. narrower streets, oriented and properly shaded. Parkways (separated by grass or landscaped islands) are also more effective than wide streets at giving off less heat. - Water near and adjacent to street surfaces also reduces the amount of heat given off to surrounding homes. - Position of the home in proximity to the street also can influence heat gain. Homes close to the street in tightly packed neighborhoods leave little room for wind to dissipate heat. Leaving heat to be absorbed by surrounding homes. - Cul-de-sac’s also have large asphalt surface areas and can have can tight housing configurations, which absorb heat from street surface 6 6 Technology Scanning Summary Building Exterior Envelope Building Exterior Envelope Gas-filled Wall Panels (GFP’s): Lawrence Berkley National Lab, Building Technologies Program has been working since 1995 on gas filled wall panels. Using the same principles that are now common in gas-filling air space in windows, they have developed walls panels filled with an inert gas in a controlled space. They are able to achieve an R-19 wall in the space normally consumed by a 2x4-wall cavity, R-30 in the space of a 2x6-wall cavity. Little effort has been focused on residential wall panels. Most research has been directed toward appliances, namely refrigerator panels filled with gas. A cellular structure inside the panel, with low diffusion gas barrier films, in a hermetic seal, retains the panel gas fill of argon & krypton. Cost per sqft. =$0.69 for 2x4 16”o.c.wall and $0.94 for 2x6, 16”o.c. wall. Weight is comparable or less than the weight of traditional wall construction. Technical issues being addressed include thermal aging characteristics and search for low flame spread materials. Contact – Brent Griffish, LBL National Lab, Building Technologies Program Phone : 510-486-6830 or 6844 International Space Station Work: Environmentally Closed Life Support Systems (ECLSS) group is working on: 1) Vehicle/habitat systems that incorporate lightweight, re-configurable materials, spaces or modules. Fasteners that are quick easy to use strong and permit ease of assembly. 2) New inflatable living quarters made from 24-layer composite of textiles. Stronger than metal, outer layers protect inner bladders that hold air, indestructible. Outer shell provides insulating properties from 250 deg.F to –200deg F. Using Nexel 3Mmaterial from the auto industry, Kevlar from DuPont, Combitherm from the food packaging industry, and Nomax from the protective clothing industry, NASA engineers have developed any innovative thick inflatable shell able to withstand extreme temp’s, meteorite debris and other flying space debris. Down scaled more earth-like applications of this material/textile composite could be used in walls, roofs of homes. Contact Laura Nelson @ NASA. Email: [email protected] Composite Housing System Uses Waste Glass: Winner of the ACE awards given to the best new applications of composites went to the Ambiente Housing System made completely of composite materials. Billed as Hazard resistant housing, designed to resist hurricanes and withstand earthquake forces, fire resistant, flame resistant. No timber or steel in the home, made from recycled glass core material, no production waste in mfg process. Superior thermal and sound characteristics, low maint, durable long lasting. Raw waste glass is processed into honeycomb like material, then cast into composite of resin & fiber. Saves non-degradable waste from going to landfill. Uses 13 tons of waste glass/house. This fits many of PATH goals in affordable, durable (20 yr warranty), hazard mitigation, environmentally responsible and friendly. They even have turn key mfg plants developed. Th is should become part of the inventory for advanced wall panel systems and whole house. Contact: Ambersham Technology Group, Ambiente Housing, Luquillo, Puerto Rico, 787-889-1362 www.ambientehomes.com email— [email protected], Malcolm Parish, Director 787-889-1362 Composite Building – Funded by Office of Naval Research, Developed under US Navy’s MfgTech Center for Excellence for Composites MFG, this building / shelter assembled in the Dominican Republic in less than 24 hrs by 10 people without specialized tools or heavy equipment. Very good thermally R42 roofs, R24 walls, fire resistant, corrosion resistant, termite resistant. The DOD labs are going to work with CECMT to incorporate composites into “contingency” structures and field-test them. Contact: Loretta DeSio, 703-696-5032, email: [email protected] Composolite ™ FRP Panels- New lightweight, high strength, glass fiber reinforced polymer modular construction system. Used extensively in Europe for over ten years, produced by Strongwell in the US under licensing from Maunsell Structural Plastics,Ltd of the UK. Interlocking panels form the basis for 7 wall panel, bridge decking, roof decking. Contact: Strongwell’s website : www.strongwell.com 7 Basic Materials Technology Scanning Summary Basic Materials, Coatings, Durability/Longevity DuPont Tefzel- used to make UniSolar Shingles for Dept Of Energy, allows shingle to wear resistant, Durable and weatherable. Solar shingle is warranted for 10 years. Contact: DuPont Technology transfer office @ 877-881-9787 DuPont ImRon Coating- durability, out-weathers other industrial paints, superior abrasion resistance, cuts maint costs for heavy equipment manufacturers Contact: DuPont Technology transfer office @ 877-881-9787 Composites & Coatings Consortium, Advanced Coating deposition Technology – Contact 440- 686-2226 Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (John Glenn Research Center ), Affordable fiber reinforced ceramic composites- high wear, high heat resistance Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (John Glenn Research Center), Cleveland OH, Phone: 216-433-4000 New “active” Materials—apply electric voltage to a material to give a desired mechanical response (active fiber composites). Materials that do what we want when we need them to, materials with multiple, changeable functions (funded by Army Research Office, development @ MIT) Contact: Professor Yet-Ming Chiang, Material Sciences at MIT www.mit.edu Coating from Shellfish protects materials- Environmentally –friendly, water-based coating protects metals from corrosion & moisture. Harmless to environment –made from a component extracted from crushed shellfish Contact: Terry Tooker, Brookhaven National Lab 516-344-2078, Email: [email protected] CSIR Boutek –South Africa—aligns R&D with current and future needs in South Africa, bringing latest technology to bear on applied solutions Materials research focused on durability aspects in cement/concrete Assessment of new innovative structural applications (modeling & simulation, physical testing) Extensive study of waste materials turned into construction product Ceramics use & application in bldg products Contacts: Theuns Knoetze, Programmer Phone +27 12 841 4985 Neo Moikangoa, Div.Director, Phone +27 12 841 3763 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Owens Corning Composite Business Systems – displayed its latest venture with a tier one automotive supplier- a complete composite truck bed assembly for Ford Pickups which incorporates a composites bed and fenders and sidewalls ready to put on truck frame. Eliminates multiple metal and steel components, increased durability, reduced weight and improved fuel efficiency. A good example of systems integration. Owens Corning could explore this approach for components of houses (walls,Floors, Roof Panels??) Contact: Owens Corning World Headquarters 800—438-7465 or our Owens Corning Rep on the PATH Program ParaBeam 3D Glass Fabrics- demonstrated cutting edge technology in making impregnated lightweight sandwich panels and skins from glass fabrics. Panels or skins are ideal basis for easy finishing with other laminates or foils. Foam cores can be integrated for thermal purposes. Properties include lightweight, excellent strength and stiffness, full service adhesive properties, easy reparability, corrosion and water-resistant. Applications in Europe include storage tank walls, high-speed water craft skins, truck and cargo floors, train and bus exteriors, Building cladding, interior partitions. Contact: Parabeam, the Netherlands, Tel: +31 (0) 492 570625 Fax: +31 (0) 492 570733 Self- placing concrete (MelFlow)—reduces amount of water used, optimizes water/cement ratio, increase’s strength & durability, 30-40% reduction in mixing time. Self -compatible and selfconsolidating, no tamping or vibrating, density without segregation. Being developed for the Korean and Asian building industries Contact : Meca Engineering Ltd, 3rd Kumho Bldg 123-25, Karrak-Dong SongpaKu, Seoul, Korea Phone: +82-2-443-3497 8 8 Technology Scanning Summary Basic Materials Plastic–Silica composite tougher than FRP: Ohio St. University scientists have patented a method of mixing plastic with silica to create a heat resistant material 5 times more impact resistant than fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). The patented manufacturing process forces melted plastic into the pores of silica creating a stronger bond. It can be used as a lightweight substitute for iron, steel, or aluminum. The process was first developed for making tough plastic dental fillings for the medical industry. Contact John Lanutti @ Ohio State Univ. 614 292-3926. Reinforced Cores @ Lower Costs: Webcore Technologies of Dayton, Ohio claims its Tycor fiber reinforced foam cores are a low cost solution for composite sandwich. The process uses glass or carbon fibers to build a 3D web & lattice structure within low-density foam. Both skin faces are mechanically stitched together through the core. The fiber structure allows for quick resin flow and uniform wet-out. Cores & panels are being developed for commercial industries (aviation, marine, truck, civil engineering) Contact - Lynn Stanley @ Webcore Technologies, 937-879-3212, Dayton Ohio Tougher fiber/cement composites- process to increase bond strength & interface toughness of synthetic fibers used in reinforcing cement-based composites. Application allows tailoring interface properties of a given system to produce cost effective, high performance fiber reinforced cement based composites (patent issued) (file #1193) Torex-Optimized geometry’s of fiber reinforcement in cement, ceramics & polymeric composites for lower cost, more durable reinforced material (patent issued) (file #1063) University of Michigan TechTransfer , Ann Arbor, MI Contact: Mitch Goodkin (734) 764-4290 Email: [email protected] Material can Change functions- Graphite flakes and film—highly reflective, silvery/black, electrically conductive flakes or film can be used wherever appearance and conductive coatings are important (high luster paints, surface coatings, conductive flooring, shielding material) ( Tech # 129ML) Temple University Office of Technology Transfer Contact: Antonio Gonclaves director, (215) 2047662, Email: [email protected] Lower cost structural substitute -Structural Fiber reinforced plastics—a new material technology that could be a substitute for traditional structural materials like steel, concrete, masonry and wood. Low weight, high strength, lower installed costs and lower maintenance cost. Being tested in Japan as concrete mesh reinforcement, highway bridges in Calgary Canada, prototype composite bridge in Russell, Kansas and pedestrian bridges in Western US National Parks. University of Missouri-Rolla Civil Engineering Dept.- Rolla,MS Contact: Antonio Nanni, Phone: (573) 341-4000, Email: [email protected] DurableTough, no-Slip coatingTruck -Bedliner material, spray applied or roller, weather-able, durable slip resistant TUFF STUFF coating can be applied to almost any metal, wood or concrete surface. Can create various textures and colors with additives. Proven for 15 years in the truck bed liner market. Could have application in roofing for homes or other coatings needing weatherable durable properties?. Rhino Linings, San Diego, CA contact www.rhinolinings.com or 619-450-0041 Composite panel structural Material- From the Civil Engineering Industry- Composite Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Bridge deck – the deck sections are lightweight, highly durable, strong rigid structure. Test bridge installations in Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Could be applied in wall panels, roof decks, floor deck panel systems . Creative Pultrusions, Inc – 214 Industrial Lane, PO Box 6, Alum Bank, PA 15521-0006 Phone: (814) 839-4186 www.creativepultrusions.com Contact: Robert Sweet Jr. Snap Joint technology for assembling composite structures—developed for Aerospace applications and Utility transmission towers. Allows composites to be used in many applications with the benefits of less weight, faster assembly with less labor and equipment. In use in California DOT projects, Transmission towers near LA, proposed for assembly of all composite rocket tower at Vandenburg Airforce Base. W. Brandt Goldsworthy & Associates – Torrance, CA Phone: (310) 375-4565Contact: Dr Clem Hiel Email: [email protected] 9 9 Thermal & Moisture Protection Technology Scanning Summary Thermal & Moisture Protection: NASA Thermal technologies Protective Coatings for ceramic materials—Ames Research Center, lowers the surface temperature of a thermal coating and reduces the heat transfer through the surface preventing the degradation of the underlying substrate. Also very good impact resistance. Estimated cost -- $5 /sq. ft. Technology developed for heat shields can be applied to many other materials besides ceramics to convey heat away from a substrate. Lightweight, flexible, easily formulated, environmentally safe (water based, no solvents) Potential applications include roofing for homes especially in high fire danger areas, Fireproof insulation, Siding product or paint coating to reduce summer heat gain Toughened uniPC fibrous insulation (TUFI) Composite flexible blanket insulation (CFBI) Contact: Phil Herlth, NASA Ames Research Center, Telephone: (650) 604-0625, Email: [email protected] Aerogels, super cryogenic insulation, provides very high thermal properties in very thin applications, aerosol based super thin insulation (NASA KSC-11903) Southern Technology Applications Center (STAC), Univ. of Florida, Gainsville, FL Contact: Lew Parish ,STAC Tech Counselor, 407-867-6373 High-Tech Low Temp Insulation- new lightweight metal alloy and ceramic insulation used for protection of the craft during re-entry has been applied to mittens and glove, emergency rescue blankets. A low density, honeycomb-like material was fabricated, capable of inhibiting convective and radiative heat transfer. This cloth-like honeycomb material can be fabricated to match the temperature range of the application it will face, so if you don’t need it to withstand 2,200 deg F, like NASA, it can be fabricated to match more normal earthly, temperature extremes. Using the same honeycomb concept, NASA Scientists and a private company, Thermolon, developed a light weight lower cost version of plastic insulation for blankets and clothing that has better properties than wool or polyester fleece (4 times warmer, dries faster, the honeycomb structure doesn’t trap moisture). The honeycomb insulation structure has even be made from recycled plastic or milk containers to demonstrate its environmental sense. Whirlpool Corp is looking to use this moisture-tolerant alternative to replace CFC blown foam insulation that would make refrigerator’s even more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Contact: National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) in Wheeling, WV www.nttc.edu (304) 243-2455, Joeseph Allen PH.D, president - email: [email protected] 3M—Thermal Barrier Nexel, used in auto racing to reduce heat transfer from engine, exhaust and track surface. Nexel delivers a flexible insulating barrier against high temperature. It can be made into tiles, textiles, or wraps. 3M- Thinsulate Acoustic & Thermal Insulation absorbs sound in high-noise areas as well as providing thermal properties. Also New 3m Acoustic Composite Sheet material (ACM), ceramic composite is lightweight, can be cut, fabricated, shaped or molded to most any configuration. Also fire resistant. Comes in sheets 4’x4’ and thickness from 1” to 3”. Contact 3M – Automotive 651-736-2964 High-tech Fabrics for clothes—Developed by French Technologists fabrics that allow jackets to become warmer as temperatures drop, T-shirts that use ceramic fibers to repel Ultra-violet rays, shirts impregnated with a chemical that wards off insects . Could be applied to protecting occupants of homes. Contact: French Technology Press Office Chicago, IL 1-312-222-1235 Super Therm Ceramic Paint Insulation—developed in conjunction with a division NASA contains several ceramic components which when applied as a coating to walls, roofs etc., will provide non toxic, non flammable, durable coating that keeps heat out and conserves energy or keep heat a structure. The coating is water based, environmentally friendly applied by spray or roller. NASA currently testing it on Shuttle launch pads and external tanks. Contact: Jerry Pope, Superior Products International- 6459 Universal Ave., Kansas City, MO 64120 Phone: (816) 241-1976 10 10 Thermal & Moisture Protection Technology Scanning Summary Super Therm Ceramic Paint Insulation—developed in conjunction with a division NASA contains several ceramic components which when applied as a coating to walls, roofs etc., will provide non toxic, non flammable, durable coating that keeps heat out and conserves energy or keep heat a structure. The coating is water based, environmentally friendly applied by spray or roller. NASA currently testing it on Shuttle launch pads and external tanks. Contact: Jerry Pope, Superior Products International- 6459 Universal Ave., Kansas City, MO 64120 Phone: (816) 241-1976 Performance Insulations from Textile Industry—Applied to footwear and outdoor wear, Cambrella Extreme—exceptional warmth, keeps radiant heat in, superior moisture management wicks away moisture harmlessly. - Thermolite Extreme—unsurpassed warmth per unit of weight, extremely durable. Intelligent Textiles— - CoolMax and ThermaStat performance fibers—worn by Olympians, race car drivers to control moisture and regulate temperature. - NoMax Fibers—flame resistant fibers for race suits provide superior flame resistance, various locations - Contact: DuPont Technology transfer office @ 877-881-9787 Breathable Coating Technology-Several companies including W.L.Gore exhibited the latest in Breathable fibers &Textiles. These textiles permit moisture to pass through one way and keep heat in. - Gore Tex - well known in the outwear business and could be applied to housing with to solve the same problems it did in outerwear. Contact: W.L. Gore & Associates, Elkton, MD , 1-800-455-2791 - A European Company -with a textile called Breathe, that performs the same function keeping heat in, keeping rain out, while allowing moisture to pass through from the inside. Contact: UCB Secteur Chimique, Belgique,UK, +32 2 334 5111 - A third Company StedFast makes StedAir, a moisture barrier used by firefighters to keep comfortable letting moisture out keeping heat out, and keeping them dry inside. Contact: SteFast Moisture Management Sytems 1-888-673-8441 www.stedfast.com Lighter Color Roofing: Oakridge National Lab is working to develop lighter color durable roof coatings and materials to decrease heat build-up and improve longevity of roofing. Currently demonstrations are in place on campus buildings. Project reference ORNL-6. Contact – Andre Desjarlais, Oakridge National Lab, Phone: 423-574-9354 email: [email protected] 11 11 Technology Scanning Summary Indoor Environment Quality Indoor Environment Quality: Water purification BioClear- inexpensive chemical free process for purifying water Contact: National Water Technologies, Atlanta, GA 401-303-0068 Intelligent Air Quality Monitoring: Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Lab, has a project which integrates embedded sensors & micro-systems to detect, measure and analyze indoor air quality. Then use the information to make necessary adjustments in the HVAC system to meet predetermined parameters for indoor air quality. Project reference INEEL –4 Contact – Karen Riddle, Idaho Ntl Eng/Env Lab, Phone : 208-526-1238 email: [email protected] “Displacement ventilation” Indoor air quality—an approach to ventilation that improves indoor air quality while saving energy. “Displacement ventilation” provides cleaner air with greater comfort while reducing the amount of air needing heating or cooling. (sponsored by ASHRAE) MIT Univ Contact: Professor Quingyen Chen or Leon Glickman www.mit.edu Intelligent Rooms—respond to verbal commands for information or gives users related information the user didn’t think to ask but might need or find useful. MIT Univ Contact: Howard Shrobe, Director of Artificial Intelligence Lab www.mit.edu Embedded Technologies in Houses—to make a house responsive, reactive to environmental influences much like the human body does. MIT Univ. Contact: Asst Professor Chris Luebkeman www.mit.edu Materials that produce no out-gassing., in closed system environment like the space station any gasses given off materials can dramatically affect the air quality of the space station. Materials they are researching in various applications include glass textiles, non-porous composites, non-toxic adhesives, material surfaces that do not promote bacterial growth. Also they research materials for which will assist in low noise propagation. NASA International Space Station Project. Contact Laura Nelson @ NASA. Email: [email protected] Indoor Pollutant Sources Study: Lawrence Berkley National Lab is characterizing the sources and contributing amounts of indoor air pollutants. From the information, reduction goals can be outlined with specific actions through: improved selection of furnishings (carpets, surfaces, adhesives) low emission paints & coatings isolation of fresh air intakes for air exchangers Project LBNL-10. Also Project LBNL-15 is studying indoor air quality and related illnesses. It has shown 4 major links between indoor air quality and health/wellness Contact – Ashok Gadgil, LBL National Lab, Phone: 510-486-4651, email: [email protected] William Fisk 510-486-5910 on Health link to indoor air quality Technology to provide better indoor air quality, also radon prevention Air &Energy Research Lab, Triangle Park , NC (EPA Lab) 919-541-2821 12 12 Technology Scanning Summary Mechanicals & Power Mechanical Systems/Power/Conversion Solar dynamic energy conversion- generates electricity/power with small surface area, lightweight, high power-weight ratio than conventional photovoltaic. Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (John Glenn Research Center), Cleveland OH, Phone: 216-433-4000 Newest Pulse Combustion Technology—new generation pulse combustion technology reduces fuel consumption by 50%, reduces greenhouse gases by 30% through cleaner emissions. New breakthrough research and design of heat chamber produces higher heat transfer coefficient and thermal efficiencies of 97%. Under research for commercial and manufacturing uses, but with further research could be applied to residential heating systems. CSIRO Thermal & Fluids Engineering, Melbourne, Australia Contacts: Dr Dilip Manuel, Business Development Manager, David Proctor, primary researcher, Telephone: 61-3-9252-6073, email: [email protected] Micro-Capillary heat exchange/Cooling system—water moves through tiny tubes (twice the diameter of pencil lead), is chilled to 59 degrees F for cooling or warmed to 86 degrees F for heating, the large surface area promotes faster heat exchange with substantial energy savings. Tubes are connected in parallel and placed in panel form, which can have plaster or other finishes applied over the top. KaRo of Archhamps, France www.karo.cc Fuel Cells: Pacific NW National Lab, Material Resources Group is establishing a system engineering framework for development of fuel cells. They are defining barriers and mapping a plan for advanced fuel cell development. Contact – Bernie Saffell, Pacific NW National Lab, Richland, WA, Phone : 509-372-4565 or email: [email protected] Hot water recovery & heat capture: Oakridge National Lab, Buildings Technology Center is researching emerging technology to capture heat from residential drain water. Gravity Film HX (GFX) is process in test at two sites in Duluth, MN & Madison, WI to capture and reuse the heat from shower and dishwasher hot water (63% of the hot water use in a house) for pre-heating of additional hot water. This technology could save 35%-40% of the energy use in hot water heaters today per house. A second project by this group is an integrated water-heating refrigerator. Using the excess capacity and heat produced by refrigerator condenser for other uses in the house. Mode 1- takes heat from refrigerators condenser and applies it to preheat water and air Mode 2 – when no refrigeration is needed, condenser heat is applied to water and a second evaporator is used to cool air space. Benefits include reduced energy to produce hot water, extra space heat and reduced cooling load in summer. A prototype is built and testing is underway. It’s joint effort between ORNL, NC State Univ, and Davis Energy Group Contact – John Tomlinson or Robert Wendt , Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge ,TN Phone: 423-547-0260 email: [email protected] Solar Pre-Heat of Fresh Air Cuts Heating Cost: Technology taken from the agriculture industry for crop drying, uses solar energy to preheat air used in ventilation systems. Dept. of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Lab are developing this technology for use in commercial and residential structures. The system heats air by as much as 54 degrees F, reducing the annual heating cost by $1-3 /sqft. SolarWall uses perforated metal sheeting as a solar absorber, which costs ½ as much as traditional glazed solar panels. Contact – NREL Technology Transfer Office Phone : 303-275-3008 Duct Audits for Peak Efficiency: Brookhaven National Lab is doing field research using duct audits on forced air duct system performance. Their research is measuring inefficiencies in duct design and layout, installation and assembly, which directly result in energy loss and indirectly, contribute to poor indoor air quality. Project reference BNL-2 Contact – Richard Krajawski, Brookhaven National Lab, Phone : 514--344-3804 email: [email protected] 13 13 Technology Scanning Summary Mechanicals & Power Airflow Modeling software: Flovent provides software and consulting services to evaluate and simulate airflow/movement in a structure during the design phase to optimize the design and performance of HVAC systems for better indoor air quality healthier and more comfortable homes at lower costs. By studying and modeling airflow more accurate equipment can be sized, floor plans and wall plans can be adjusted to take problems areas away and create more efficient airflows thereby reducing the energy needed to run the systems. They refer to it as interior aerodynamics . Contact: Flowmerics 1-508-357-2012 www.flovent.com Alternative to metal Ductwork: FabricAir, Inc in Louisville, KY has brought over a European series of fabric ductwork to the US. UL approved and NFPA certified, used for over 30 years in Europe. Its an alternative to metal ducts that is energy efficient, quieter, lightweight, lower installation cost. The fabric ducts are available in sizes from 8-80 inch diameter round ducts. The fabric is anti mold. Some have zipper connections for ease of assembly. Contact www.fabricair.com Other Fabric Duct Manufacturers exhibiting Pal Int’l Soft air [email protected] DuctSox, Dubuque, IA 1-319-589-2777 State-of-the Art in building automation: is becoming possible because of progress in communication standards. BACnet is one set of operability protocols that allow field devices in HVAC to talk to each other and centralized command centers. The other is LonMark and LonWorks operability protocols. The LonMark catalog now contains over 220 products that inter-operate over a LonWorks Network. The IT industry has spawned a whole new set of scripting languages with the intent of integration and blending of protocols and soft technologies. Contact Ken Sinclair [email protected] Recycle/Reuse/Alternative use Alternative Use/ Waste Stream Recycling Soy Bean Composite Products- environmentally friendly, agricultural renewable resource - Environ ™- bio-composite resembles wood but is made from recycled paper products, soy flour and soy-based resin. For use in countertops and cabinetry, 1 ½ times harder than Oak SoyOyl ™ - soy-based foam with uses in appliances, carpet, and construction products Soy Based Wood Adhesives- are under development as replacement for Formaldehyde adhesives used today in OSB and Plywood. These would reduce VOC’s emissions at major processing plants making building products and sheet materials consumed in home building . Contact: United Soybean Board St Louis, MO 888-235-4332 website: www.unitedsoybean.org Coating from Shellfish protects materials- Environmentally –friendly, water-based coating protects metals from corrosion & moisture. Harmless to environment –made from a component extracted from crushed shellfish Contact: Terry Tooker, Brookhaven National Lab 516-344-2078, Email: [email protected] Solid waste into synthetic aggregate- Terra-Bond – process, encapsulates any form of solid waste (contaminated soil, sand, mine tailings, ash, slag, mineral & refinery wastes) and binds their contaminants to produce an inert aggregate for use in most any masonry, landscaping, concrete mix application. Patent Pending in US & Canada. University of Calgary- University Technologies International – Calgary, Alberta Contact: Hugh Jones, VP of UTI, 403-270-7027, or [email protected] 14 14 Technology Scanning Summary Process/Document Streamlining Process Efficiency/Document Streamlining Virtual Inspections Embedded Sensors, smart structures for evaluation & remote inspection of composite structures Hybrid computerized decision support system for virtual inspections. Uses digital camera & optical scanner to acquire data & images to be machine processed, leaving out interpretive judgment brings objective, quantitative, reliable results. Purdue University, Construction Engineering Mgmt Division - West Lafayette, IN Phone 765-494-2240 Contact: Luh Maan Chang, School of Civil Engineering, Email: [email protected] Mobile Inspection Assistance - developed by CM students for bridge inspectors, surveyors. Wearable inspection computers with image capture, voice recognition, pen &voice interface Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Contact: Professor James Garrett 412-268-5674, Email: [email protected] Next generation bar-coding for logistics, tracking, and integration software Applied digital visualization tools for the design process MIT- Boston, MA www.mit.edu from the MIT Research Digest 3M & Xerox E-paper—electronic paper is thin and flexible made with a thin layer of tiny round beads sandwiched inside the paper to display images. The beads are black on one side white on the other, specialized electronic devices signal the paper to flips certain beads to form the desired image. Portable, up-datable, single sheet can be used for many images. Potential applications include blueprints or construction documents. (no contact listed) Human –Computer Intelligent Interaction (HCII) cutting edge research, artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision, cognitive science, human perception & interpretation. Beckman Institute for Advanced Science &Technology- Univ of Illinois, Urbana, IL Contact: (217) 244-1176, Email: [email protected] Visual Remote control of devices-Signal &control remote mechanisms with visual information stream—allows for more user- friendly control inputs and simpler, inexpensive means to control remote devices. Method creates icons on the visual scene through which control information is sent and interpreted at the remote site.(Patent issued) (File #0951) Could be applied in remote inspection process, or automation of hazardous construction tasks University of Michigan TechTransfer , Ann Arbor, MI Contact: Mitch Goodkin (734) 764-4290 Email: [email protected] Adaptive computing system capable of learning & discovery—bridges the realms of artificial intelligence and computer simulation of natural learning and discovery. Well suited for repeatable, predictable tasks (patent issued) (file #0059) University of Michigan TechTransfer , Ann Arbor, MI Contact: Mitch Goodkin (734) 764-4290 Email: [email protected] Efficiently Moving People, Equipment, Materials, job Tasks--Logistics technology is an enhanced capability to plan, analyze, deploy, and sustain material and personnel flow to multiple points. Real time data updates, data reconciliation, data visualization, machine learning, Multi-level access & security, integrated applications, simulations, training & communication. CECOM (Army Communication Electronic Command) Research & Development Engineering, Fort Monmouth, NJ, Contact: 908-532-0353 15 15 Technology Scanning Summary General/Multiple General Environmental Energy Technologies: Lawrence Berkley National Lab, Environmental Energy Technology Division has got ongoing research related to building in the following areas: Control Strategies for indoor air quality- air flow &quality modeling, indoor chemistry & exposure, ventilation technology &duct sealing Electrochemical research on batteries & fuel cells Glass &coating energy efficiency Windows and Daylighting Building energy use & control systems Energy efficient lights Contact – Mark Levine director of Environmental Energy Tech Div, Lawrence Berkley National Lab, Keep water away from foundation-ElectroOsmotic Pulse (EOP)- repels water molecules electronically, controlling groundwater intrusion into structures, preventing structural & corrosion damage, while improving indoor air quality. Army Core of Engineers - Civil Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Champaign,IL Contact: Vincent Hock 217-373-6753, Email: [email protected] Lower cost Surfaces-Sprayable Solid Surface applications: Granicoat- economical and durable application with spray equipment, same properties as solid surface sheet material. More forgiving than solid surface sheet goods, seamless look. With this new breakthrough, wall surfaces and other interiors become much easier and economical to finish with solid surface material. 10 yr warranty. Contact: Safas Corp Clinton ,NJ 973-772-5252, www.safascorp.com Technology Adoption Process Research—dissertation on how technology is adopted into construction in Sweden. Obstacles, incentives, and how to speed up adoption. Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenberg, Sweden Contact Bengt Larsson www2.lib.chalmers.se Innovation Impact Modeling- creating dynamic simulation of construction activities to assess impacts of innovation in terms of cost, duration, worker safety (funded by Nat Science Foundation) Contact: Professor Sarah Slaughter, MIT Boston, MA www.mit.edu Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering The Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center, New 30,000 sqft facility, state-of-the-art composites-materials, structural component development for both wood and non-wood materials. The new facility contains - Composite Materials Mfg Science Laboratory, Computer Modeling and Visualization Laboratory, Environmental testing lab, Machine shop, Mechanical testing lab, Micro-mechanics & nondestructive laboratory, Microscope Laboratory, Polymer & Interface Science laboratory, Structural Testing Lab, Multi-Media Conf room and a diverse, highly skilled technical staff of 22 along with student support. University of Maine, Orono, Maine, Habib Dagher- Director 207-581-2123 www. aewc.umaine.edu Fast-Cooking Technology- developed for space station living will find its way into the home over the next several years. Cooking foods faster with focused, less wasted energy. The technology, called Enersyst, uses jets of hot air on the top and bottom of the oven focused on the food. This is eliminates warm up times and the energy to heat the whole oven cavity as is common in today’s ovens. Enersyst air impingement technology is being tried in restaurants (Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Lincoln Food Services), and vending machines where hot fast, oven fresh food is desired and now capable. Thermador has been working with Enersyst to develop a line of residential energy saving, fast cooking, ovens for the home–consumer . Contact: National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) in Wheeling, WV www.nttc.edu (304) 243-2455, Joeseph Allen PH.D, president - email: [email protected] 16 16 Technology Scanning Summary General/Multiple Institute for Research in Construction – Canada-- 3 areas (programs) of ongoing research 1. Urban Infrastructure Program 2. Bldg Envelope & Structure Program - Durability & Repair - Wall & Window systems - Thermal/Moisture Performance - Roofing Systems Contact: Ralph Paroli, Program Director, 613-993-1596, Email: [email protected] 3. Indoor Environment Program - Lighting/human factors - Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality - Acoustical Contact: Dr. Morad Atif, Program Director, 613-993-9580, Email: [email protected] Canadian Centre for Housing Technology – We’re building answers Contact: 613-991-1006, website: www.ccht-cctr.gc.ca Research Projects: - Conductive Concrete - Low output heating systems - Integrated mechanical systems - Thermal performance of steel framed houses Location Efficient Mortgages – similar to energy efficient mortgages, increases the amount of money home buyers in urban areas can qualify for, if they buy in areas where they shop at nearby stores, walk, bike to work or use public transit, rather than driving to work or shopping centers. Designed to provide economic incentive for environmentally progressive communities and reduce dependency on cars. Safety Safer digging near utilities-Soft trencher –uses supersonic air to break soil, loose dirt then vacuumed away. Harmless to buried utilities, safer for the operator. Clears a 1’ wide trench (wider with multiple passes) up to depth of 10’ @ 15cfm/min. Electric Power Research Institute- Palo Alto, CA Contact: Steve Okonek, 3412 Hillview, Palo Alto,CA 94304-1395, Phone- 850-855-1068 Safe Excavation -electronic device that attaches to backhoe provides real time warning of utility line immediately ahead of digging tool. Detects and provides depth, location and size of buried cables, gas lines, toxic waste lines. Attaches to trenchers, backhoes, and other digging machines.Ready to implement needs investors or contract to develop. Working on enhanced version that detects plastic coated lines and fiber optic lines. Contact Leonhard Bernhold, Assoc. Professor of Civil Eng. at NC State, (919)-515-3677 Research to reduce back injuries in construction, NC State Industrial Eng. Dept., Ergonomics Lab—motion analysis on job sites, tool development prototypes using Lumbar Motion Monitor, comparative tool & equip testing North Carolina State Univ., Center for Construction Technology & Integration Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC 27695-7908, Phone (919) 515-3677, Dr. Steven Lorenc, Assoc Director Safer inspection-Climber Robot—mobile robot propels itself vertically for inspection, remote sensing of man-made structures. Applications: Ship building, Aircraft inspection, bridge inspection, building inspection. Could be used in inspecting roofs, 2 nd story applications, foundation or trenches. Vanderbilt University, Office of Technology Transfer- Nashville, TN (615) 343-2430 Safety Equipment from Logging Industry: This firm provides some of the best safety devices for the logging industry and now construction industry as well including its new state of the art Ultra-Jack Scaffold system. Also Fall arresters, roof brackets, and wind anchors. Qual Craft Industries, Inc, Stoughton MI 781-344-1000 www.qualcraft.com 17 17