Funding-Limited Submission - U. S. Department of Energy - Energy Innovation Hub; February 8, 2010

 

The Department of Energy will launch three Energy Innovation Hubs in FY2010—one in each of the focus areas listed below:

1.         Fuels from Sunlight,
2.         Energy Efficient Building Systems Design, and

3.         Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors.

 

The Secretary of Energy has identified the problems in these topic areas as presenting the most critical barriers to achieving national energy and climate goals while having proven resistant to solution by conventional R&D enterprise structures.  In a new R&D structure modeled on the Department’s successful Bioenergy Research Centers, each Hub will comprise a highly collaborative team, spanning multiple scientific, engineering, and where appropriate, economics, and public-policy disciplines.  By bringing together top talent across the full spectrum of R&D performers—including universities, private industry, non-profits, and National Laboratories—each Hub is expected to become a world-leading R&D center in its topical area.

 

The Modeling and Simulation Hub will utilize those existing advanced modeling and simulation capabilities (e.g. computational fluid dynamics) developed by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and other DOE research and development activities and programs. The Hub will then apply them through a new multi-physics computational capability that will provide predictive capability for life extension and power uprates calculations. The Hub will also provide the opportunity (at the discretion of the applicants) to develop new modeling and simulation capabilities that will become part of the engineering environment for nuclear energy technology issues.

 

Part of the challenge will be to adapt these advanced computational tools into the current and future culture of nuclear engineers. The modern, science-based simulation tools are designed to be used by specialists. After five years, the Hub is intended to produce a multi-physics computational environment that can be used by a wide range of practitioners to conduct predictive calculations of the performance of reactors in the future for both normal and off-normal conditions.

 

An important element of the Modeling and Simulation Hub is to have a clear mission that will focus and drive research and development. The mission focus of the Hub is to apply existing and/or newly developed modeling and simulation capabilities to create a user environment that allows engineers to simulate an operating reactor that will act as a "virtual model" of that reactor.

 

The Hub also will obtain data from the “real physical” reactor that will validate the "virtual model."  In turn, engineers will use the "virtual model" to address important questions about the operations of and safety basis for the reactor, such as can the reactor be uprated in power and operate safely for an extended period of time. Finally, the combination of the "virtual model" and the physical reactor will be used to communicate the potential role of science-based modeling and simulation to address technology issues concerning nuclear energy in the near, mid, and long terms.

 

The full announcement can be accessed at:  https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/PublicSearch/Public_Opportunities.aspx

 

A specific entity may not submit more than one application as the prime applicant for this particular FOA. 

 

Because the Department of Energy only allows one application as the prime applicant per institution, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following information electronically to the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Monday, February 8, 2010:

• Names and departments of the Principal Investigator and project personnel
• Names of other consortia members
• Cost (including cost sharing proposed, indicate amount and source of the match)
• Narrative (maximum 4 pages) to include project objectives, merit review criteria discussion, relevance and outcomes/impacts, and a project management plan.

 

A committee will be appointed to review the applications and make a recommendation.  The individual selected will be notified in time to prepare and submit the full application and supporting material electronically for the March 1, 2010 deadline.

 

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu