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News Archive | Current News
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Biogas Fuelled
HCCI Power Generation System for Distributed
Generation
August 2009 - The
California Energy Commission has awarded a grant to
Makel Engineering to develop a low-cost energy
conversion system that would efficiently produce
electricity from biogas - gas produced by the breakdown
of organic matter. The research team will develop a
biogas fuelled, Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition
(HCCI) power generation system capable of producing up
to 200kW of electricity while still maintaining
emissions levels consistent with CARB 2013 emissions
targets and the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
(AB32).
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Safe
Deactivation of Rocket Propellant and Other Energetic
Wastes
March 2009 - Makel
Engineering has been awarded a Phase I Small Business
Innovative Research (SBIR) research contract with the
US Air Force. Research labs associated with the
development of propulsion systems regularly generate
small amounts of waste from propellants, explosives and
pyrotechnics (PEP). This program will utilize
microchannel reactor technology to develop a system
that can be cost effectively and safely used as an
alternative for open burn/open detonation (OBOD), and
in situations where OBOD is not viable.
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Closing the
Material Loop for Oxygen Production on the
Moon
January 2009 - Makel
Engineering has been awarded a NASA Phase I Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) research contract
to develop a microchannel reactor for the methanation
of carbon monoxide. The return to human exploration of
space requires the development of methods for in-situ
production of consumables. There is currently
technology to produce oxygen from the Lunar soil. This
project is intended to close the loop in the material
balance for the oxygen production from Lunar soil,
which utilizes methane as a reducing agent, and
produces carbon monoxide as a byproduct. The use of
microchannel technology enables minimization of mass
and energy consumption, both critical for successful
deployment for space missions.
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Breath Analysis
for Asthma Patients
September 2008 -
Ohio's Third
Frontier Project selected to award nearly $3.8
million for the development of a nitric oxide sensor
that will enable asthma patients to monitor their
asthma at home. The team, led by the Cleveland Clinic,
includes NASA Glenn Research Center, The Ohio State
University, Case Western Reserve University and Makel
Engineering. The proposal aims to re-develop a sensor
used in the aerospace industry, and the project's
emphasis will be on testing and commercializing sensors
already produced in Ohio.
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Detection of
Hypergolic Fuels and Oxidizers
May 2008 - Makel
Engineering has been awarded a Phase II Small Business
Innovative Research (SBIR) research contract with the
Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency. MEI has
initiated work on the development of a system for the
detection of hypergolic fuels and oxidizers in missile
canisters. This system is designed to be directly
integrated into, for example, the All Up Round (AUR)
container for an interceptor missile.
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Micro-Plasma
Based Explosives Detection
May 2008 - Makel
Engineering has been awarded a Phase II Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) research contract with the
US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command. This research
program will develop a micro-plasma based explosives
detection system for use in unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) that will allow stand-off inspection of
approaching vessels at sea. The system incorporates a
novel plasma source within a miniaturized spectrometer
to detect extremely low levels of explosive
compounds.
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