CALABAZAS CREEK RESEARCH, INC. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 24b
CALABAZAS CREEK RESEARCH, INC. — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Energy.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Energy in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $206,500. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code 24b links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $206,500
- Agency
- Department of Energy
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- 24b
- Solicitation
- DE-FOA-0001941
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- 2019-07-01 → 2020-03-31
Description
High power RF loads are required to dissipate the power from gyrotrons used for heating fusion plasmas. The ITER facility, currently under construction in France, will require twenty four loads in its initial phase with and additional twenty four required for a future upgrade. High power RF loads are also required at other facilities under construction or planned. The current cost is very high due to the complex and rigorous performance specifications. Calabazas Creek Research Inc. (CCR) is proposing to apply additive manufacturing to dramatically reduce the cost of RF loads. The goal is to reduce the cost for each load by $100,000, which is approximately half the current cost. The program will redesign conventionally machined components to allow 3D printing to reduce the number of parts and assembly operations. The 3D printed design will also improve thermal and mechanical performance.ITER requires a total of forty eight RF loads. Loads will also be required for facilities under construction or planned in China, Korea, Japan, Europe, India, and the United States.