Savannah River National Lab licenses technology to Greenway Energy

Savannah River National Laboratory signed an agreement with Greenway Energy LLC to license its hydrogen isotope separation technology.

The license is for Savannah River’s Thermal Cycling Absorption Process (TCAP), which is used to separate hydrogen isotopes – protium, deuterium, and tritium – through a method based on palladium gas chromatography.

Savannah River National Laboratory invented the TCAP system in 1980 to support its national security mission. It has since been refined to consume less energy and improve environmental safety.

“TCAP is an excellent example of the type of practical, applied research that Savannah River National Laboratory conducts on behalf of the nation,” Vahid Majidi, director of the National Laboratory, said. “The transfer of this technology opens up the possibility of additional commercial applications and improved availability to our customers.”

As part of the agreement, Greenway will be able to manufacture a TCAP system for the use of a commercial laboratory in a nucleotide radiography system. Radiography is a technique for testing manufactured components in the aerospace, energy and defense sectors.

“Licensing TCAP technologies opens a variety of unique solutions for imaging as well as purification of hydrogen isotopes used in commercial processes,” Scott Greenway, president of Greenway Energy, said. “We are actively working with clients and industry to develop solutions around this technology. Greenway Energy sees SRNL as a partner for further technology development that will drive innovation in this area and allow for more advanced application in the future.”