On Oct. 1, Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and members of the U.S. Secretary of Energy Advisory Board visited the Department of Energy’s Fermilab to see first-hand its world-class facilities for exploring particle physics, accelerator science and technology, and quantum science.
The distinguished group included Congressman Bill Foster, Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, and retired Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Norm Augustine.
The VIP guests heard about the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, hosted by Fermilab, and its Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility; the PIP-II accelerator project; the lab’s contributions to the LCLS-II accelerator at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; the laboratory’s efforts in superconductivity-based qubit technology; and Fermilab’s suite of neutrino programs, including the ICARUS experiment.
“I’m always amazed at what our national labs are accomplishing, and Fermilab is leading the way on amazing scientific breakthroughs for all Americans,” Brouillette said. “Fermilab’s cutting-edge PIP-II project and its new superconducting linear accelerator will provide powerful, high-intensity proton beams to the lab’s particle physics experiments. This work will benefit both the U.S. scientific community and make significant strides in international particle physics research.”
Many Fermilab followers are aware that Fermilab’s Office of Partnerships & Technology Transfer licensed the laboratory’s electromagnetic oil spill remediation technology to Natural Science LLC in 2015. This agreement enabled Natural Science, led by physicist and inventor Arden Warner, to design and develop a novel electromagnetic technology for cleaning oil spills. A key milestone of the agreement was to produce the first prototype and then move toward commercialization.
That prototype is now here. The concept that started as demonstrations with water, oil and magnetite in a 9-ounce cup has developed into a full-scale device. With Natural Science’s permission, we are sharing some images of this full-scale prototype below.
As you can see, the technology has come a long way from the permanent magnet demonstration videos you may have seen years ago when this was a mere concept. The system includes a scalable string of floating solenoid modules feeding a magnetic ramp and separator apparatus. Much engineering has gone into making these components work together as an oil spill solution.
Fermilab and Natural Science LLC have reached an agreement to develop a novel electromagnetic technology for cleaning oil spills. Fermilab patent and licensing executive Aaron Sauers, left, and physicist and inventor Arden Warner, who leads Natural Science, shake hands. Photo: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab
Earlier this month, the Natural Science equipment had its first large-scale test at Ohmsett— the National Oil Spill Response & Renewable Energy Test Facility, located in Leonardo, New Jersey — a facility, where among other things, oil spill remediation ideas are evaluated and developed.
This patented concept shows how basic research like that done at Fermilab inspires and leads to spinoff ideas with real-world applications. To discuss how you might protect your ideas and potentially bring them to market, contact the Fermilab Office of Partnerships & Technology Transfer.
Aaron Sauers is Fermilab’s patent and licensing executive.
Arden Warner explains his electromagnetic oil spill remediation technology. Photo: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab
