NPDC Takes on New Projects
Thursday, April 27, 2017
The New Product Development Center (NPDC) assists Oklahoma manufactures, inventors and entrepreneurs with value-added engineering and business services. New programs have diversified NPDC’s project lineup for 2016-2017.
October marked the NPDC award of a contract with the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and the Economic Development Administration to expand and accelerate technical and business support for manufacturers and supply chain providers in Oklahoma’s oil and natural gas industry. The project is administered by OCAST and involves all Oklahoma Innovation Model partners – NPDC, the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, OCAST and i2E, Inc. – in an effort to diversify product lines and markets for businesses involved in the cyclic oil and natural gas industry. The NPDC is providing technical support through its team of experienced engineers augmented by the science and business resources at Oklahoma State University. The NPDC currently has diversification projects with nine Oklahoma companies.
In November, the NPDC signed a contract with Airplane Transporting Systems (ATS) to conduct research and development of a new method of transporting airplanes on the taxiway. NPDC design engineers are currently in the process of designing the system and will provide a prototype in 18 months. The new system is designed to transport aircraft from the runway to the airport gates and back to the runway using the taxiway system. The system is fully automatic and operated by the ground control tower personnel. The system’s expected outcomes include optimized airport traffic control, increased safety, increased airport capacity by up to 30 percent, and reduced fuel usage and emissions.
TechTrol, an electronics manufacturing company in Pawnee, OK, and the NPDC were awarded an Oklahoma Applied Research Support contract in December to develop a chlorine detection system. The system is loosely based on a patent TechTrol received in 2002. The original patent developed the base technology for using ultraviolet absorption in water as a means of measuring chlorine content. Terri Ventress, NPDC senior chemical engineer, and her team of undergraduate research assistants are developing the new design, which will allow for real-time chlorine detection and measurement. The new design will feature modern components and technology, making it less expensive, smaller and more portable. The technology has far-reaching applications, including municipal water treatment facilities, commercial and residential pools and hot tubs, wastewater treatment plants, food processing, district heating and cooling systems and cogeneration facilities.
For more information about the New Product Development Center, visit http://npdc.okstate.edu.