Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 20 N006
The funding opportunity titled "Concentrate Minimization--Inline Static Mixer/Crystallizers" is a Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) discretionary research award structured as a Cooperative Agreement. It supports a focused science and technology research effort led by the University of Colorado Boulder aimed at reducing or better managing reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate by encouraging controlled nucleation and crystallization directly within the concentrate flow. In practical terms, the work is about using inline static mixers (devices with no moving parts installed inside a pipe) as crystallizer-like environments to help salts and other scale-forming constituents come out of solution in a more predictable and potentially more manageable way, which can be a pathway toward minimizing the volume and disposal burden of RO concentrate.
A central goal of the project is to take a correlation developed in a prior Bureau of Reclamation and CU Boulder collaboration and translate it into the context of bench-scale static inline mixers. That translation step matters because correlations derived from earlier work often need to be re-parameterized when the physical geometry, hydrodynamics, mixing intensity, residence time, and shear conditions change. Inline static mixers create controlled turbulence and mixing patterns that can strongly influence when and where crystals begin to form (nucleation) and how fast they grow (crystallization). The project therefore emphasizes systematic experimentation to estimate key parameters within that correlation so it can reliably describe or predict performance in these mixer-based crystallizer configurations.
The technical work is organized into three main tasks that move from controlled laboratory evaluation to more realistic field-like conditions. First, the researchers will adapt and calibrate the prior correlation for bench-scale static inline mixers, using structured experiments designed to quantify the relevant coefficients and sensitivities. Second, the team will run bench-scale tests of the static inline mixer specifically to increase the rate of nucleation and crystallization using two model RO concentrate streams. Using model streams allows the researchers to control composition and isolate how mixer design and operating conditions affect crystallization behavior, making it easier to compare scenarios and develop transferable design guidance. Third, the work advances to pilot-scale testing of the static inline mixer at a demonstration site using an RO concentrate stream, which is intended to validate whether the bench-scale findings hold up when exposed to the complexity, variability, and operational constraints of a real concentrate stream and a larger-scale system.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 20 N006 and CFDA 15.560, with an award ceiling of $192,983 and an expectation of one award. The posting indicates it was created on May 5, 2020 with an original closing date of May 19, 2020. Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the opportunity text, but the description is clearly tailored to a cooperative effort with the University of Colorado Boulder as the performing organization. Overall, the project is positioned as an applied R&D effort that connects prior modeling or empirical correlations with hands-on mixer/crystallizer experiments, aiming to generate practical, scalable knowledge for improving concentrate minimization strategies in RO treatment systems.Apply for BOR DO 20 N006
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Concentrate Minimization—Inline Static Mixer/Crystallizers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.560.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 05, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $192,983.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Concentrate Minimization--Inline Static Mixer/Crystallizers".
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a Bureau of Reclamation opportunity under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of award is it?
It is a discretionary research award structured as a Cooperative Agreement.
What is the main purpose of the project being supported?
The project supports a focused science and technology research effort to reduce or better manage reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate by encouraging controlled nucleation and crystallization directly within the concentrate flow. The idea is to make salts and other scale-forming constituents come out of solution in a more predictable and potentially more manageable way, which can help minimize the volume of concentrate and the associated disposal burden.
What technology approach is being studied?
The research investigates using inline static mixers as crystallizer-like environments. Inline static mixers are devices with no moving parts that are installed inside a pipe and create mixing patterns that can influence crystallization behavior.
What are inline static mixers, as described in the opportunity?
Inline static mixers are in-pipe devices with no moving parts designed to create mixing and controlled turbulence as fluid passes through. In this project, those conditions are used to influence when and where crystals begin to form (nucleation) and how fast they grow (crystallization).
Why is nucleation and crystallization in the concentrate stream important?
The opportunity frames nucleation and crystallization as a pathway to managing RO concentrate because they can encourage salts and scale-forming constituents to precipitate in a controlled manner, potentially making the process more predictable and helping reduce the volume and disposal burden of concentrate.
Who is leading the research effort?
The effort is led by the University of Colorado Boulder as the performing organization, in a cooperative research context with the Bureau of Reclamation.
What is the core scientific/engineering goal described?
A central goal is to take a correlation developed in a prior Bureau of Reclamation and University of Colorado Boulder collaboration and translate it into the context of bench-scale static inline mixers.
What does it mean to "translate" the prior correlation to inline static mixers?
The opportunity explains that correlations developed in earlier work often need to be re-parameterized when key physical and operational conditions change. Here, changes include geometry, hydrodynamics, mixing intensity, residence time, and shear conditions associated with inline static mixers. The project focuses on estimating the key parameters so the correlation can describe or predict performance in mixer-based crystallizer configurations.
Why would re-parameterization be necessary?
Because inline static mixers can change flow and mixing conditions substantially, they can alter crystallization dynamics. The opportunity highlights that differences in hydrodynamics and shear, among other factors, may shift how nucleation and crystal growth occur, requiring updated coefficients and sensitivities in the correlation.
How is the technical work organized?
The work is organized into three main tasks that progress from controlled laboratory evaluation to more realistic field-like conditions.
What is Task 1?
Task 1 is to adapt and calibrate the prior correlation for bench-scale static inline mixers using structured experiments to quantify relevant coefficients and sensitivities.
What is Task 2?
Task 2 is to run bench-scale tests of the static inline mixer to increase the rate of nucleation and crystallization using two model RO concentrate streams.
Why does the project use model RO concentrate streams in bench-scale testing?
The opportunity notes that model streams allow researchers to control composition and isolate how mixer design and operating conditions affect crystallization behavior. This helps compare scenarios and develop guidance that can transfer across conditions.
What is Task 3?
Task 3 advances to pilot-scale testing of the static inline mixer at a demonstration site using an RO concentrate stream to validate whether bench-scale findings hold up under real-world complexity and operational constraints.
What is the purpose of pilot-scale testing at a demonstration site?
The pilot-scale work is intended to validate performance when exposed to the complexity, variability, and operational constraints of a real RO concentrate stream and a larger-scale system, rather than only controlled laboratory conditions.
How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates an expectation of one award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $192,983.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR DO 20 N006.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists CFDA 15.560.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The posting indicates it was created on May 5, 2020 and had an original closing date of May 19, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the posting?
Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others", with further clarification referenced in the opportunity text. However, the description is clearly tailored to a cooperative effort with the University of Colorado Boulder as the performing organization.
Is this opportunity primarily research, deployment, or operations?
It is positioned as an applied R&D effort that connects prior modeling/empirical correlations with hands-on mixer/crystallizer experimentation, with the goal of generating practical, scalable knowledge for improving concentrate minimization strategies in RO systems.
What practical outcomes is the project aiming to produce?
Based on the description, the project aims to produce: (1) an adapted, calibrated correlation applicable to bench-scale inline static mixer configurations, (2) bench-scale evidence on how mixer design and operating conditions affect nucleation and crystallization for model RO concentrates, and (3) pilot-scale validation at a demonstration site using an actual RO concentrate stream.
How does this project relate to reverse osmosis concentrate minimization?
The project targets concentrate minimization by using inline static mixers to encourage controlled crystallization within the concentrate flow, potentially enabling more predictable handling of salts/scale-formers and reducing the volume and disposal burden associated with RO concentrate.
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