Overview of DoE ceramic RandD for heat engines

The Automotive Technology Development Program is a part of the activities in the Office of Transportation Systems under the DoE Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Renewable Energy. The NASA Lewis Research Center technically manages the engine development projects (gas turbine, Stirling and adibatic diesel). The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) technically manages the ceramic technology development and the alternative fuels utilization projects. Since almost all of the ceramic RandD for heat engine applications is accomplished under this program, it is the main focus of the paper.