Sandia National Laboratory | Better Buildings Initiative

For more than 60 years, Sandia has delivered essential science and technology to resolve the nation's most challenging security issues.

A strong science, technology, and engineering foundation enables Sandia's mission through a capable research staff working at the forefront of innovation, collaborative research with universities and companies, and discretionary research projects with significant potential impact.

For a general overview of Sandia National Laboratories, including its core capabilities, visit SNL's Solution Center profile or their home page. Learn more about individual user facilities below.

Advanced Power Sources Laboratory (APSL)

The Advanced Power Sources Laboratory provides comprehensive capabilities in power source research, design, engineering, characterization, evaluation, and testing. Supporting PSTG is a staff of more than 80 scientists, engineers, and technicians with backgrounds in chemistry, electrochemistry, metallurgy, chemical engineering, materials science, engineering, and physics.

State-of-the-art capabilities are available to perform research, design, development, and production for a variety of primary, reserve or rechargeable technologies. Facilities (over 60,000 sq. ft.) include:

Wet chemistry laboratories
Analytical and diagnostic laboratories
Extensive dry room capabilities: >10,000 sq. ft. that is agile/reconfigurable to meet dynamic customer needs
Environmental battery test facility
Production/prototyping facilities for lithium-ion, lithium primary, and thermal batteries
Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory (BATLab)
Energy Storage Analysis Laboratory (ESAL)
World-class non-destructive analysis tools
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing battery hardware
Access to comprehensive environmental testing, modeling & simulation, materials synthesis, analysis, and diagnostic equipment across the laboratory

For more information, please visit the APSL website or contact:

Christopher Orendorff
corendo@sandia.gov

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Combustion Research Facility (CRF)

For more than 35 years The Combustion Research Facility (CRF) has served as a national and international leader in combustion science and technology. The need for a thorough and basic understating of combustion and combustion-related processes lies at the heart of the CRF research, which ranges from studying chemical reactions in a flame to developing an instrument for the remote detection of gas leaks. Users and partners have access to state-of-the-art facilities and an expert staff that brings with them enhanced knowledge and new approaches to combustion and combustion related research.

For more information, please visit the CRF website or contact:

Sarah Allendorf
(925) 294-3379
swallen@sandia.gov

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Design, Evaluation and Test Technology Facility

The mission of this facility, composed of numerous specialized facilities, is to simulate a wide range of environments for component and system testing. The environments can range from normal in-use environments to extreme accident conditions. In addition, a wide array of diagnostic equipment, such as nondestructive testing, photometric and optics, and electronic data acquisition, is maintained and developed to support testing and research activities. Tests as diverse as characterization of printed circuit board solder connection strength to full-scale impact testing of transport vehicles have been accommodated.

For more information, please visit the Design, Evaluation and Test Technology Facility website or contact:

Charles D. Croessmann
(505) 845-9517
cdcroes@sandia.gov

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Distributed Energy Technology Laboratory (DETL)

The Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory (DETL) is a power electronics testing facility capable of evaluating distributed energy resources (DER) connected the utility grid. The DETL has evaluation stations for residential and commercial DER devices that can be configured as 240V single phase and 480V, 3-phase systems. The DETL includes a motor control center microgrid with state-of-the-art synchronous generation controls coupled with enhanced utility support power electronic devices and controllable loads for microgrid assessments. These advanced support systems include photovoltaic inverters, microturbines, fuel cells, reciprocating engine-generators, and energy storage systems. New capabilities include interoperability and cyber security vulnerability assessments as well as interactions among various technologies.

DETL provides expertise and test support to perform the following functions to existing and emerging utility interconnection standards (IEEE P1547/P1547.1) and evaluations include:

Grid-connected performance evaluations (e.g., efficiency, power quality, voltage and frequency ride-through, voltage and frequency regulation function, and DER response to abnormal grid conditions)
Off-grid (stand-alone or microgrid) performance evaluations (e.g., transient response, compatibility with various load types, voltage and frequency regulations)
Specialized tests (cyber security, unintentional islanding, interoperability and interactions of multiple sources on a common grid and microgrid, surge tolerance and mitigation strategies)

For more information, please visit the DETL website or contact:

Sigifredo Gonzales
(505) 845-8942
sgonza@sandia.gov

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Engineering Sciences Experimental Facilities (ESEF)

The ESEF complex contains several independent laboratories for experiments and advanced diagnostics in the fields of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, adhesion, surface rheology, material characterization, X-Ray CT, and material decomposition. Our experimental research activities are focused on both advanced diagnostics and fundamental experiments. We seek to improve our understanding of phenomena in areas of fluid flow, heat transfer, and aerodynamics. We develop state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques for application to benchmark experiments aimed at understanding the fundamental nature of complex systems. This understanding is used to develop and validate the theoretical and computer models necessary for system design and analysis.

For more information, please visit the ESEF website or contact:

Basil Hassan
(505) 844-4682
bhassan@sandia.gov

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Materials Science and Engineering Center (MSE)

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Center at Sandia provides knowledge of materials structure, properties, and performance and the processes to produce, transform, and analyze materials to ensure mission success for our customers and partners, both internal and external.

For more information, please visit the MSE website or contact:

Blythe G. Clark
(505) 844-7339
blyclar@sandia.gov

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Mechanical Test and Evaluation Facility

The Micromechanics & Materials Mechanics Test Facilities at Sandia, California, conduct experimental research and develop diagnostics to study the mechanical behavior of materials. Material systems of interest include metals, structural foams, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Our work for Department of Energy customers includes material characterization, fracture and failure mechanics, validation of massively parallel engineering mechanics computer codes, and mechanical testing of prototype hardware. The following research capabilities are available:

multi-axial testing
coupled thermal/mechanical testing from cryogenic to high temperature
in-situ mechanical testing in microscopes
high strain-rate testing
nanoindentation and thin film evaluation
high force testing
friction/wear Testing

For more information, please visit the Mechanical Test and Evaluation Facility website or contact:

Scott T. Peterson, Ph.D., P.E.
(925) 294-3170
stpeter@sandia.gov

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Microsystems and Engineering Science Applications (MESA)

Sandia's primary mission is ensuring the U.S. nuclear arsenal is safe, secure, reliable, and can fully support the nation's deterrence policy. Employing only the most advanced and failsafe technologies to fulfill our responsibilities as stewards of the nuclear stockpile, Sandia is responsible for the development, design and maintenance of approximately 90 percent of the several thousand parts found in any given weapon system, including radiation-hardened microelectronics.

In support of this mission, Sandia has a significant role in advancing the state-of-the-art in microsystems research and development and in introducing microsystems into the nuclear stockpile. Microsystems incorporate radiation-hardened microelectronics, and other advanced components such as micromachines, optoelectronics, and photonic systems. The MESA Complex is designed to integrate the numerous scientific disciplines necessary to produce functional, robust, integrated microsystems and represents the center of Sandia's investment in microsystems research, development, and prototyping activities. This suite of facilities encompasses approximately 400,000 square feet and includes cleanroom facilities, laboratories, and offices.

For more information, please visit the MESA website or contact:

Daniel P. Fleming
(505) 844-7829
dpflemi@sandia.gov

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National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF)

The National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) is the only test facility in the United States of its type. This unique facility provides experimental engineering data for the design, construction, and operation of unique components and systems in proposed solar thermal electrical plants; planned for large-scale power generation. At 200 feet tall, the NSTTF’s distinct height advantage along with its heat capabilities, offers a unique and complete testing environment to government contractors and agencies, research institutes, universities and private companies.

First-come, first-serve basis to government agencies and to the private sector. Proposed project activities must not compete with those offered in the private industry.

Private sector organizations can contract for use of these facilities and services through a Designated Technology Deployment Center Agreement.
Government organizations can contract with Sandia through a Work for Others Agreement.

Both agreements are easy to implement and provide for cost reimbursement for the use of Sandia’s staff and facilities.

For more information, please visit the NSTTF website or contact:

Cliff Ho, Ph.D.
(505) 844-2384
ckho@sandia.gov

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Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL)

The Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL) is a multi-user, multi-sponsor facility that conducts research in photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules and performs detailed analysis in PV systems design and characterization. PSEL accelerates the development and adoption of new and emerging photovoltaic technologies. The site location in Albuquerque, NM provides more than 300 days of sun per year, and offers partners premier testing conditions along with highly precise equipment and an experienced and knowledgeable staff.

The Photovoltaic Laboratories are available to support any application that can benefit from their unique capabilities. To make arrangements for support from these facilities, contact the user liaison.

For more information, please visit the PSEL website or contact:

Abraham Ellis
(505) 844-7717
aellis@sandia.gov

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Shock Thermodynamic Applied Research Facility (STAR)

The Shock Thermodynamic Applied Research Facility (STAR) facility, within Sandia’s Solid Dynamic Physics Department, is one of a few institutions in the world with a major shock-physics program. This is the only experimental test facility in the world that can cover the full range of pressure (bars to multi-Mbar) for material property study utilizing gas/propellant launchers, ramp-loading pulsers, and ballistic applications.

This facility is available to support any institution whose applications can benefit from its unique capabilities; contact the user liaison.

For more information, please visit the STAR website or contact:

William D. Reinhart
(505) 284-3185
wdreinh@sandia.gov

Scott Alexander, Ph.D.

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