ConocoPhillips

Congratulations to the 2008 ConocoPhillips Energy Prize finalists

• Winner: David A. Gonzales II for the Layered MagWheel, a new technology to provide magnetic acceleration and frictionless braking for vehicles, increasing energy conversion and efficiency.
• First Runner-Up: Corban Tillemann-Dick and team for the Radial Expansion Engine, which increases the efficiency and decreases the weight and cost of internal combustion engines by increasing the percentage of the combustion chamber reacting productively and capturing energy otherwise lost through the exhaust system.
• Second Runner-Up: Logan Bryce and team for the Micro Wind Distributive Power Generation, a small form-factor turbine to harvest power from wind at velocities of 12 mph and below, using an inverter system that allows direct connection to power mains.
• Finalists: Dr. Miguel Bagajewicz for the Acoustic Mass Pump, and Dr. Greg Rau for the Carbon-Negative Electrolytic Hydrogen.

About the Prize

The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize is a joint initiative by ConocoPhillips and Penn State that is designed to recognize new ideas and original, actionable solutions that can help improve the way the United States develops and uses energy.

In 2008, the program awarded $300,000 in cash prizes to focus on generating innovative ideas and solutions that help in three areas:

• Developing new energy sources, including new ways to develop alternative energy.
• Improving energy efficiency, such as new methods to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed in the United States.
• Combating climate change, including solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It is our hope that by creating an open forum for new energy ideas, we can create a path to a more secure and environmentally conscious energy supply for future generations.