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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Experimental study on particle formation in a pressurized oxy-fuel combustor using a novel in-situ optical instrument

Particle formation in pressurized oxy-fuel combustion can be fundamentally different from oxy-fuel combustion at atmospheric pressure. Under high pressures, the rate of char gasification with CO2 and H2O increases significantly and dominates the char reactions particularly at high temperatures. Also, the extent of fragmentation varies. This could result in a very different particle size distribution from that of air-fired combustion. To accurately obtain the particle size distribution in a pressurized oxy-fuel combustor without sampling bias, the particle measurement should be made at the system pressure. Very few published studies have accomplished this, and never under the conditions reported herein. In this work, we fire PRB coal in a 100 kWth staged pressurized oxy-fuel combustor (SPOC) under two pressures, 15 and 2 bara. A sampling probe (oil-cooled) is installed at the combustor outlet and the aerosol flow are sampled isokinetically. We utilize a state-of-the-art optical analyzer (Malvern Insitec) with a novel high-pressure and high-temperature flow cell to measure the particle size distribution and concentration in-situ in a sampled flow, which contains moist/corrosive flue gas under the process pressure and a controlled temperature that is kept above the dew point. The results show that the pressure can significantly influence the particle size distribution and concentration from the oxy-fuel combustor.

Cheng, Mao↗
DOE OSTI2023

Methane, ethane, and propane production in Greenland ice core samples and a first isotopic characterization of excess methane

Air trapped in polar ice provides unique records of the past atmospheric composition ranging from key greenhouse gases such as methane (CH 4 ) to short-lived trace gases like ethane (C 2 H 6 ) and propane (C 3 H 8 ). Recently, the comparison of CH 4 records obtained using different extraction methods revealed disagreements in the CH 4 concentration for the last glacial in Greenland ice. Elevated methane levels were detected in dust-rich ice core sections measured discretely, pointing to a process sensitive to the melt extraction technique. To shed light on the underlying mechanism, we performed targeted experiments and analyzed samples for methane and the short-chain alkanes ethane and propane covering the time interval from 12 to 42 kyr. Here, we report our findings of these elevated alkane concentrations, which scale linearly with the amount of mineral dust within the ice samples. The alkane production happens during the melt extraction step of the classic wet-extraction technique and reaches 14 to 91 ppb of CH 4 excess in dusty ice samples. We document for the first time a co-production of excess methane, ethane, and propane, with the observed concentrations for ethane and propane exceeding their past atmospheric background at least by a factor of 10. Independent of the produced amounts, excess alkanes were produced in a fixed molar ratio of approximately 14 : 2 : 1, indicating a shared origin. The measured carbon isotopic signature of excess methane is (-47.0 ± 2.9) ‰ and its deuterium isotopic signature is (-326 ± 57) ‰. With the co-production ratios of excess alkanes and the isotopic composition of excess methane we established a fingerprint that allows us to constrain potential formation processes. This fingerprint is not in line with a microbial origin. Moreover, an adsorption–desorption process of thermogenic gas on dust particles transported to Greenland does not appear very likely. Instead, the alkane pattern appears to be indicative of abiotic decomposition of organic matter as found in soils and plant leaves.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Metal ferrite oxygen carriers for conversion of CO2 to CO and fuel to syngas or CO

The invention provides a use of metal ferrite oxygen carrier for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide or synthesis gas via three processes: catalytic dry reforming of methane, chemical looping dry reforming of fuel and promoting coal gasification with CO2. The metal ferrite oxygen carrier comprises MzFexOy, where MzFexOy is a chemical composition with 0 0 and 0<y≤6 and M is one of Ca, Ba, and/or combinations thereof. For example, MzFexOy may be one of CaFe2O4, BaFe2O4, MgFe2O4, SrFe2O4 and/or combinations thereof. In catalytic dry reforming, methane and carbon dioxide react in the presence of metal ferrites generating a product stream comprising at least 50 vol. % CO and H2. In another embodiment, chemical looping dry reforming process where metal ferrite is reduced with a fuel and then oxidized with carbon dioxide is used for production of CO from carbon dioxide. In another embodiment, the metal ferrite is used as a promoter to produce CO continuously from coal gasification with CO2.

Siriwardane, Ranjani V.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Method for alcohol upgrading to jet, diesel, gasoline, and valuable co-products

A method for converting an alcohol to a jet-diesel hydrocarbon fraction, comprising contacting the alcohol with a pillared two-dimensional zeolite catalyst at a temperature of at least 200° C. and up to 500° C. to convert the alcohol to hydrocarbons comprising: (a) a first mixed olefin fraction containing a mixture of C 2 -C 5 olefins; (b) a first paraffin fraction containing C 3 -C 5 paraffins; and (c) a gasoline fraction containing C 6 + hydrocarbons; and the conversion of the alcohol is energy neutral or exothermic. The first mixed olefin fraction may be subjected to an oligomerization process to result in a second paraffin fraction containing C 3 -C 6 paraffins along with a C 7 + partially unsaturated fraction, and the first and second paraffin fractions combined into a total C 3 -C 6 paraffin fraction, which can in turn be subjected to a dehydrogenation or aromatization process with hydrogen gas as byproduct, and the hydrogen gas recycled for use in producing the jet-diesel fraction.

Li, Zhenglong↗
DOE OSTI2023

Process Modeling and Analysis of a Novel Sorbent Material for Direct Air Capture Applications

This poster presents results of Task 9.0, Advanced Modeling Support of CDR Pilot Projects, of the Carbon Dioxide Removal program (CDR FWP23). Specifically, the poster presents the multi-scale modelling framework to investigate alternate processes configuration for DAC applications including Vacuum-Assisted Temperature Swing Adsorption (TVSA) process and sweep gas for regeneration.

Caballero, Daison↗
DOE OSTI2022

No ball milling needed: Alternative ODS steel manufacturing with gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) and friction-based processing

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels are promising structural materials for future fusion reactors. The high-density (~10 23 /m 3 ) of highly stable Y-(Ti)-O nano-oxides provide high sink strength for radiation resistance and high-temperature (> 650 °C) creep strength. Concomitantly, helium management is enabled by trapping high density (~10 23 /m 3 ) of small (< 3 nm) helium bubbles in the vicinity of nano-oxides. However, conventional route of making ODS steels involves prolonged ball milling, canning, degassing, and laborious thermo-mechanical processing (TMP). Such route, especially the batch-by-batch ball milling step, faces persistent challenge with scalability and high costs. Gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) method has demonstrated the potential of making precursor ODS steel powders without ball milling, but the nano-oxide density was around 10 21 /m 3 in the final consolidated form by conventional TMP. Taking advantage of GARS precursor powder, we use friction-based processing, including friction consolidation and extrusion, to manufacture ODS steel with further improved nano-oxide characteristics. Here, preliminary results showed that Y/Ti/O species were intimately mixed and rapidly reacted to form nano-oxides with a number density of ~10 22 /m 3 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mitigation of backgrounds from cosmogenic 137 Xe in xenon gas experiments using 3 He neutron capture

136 Xe is used as the target medium for many experiments searching for 0νββ. Despite underground operation, cosmic muons that reach the laboratory can produce spallation neutrons causing activation of detector materials. A potential background that is difficult to veto using muon tagging comes in the form of 137 Xe created by the capture of neutrons on 136 Xe. This isotope decays via beta decay with a half-life of 3.8 minutes and a Q β of ~4.16 MeV. This work proposes and explores the concept of adding a small percentage of 3 He to xenon as a means to capture thermal neutrons and reduce the number of activations in the detector volume. When using this technique we find the contamination from 137 Xe activation can be reduced to negligible levels in tonne and multi-tonne scale high pressure gas xenon neutrinoless double beta decay experiments running at any depth in an underground laboratory.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gas-mapping 3D imager measurement techniques and method of data processing

Measurement approaches and data analysis methods are disclosed for combining 3D topographic data with spatially-registered gas concentration data to increase the efficiency of gas monitoring and leak detection tasks. Here, the metric for efficiency is defined as reducing the measurement time required to achieve the detection, or non-detection, of a gas leak with a desired confidence level. Methods are presented for localizing and quantifying detected gas leaks. Particular attention is paid to the combination of 3D spatial data with path-integrated gas concentration measurements acquired using remote gas sensing technologies, as this data can be used to determine the path-averaged gas concentration between the sensor and points in the measurement scene. Path-averaged gas concentration data is useful for finding and quantifying localized regions of elevated (or anomalous) gas concentration making it ideal for a variety of applications including: oil and gas pipeline monitoring, facility leak and emissions monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

Thorpe, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2021

Antifoam Development for Eliminating Flammability Hazards and Decreasing Cycle Time in the Defense Waste Processing Facility

Foam, due to the high gas generation rates of boiling and chemical reaction offgasing, requires control measures to prevent the foam from contaminating the condensate and to facilitate efficient plant operation. Antifoam was utilized to minimize foam production during chemical processing in the DWPF and during High-Level Waste (HLW) evaporation at SRS and Hanford. However, the current antifoam used in the SRS DWPF increases flammability risk during chemical processing (generates three flammable degradation products) and while feeding the melter (can decompose to CO/hydrogen). It is also the likely source of methyl functional groups for the organo-mercury present in the tank farm and excessive mercury in Saltstone. Additionally, the planned startup of Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF), with much higher throughput, will challenge DWPF to process at higher gas generation rates. DWPF employs Antifoam 747, a superspreader produced by Momentive Performance Materials, as an antifoaming agent during waste processing. During DWPF chemical processing, antifoam must be effective up to boiling (i.e., up to 103°C) and between a pH of 3-13. Antifoam 747 is most effective at a pH range of 6-8 and degrades as pH deviates. In addition, SRNL identified three flammable antifoam degradation products using mass spectrometer (MS) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) offgas analyzers during simulations. A new antifoam or a new method to control foam is needed to minimize DWPF processing time and reduce the risk of contamination. In addition, testing should be completed to ensure that other antifoams used in HLW processing do not have similar flammability hazards or cause unintended impacts in downstream processing.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

Conversion kinetics during melting of simulated nuclear waste glass feeds measured by dissolution of silica

In this work, we experimentally investigated the batch-to-glass conversion kinetics of two low-activity and two high-level nuclear waste melter feeds that represent widely different behavior during melting; tests comprised thermogravimetric analysis, the feed expansion test, evolved gas analysis, and x-ray diffraction. Our study indicates that the conversion processes, which include gas-evolving reactions, dissolution of crystalline phases, and primary foam expansion and collapse, are interconnected and influenced by the feed’s thermal history. The fraction of dissolved silica was adopted as a measure of the extent of conversion inside the cold cap—the floating layer of feed material on the top surface of the melt in an electric melter. The interface between the cold cap and the free-flowing melt below was associated with a constant fraction of dissolved silica. The estimated viscosity of glass-forming melt at this interface lies within a narrow range for the feeds studied.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Application of a Genetic Algorithm to the Optimization of a Mesoscale Model for Emergency Response

Besides solving the equations of momentum, heat, and moisture transport on the model grid, mesoscale weather models must account for subgrid-scale processes that affect the resolved model variables. These are simulated with model parameterizations, which often rely on values preset by the user. Such “free” model parameters, along with others set to initialize the model, are often poorly constrained, requiring that a user select each from a range of plausible values. Finding the values to optimize any forecasting tool can be accomplished with a search algorithm, and one such process—the genetic algorithm (GA)—has become especially popular. As applied to modeling, GAs represent a Darwinian process: an ensemble of simulations is run with a different set of parameter values for each member, and the members subsequently judged to be most accurate are selected as “parents” who pass their parameters onto a new generation. At the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina, we are applying a GA to the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) mesoscale weather model, which supplies input to a model to simulate the dispersion of an airborne contaminant as part of the site’s emergency response preparations. An ensemble of forecasts is run each day, weather data are used to “score” the individual members of the ensemble, and the parameters from the best members are used for the next day’s forecasts. As meteorological conditions change, the parameters change as well, maintaining a model configuration that is best adapted to atmospheric conditions. Significance Statement We wanted to develop a forecasting system by which a weather model is run over the Savannah River Site each day and repeatedly adjusted according to how well it performed the previous day. To run the model, a series of values (parameters) must be set to control how the model will calculate winds, temperatures, and other desired variables. Each day the model was run several times using different combinations of these parameters and later compared with observed meteorological conditions. Parameters that produced the most accurate forecasts were preferentially reused to create the forecasts for the next day. The process was tested for the summer of 2020 and exhibited lower errors than forecasts produced by the model using default values of the parameters.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gas Stopper Developments for Improved Purity and Intensity of Low-Energy, Rare Isotope Ion Beams (Final Technical Report)

This final technical report summarizes the work of the Michigan State University (MSU) team supported by grant # DE-SC0021423 awarded by the Office of Nuclear Physics, Department of Energy. Objectives: The successful fulfillment of the FRIB science mission hinges on ensuring the availability of fast, stopped, and reaccelerated beams consisting of rare isotopes. This project's research and development focus was dedicated to supporting the advancement and creation of a cutting-edge linear gas stopper. The primary aim is to efficiently convert the high-intensity fast beams of rare isotopes provided by FRIB into high-quality, low-energy beams. These beams are essential for conducting stopped beam experiments or for subsequent reacceleration. The overarching goal is to advance technology, aiming to increase the beam rate capability of the linear gas stopper for medium-to-heavy-mass rare isotopes by more than tenfold compared to the currently most effective gas stopper in operation, and to improve the purity of the delivered beams. Project Description: The existing technology employed in gas stopping devices designed for low-energy, rare-isotope beams presents limitations in both the purity of extracted beams and the intensities of injected beams. These limitations are incompatible with the requirements of the recently commissioned rare isotope beam facility, FRIB. Our research and development efforts, aligned with the previously outlined objectives, focused on addressing the most critical aspects for enhancing beam-rate capability and purity. Specifically, advanced particle-in-cell simulations were developed and integrated into a simulation pipeline to explore the efficacy of multi-layer RF carpets on increasing ion transport efficiency with high incoming beam rates that generate space charge fields which can limit it. We also explored the possibility of using a collision-induced-dissociation (CID) gas cell to break up molecular contaminant ions that are generated during the stopping process. A prototype CID gas cell was constructed and tested with beams from an offline ion source, validating the concept with the successful demonstration of breaking of molecular ions. The outcome of this research enabled the formulation a conceptual design for a next-generation linear gas stopping device specifically tailored for FRIB. This device is envisioned to deliver rare-isotope-ion beams at a rate of 10 8 particles per second or higher, accompanied by advancements in purity. Methods employed: This project leverages advancements in technologies initially designed for the Advanced Cryogenic Gas Stopper (ACGS), the current state-of-the-art linear gas stopper, through the use of new simulations and beam purification via collision-induced-dissociation. The methods include: 1. Development of a prototype low-energy, low-pressure CID gas stopper. This prototype features a thin, approximately 20 nm, Si 3 N 4 entrance window designed for dissociating stable and rare-isotope molecular ions. The goal is to enhance beam purification and overall efficiency. 2. Creation of Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to assess the advantages of multi-layer RF carpets and multi-point extraction for ion transport efficiency. These simulations rely on the 3DCylPIC package, specifically designed for studying devices of this nature. The goal is to quantify and mitigate ion transport losses due to space charge generated in the stopping process of large numbers of ions. 3. Perform ion transport simulations across an RF carpet using an 8-phase travelling wave and evaluate its performance. Compared to the 4-phase RF carpets used in ACGS, the 8-phase carpets will double the wavelength of the generated traveling wave allowing for larger maximum RF amplitudes that could result in improved ion transport efficiency for high-intensity incoming beams when large space charge fields are present. Impact: Tackling the primary challenges associated with transforming high-energy projectile fragment beams into low-energy beams—specifically, addressing efficiency and purity—holds significant promise for advancing FRIB science. This advancement will particularly impact precision mass measurements, laser spectroscopy of short-lived nuclei, and studies in astrophysics and nuclear reactions using reaccelerated beams. These domains play a crucial role in addressing key questions outlined in the 2023 NSAC long-range plan, spanning nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, and fundamental symmetries. Additionally, they contribute to addressing 10 out of the 17 benchmarks identified by the NRC RISAC. The development of a next-generation gas stopping device capable of delivering low-energy, rare-isotope beams at a rate of 10 8 particles per second, or more, with high purity holds the potential to unlock experiments that would otherwise be unfeasible. Furthermore, it is expected to reduce the time required for experiments at FRIB, thereby maximizing scientific output. The research and development activities performed as part of this project bolstered essential competencies at FRIB in beam physics and ion source technologies, provided valuable training opportunities for junior scientists.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

A comparative investigation of the effect of gas type on foam strength and flow behavior in tight carbonates

Foam generation technique has been practically applied to overcome gas mobility issue during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes. Incorporated with the utilized gas, the capability of foaming agent to generate persistent foam determines the flow performance under reservoir conditions. Here, in this study, we first identified the surfactants with excellent phase behavior and foaming properties and, second, evaluated their bulk foam performance with different gases, including N 2 , CO 2 , and hydrocarbon gas (CH 4 ) under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. In bulk, the foam generated with the high-density gas, i.e., CO 2 , exhibited the greatest foamability but the lowest foam stability. With amidoamine oxide-based surfactant, CH 4 -foam was found to be more stable than N 2 -foam, while the opposite was observed for sulfobetaine-based surfactant. The most effective surfactant was later used to perform flow experiments on two tight carbonate rocks, including Minnesota Norther Cream Buff and Edwards limestone, with permeabilities of ~0.8 and 16 mD, respectively. The core-flooding experiments showed that the optimum quality of CO 2 -foam was lower than that of N 2 - and CH 4 -foams. For a given flow rate and fixed foam quality, the steady-state strength followed the descending order of CH 4 -, N 2 -, and CO 2 -foam. However, in general, the difference in foam strength between N 2 - and CH 4 -foams was insignificant when the total flow rate was varied. We also found that the variation in rock permeability had a greater effect on the strength of the CO 2 -foam compared to those generated with N 2 and CH 4 . In the presence of oil, the shear-thinning behavior of all foams was found more prominent. The increase in oil saturation had a more adverse effect on the strength of N 2 - and CH 4 -foams, particularly in the higher permeability rock. The results indicated that the foam strength, which is key in the effectiveness of foam EOR applications, is greatly influenced by several factors such as gas density, gas solubility in water, the presence of oil, and rock permeability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Method for preventing fouling of a demister

A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

PDRD Project 19039 - All metal vacuum scroll pump development for tritium

Currently the United States relies on a single source, foreign company, Eumeca (formerly Normetex) for the supply of an all metal vacuum scroll pump to process tritium. This “one of a kind”, all metal, vacuum scroll pump utilizes no “wetted”, polymeric materials that degrade prematurely when exposed to tritium. U.S. based vacuum scroll pump suppliers typically utilize a polymer, Teflon®, as a tip seal material at the edge of the scroll impellers for proper pump function. Teflon® is known to degrade within a relatively short time frame (approximately 1 year) when continually exposed to tritium gas. This degradation results in “flaking” of the Teflon® material which results in particulate contamination of the process gas stream. While filtration of the particulate is possible, doing so requires additional maintenance which is costly in a glovebox environment. In addition, filtration can degrade pumping system performance as particulate collects in the filter media over time. To date, all of the well established U.S and European based vacuum scroll pump manufacturers have been uninterested in developing an all metal vacuum scroll pump that does not use a polymeric scroll tip seal. This position is taken as the vacuum scroll pump manufacturers do not see a large enough market to make it profitable for them to develop and market an all metal vacuum scroll pump. In the mid 2000s, one company, Air Squared, Inc., a small Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specializing in design and fabrication of custom scroll vacuum pumps and compressors, was willing to pursue the effort. The first design effort incorporated Vespel® as a polymeric tip seal material. Results of this effort led to realizing the affect that the Met-Bel MB-601 metal bellows pump has on performance when used as a backing pump for an all metal vacuum scroll pump without a scroll tip seal. As a result, Air Squared subsequently designed an all metal vacuum scroll pump without a tip seal material for evaluation. Although the initial, all metal version of the Air Squared pump was found deficient in regard to scroll impeller stiffness, which resulted in scroll contact, general design and pump performance was verified to be adequate. SRS PDRD Project 19039 was launched in 2019 as a 3rd attempt with Air Squared, Inc. in regard to development of an all metal vacuum scroll pump for consideration as an equivalent to the Eumeca/ Normetex pump. The effort specified 300 series stainless steel for the scroll impellers, all metal sealing, and design to meet tritium throughput and ultimate vacuum requirements. In addition, a 60 psig design pressure rating requirement was specified for the pump containment boundary. The 3rd generation Air Squared pump has been designed, fabricated, and has received preliminary testing. Preliminary testing has indicated proper leak tightness and pump performance. However, work continues regarding development of a pumping chamber containment bellows that can be subjected to 66 psig without damage to the bellows. Work will continue in 2020 and 2021 to pursue a pumping chamber containment bellows that meets the pressure rating requirement.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Techno Economic Analysis for Production of Renewable Natural Gas and Value-Added Chemicals from Forest Biomass Residues (CRADA Final Report)

West Biofuels - in collaboration with the University of California San Diego, the University of California Davis, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), the Colorado School of Mines’ Center for Hydrate Research, Placer County Air Pollution Control District, the Sierra Business Council, and the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)-will demonstrate an innovative pathway to convert forest biomass to renewable gas (RG). The project, Production of Pipeline Grade Renewable Natural Gas and Value-Added Chemicals from Forest Biomass Residues, will utilize an existing pilot-scale gasification system and data and lessons learned from a lab-scale catalytic reactor design, develop, and demonstrate an integrated pilot-scale RG process with a scaled-up catalytic reactor and hydrate-based gas separation process. This robust and simple process uses a commercial proven gasifier, a commercially available catalyst that can tolerate gas contaminants, and a gas separation process that simplifies the downstream processing. Current testing has shown that the process can yield a large amount of methane rich renewable gas in addition to a mixture of propanol, ethanol and other higher alcohols and the relative amounts can be controlled by shifting the process conditions. This process is novel and groundbreaking because the product mixture of RG and valuable alcohols byproducts makes RG production economically feasible at $\$$12 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) or less using forest biomass from high hazard zones.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Life cycle analysis of polylactic acids from different wet waste feedstocks

Producing a valuable chemical product through diversion of wet wastes can simultaneously resolve the problems associated with increasing wastes and greenhouse gas emissions from conventional chemical production processes. In this work, we investigated the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, water, and fossil-fuel consumption for waste-derived polylactic acids (PLA) from three different waste feedstocks, namely wastewater sludge, food waste, and swine manure, using the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model. The decarbonization potential of replacing fossil-based resins with the waste-derived polymer was also investigated. The results show that swine manure-to-PLA pathway was the least carbon intensive (—1.4 kgCO 2 e/kg) among the three waste-to-PLA pathways on a cradle-to-grave basis, followed by the food waste case (—1.3 kgCO 2 e/kg) and then by the wastewater sludge case (0.6 kgCO 2 e/kg). In the baseline scenario, all three waste-to-PLA pathways were less carbon intensive than both fossil-based PET and HDPE on a cradle-to-grave basis: 66% (vs. PET) and 56% (vs. HDPE), 171 and 192%, 181 and 205% reduction in GHG emissions for wastewater sludge-, food waste-, and swine manure-to-PLA pathway, respectively. For all sensitivity cases investigated, the food waste- and swine manure-to-PLA pathways were significantly less carbon intensive than their fossil-counterparts. In terms of the annual decarbonization potential of replacing fossil-based PET or HDPE, the wastewater sludge- and food waste-pathway showed higher mitigation potential than the swine manure-pathway: i) 18–28 kilotons CO 2 e-reduction per year for wastewater sludge pathway; ii) 23–26 kTCO 2 e-reduction/yr for food waste pathway; and iii) about 5 kTCO 2 e-reduction/yr for swine manure pathway depending on the type of conventional resin replaced. However, given the abundant availability of the swine manure feedstocks across the United States, the decarbonization potential of swine manure-based pathway can also increase as the plant capacity or the number of plants grow.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Market Analysis: Upcycling Natural Gas Into Solid Carbon Products

The purpose of this report is to execute a market analysis to determine the potential market opportunities for natural gas-derived high-value carbon products and their associated applications. Currently, associated gas is released through the process of either venting or flaring. Vented or flared natural gas is presently lost to the atmosphere, despite the fact that it represents a significant resource of both carbon and hydrogen—two products that could have significant value. Transforming some of this underutilized supply into high-cost products could contribute to realizing the full value of United States (U.S.) natural gas resources. The products analyzed in this report are carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, synthetic graphite, and carbon black. The report also touches on the market opportunities for hydrogen, a by-product of the pyrolysis process.

03 NATURAL GAS↗