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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Hybrid Ceramic-CMC Vane with EBC for Future Coal Derived Syngas Fired 65% Efficient Turbine Combined Cycle

The efficiency of both simple cycle and combined cycle power generation systems scale with the peak temperature at which the gas exits the combustor to drive the turbine. In conventional systems, a substantial fraction of the total turbine core flow exiting the compressor is diverted downstream to cool metallic turbine hardware rather than power the turbine, much of which is used to cool the first-stage turbine vane. The use of coal derived syngas fuels provides an additional challenge to the lifetime of materials utilized in the turbine, as particulate byproducts created in the coal gasification process melt in the combustion gas, and can subsequently deposit and interact with the turbine hardware. The development of durable hot-section materials capable of operating at temperature well above that of single crystal superalloy airfoil/zirconia based thermal barrier coatings is critical to realizing 65% efficient coal derived syngas fired gas turbine based power systems. To enable higher turbine inlet temperatures while lowering cooling air requirements, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), the central R&D laboratory supporting UT Pratt & Whitney, led the conceptual design of a new type of ceramic composite turbine hot section materials system. The design focused on a novel hybrid monolithic ceramic-fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) first stage turbine vane having an environmental barrier coating. By utilizing ceramic construction in the turbine hot-section, the core flow normally used to cool metallic components will be substantially reduced, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. To provide the framework for future demonstration testing, UTRC partnered with University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center (UNDEERC) to provide a conceptual design for a gasified coal fed high-pressure turbine combustor system designed to mimic the conditions expected in a future 65% fuel to busbar efficient syngas fueled gas turbine based combined cycle. The UNDEERC and UTRC collaborated on characterizing dusts from coal gasifier filtration systems.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Subtask 2.6 – Optimization of Aerosol Mitigation Technology for Postcombustion CO 2 Capture

Growing concerns over the impact of CO 2 emissions from combustion sources on global climate change have prompted numerous research and development projects aimed at developing cost-effective technologies for CO 2 capture. One family of technologies being demonstrated at pilot and full scale globally is postcombustion CO 2 capture (PCCC) systems that employ amine-based solvents. The captured CO 2 can be compressed and permanently stored underground or used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The proximity of North Dakota’s lignite-fired fleet of power plants to potential CO 2 storage options creates a unique atmosphere for PCCC within the state. However, the aerosols present in lignite flue gas present a challenge for large-scale PCCC at North Dakota power plants. Aerosols can negatively impact the long-term performance of amine-based solvents for CO 2 capture. Amine-based solvents are volatile, and aerosols provide nucleation sites where amine vapors can condense. Because aerosols cannot be easily captured at the column outlet using conventional technologies, the amine-laden aerosols escape the system and lead to accelerated solvent losses. Moreover, aerosol components can chemically react with amines to form degradation products that can permanently deactivate the amine, cause fouling, and lead to hazardous emissions. Many of the elements that have been shown to catalyze solvent degradation are present in lignite coals and can exacerbate solvent replacement economics. Understanding this issue is critical to the implementation of solvent-based CO 2 capture systems as applied to lignite-fired generation systems. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) designed and carried out this project to optimize aerosol mitigation technology for PCCC at a lignite-fired power plant. To meet the goal of this project, the following objectives were identified: Determine the effectiveness of a wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) on collection of aerosols at a low-rank coal-fired power station. Determine the impact of aerosols on the efficiency and degradation products of amine-based carbon capture systems fired with low-rank fuels. Work was conducted at Minnkota Power Cooperative’s (MPC’s) Milton R. Young (MRY) Station Unit 2 using a slipstream of flue gas from the outlet of the plant’s flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit. To gather initial data for sizing and specifying a WESP for this system, a temporary pilot-scale WESP was rented and installed on-site. Several different conditions were tested to examine the impact of flow rate, voltage, and current on WESP performance. The WESP was effective at removing large particulate (>200 nm) but caused an increase in fine particulate (<75 nm). Fine particulate material at the inlet and outlet of the WESP was collected, analyzed, and showed that crystalline sulfates carried over from the plant’s FGD unit were being converted to fine aerosols and SO 2 was being converted to SO 3 through the WESP. Additionally, the high moisture content of the flue gas stream at this sample location also contributed to an overall increase in aerosol mass under some of the test conditions. Using the results from the rented WESP, the project team installed a smaller-scale WESP upstream of the EERC’s slipstream CO 2 capture system. Flue gas was routed through a pilot-scale FGD unit to remove SO 2 to very low levels (~1 ppm) and then through a direct contact cooler (DCC) to further cool the gas and to remove moisture. The gas exiting the DCC was then routed through the new WESP before passing to the CO 2 absorber columns. Fluor’s amine-based solvent was used to scrub CO 2 from the slipstream through a set of two absorber columns. The rich solvent was regenerated in a stripper column by heating to drive off captured CO 2 . The system operated using a catch-and-release method where the CO 2 was separated to provide data on the process, but the captured CO 2 was released back into the host site stack. Aerosols and sulfur species were measured at multiple locations throughout the pilot-scale system. The inlet FGD and DCC removed much of the particulate matter and gaseous sulfur upstream of the WESP. With this configuration, the WESP achieved >95% particulate capture. The new WESP did not show any of the increases in SO 3 or other aerosol species that had been consistently observed with the larger-scale WESP installed immediately downstream of the plant’s full-scale FGD unit. Particulate samples captured and analyzed from the WESP inlet did not show any presence of crystalline sulfate materials, indicating that the pilot-scale FGD and DCC were efficient at reducing carryover from the plant’s full-scale FGD unit. A set of parametric tests were conducted on the new WESP to assess the impacts of flow rate, voltage, number of online WESP fields, and gas-phase sulfur content on aerosol and sulfur transformations. The results showed that the WESP performed similarly well at all sets of conditions. Sulfur and particulate matter exiting the WESP were further reduced through the absorber column as the amine-based solvent captured some of the residual contaminants. Solvent analysis showed that these species were slowly concentrating in the solvent over the duration of the test. When the WESP was taken offline and the sulfur slip through the FGD allowed to rise, the sulfate content in the solvent rose sharply, showing that the extra FGD and WESP were effective at reducing sulfate and cation uptake. This would be expected to extend amine-based solvent life by slowing the formation of heat-stable salts and other degradation products. This subtask was cofunded through the EERC–U.S. Department of Energy Joint Program on Research and Development for Fossil Energy-Related Resources Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FE0024233. Nonfederal funding was provided by the North Dakota Industrial Commission and MPC.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Technology Development for Modular, Low-Cost, High-Temperature Recuperators for Supercritical CO 2 Power Cycles (Final Report)

The program’s focus was to evaluate, advance, and demonstrate recuperator design concepts, materials, and fabrication methods that facilitate the commercial availability of compact and low-cost recuperators. Emphasis was placed on recompression closed Brayton cycles having a turbine inlet temperature exceeding 700°C and differential pressures on the order of 200 bar and were scalable to accommodate plant sizes from 10 to 1,000 MWe. The primary objectives of the first budget period, which included conceptual design, preliminary development, and prototype fabrication and testing, were accomplished. A new recuperator design concept, stacked-sheet heat exchanger (SSHX), was realized during the project. The design was taken from paper to hardware and successfully tested. The SSHX prototype recuperator met or exceeded program thermal, hydraulic and performance/cost metrics goals. The first budget period was extended to retire risk in scaling the recuperator from the kWt to MWt thermal capacity scale. The fabrication and design requirements for the budget period one extension were met. Delays associated with the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the fabrication and testing of the industrial scale prototype.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

SOFC Prototype System Test

The goal of this U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored project is to test a 200 kWe thermally self-sustaining atmospheric-pressure solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) prototype system at a prominent site. Fuel Cell Energy Inc. (FCE) utilized the state-of-the-art SOFC technology of its wholly-owned subsidiary Versa Power Systems (VPS) to design, fabricate and test the 200 kW prototype system. The specific objectives of this project were to achieve an SOFC stack power degradation rate of ≤1.5% per 1000 hours for the 400 kW stand-alone prototype power system undergoing ≥ 5000 hours of steady state tests at thermally self-sustained normal operating conditions (NOC), and to verify the prospects for a high volume SOFC stack production cost below the DOE target of 225 dollars per kilowatt. Achieving these goals enables commercial natural gas fueled SOFC system deployment in the 2020 timeframe, which will eventually lead to SOFC technology that is viable for large scale central power generation applications.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

High Throughput In-Line Coating Metrology Development for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Manufacturing

Coatings play key roles in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack durability. For example, diffusion barrier coatings on Cr-containing interconnect and balance of plant (BOP) components protect electrodes from Cr poisoning over the long operational lifetimes (>10,000 hours) of the fuel cell stack. Common defects in coatings, such as cracks, pinholes, and porosity, result in a failure to protect the electrodes, resulting in shorter operational lifetime and thus higher cost. It is very unlikely, even in the best coating process, that all these defects can be mitigated, hence identifying critical defects in parts, and removing defective parts from production before they can damage the stack, becomes paramount. Furthermore, these quality control techniques must be operational in the production/assembly line (in-line), i.e., high throughput and non-destructive, and cost effective. Redox Power Systems, LLC (Redox) together with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed much needed high throughput, in-line metrology techniques for protective coatings. The overall goal of the project is to lower cost while increasing robustness, reliability, and endurance of SOFC stacks. To accomplish this, we had several objectives, including: to identify key coating and substrate defects that lead to coating failure through the use of detailed characterization methods (e.g., microscopy, XRD, EDS, electrochemistry); to assess capabilities of in-line metrology techniques, e.g., optical profilometry (Redox) and thermography (NREL), to probe these defects, or evidence thereof; demonstrate long-term performance of “defect-free” protective coatings, as identified by in-line metrology, in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack operation. In the first part of this project, the ability to identify key defects expected to lead to coating and SOFC degradation using in-line metrology tools were evaluated. Coated interconnect samples with controlled defect types and populations were tested under conditions similar to SOFC operation, followed by detailed post-test analysis to reveal the defects responsible for observed degradation. In the second part of the project, the optimal in-line metrology techniques and methodologies were used to map the defect distribution in full-size interconnects with critical defects intentionally allowed to exist in some cases. These interconnects underwent SOFC testing for extended periods (up to ~3,000 hours) followed by post-test analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of in-line metrology techniques in mitigating MCO coating related degradation. Key accomplishments in this project included the following: Demonstrated ASR of < 0.05 ohm-cm 2 at 650 °C for 1,000 hours with low defect (determined by in-line metrology) interconnect samples (average ASR=37 milliohms-cm 2 after over 1,000 hours). Demonstrated that low defect coatings on interconnects (as screened using in-line metrology) have low volatilization of chromium at ~650 °C for 1,000 hours as detected using Cr-getter material (< 5 at% increase above baseline); 1022 hour duration tests under humidified, elevated temperature (750 °C rather than 650 °C) compared a base case against different coating thicknesses. Demonstrated capability to identify initial key defects of interest with in-line metrology techniques using up to 8 cm by 10 cm having coatings with and without intentional defects of interest using thermal imaging and optical profilometry. Correlated key defects identified using metrology techniques with observed coating performance (e.g., ASR and Cr volatility). Conducted several 4 cm by 4 cm cell tests using MCO-interconnects that were pre-screened using some of the metrology techniques developed in the project (e.g., optical profilometry). An analysis of ASR measurements were able to show that defect-free coatings resulted in the anticipated performance in the cell tests.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Lightweight Materials - Carbon Fiber and Polymer Composites, Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) Predictive Tools Development for Low-Cost Carbon Fiber for Lightweight Vehicles (University of Virginia) (Final Report)

This project aimed to develop low-cost alternative precursors and processing techniques through the implementation of an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) framework to evaluate precursor conversion kinetics. Once established, this framework was then used to down-select precursors for laboratory- and pilot-scale production to validate resulting carbon fiber (CF) material properties and process cost-savings. The two most promising approaches to reduce the cost of CFs were to (1) use new low-cost precursors and (2) reduce the energy requirements of CF processing. These approaches were investigated over the course of three phases of work, spanning 3.5 years. This report describes the overall project objectives, approach, and the key accomplishments in each phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Primary Power Large-Scale Pilot Plant

The United States electrical power generation fleet encompasses a wide range of technologies, ranging from traditional combustion-based power generation, to nuclear power, to renewable energy. While the distribution of these assets continues to shift due to economic and regulatory influences, coal combustion continues to be a key part of the US energy portfolio. Despite the relative maturity of coal combustion technology, improvements in overall fuel-to-power efficiency and generation flexibility are still possible and will improve both the economic and environmental factors of coal combustion. Echogen Power Systems proposes to lead a world-class team including the University of Missouri, Electric Power Research Institute and Louis Perry Associates in the design, construction and operation of a 10MWe coal-fired supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) large-scale pilot. This transformational technology uses sCO 2 as a working fluid instead of water to achieve high thermodynamic efficiencies that can significantly exceed advanced steam-Rankine cycles. Further, the compact nature of sCO 2 turbomachinery offers capital cost and footprint advantages, and the low maintenance of a water-free power cycle can significantly reduce operation and maintenance (O&M) costs over conventional steam-Rankine systems. Recent integration studies of sCO 2 with coal combustion power plants highlight the significant improvements in plant efficiency that sCO 2 can offer relative to even advanced steam Rankine cycles. At commercial scales, coal-sCO 2 plant net efficiency is predicted to be 39-44.0% (HHV), or 10-20% higher output than conventional steam-Rankine systems, which will significantly improve the competitiveness of coal-fired generation. This proposal builds upon projects previously funded by the Department of Energy, including DE-FE0025959 (High-Efficiency Thermal Integration of Closed Supercritical CO 2 Brayton Power Cycles with Oxy-Fired Heaters) and DE-NE0008470 (Conceptual Design for sCO 2 Power Cycle Test Facility). An appropriately-scaled and properly designed and operated pilot project is essential to overcome the natural risk-aversion of the power generation industry and project financing community. The 10 MWe coal-fired sCO 2 pilot power plant proposed herein will reduce the technical and economic risk of this transformational technology, enabling commercial deployment at the conclusion of the project. For the second phase of this project, Echogen lead a team that completed and refined the pilot system conceptual system and key component designs resulting in the completion of a front-end-engineering-design (FEED) study, completed the NEPA review process, completed the permitting process for construction and operation, refined the techno-economic analysis of the proposed system at commercial scale and received commitments for Phase III cost share. The end result of the program will be to demonstrate the technical and economic superiority of the sCO 2 power cycle for coal-fired operation. Major risk elements will have been retired with sufficient operation at high power to enable the power generation industry to move forward with the first commercial deployment of this transformational system.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Transport in Stochastic Media with Random Chord Length Distributions

Thermal radiation transport computations in binary Markovian random mixtures rely almost exclusively on the Levermore-Pomraning (LP) model which is obtained by applying a heuristic closure to the ensemble averaged random medium transport equation. The validity of this model has been extensively tested by comparing numerical results over a broad parameter range (material types and mixing parameters) against benchmark solutions in planar geometry. The conditions under which the LP-model provides useful results and when it breaks down are now well established, but work to date has been largely restricted to homogeneous mixing statistics, i.e., the mean chord lengths of both materials are taken to be spatially constant. In recent work, this limitation was relaxed by allowing the mean chord lengths and, in a consistent fashion, the volume fractions in the LP-model to vary spatially and in a follow-up investigation benchmark solutions were obtained by ensemble averaging results over material realizations sampled from a nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP). Numerical experiments in rod geometry with specifically linear and quadratic spatial dependence of chord lengths showed that the material averaged radiation intensities vary nonmonotonically with depth into the medium, in stark contrast to solutions obtained assuming uniform chord lengths. Moreover, depending on the local optical thickness and strength of scattering, the LP-model results showed locally more nuanced deviations from the benchmark solutions than was the case with constant chord lengths. These limited numerical investigations highlight the nontrivial qualitative and quantitative consequences of nonhomogeneous mixing statistics, in particular that closure approximations may not be uniformly valid or invalid over the problem domain.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Consortium for Production of Affordable Carbon Fibers in the United States (Final Report)

Various feedstocks from coal, petroleum and bio-based acrylonitrile were investigated for their ability to produce carbon fiber within DOE strength (250 ksi), modulus (25 Msi), elongation (>1%) and cost (≤$5/lb) goals for wider utilization in light-weight vehicles for the automotive industry. The overarching approach was to chemically identify and map the various feedstocks, understand the molecular transformation to produce carbon fiber precursors (mesophase for pitch materials of polyacrylonitrile polymer) and how these impact carbon fiber quality. Predictive models were built to relate the feedstocks and precursors to carbon fiber properties using atomistic and micro-scale modeling within ±15%. Using tow-level carbon fiber epoxy composites, carbon fibers tow-level predictions of elastic components of the carbon fibers were also successfully modeled within ±15%, using finite element analysis to confirm single filament carbon fiber properties. These models were validated with tow-level epoxy composite experiments from carbon fibers produced in this study.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Developing Accelerated Test Protocols and Tuning Microstructures of the Common Materials to Improve Robustness, Reliability, and Endurance of SOFC Cells

This work is built on our prior work where we found that phase transformation in praseodymium nickelates, e.g. Pr 2 NiO 4 (PNO) and (Pr 1-x Nd x ) 2 NiO 4 (PNNO), can be electrochemically driven, and is substantially faster when compared to thermal annealing studies. The first task aims at an attempt to further accelerate the phase transformation in the oxygen electrode by alternating the current input in the cells, which lead to the development of accelerated test protocols (ATPs). ATPs showed up to 60x faster phase transformation and up to 10x faster performance degradation in (Pr 0.50 Nd 0.50 ) 2 NiO 4 electrodes, when compared to long-term operation under constant current density. Furthermore, the phase stable Nd 2 NiO 4 and (La 0.6 Sr 0.4 )(Co 0.8 Fe 0.2 )O 3 (LSCF6482) electrodes were tested in full cells under ATPs, and showed up to 10x faster performance degradation within 1,100 hours in a comparison with long-term thermal annealing studies and electrochemical operation under constant current density. The second task aims at the quantification of the contributions of cell components to the total impedance of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT). Specifically, the role of gas composition at both anode and cathode was systematically studied, aiming at deconvoluting, identifying and quantifying the contributions of different electrode processes. This was achieved by first tuning the partial pressure of H 2 at the anode and subsequently varying the partial pressure of O 2 at the cathode. The results suggest that, while DRT offers a viable way of deconvoluting different times distributions, additional attention is needed before assigning a peak to a specific electrode process due to the significant overlap of the contributions from the cathode and the anode. Density function theory studies show that both Pr-vacancies and O-defects play a key role on the activity and stability for nickelates towards oxygen reduction reaction. The resident O-interstitials and oxygen ions in the PrO layer form peroxide (O 2 2- ) nearby Pr vacancies. The O 2 2- limits oxygen-ion transport due to the required additional energy to break its O-O bond. We further calculated the formation and segregation energies for different Ln ions (La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) in PNO and CeO 2 (111) surfaces. In addition to Nd, Pm and La are suggested as potential dopants in PNO to enhance it stability without decomposition due to their more negative formation energies, lower diffusion energies, and positive separation energies.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Processing of SOFC Anodes for Enhanced Intermediate Temperature Catalytic Activity at High Fuel Utilization (Final Report)

The overall objective was to infiltrate anodes with nanoparticle catalysts so that anode catalytic performance can be improved as anode operation temperature is reduced from 800°C to intermediate temperatures of 700°C and 600°C and as anode fuel utilization is increased. The addition of nickel nanoparticle catalysts into the anode improves performance by providing additional triple phase boundaries (TPBs), increasing the density of electrochemical reaction sites. To achieve this goal, both liquid phase and vapor phase methods for depositing nickel nanoparticles in the anode active layer, the region of the anode near the electrolyte where the electrochemical reaction occurs. It is imperative that nanoparticles are stable against coarsening during long-term operation, so the mechanisms and kinetics of nanoparticle stability during cell operation will be investigated. Finally, priority is given to processes that are scalable and easily transferable to industry, leveraging existing Ni-YSZ cermet anode technology. Utilizing nickel nanoparticles at different temperatures has different considerations that will be addressed. At the upper end of the intermediate temperature range (800°C), it is important that performance improvement is maintained over long periods by mitigating the instability of nanoparticles. At the middle of the temperature range (700°C), it is important that performance improvement is maintained at high fuel utilizations. At the lower end of the temperature range (600°C), where the performance of cells is poor due to increased resistances, it is important to improve anode performance by significantly increasing the electrochemical reaction site density, while nanoparticle durability is less of an issue. Finally, the objective was to explore mixed ionic and electronic (MIEC) nanoparticle catalysts like GDC to see if 2-phase boundaries can be created to increase the electrochemical reactions at the anode.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2021

High Temperature CMC Nozzles for 65% Efficiency

GE Gas Power has executed a development project that targeted cooled high-temperature ceramic matrix composite (CMC) nozzles as an innovative turbomachinery component that contributes toward the DOE’s goal for advanced gas turbines that are capable of at least 65% efficiency in combined cycle application. This technology advancement has potential to also benefit gas turbines used in coal-based IGCC applications with pre-combustion carbon capture and hydrogen as the resulting fuel. The development of this technology built upon CMC capability advancements made under earlier DOE programs. The objective for this project was to develop the application of ceramic matrix composite for nozzle application in an industrial gas turbine hot gas path. The CMC component development activity done in this project facilitates high firing temperatures through improved cooling designs and concepts, better sealing, reduced leakage, advanced manufacturing processes to facilitate high performing turbomachinery, and revolutionary component architecture to improve the gas turbine performance in a combined cycle application.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

In-Situ Pipeline Coatings for Methane Emissions Mitigation and Quantification from Natural Gas Pipelines

Addressing the current health of the nation’s existing 3 million miles of pipeline infrastructure is key to preventing further climate change. In 2020, natural gas production exceeded 34 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). Roughly 75% of natural gas consists of methane (CH 4 ), which is up to 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at trapping heat within the atmosphere over a 100-year period, and studies from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) estimate approximately 2% of all the natural gas produced will be lost during normal operations due to unaddressed leaks. This does not even consider the risks of major disaster due to pipeline failure, or the losses and extra fuel costs incurred due to corrosion and scale deposits in under-maintained pipelines. The objective of the proposed research is to demonstrate the protection capabilities and economic benefits of Oceanit’s internal pipe surface treatment, known as DragX™. DragX™ is a chemically resistant, water-and-oil repellent nanocomposite system that can be readily applied in-situ on natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines with a minimum of surface preparation. This makes it an ideal candidate for in-place retrofitting and refurbishment of existing pipelines without the need for expensive extraction and replacement. DragX™ is also able to significantly reduce the surface roughness, and subsequently, the frictional drag forces within a pipeline, improving throughput, decreasing energy costs of pressurization and pumping, and allowing for longer pipeline operation without interruption, reducing the methane emitted during pipe isolation and venting. As part of this project, Oceanit has utilized the Department of Energy’s support to fully develop, de-risk and prove the DragX™ core technology is both economically viable and commercially desirable to pipeline operators and energy companies alike. DragX™ material properties were optimized in this effort both for ease of applicability, to provide value in certain key parameters, and was demonstrated on pilot applications exceeding 2 miles in length. Beyond the already field demonstrated applications, this innovative nanocomposite surface treatment has the potential to be the backbone for CO 2 and Hydrogen transporting pipeline infrastructure. The learnings from this project could accelerate the deployment of surface treatment technologies related to the energy transition infrastructure, thus benefitting the clean energy initiatives in the United States and all around the world.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

DOE Environmental Management and Newport News Nuclear BWXT Briefing - LANL’s Campus Master Plan [Slides]

Triad proposed a robust integrated planning effort during the bidding process and began this effort soon after the LANL contract transition. Within months of Triad commencing this planning process, NA-LA delivered a Contracting Officer (CO) letter requiring: (1) Area Development Plan for the Pajarito Corridor delivered by end of FY19 (completed), and (2) The Campus Master Plan (CMP) to be delivered by end of FY21 (completed).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Development of Chromium and Sulfur Getter for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) System

Under the “real world” SOFC operating conditions, gaseous Cr and S species coexist in air stream. The combined Cr and S effect on the electrochemical poisoning of candidate LSM and LSCF electrodes has been investigated. Electrochemical and structural analysis revealed that the combined Cr and S interactions with the LSCF electrode remains significantly different from those of the individual Cr and S interactions. S reacts with the surface SrO accompanied by morphological changes whereas the hexavalent gaseous Cr species mainly deposit at the LSCF/GDC interface as is the case with Cr-only poisoning. For LSM electrode, the combined interactions of Cr and S remains similar to the sum of individual Cr and S effects as SO 2 reacts with Sr-rich regions of the bulk LSM, while Cr deposits at the electrochemically active sites. The use of getter, consisting of alkaline earth and transition metal oxides, has been proposed as a cost-effective approach to mitigate electrode poisoning. SrMnO 3 (SMO) is suggested as a robust getter material for the co-capture of airborne gaseous S and Cr species entering high-temperature electrochemical systems. The honeycomb getter forms, covered with SMO nanoparticles, were fabricated using dip coating. The SMO getter successfully maintained the electrochemical activity of LSM under the presence of gaseous Cr and S species, validating the efficacy of the getter. Post-test characterization revealed that the absorption of S and Cr contaminants led to the elongation of granular SMO particles, forming SrO nanorods and SrCrO 4 whiskers leaving Mn oxides underneath where inward-migrating Cr reside, indicating the high mutual affinity of Sr and Mn. The growth of reaction products during the long term exposure favors continued absorption of incoming S and Cr contaminants. The Mn 2 O 9 dimers, existing on the surface, are considered to help absorb S and Cr impurities, along with the Sr-terminated surface. The SMO getter also displays robust stability in humid environments at high temperatures without phase transformation or hydrolysis, fulfilling the requirement for operation in high-temperature electrochemical systems.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Historic Buildings Report: Five-Year Preservation Planning for Manhattan Project National Historical Park Sites

This report offers a preservation maintenance plan for the next five years for buildings and structures included in or eligible for inclusion in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at Los Alamos National Laboratory. There are twenty-three buildings, structures, and ruins of previously standing buildings covered within this report. Many of the preservation maintenance issues addressed here concern problems with health and live safety of staff and visitors alike, and also structural concerns that affect the long-term preservation of these important buildings.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Illinois Compressed Air Energy Storage

Compressed Air Storage Energy (CAES) is one of the few mid- technology readiness level (TRL) energy storage technologies that can address the long-duration infrastructure needed for dealing with variable electric output from renewable energy sources and be reliable backup source for replacing natural gas during supply interruptions. In CAES the goal is to capture and store compressed air in subsurface sedimentary strata when off-peak power is available, or there is a need for grid balancing. The stored high-pressure air is returned to the surface and used to power turbines during reductions in either renewable energy or supply issues with fossil fuels. The Illinois CAES project evaluates the feasibility of capturing surplus electrical energy from renewable sources and off-peak energy at a fossil fuel power plant at the University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign (UIUC) campus. The UIUC Abbott Power Plant uses natural gas and coal to generate electricity (capacity: 35 MWe by coal and 49 MWe by NG). UIUC receives additional electricity from on campus solar farm, and off-campus wind farm. Also, UIUC offsets electricity usage by integrating geothermal energy systems into building heating Also, UIUC offsets steam, hot and chilled water usage by integrating geothermal energy systems into building heating and cooling systems. Furthermore, the two UIUC solar farms (Solar Farm 1 is 21 acres and Solar Farm 2 is 54 acres) to generate 4.68 megawatts (MW) and 12.1 MW, respectively. Campus receives 8.6% of the wind-generated electricity from the Rail Splitter Wind Farm. The project objectives were to design an integrated system to 1) capture surplus electrical energy from renewable sources and the Abbott Power Plant using a CAES system, 2) store both the compressed air and the thermal heat generated by compression in the subsurface as part of an adiabatic system, 3) simulate the movement of the air and heat in the subsurface, 4) recover the compressed air and stored thermal heat to rotate turbine generators during sustained interruption due to weather events or fossil fuel disruptions.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2022

South Texas Industrial Assessment Center (Final Report)

The South Texas Industrial Assessment Center (ST-IAC) provides small to mid-size manufacturing companies and water treatment plants in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, free energy assessments to help them reduce costs and stay competitive for sustainable development. The ST-IAC operates within the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), and is the largest Hispanic-serving IAC in the U.S. Created in 2016, the ST-IAC, situated in the most economically disadvantaged region in the country, has been successful in training students and assessing local industries served by a predominantly Hispanic population. UTRGV, now the second largest Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) of higher education in the U.S., has a student population of 32,000, of which 90% is Hispanic. While Covid-19 had a negative impact to our program during Budget Periods (BP) 4 and 5, the center still managed to provide opportunities for individuals, manufacturing and water industries in the local region. The program developed an energy engineering program in the region and further advanced national priorities. Those include resilience and sustainability of operations by implementing energy efficiency processes, renewable energy sources, decarbonization, battery storage, and cybersecurity in south Texas.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗