Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “component performance”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,693 records · Page 94
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: National Grid Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot, Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Between December, 2009 and December, 2012 42 deep energy retrofit (DER) projects were completed through a pilot program sponsored by National Grid and conducted in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Thirty-seven of these projects were comprehensive retrofits while five were partial DERs, meaning that high performance retrofit was implemented for a single major enclosure component or a limited number of major enclosure components. Building Science Corporation developed a consistent "package" of measures in terms of the performance targeted for major building components. Pre- and post-retrofit air leakage measurements were performed for each of the projects. Each project also reported information about project costs including identification of energy-related costs. Post-retrofit energy-use data was obtained for 29 of the DER projects, and was analyzed based on the net energy used by the DER project regardless of whether the energy was generated on site or delivered to the site. Based on the community experience, this DER package is expected to result in yearly source energy use near 110 MMBtu/year or approximately 40% below the Northeast regional average. Larger to medium sized homes that successful implement these retrofits can be expected to achieve source EUI that is comparable to Passive House targets for new construction. The community of DER projects show post-retrofit airtightness below 1.5 ACH50 to be eminently achievable.

airtightness↗
DOE OSTI2015

Longevity of geo-synthetic cover components - 15450

Geo-synthetics form many of the key components in modern landfill cell and final cover designs. Models for the long-term performance assessment of systems incorporating these components have traditionally relied on a small number of standard assumptions originally developed to address the needs of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D solid waste industry. These past estimates demonstrated that, even under a series of highly conservative factors, the longevity of these components far exceeds the requirements for typical solid waste facilities. Traditionally, the interpretation of the geo-synthetic degradation research has been deterministic as opposed to probabilistic, often due to the relative scarcity of degradation data for particular formulations and environmental conditions. Long-term studies of the mechanical and chemical properties of geo-synthetics subjected to accelerated aging processes have been conducted in an attempt to better quantify their longevity to address applications where performance may be required for 1,000 years or more. Of the many cover system geo-synthetic components, geo-membranes appear to have the most significant impact on the long-term performance of cover systems. Based on available long-term aging studies, a series of property degradation curves and their corresponding model parameters are available for geo-membranes. A strong area of need in the performance assessment of shallow disposal facilities is how to connect these research findings with inputs to probabilistic models. Significantly, factors affecting geo-membrane performance, such as geo-membrane thickness, anti-oxidant package, molecular weight, oxygen exposure, and drainage, can be adjusted and re-engineered using a proposed approach to meet specific performance targets. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2016

Sorption of atmospheric gases by bulk lithium metal

Lithium conditioning of plasma facing components has enhanced the performance of several fusion devices. Elemental lithium will react with air during maintenance activities and with residual gases (H 2 O, CO, CO 2 ) in the vacuum vessel during operations. We have used a mass balance (microgram sensitivity) to measure the mass gain of lithium samples during exposure of a ~1 cm 2 surface to ambient and dry synthetic air. For ambient air, we found an initial mass gain of several mg/h declining to less than 1 mg/h after an hour and decreasing by an order of magnitude after 24 h. A 9 mg sample achieved a final mass gain corresponding to complete conversion to Li 2 CO 3 after 5 days. Exposure to dry air resulted in a 30 times lower initial rate of mass gain. The results have implications for the chemical state of lithium plasma facing surfaces and for safe handling of lithium coated components.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2023

Effects of Strain Rate and Surface Finish on Tensile Properties in High Pressure Hydrogen — A Case Study for LP-DED NASA HR-1

NASA has advanced NASA HR-1 as a solution for liquid rocket engine components that operate in hydrogen rich environments using various AM techniques. The NASA HR-1 for AM applications was specifically formulated for high ductility in high pressure gaseous hydrogen environment in addition to high strength and low cycle fatigue (LCF) resistance. NASA HR-1 meets materials requirements for liquid rocket engine components, including good hydrogen resistance, high conductivity, good LCF performance, and high elongation and strength for components in medium heat flux environments. NASA has completed fabrication of several subscale and full-scale channel wall nozzles in LP-DED NASA HR-1 and completed hot-fire testing. This includes refinement of the process to produce thin-walls and various channel geometries to meet the requirements for channel wall nozzle applications. The main objective of this investigation is to better understand the effects of tensile test strain rate and specimen surface finish on the amount of tensile ductility degradation in high pressure gaseous hydrogen environments. Performing smooth tensile tests in high pressure hydrogen and nitrogen environments can serve as a rapid and economical screening method to determine the relative susceptibility of materials to HEE. This paper presents the tensile test results for LP-DED NASA HR-1 in hydrogen and details the material evaluation on the effects of strain rate and surface finish condition on surface cracking behavior and fracture characteristics. The resistance to HEE for LP-DED NASA HR-1 and the wrought alloy is compared under the same testing conditions. Loss of tensile ductility is quantified in terms of changes in elongation at failure in hydrogen to compare HEE susceptibility. The most suitable strain rate and specimen surface finish condition for future HEE screening testing at MSFC are recommended.

Additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Software For Advanced Large-scale Analysis Of Magnetic Confinement For Numerical Design, Engineering & Research (salamander)

As magnetic confinement fusion energy gains traction internationally to enable abundant energy production, designing components for fusion systems is a pressing challenge. During the planned lifetime of a fusion device, components evolve in extreme environments and must withstand large, repeated thermal loads and bombardment by 14 MeV neutrons, plasma ions, and neutral particles (deuterium, tritium, and helium), corrosive conditions, etc. All these physical processes take place simultaneously, interact in intricate ways, and impose important constraints that can affect performance. Experimental data is rare and costly to obtain, making design particularly challenging. Predictive computational frameworks must be an integral part of an accelerated and cost-effective design process by modeling fusion system performance in simulated environments. To better understand component degradation and operational impacts on their performance, the Software for Advanced Large-scale Analysis of MAgnetic confinement for Numerical Design, Engineering & Research (SALAMANDER) is designed as an open-source, fully integrated, multiphysics, multiscale, NQA-1 compliant framework facilitating 3D, high-fidelity fusion system modeling. To that end, SALAMANDER is a MOOSE-based framework, and therefore leverages MOOSE upstream libraries such as PETSc and libMesh to deliver sophisticated finite element, finite volume, and nonlinear solver technology for fusion energy simulations. SALAMANDER couples MOOSE physics module capabilities—such as thermal hydraulics, heat conduction, Navier-Stokes, and thermomechanics—with tritium transport via TMAP8, neutronics via Cardinal, and nascent particle-in-cell capabilities. Direct simulation Monte Carlo methods will be used to address neutral transport near the walls. By coupling all these physics in an integrated application, SALAMANDER will enable high-fidelity modeling of irradiation levels and plasma exposure conditions of plasma facing components and their impact on heat and tritium distributions, as well as the resulting mechanical constraints experienced by the plasma facing components and performance of blanket systems. Furthermore, SALAMANDER will be particularly suited for engineering studies thanks to the stochastic tool module readily available in MOOSE, allowing for extended uncertainty quantification and risk analysis studies. It is also able to use computer-aided design (CAD) meshes to model complex geometries, which is indispensable for fusion systems. SALAMANDER therefore supports design, safety, engineering, and research projects for magnetic confinement fusion systems

Simon, Pierre-Clement [Idaho National Laboratory (↗
DOE OSTI2024

Correlation of Fabrication Methods and Enhanced Wear Performance in Nanoporous Anodic Aluminum Oxide with Incorporated Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS 2 ) Nanomaterials

Wear performance is integral to component longevity, minimizing industrial waste and excess energy costs in a wide variety of applications. Anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) has many beneficial properties leading to its wide use across industries as a surface treatment for many aluminum components, but the wear properties of the coating could be improved significantly. Here, we used an electrochemical method to incorporate molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), a nanomaterial used as a dry lubricant, to modify alloys of aluminum during AAO preparation. Using Raman spectroscopy and tribological scratch measurements, we thoroughly characterized the structure and wear behavior of the films. The MoS 2 deposition procedure was optimal on aluminum 5052 anodized in higher acid concentrations, with friction coefficients at around 0.05 (~10× better than unmodified AAO). Changing anodization conditions to produce harder films with smaller pores led to worsened wear properties, likely because of lower MoS 2 content. Studying a commercial MoS 2 /AAO film of a different Al alloy (7075) showed that a heat treatment step intended to fully convert all deposited MoS x species to MoS 2 can adversely affect wear in some alloys. While Al 6061 and 1100 produced films with worse wear performance compared to Al 5052 or 7075, our results show evidence that acid cleaning after initial anodization likely removes residual alloying elements, affecting MoS 2 incorporation. This study demonstrates a nanomaterial modified AAO film with superior wear characteristics to unmodified AAO and relates fabrication procedure, film structure, and practical performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Quantum-Classical Science for the Plasma-Material Interface in NSTXU (Final Technical Report)

Plasma facing surfaces (PFS) have a profound influence on plasma performance and choice of material for PFSs is a burning issue for tokamak reactors. Using lithium wall conditioning in NSTX has resulted in a beneficial influence on plasma behavior including control of hydrogen recycling and improvements in energy confinement, longer confinement times, edge density control, and the elimination of Edge Localized Modes. A major challenge for the NSTX-U (increased power flux, increased campaign time) as well as for other magnetic fusion devices is to extend high-performance plasmas for very long durations, and to integrate this high performance with plasma facing components (PFCs) that can withstand very high heat and particle fluxes while maintaining structural integrity with minimal retention of fusion fuel. This project directly contributed to filling up the knowledge gaps and data for the dynamics of the plasma-facing interfaces in the NSTX-U at nano and nano-to-micro scales. This was achieved by both deciphering the poorly understood nanoscale phenomenology of plasma-surface interactions and providing the connection and comparison with the experiments which provide understanding at the mesoscopic scales. We modelled the dynamic response and evolution of a mixed material surfaces (D, Li, C, B, O) to bombardment by plasma particles, and investigated microstructure changes, erosion, surface chemistry, deuterium implantation and permeation. The main objectives of the project are i) a comparison of Li and B effects when deposited on carbon, and ii) the role of oxygen and other impurities (e.g. carbon, boron) in the lithium performance. In addition to predicting and understanding the phenomenology of the processes, the project achieved deliverables on the i) plasma induced erosion rates of PFCs (outer wall, divertor, etc.), including chemical and physical sputtering yields at various temperatures (300-700K), ii) deuterium uptake/recycling rates, and iii) accurate probability rates for the processes and reactions in i-ii which were used to understand the experimental results of the J.P. Allain and B. Koel NSTX-U projects. Lithium was a distinctive focus of the project. It easily charges in contact with other fusion material atoms, giving partially or fully its external electron cloud to other atoms in its vicinity and polarizing the mixed material. Our research strategy used experimentally validated multiscale theory applied to the large, multicomponent material surface systems. With the use of US supercomputing facilities we simulated evolution of atomic charges, chemistry, retention of deuterium, sputtering and morphology by introducing the corrections to the classical molecular dynamics, like are electronegativity equalization method (EEM) and quantum-classical molecular dynamics (QCMD). The goal was to understand and quantify the dynamics of the creation and evolution of the plasma-material interface under irradiation by atoms and molecules at boronized carbon, lithiated carbon, and boronized-lithiated carbon for both solid and self-healing liquid-metal divertor.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Thermal Performance Benchmarking: Annual Report

The goal for this project is to thoroughly characterize the performance of state-of-the-art (SOA) automotive power electronics and electric motor thermal management systems. Information obtained from these studies will be used to: Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different thermal management strategies; establish baseline metrics for the thermal management systems; identify methods of improvement to advance the SOA; increase the publicly available information related to automotive traction-drive thermal management systems; help guide future electric drive technologies (EDT) research and development (R&D) efforts. The performance results combined with component efficiency and heat generation information obtained by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) may then be used to determine the operating temperatures for the EDT components under drive-cycle conditions. In FY15, the 2012 Nissan LEAF power electronics and electric motor thermal management systems were benchmarked. Testing of the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid power electronics thermal management system started in FY15; however, due to time constraints it was not possible to include results for this system in this report. The focus of this project is to benchmark the thermal aspects of the systems. ORNL's benchmarking of electric and hybrid electric vehicle technology reports provide detailed descriptions of the electrical and packaging aspects of these automotive systems.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
NASA NTRS1980

Extension of similarity test procedures to cooled engine components with insulating ceramic coatings

Material thermal conductivity was analyzed for its effect on the thermal performance of air cooled gas turbine components, both with and without a ceramic thermal-barrier material, tested at reduced temperatures and pressures. The analysis shows that neglecting the material thermal conductivity can contribute significant errors when metal-wall-temperature test data taken on a turbine vane are extrapolated to engine conditions. This error in metal temperature for an uncoated vane is of opposite sign from that for a ceramic-coated vane. A correction technique is developed for both ceramic-coated and uncoated components.

Gladden, H. J.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Cryogenic Considerations for Superconducting Magnet Design for the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment

In order to determine long term performance of plasma facing components such as diverters and first walls for fusion devices, next generation plasma generators are needed. A Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) has been proposed to address this need through the generation of plasmas in front of the target with electron temperatures of 1-15 eV and electron densities of 1020 to 1021 m-3. Heat fluxes on target diverters could reach 20 MW/m2. In order generate this plasma, a unique radio frequency helicon source and heating of electrons and ions through Electron Bernstein Wave (EBW) and Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) has been proposed. MPEX requires a series of magnets with non-uniform central fields up to 2 T over a 5m length in the heating and transport region and 1 T uniform central field over a 1-m length on a diameter of 1.3 m. Given the field requirements, superconducting magnets are under consideration for MPEX. In order to determine the best construction method for the magnets, the cryogenic refrigeration has been analyzed with respect to cooldown and operational performance criteria for open-cycle and closed-cycle systems, capital and operating costs of these system, and maturity of supporting technology such as cryocoolers. These systems will be compared within the context of commercially available magnet constructions to determine the most economical method for MPEX operation. The current state of the MPEX magnet design including details on possible superconducting magnet configurations will be presented.

Duckworth, Robert C↗
NASA NTRS2003

Mechanical Testing of PMCs under Simulated Rapid Heat-Up Propulsion Environments: In-Plane Compressive Behavior - II

Carbon fiber thermoset polymer matrix composites (PMC) with high temperature polyimide based in-situ polymerized monomer reactant (PMR) resin has been used for some time in applications which can see temperatures up to 550 F. Currently, graphite fiber PMR based composites are used in several aircraft engine components including the outer bypass duct for the GE F-404, exit flaps for the P&W F-100-229, and the core cowl for the GE/Snecma CF6-80A3. Newer formulations, including PMR-II-50 are being investigated as potential weight reduction replacements of various metallic components in next generation high performance propulsion rocket engines that can see temperatures which exceed 550 F. Extensive FEM thermal modeling indicates that these components are exposed to rapid heat-up rates (up to -200 F/sec) and to a maximum temperature of around 600 F. Even though the predicted maximum part temperatures were within the capability of PW-II-50, the rapid heat-up causes significant through-thickness thermal gradients in the composite part and even more unstable states when combined with moisture. Designing composite parts for such extreme service environments will require accurate measurement of intrinsic and transient mechanical properties and the hygrothermal performance of these materials under more realistic use conditions. The mechanical properties of polymers degrade when exposed to elevated temperatures even in the absence of gaseous oxygen. Accurate mechanical characterization of the material is necessary in order to reduce system weight while providing sufficient factors of safety. Historically, the testing of PMCs at elevated temperatures has been plagued by the antagonism between two factors. First, moisture has been shown to profoundly affect the mechanical response of these materials at temperatures above their glass transition temperature while concurrently lowering the material's Tg. Moisture phenomena is due to one or a combination of three effects, i.e., plastization of polymeric material by water, the internal pressure generated by the volatilization of water at elevated temperatures, and hydrolytic chemical decomposition. However, moisture is lost from the material at increasing rates as temperature increases. Second, because PMCs are good thermal insulators, when they are externally heated at even mild rates large thermal gradients can develop within the material. At temperatures where a material property changes rapidly with temperature the presence of a large thermal gradient is unacceptable for intrinsic property characterization purposes. Therefore, long hold times are required to establish isothermal conditions. However, in the service environments high-heating-rates, high temperatures, high-loading rates are simultaneous present along with residual moisture. In order to capture the effects of moisture on the material, holding at- temperature until isothermal conditions are reached is unacceptable particularly in materials with small physical dimensions. Thus, the effects due to moisture on the composite's mechanical characteristics, ie., their so-called analog response, may be instructive. One approach employed in this program was rapid heat-up (approx. 200 F/sec.) and loading of both dry and wet in-plane compressive specimens to examine the effects of moisture on this resin dominated mechanical property of the material.

Stokes, Eric H.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Merging Dog-leg for Including the Second Gun in the NSLS-II Linear Accelerator

The low-energy part of the NSLS-II linear accelerator begins with the 100-keV gun, which is the key component for the injector performance. The gun electronics determine the generated bunch patterns, emittance, energy spread and charge transport efficiency in the low-energy part of the injector. We proposed to include a second gun to the NSLS-II linac. This upgrade will: a) increase reliability of the NSLS-II accelerator complex and, b) enable more efficient operations in generating complex bunch patterns. The latter is critical since for supporting complex bunch patterns the same gun must be able to switch robustly between single- and multi-bunch modes within the time interval between the top-off cycles. Including the 2nd gun, operating exclusively in the single-bunch mode, would greatly simplify switching between the modes as well as reduce beam charge losses. We designed the NSLS-II linac tunnel so there is a small extra room for the second gun that we proposed to introduce into the main linac via a short dog-leg. To minimize the additional space the dog-leg must be very short and parameters of the dog-leg optical components must stay within reasonable field and gradient values.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Improving Energy Efficiency by Developing Components for Distributed Cooling and Heating Based on Thermal Comfort Modeling (General Motors LLC Final Project Report)

On November 3, 2009, General Motors (GM) accepted U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Cooperative Agreement award number DE-EE0000014 from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). GM was selected to execute a three-year cost shared research and development project on Solid State Energy Conversion for Vehicular Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) and for Waste Heat Recovery. The primary objective of this project was to develop a distributed automotive HVAC system that provides thermal comfort equivalent to current state-of-the-art centralized systems while using significantly less energy. To satisfy this objective, the team identified the following goals: • Reduce by at least 30% of the “billions of gallons” the fuel used in cooling mode to maintain occupant comfort through the localized use of thermoelectric (TE) technology while maintaining occupant comfort and safety. • Develop TE HVAC components with a coefficient of performance (COP) greater than 1.3 for cooling and greater than 2.3 for heating, then integrate and test these components as part of a reliable distributed HVAC system in a conventional vehicle (an eAssist Buick Lacrosse) and an extended range electric vehicle (a Chevrolet Volt). • Update the UCB Thermal Comfort model to predict the response of vehicle occupants to localized heating and cooling based on human subject testing, and develop associated computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools to support the integration of distributed HVAC components into future vehicle designs. A secondary objective of the project was to improve the efficiency of thermoelectric generators for converting engine waste heat into electricity.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS1983

Reliability issues in active control of large flexible space structures

The unreliability of control system components was investigated in our attempt to deal with that problem. This matter is of concern in large space structure control because of the large number of components required to achieve specified performance in some situations, and the long operating period required between maintenance visits. The detection and isolation of component failures during system operation, and algorithms for reconfiguring control systems following detection and isolation of a failure were emphasized.

Vandervelde, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Electromechanical actuation for cryogenic valve control

The design and analysis of the electromechanical actuator (EMA) being developed for the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center as part of the National Launch System (NLS) Propellant Control Effector Advanced Development Program (ADP) are addressed. The EMA design uses several proven technologies combined into a single modular package which includes single stage high ratio gear reduction, redundant electric motors mounted on a common drive shaft, redundant drive and control electronics, and digital technology for performing the closed loop position feedback, communication, and health monitoring functions. Results of tests aimed at evaluating both component characteristics and overall system performance demonstrated that the goal of low cost, reliable control in a cryogenic environment is feasible.

Lister, M. J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magnetic contributions to corundum-eskolaite and corundum-hematite phase equilibria: A DFT cluster expansion study

Magnetic contributions have the potential to significantly influence predicted phase stability within alloy and mineral mixing phase diagrams, yet have been historically challenging to incorporate due to a significant increase to phase space sampling. Here, in this work, we employ a computational protocol that includes spin orientation as an additional configurational component within multi-component cluster expansions between magnetic and non-magnetic metal oxide alloys [calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and the generalized gradient approximation]. This approach was used to determine the effect of magnetic contributions to corundum-eskolaite and corundum-hematite phase equilibria from first principles. Two-component cluster expansions of the magnetic components of eskolaite and hematite were first performed showing the ability of this method to properly calculate their respective magnetic properties. Two-component cluster expansions were then performed for non-magnetic Al(III) and ferromagnetic Cr(III) and Fe(III), and phase diagrams were calculated for later comparison. Finally, a non-magnetic Al(III) and “up” and “down” magnetic configurations for anti-ferromagnetic Cr(III) and Fe(III) were performed. Magnetic contributions to the calculated phase diagram for the corundumeskolaite system were shown to be inconsequential but are vital for accurate determination of the corundum-hematite solvus.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Preserving Envelope Efficiency in Performance Based Code Compliance

The City of Seattle 2012 Energy Code (Seattle 2014), one of the most progressive in the country, is under revision for its 2015 edition. Additionally, city personnel participate in the development of the next generation of the Washington State Energy Code and the International Energy Code. Seattle has pledged carbon neutrality by 2050 including buildings, transportation and other sectors. The United States Department of Energy (DOE), through Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) provided technical assistance to Seattle in order to understand the implications of one potential direction for its code development, limiting trade-offs of long-lived building envelope components less stringent than the prescriptive code envelope requirements by using better-than-code but shorter-lived lighting and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) components through the total building performance modeled energy compliance path. Weaker building envelopes can permanently limit building energy performance even as lighting and HVAC components are upgraded over time, because retrofitting the envelope is less likely and more expensive. Weaker building envelopes may also increase the required size, cost and complexity of HVAC systems and may adversely affect occupant comfort. This report presents the results of this technical assistance. The use of modeled energy code compliance to trade-off envelope components with shorter-lived building components is not unique to Seattle and the lessons and possible solutions described in this report have implications for other jurisdictions and energy codes.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electrochemical Reduction of Flue Gas Carbon Dioxide to Commercially Viable C2-C4 Products (Final Report)

This is the final scientific/technical report for a DOE project focused on the electrochemical conversion of CO 2 in non-aqueous solvents to novel products. Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 provides an attractive route to produce valuable fuels and chemicals that can simultaneously lower greenhouse gas emissions when powered by renewable electricity. While recent technological advances have shown the feasibility of industrial CO 2 electroreduction, many challenges remain to improve this technology and expand the list of economically viable products. The vast majority of electrochemical CO 2 reduction research has been conducted in aqueous media under neutral to alkaline conditions, leading to commonly reported products including carbon monoxide, formic acid, methane, methanol, ethylene, acetic acid, and ethanol. In comparison, non-aqueous media for CO 2 reduction has been underexplored but represents a possible avenue to yield new products and improved operating conditions. The aim of the project was to convert waste CO 2 in the form of flue gas to a multicarbon C2 - C4 chemical product in a reactor designed to achieve economically competitive values of current density and selectivity. The project strived to advance the technology readiness of an electrochemical CO 2 reduction process in alcohol solvents from the proof-of-concept stage to a device capable of meeting performance metrics for commercial viability. In the initial plan, the University of Louisville researchers were to focus on investigating the electrochemical process and improving the faradaic efficiency for novel C2 – C4 species, while also working on a parallel effort to build a practical electrolysis reactor to markedly increase the CO 2 reduction current density. The reactor development effort also aimed to engineer a dual-electrolyte feed strategy with non-aqueous catholyte and aqueous anolyte to promote water oxidation as the coupling anodic half-reaction to enable a sustainable and economical overall process. At the outset, the University of North Dakota was to investigate the feasibility of operating directly from coal-derived flue gas without separate capture and purification. The research team sought to determine impurity effects and test mitigation strategies, as well as engineer the gaseous feed system for high reactor tolerance to lower CO 2 concentration. In the last half year of the project, the focus was planned to shift to integrating the advances in the catalysis, electrochemical conditions, reactor design, and flue gas compatibility into a fully functional device and improve it for maximum current density and faradaic efficiency for C2 – C4 species. Knowledge of the full system components, constraints, and maximum performance was then to be used as the basis for a thorough technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA) at the end of the project.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗