[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51089-51090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24977]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Restricted Eligibility in Support of Advanced Coal 
Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities

AGENCY: U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), Pittsburgh Energy Technology 
Center (PETC).

ACTION: Issuance of Financial Assistance Solicitation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The PETC announces that pursuant to 10 CFR 600.8(a)(2), and in 
support of advanced coal research to U.S. Colleges and Universities, it 
intends to conduct a competitive Program Solicitation and award 
financial assistance grants to qualified recipients. Proposals will be 
subjected to a comparative merit review by a Peer Review/DOE technical 
panel, and awards will be made to a limited number of proposers on the 
basis of the scientific merit of the proposal, application of relevant 
program policy factors, and the availability of funds.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary S. Price, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 10940 (MS 921-
143), Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940; (Telephone: 412-892-6179; Facsimile: 
412-892- 6216; E-Mail: [email protected]). The solicitation will be 
posted on the internet at PETC's Home Page (http://www.petc.doe.gov/
business). The solicitation will also be available, upon request, in 
Wordperfect 5.1 format on 3.5'' double-sided/high-density disk. Paper 
copies can be obtained, upon request, only if the above two modes are 
not attainable. Requests can be made via letter, facsimile, or by E-
mail. TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY FORMAT VERSION OF 
THE SOLICITATION.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through Program Solicitation DE-PS22-
97PC97200, the DOE is interested in applications from U.S. Colleges and 
Universities (and university-affiliated research centers submitting 
applications through their respective university). Applications will be 
selected to compliment and enhance research being conducted in related 
Fossil Energy (FE) programs. Applications may be submitted individually 
(i.e., by only one college/university) or jointly (i.e., by ``teams'' 
made up of: (1) Three or more colleges/universities, or (2) a 
historically black college/university and at least two or more other 
colleges/universities, or (3) two or more colleges/universities and at 
least one industrial partner. Collaboration, in the form of joint 
proposals, is encouraged but not required.
    Eligibility. Applications under this solicitation may be accepted 
in two subprogram areas: (1) University Coal Research (UCR) Core 
Program, and (2) University Coal Research Innovative Concepts Program.
    Applications must address coal research in one of the solicitation 
key focus areas. Details on the UCR Core Program and the Innovative 
Concepts Program eligibility requirements, budget limitations, and 
technical topic descriptions are contained in the Program Solicitation.

Focus Areas and Technical Topic(s)

University Coal Research (UCR) Core Program

    The DOE is interested in innovative and fundamental research 
pertinent to coal conversion and utilization limited to the following 
two (2) focus areas: (1) NOX Control and (2) Catalysts for Coal 
Conversion and Utilization. The UCR Core Program is governed by these 
focus areas. The examples provided under each focus area are not 
intended to be all-encompassing. Offers on other subjects that fall 
within the scope of the focus areas will receive the same evaluation 
and consideration as the examples cited.

NOX Control

    As environmental regulations become more stringent, the 
restrictions placed upon emissions from coal combustion processes will 
require either an improved understanding of the combustion process 
itself or tight post-combustion control or some combination of both.
     Currently, significant NOX control can be achieved both 
through decreased formation of NOX and NOX destruction prior 
to its exit from the combustion chamber. Further decreases in NOX 
emissions and control of the Products of Incomplete Combustion (PICs) 
from all combustion sources may be achieved with advances in our 
understanding of the combustion process and an ability to control it. 
Products of Incomplete Combustion includes: unburnt carbon; formation 
of trace, complex, organic compounds; and liberation and reaction of 
trace inorganics.
    Additional reductions in NOX emissions may also be sought 
through post-combustion control. Direct conversion of NOX, from 
dilute flue gas streams, to nitrogen or a saleable/ marketable product 
would be highly desirable. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is a 
commercially available post-combustion control that converts NOX 
to nitrogen. One of the limitations to the widespread use of SCR is the 
possibility that increased toxic emissions, ammonia and carbon 
monoxide, will occur when NOX removals greater than 90% (85% by 
some estimates) are desired. Research is necessary to identify 
alternate reductants, catalysts, and/or chemical pathways that will not 
result in the release of toxic emissions when high removals (> 95%) are 
required.
    Examples of research areas of interest include:
     Research to develop the knowledge and understanding of the 
staged combustion of coal that will allow modifications to existing 
boilers to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides to below 0.2 pounds per 
million Btu.
     Development of techniques that would allow measurements to 
be taken in the combustion zone, thus enhancing our understanding of 
the combustion process and leading to improved designs for low 
emissions of nitrogen oxides.

[[Page 51090]]

     Examination of the mechanisms of low-grade activated 
carbon formation under low-NOX conditions, including the variables 
that affect carbon pore size distribution and practical means of 
controlling the pore size distribution.
     Identification of alternatives to the traditional NOX 
reductants, catalysts, and/or chemical pathways that will not result in 
the release of toxic emissions when high NOX removal efficiencies 
(>95%) are required.
     Direct conversion of NOX from dilute flue gas streams 
to NOX or a valuable byproduct.

Catalysts for Coal Conversion and Utilization

    Catalysts are used in a host of coal conversion and utilization 
reactions. Although a vast and highly specialized literature exists for 
catalysts, a thorough understanding of the fundamental nature of 
catalytic coal conversion and utilization processes is still lacking. 
Systematic studies focused on understanding these fundamentals would 
lay the foundation for efficient development of catalysts for 
application in processes such as gasification, liquefaction, waste 
minimization, and contaminant control.
     New or improved catalysts for controlling product distribution, 
removing pollutants, upgrading products, and reducing the severity of 
reaction conditions are needed. Regenerable, poisoning-resistant, and 
attrition-resistant catalysts for cleaving specific bonds in coals, 
converting cyclic saturates to branched saturates in coal-derived 
liquids, or promoting selective conversion of gasification products 
(into condensible and non-condensible hydrocarbons) and oxygenates are 
also of interest. Methods focused on the recovery of catalysts and the 
removal of catalyst-deactivating species would also be valuable.
     Examples of research areas of interest include:
     Develop a structure-reactivity relationship for supported 
metal complexes as catalysts for applications in coal conversion and 
utilization reactions, including those for contaminant control.
     Develop a thorough understanding of the nature of the 
acidic catalysts used in hydrocarbon reactions at low temperatures and 
of the catalysts used in producing oxygenates for fuel applications.
     Develop a thorough scientific understanding of the 
dispersed/slurry catalysts used in direct coal conversion processes 
such as liquefaction, co-processing of coal with heavy oil and 
municipal wastes, and conversion of bio-waste materials, and develop 
new or improved catalysts that would promote conversion into liquid or 
distillable products, increase hydrogen content, prevent coking, and 
remove heteroatoms. An integrated study of the behavior of these 
catalysts through generation, maturation, and recovery phases would be 
beneficial.
     Characterization of the reacting surfaces of heterogeneous 
coal conversion catalysts using modern analytical and microscopic 
instrumentation. The characterization might include determination of 
active sites and surface structure change due to sintering, site 
blockage, or poisoning. Novel methods for studying catalyst activity in 
real time on a continuous basis would also be desirable.

University Coal Research (UCR) Innovative Concepts Program

    The DOE is interested in innovative and fundamental research 
pertinent to coal conversion and utilization limited to the following 
technical topic. The UCR Innovative Concepts Program is governed by 
this topic area. The examples provided under the technical topic are 
not intended to be all- encompassing. Offers on other subjects that 
fall within the scope of the area will receive the same evaluation and 
consideration as the examples cited.

Innovative Concepts Technical Topic(s):

     As the twenty-first century approaches, the challenges facing coal 
and the electric utility industry continue to grow. Environmental 
issues such as pollutant control, both criteria and trace, waste 
minimization, and the co-firing of coal with biomass, waste, or 
alternative fuels will remain important. The need for increased 
efficiency, improved reliability, and lower costs will be felt as an 
aging utility industry faces deregulation. Advanced power and 
environmental systems will come into play as older plants are retired 
and utilities explore new ways to meet the growing demand for 
electricity.
    Innovative research in the coal conversion and utilization areas 
will be required if coal is to continue to play a dominant role in the 
generation of electric power. Questions, like the ones that follow, 
will need to be answered:
     How can net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide from the 
combustion of fossil fuels be achieved?
     What are the implications of lowering the particulate 
matter standards (i.e. PM-2.5)?
     How can adaptive control systems and neural networks be 
integrated into the electric utility industry?
     Where can the largest efficiency gains be realized in a 
power plant?
     How can the trace element emissions from power plants 
(i.e. mercury, selenium) be cost-effectively controlled?
     How do we develop and test materials for advanced power 
systems?
    Successfully answering these and other questions in innovative ways 
will help us move confidently to the year 2000 and beyond.
    Awards. DOE anticipates awarding financial assistance grants for 
each project selected. Approximately $2.8 million will be available for 
the Program Solicitation: $2.4 million is budgeted for the UCR Core 
Program and should provide funding for about 8-12 financial assistance 
awards. Maximum DOE funding for individual colleges/universities 
application varies according to the length of performance period as 
follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Maximum  
                     Performance period                        funding  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 0-12 months...............................................      $80,000
13-24 months...............................................      140,000
 25-60 months..............................................      200,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For joint applications, the maximum DOE funding is $400,000 
requiring a performance period of 36 months.
    Approximately $0.4 million is budgeted for the UCR Innovative 
Concepts Program and should provide support for eight financial 
assistance awards (Maximum DOE funding, $50,000 for a 12-month period).
    Solicitation Release Date. The Program Solicitation is expected to 
be ready for release by October 9, 1996. Applications must be prepared 
and submitted in accordance with the instructions and forms in the 
Program Solicitation and must be received by the Department of Energy 
by November 22, 1996. Upon receipt of the solicitation document, check 
for any changes (i.e. closing date of solicitation) and/or amendments, 
if any, prior to submittal of proposal.
William R. Mundorf,
Contracting Officer, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 96-24977 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P