[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65544-65549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27208]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

National Energy Technology Laboratory


Notice of Availability of a Financial Assistance Solicitation

AGENCY: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), U.S. Department 
of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of availability of a financial assistance solicitation.

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SUMMARY: NETL 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 No. DE-PS26-
03NT41634 and award financial assistance grants to qualified 
recipients. Applications will be subjected to a merit review by a 
technical panel of DOE subject-matter experts and external peer 
reviewers. Awards will be made to a limited number of applicants based 
on: the scientific merit of the applications, application of relevant 
program policy factors, and the availability of funds.
    Once released, the solicitation will be available for downloading 
from the ``Industry Interactive Procurement System'' (IIPS) Internet 
page. At this internet site you will be able to register with IIPS, 
enabling you to download the solicitation and to submit an application. 
If you need technical assistance in registering or for any other IIPS 
function, call the IIPS Help Desk at 800-683-0751 or email the Help 
Desk personnel at center.doe.gov">IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov. Questions relating 
to the solicitation content must be submitted electronically through 
IPPS. All responses to questions will be released on the IIPS home page 
as will all amendments. The solicitation will only be available in 
IIPS.

DATES: The solicitation will be available for downloading on the DOE/ 
NETL's Homepage at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business and the IIPS 
``Industry Interactive Procurement System'' Internet page located at 
http://e-center.doe.gov on or about October 21, 2002. Applications must 
be prepared and submitted in accordance with the instructions in the 
Program Solicitation and must be received at NETL by December 2, 2002. 
Prior to submitting your application to the solicitation, periodically 
check the NETL Website for any amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra A. Duncan, U.S. Department of 
Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, PO Box 10940 (MS 921-
107), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236-0940; Telephone: 412-386-5700; 
Facsimile: 412-386-6137; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through Program Solicitation DE-PS26-
03NT41634, the DOE is interested in applications from U.S. colleges and 
universities, and university-affiliated research centers submitting 
applications through their respective universities. Applications will 
be selected to complement and enhance research being conducted in 
related Fossil Energy programs. Applications may be submitted 
individually (i.e., by only one college/university or one college 
partnering with one other college/university) or jointly (i.e., by 
Ateams' made up of (1) three or more colleges/universities, or (2) two 
or more colleges/universities and at least one industrial partner. 
Collaboration, in the form of joint applications, is encouraged but not 
required.

Eligibility

    Applications submitted in response to this solicitation must 
address coal research in one of the key focus areas of the Core Program 
or as outlined in the Innovative Concepts (IC) Phase I and Phase II 
Programs.

Background

    The current landscape of the U.S. energy industry, not unlike that 
in other parts of the world, is undergoing a transformation driven by 
changes such as deregulation of power generation, more stringent 
environmental standards and regulations, climate change concerns, and 
other market forces. With these changes come new players and a 
refocusing of existing players in providing energy services and 
products. The traditional settings of how energy (both electricity and 
fuel) is generated, transported, and utilized are likely to be very 
different in the coming decades. As market, policy, and regulatory 
forces evolve and shape the energy industry both domestically and 
globally, the opportunity exists for universities, government, and 
industry partnerships to invest in advanced fossil energy technologies 
that can return public and economic benefits many times over. These 
benefits are achievable through

[[Page 65545]]

the development of advanced coal technologies for the marketplace.
    Energy from coal-fired powerplants will continue to play a dominant 
role as an energy source, and therefore, it is prudent to use this 
resource wisely and ensure that it remains part of the sustainable 
energy solution. In that regard, our focus is on a concept we call 
Vision 21. Vision 21 is a pathway to clean, affordable energy achieved 
through a combination of technology evolution and innovation aimed at 
creating the most advanced fleet of flexible, clean and efficient power 
and energy plants for the 21st century. Clean, efficient, competitively 
priced coal-derived products, and low-cost environmental compliance and 
energy systems remain key to our continuing prosperity and our 
commitment to tackle environmental challenges, including climate 
change. It is envisioned that these Vision 21 plants can competitively 
produce low-cost electricity at efficiencies higher than 60% with coal. 
This class of facilities will involve ``near-zero discharge'' energy 
plants--virtually no emissions will escape into the environment. Sulfur 
dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollutants would be removed and converted 
into environmentally benign substances, perhaps fertilizers or other 
commercial products. Carbon dioxide could be (1) Concentrated and 
either recycled or disposed of in a geologically permanent manner, or 
(2) converted into industrially useful products, or (3) by creating 
offsetting natural sinks for CO2.
    Clean coal-fired powerplants remain the major source of electricity 
for the world while distributed generation, including renewables, will 
assume a growing share of the energy market. Technological advances 
finding their way into future markets could result in advanced co-
production and co-processing facilities around the world, based upon 
Vision 21 technologies developed through universities, government, and 
industry partnerships.
    This Vision 21 concept, in many ways is the culmination of decades 
of power and fuels research and development. Within the Vision 21 
plants, the full energy potential of fossil fuel feedstocks and 
``opportunity'' feedstocks such as biomass, petroleum coke, and other 
materials that might otherwise be considered as wastes, can be tapped 
by integrating advanced technology ``modules.'' These technology 
modules include fuel-flexible coal gasifiers and combustors, gas for 
fuels and chemical synthesis. Each Vision 21 plant can be built in the 
configuration best suited for its market application by combining 
technology modules. Designers of Vision 21 plant would tailor the plant 
to use the desired feedstocks and produce the desired products by 
selecting and integrating the appropriate ``technology modules.''
    The goal of Vision 21 is to effectively eliminate, at competitive 
costs, environmental concerns associated with the use of fossil fuel 
for producing electricity and transportation fuels. Vision 21 is based 
on three premises: that we will need to rely on fossil fuels for a 
major share of our electricity and transportation fuel needs well into 
the 21st century; that it makes sense to rely on a diverse mix of 
energy resources, including coal, gas, oil, biomass and other 
renewables, nuclear, and so-called ``opportunity'' resources, rather 
than on a reduced subset of these resources; and that R&D directed at 
resolving our energy and environmental issues can find affordable ways 
to make energy conversion systems meet even stricter environmental 
standards.
    To accomplish the program objective, applications will be accepted 
in three program areas: (1) The Core Program, (2) the IC Phase I 
Program, and (3) the IC Phase II Program.

University Coal Research (UCR) Core Program

    To develop and sustain a national program of university research in 
fundamental coal studies, the DOE is interested in innovative and 
fundamental research pertinent to coal conversion and utilization. The 
maximum DOE funding and period of performance for each Individual 
college/university award under the UCR Core Program is:

12 month project period: $ 80,000 (max. DOE funds)
13-24 month project period: $140,000 (max. DOE funds)
25-60 month project period: $200,000 (max. DOE funds)

    Cost sharing is not required but is strongly encouraged.
    The maximum DOE funding for each Joint university award (three or 
more universities partnering) under the UCR Core Program is $400,000 
requiring a 36-month performance period. Cost sharing is not required 
but is strongly encouraged.
    The maximum DOE funding for each Joint University/Industry award 
(two or more universities partnering with at least one industrial 
partner) under the UCR Core Program is $400,000 requiring a 36-month 
performance period. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) cost sharing 
of the total proposed project cost is required.
    The DOE anticipates funding at least one application in each focus 
area under the UCR Core Program; however, high-quality applications in 
a higher priority focus area may be given more consideration during the 
selection process. Research in this area is limited to the following 
six (6) focus areas and is listed numerically in descending order of 
programmatic priority.

Core Program Focus Areas

Focus Area 1.0: Materials and Components for Vision 21 Systems
    The advanced power systems concepts being pursued under Vision 21 
are directed toward very high efficiency and low emissions, 
particularly of carbon dioxide. Many of these systems depend on the 
ability to separate hydrogen, oxygen, or carbon dioxide from mixtures 
containing these gases. Because of the very high overall efficiency and 
cost goals, R&D emphasizing gas separations and high temperature 
materials that are significant improvements over conventional methods/
systems are of interest. Particular areas of interest are:
Focus Area 1.1: Membranes for Hydrogen Separation
    Hydrogen separation in gasification-based systems can be a main 
source of low cost H2 for use in refineries, as fuel for 
fuel cells, and for H2 product gas. Various ceramic 
membranes, including both high- and low-temperature membranes and novel 
non-membrane methods are being developed and tested for hydrogen 
separation. Two types of ceramic membranes are being investigated for 
the recovery of hydrogen from coal gasification streams: porous 
membranes and dense membranes. These membrane types differ 
significantly in their microstructures, and, therefore, gas separation 
takes place by entirely different hydrogen diffusion mechanisms as 
described below. Grant applications are sought to further the 
development of either or both types of these ceramic membranes for 
commercial hydrogen production. Proposed approaches must demonstrate 
that the hydrogen can be produced in large quantities and at high 
purity; therefore, both the permeation properties and the selectivity 
of the membranes must be well characterized and understood.
Focus Area 1.2: Ultra-High Performance Materials
    Intermetallic compounds offer the potential for the use of metallic 
structures at temperatures well above 1000 [deg]1C, perhaps up to 1500 
[deg]1C. Ongoing progress in the development of

[[Page 65546]]

these alloy systems suggests that properties can be achieved that will 
allow them to be used in engineering applications. The temperature 
range of interest overlaps that in which ceramic materials are thought 
to be needed, i.e., these alloys are alternatives to ceramics. Examples 
of such alloys are Laves phase alloys such as Cr2Ta and 
boron modified molybdenum silicide based on Mo5 
Si3. The challenges with these alloys are to modify them to 
provide acceptable mechanical properties, including ductility and 
toughness, and corrosion resistance to allow them to be used in 
structural applications such as gas turbines. Innovative approaches to 
the processing of these materials are sought which will provide useful 
product forms while maintaining a structure that has adequate fracture 
toughness.
Focus Area 1.3: Coatings Development
    Component reliability and long-term trouble-free performance of 
structural materials are essential in power-generating processes that 
utilize coal as a feedstock. The two major elements of this materials 
technology category address these concerns through the development of 
surface protection by coatings, claddings, etc., and examination of the 
corrosion behavior of the structural components, (both alloys and 
ceramics) and protective (thermal and environmental) barriers applied 
to the component surfaces. There is a need to demonstrate/confirm the 
efficacy of conventional gas turbines in a coal-derived synthesis gas 
system. Different hot gas environments are obtained and there is a 
dearth of long-term performance data for these environments. 
Applications based on selection and verification testing of turbine hot 
path component materials and protective coatings are invited.
    Additionally, hot corrosion and erosion-corrosion models to predict 
the lives of candidate gas turbine hot gas path materials in realistic 
environments for a gas turbine operating on coal-derived gases are 
needed. These models are necessary to assess potential lives of such 
components, and establish changes to these environments that would 
significantly extend these lives.
Focus Area 2.0: Sensors and Control
    Sensors for high temperature (1000 [deg]C), harsh environment 
applications represent a significant research and development 
challenge. New uses of high temperature materials or advancements in 
materials science are needed to develop the basis for novel in-situ or 
at line micro-sensing systems to monitor gases commonly present in coal 
and coal-derived syngas applications. Sensor materials and platforms 
capable of detecting one or more of the following are of interest: 
NOX, SOx, CO, H2, O2, 
CH4, NH3, mercury, and arsenic.
    These sensors and detection systems, when placed in protective 
housings can serve as low cost devices that are critical to operating 
power systems at peak efficiency and minimal emissions. Subsequently, 
the sensing materials must be able to function appropriately at 
temperatures at or near 1000 [deg]C, and the minimum test temperature 
for the sensors is 500 [deg]C. Micro-sensors designed with or 
fabricated using high temperature substrates and materials including 
but not limited to silicon carbide, alumina, or sapphire are of 
interest. While revolutionary ideas that have the sound scientific 
basis to support significant advancements in this technology area are 
sought, extractive systems or incremental improvements over existing 
technology are discouraged.
    In addition to gas sensor development, new approaches to embedded 
sensor designs or novel non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques 
that facilitate on-line monitoring of critical parts or components 
(e.g., stress, corrosion, pressure, thermal barrier coating wear, 
refractory wear, etc.) are needed. Sensors need to be able to function 
in an ultra high temperature harsh environment. ``Smart'' sensing 
capabilities such as self-diagnostics and wireless data communication 
are desirable features.
    Successful application of these sensors or NDE techniques will 
improve system control, protect capital equipment investment, and 
promote safety through prevention of catastrophic equipment failure. 
Equipment that could potentially benefit from component monitoring 
includes gasifiers, turbines, engines, pumps, advanced combustors, fuel 
cells; other equipment commonly employed in energy and power generation 
systems.
Focus Area 3.0: Advanced Coal Systems By-Product Utilization
    Currently more than a million tons of byproducts are generated 
annually in the U.S. However, utilization rates of the material remain 
to be only approximately 30 percent. NETL has a goal to see utilization 
increased to 50% by 2010. Grant applications are needed to identify 
novel concepts for increased utilization of byproducts to assist in 
meeting NETL's utilization goal both in the gasification and coal 
combustion programmatic areas.
Focus Area 3.1: Gasification
    The economics of gasification can be improved by fully utilizing 
all outlet streams of the process. Sale of value-added byproducts from 
waste streams and minimization of waste disposal can substantially 
improve the economics of gasification processes. By-products include 
ash/slag and sulfur. Applications are sought that will expand market 
options, such as improving the quality of slags and improving the use 
of sulfur. Applications are encouraged which do one of the following:
    a. Seek to find, and provide proof of concept for, a viable 
commercial market for coal gasification slag in its natural high 
moisture, high carbon state.
    b. Will develop the methods for reducing the carbon content, 
moisture content and particle size of the ash/slag so that it will be 
more marketable.
    c. Would lead to the development of new markets and ways to utilize 
sulfur.
Focus Area 3.2: Coal Combustion
    In December of 2001, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
announced its intention to regulate mercury emissions from coal-fired 
power plants. Although the best mercury control technology has yet to 
be determined, DOE is funding tests where activated carbon is being 
used to control mercury emissions. Preliminary research suggests that 
the addition of activated carbon to the fly ash could make the fly ash 
unmarketable or increase the cost of disposal.
    a. Research is necessary to identify technologies to mitigate the 
affects of high carbon concentrations on resale of the ash.
    b. Novel utilization technologies for this fly ash that contains 
very high concentrations of either unburned or activated carbon.
    Other environmental regulations are leading many utilities to 
install selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR). It has been 
estimated that 80-90 new installations of SCR will occur in the next 
several years. Questions exist as to the effect of SCR on ash samples 
from coal-fired units. Grant applications are sought to establish a 
better understanding of the effect of SCR systems on fly ash and 
consequently evaluating that fly ash for mercury removal potential 
including the specific characteristics of the fly ash that have higher 
mercury capture potential (i.e., amount of carbon, form of carbon 
present, coal origin).
    Finally, future regulations for emissions control of 
PM2.5, regional haze or sulfur dioxide will require lower

[[Page 65547]]

emissions of sulfur dioxide from power plants. Since many utilities 
will add flue gas desulfurization systems (FGD) that will generate 
additional quantities of by-products, grant applications are also 
sought to identify novel uses of this FGD material.
Focus Area 4.0: Computational Chemistry for Reforming Technology
    The use of fuel cells is anticipated to undergo a large expansion 
in the future. The market for these power sources is expected to expand 
dramatically in the coming years because they offer high-energy 
efficiency and low emissions. Many fuel cells rely on high purity 
hydrogen as the fuel. When used in this way, hydrogen serves as an 
energy carrier. Hydrogen may be generated from conventional fossil 
fuels, coal being a foremost candidate. Although hydrogen has highly 
desirable properties for use in a fuel cell, its distribution from the 
central point of manufacture to the point of use remains a stubborn 
problem. At present, the infrastructure for the transport, storage, and 
dispensing of hydrogen is largely lacking and expensive to install.
    Transporting and storing other fuels with higher volumetric energy 
density than hydrogen would alleviate some of the major roadblocks. 
Methanol is one potential energy transport molecule. Commercial 
production of methanol from coal is now well established. Reforming 
methanol to generate hydrogen at the point of use still needs to be 
improved. Catalytic reformers that can operate on a small scale 
intermittently, reliably, and efficiently over a long period of time 
are design challenges to chemical engineers. Computational chemistry is 
becoming an ever more powerful tool that speeds the development of 
improved catalysts. Application of computational chemistry to the 
development of leading principles for improved methanol reforming 
catalysts and catalytic systems can be an effective way to speed their 
entry into the marketplace.
    To assist advancement in the field of methanol reforming 
technology, applications in computational chemistry that address 
fundamental chemical processes in producing fuel cell grade hydrogen 
from methanol are requested. Computational chemistry can provide 
guidance in the search for more effective, durable, and poison 
resistant catalytic materials. The overall intent is to speed the 
development of improved catalyst and reactor systems by providing 
insight on the major issues such as the function and use of promoters, 
coking resistance, stability during thermal cycling, and tolerance to 
operation over a range of flow and thermal conditions. The applications 
must deal with a specific methanol reforming issue in terms of the 
fundamental chemistry and physics of the molecular processes involved. 
Applications based on generic catalyst issues such as those called for 
in previous solicitations will not be considered unless they deal 
specifically with a methanol reforming.
Focus Area 5.0: Electrical Interconnects for Coal-Based Solid Oxide 
Fuel Cell Systems
    The push toward oxygen-based coal gasification technologies creates 
an opportunity to supply pure oxygen to solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 
power generators supplied with coal synthesis gas. When operating on 
pure oxygen vice air, the power density of SOFCs is nearly double. The 
research challenge is to develop a suitable electrical interconnect 
that can survive in both the oxidizing environment of pure oxygen and 
the reducing environment of coal synthesis gas.
    Much research has been performed in the past with regard to ceramic 
oxide interconnect materials, primarily on lanthanum chromate 
(LaCrO3), for high temperature (800 [deg]C) 
operation. Recent developments in SOFC research have advanced the 
potential for lower temperature operation in the range of 500 to 800 
[deg]C.
    Cold gas clean-up processes make the application of low temperature 
SOFCs more attractive by minimizing the energy requirements to heat 
both the oxidant and the fuel gas up to the SOFC operating temperature. 
Resolving oxidation problems with metallic interconnects to maintain 
high electrical conductivity in the relatively low partial pressure of 
oxygen in air is a major focus of current SOFC research. For coal-based 
SOFCs supplied with pure oxygen, even advanced metallic interconnects 
emerging from this research are expected to suffer serve oxidation. 
Thus a more robust ceramic-oxide interconnect capable of high 
electrical conductivity at temperatures ranges from 500 to 800 [deg]C 
is required.
    Grant applications are sought to investigate and characterize 
ceramic-oxide electrical interconnects, other than LaCrO3 
for SOFC applications in coal-based power plants. Of specific interest 
is fundamental research on ceramic interconnect material chemical, 
electrical conductivity and mechanical properties in oxidizing and 
reducing environments for coal-based power plants. It is particularly 
important to investigate the compatibility and adhesion of the 
interconnect, and the interfacial resistance with other SOFC components 
to make quality electrical connections with SOFC materials.
Focus Area 6.0: Partitioning and Mechanism Studies for Mercury and 
Associated Trace Metals Within Coal-Fired Processes
    Understanding mercury chemistry and process-related speciation 
mechanisms and transformations in laboratory experiments provide 
necessary steps to first understanding partitioning and subsequently 
developing mercury removal processes for industrial and coal-fired 
applications for PC-boilers, cyclone boilers, tangentially-fired 
boilers, fluidized-bed boilers and gasification processes. Past 
research has shown a reasonable link between mercury speciation and 
several parameters including the various constituents of fly ash (i.e., 
unburned carbon/ LOI); fly ash properties (such as fly ash alkalinity); 
and process specific information (coal rank, boiler type, flue-gas 
temperature, Cl concentration, NOX concentration, sulfur 
compounds, and CO/CO2 concentrations).
    Grant applications are sought to further understand partitioning 
and chemistry of mercury and other trace metal and organic substances 
in coal-fired (bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite) systems. 
Specifically, modeling or experiments using statistical analysis of 
these identified parameters on chemical intermediaries and mechanisms 
is sought.

UCR IC Phase I Program

    The goal of solicited research under the IC Phase I Program is to 
develop unique approaches for addressing fossil energy-related issues. 
These approaches should represent significant departures from existing 
approaches, not simply incremental improvements. The IC Phase-I Program 
seeks ``out-of-the-box'' thinking; therefore, well-developed ideas, 
past the conceptual stage, are not eligible for the Phase I Program. 
Applications are invited from individual college/university 
researchers. The maximum DOE funding for each Phase I award under the 
IC Program is $50,000 and will require a 12-month performance period. 
Joint applications (as described under the Core Program) will also be 
accepted, although no additional funds are made available for joint 
versus individual applications. Unlike the Core Program, student 
participation in the IC Phase I proposed research is strongly 
encouraged, however, not required.
    In the twenty-first century, the challenges facing coal and the 
electric utility industry continue to grow.

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Environmental issues such as pollutant control, both criteria and trace 
pollutants, 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 
systems, such as a Vision 21 plant, 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. IC applications will be accepted in any 
of the focus areas listed in the Core Program or the following seven 
(7) IC Phase II focus areas that are shown in random order and not in 
order of programmatic priority.

IC Phase I Focus Areas

Focus Area 1.0: Smart Sensors
    The development of innovative concepts and techniques for smart 
sensing are needed to foster the development and implementation of 
advanced power generation technologies using coal or coal derived 
syngas. Approaches to sensing combustion related parameters at ultra-
high temperatures using laser-based techniques and other non-
destructive rapid assessment techniques are encouraged.
    Many innovative approaches to sensing are being developed using 
laser-based techniques or micro-sensors fabricated with silicon as the 
substrate material. While these developments are viewed favorably, the 
are not applicable to many industrial systems due to the high 
temperature harsh conditions. This solicitation seeks to overcome the 
temperature barriers associated with novel sensing techniques.
    The ultimate goal is the utilization of sensor networks, which are 
low cost, reliable, and accurate for the real-time monitoring. 
Integrating these sensor networks with advanced control algorithms are 
envisioned for the on-line optimization of complex power and chemical 
production facilities conceived under the Vision 21 Program.
Focus Area 2.0: N2/CO2 Separation
    Since the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily 
carbon dioxide, is combustion of fossil fuels such as coal or natural 
gas, options to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are being examined. In 
particular, inorganic membranes based on metals, ceramics or zeolites 
are suitable for the separation of such gases because they can sustain 
severe conditions such as high pressure, chemical corrosion, and high 
temperature. Approaches are needed whereby the membrane can be tailored 
to separate carbon dioxide from the nitrogen, the latter being the 
predominant component in the flue gas of a fossil fuel fired power 
plant. For example, the separation could be caused by dopants in the 
inorganic membrane that prefer to bond with carbon dioxide and 
facilitate its surface diffusion along the pore wall. Applications are 
invited wherein factors such as concentration of dopant and pore 
diameter will be investigated, along with molecular simulations, in 
order to maximize the separation factor.
Focus Area 3.0: Direct Utilization of Carbon in Fuel Cells
    High and intermediate temperature fuel cells offer significant 
advantages in the direct conversion of carbon to electrical power 
without an intermediate coal gasification process. Both slurry based 
and solid-state (e.g., consumable electrodes) based fuel cells have the 
potential to more directly utilize coal than conventional fuel cell 
technologies that operate on clean coal synthesis gas.
    Grant applications are sought for identification and 
characterization of one or more (considering the time and financial 
constraints) fuel cell concepts that utilize carbon from coal. The 
characterization should demonstrate as much as possible both the power 
density achievable and the degree of power degradation versus operating 
time. The characterization should include chemical stability between 
the components and the impact of coal contaminants on fuel cell 
performance and operating life. Lifetime effects (phase stability, 
thermal expansion compatibility, conductivity aging, and electrode 
sintering) should be considered and characterized as much as possible. 
The characterization of the material set should in general be as 
complete as possible and not duplicate publicly known information.
Focus Area 4.0: Mercury and Associated Trace Metal Chemistry Studies 
Within NOX Control Systems
    By the year 2010, it is estimated that over 50% of coal-fired 
utilities will install either selective catalytic reduction or 
selective non-catalytic reduction units to meet NOX emission 
limits. Understanding mercury chemistry and process-related speciation 
mechanisms and transformations related to NOX control 
systems would provide necessary information to develop more effective, 
less costly mercury removal processes for industrial and coal-fired 
boilers. Past research has shown a probable relationship between degree 
of mercury oxidation and age of NOX catalyst, coal rank, 
size (or residence time) of NOX control vessel, degree of 
NOX conversion, amount of SO2 converted to SO3, 
and ammonia slip. Grant applications are sought to further understand 
partitioning and chemistry of mercury and other trace metal and organic 
substances in coal-fired (bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite) 
systems utilizing SCR/SNCR or ammonia injection. Specifically, 
statistical analysis clarifying the importance of each of these 
identified parameters and/or their interactions on chemical 
intermediaries and mechanisms is sought.
Focus Area 5.0: Water Impacts From Coal-Burning Power Plants
    Producing electric power from coal has impacts to water quality 
from the beginning of the process, mining the coal, to the disposal of 
ash remaining after the coal has been combusted. Coal mining has left 
large amounts of overburden wastes that contain sulfide minerals that 
weather to form sulfuric acid. Many of these areas are causing problems 
with water quality and re-vegetation. It is estimated that 10,000 miles 
of streams in the United States are affected by acid mine drainage. The 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated a Total Maximum 
Daily Load (TMDL) program to restore impaired water bodies, some of 
which are degraded from past mining. Coal washing is used to remove 
pyritic sulfur and other impurities that could be emitted into the air; 
however, wastewater from this process may release these substances to 
water bodies. A large quantity of water is used in power plants to 
condense the steam leaving the turbine. Once-through cooling systems 
can damage aquatic life and add heat to streams. The EPA has developed 
new regulations under the Clean Water Act, section 316(b), to reduce 
once through cooling usage of water and improve cooling water intake 
structures. Re-circulating cooling towers require the addition of 
biocides and corrosion inhibitors, which may be released to water 
bodies during blowdowns. Wet scrubbing of air pollutants from flue gas 
generates a large quantity of wastewater. Ash ponds have the potential 
for creating run-off problems and groundwater infiltration. Research 
opportunities for improving water quality associated with coal

[[Page 65549]]

combustion for power generation include: (1) Novel active and passive 
treatment technologies to address acid mine drainage; (2) innovative 
solutions to restoring abandoned mine lands to enhance watersheds; (3) 
improved intake and outflow structures for cooling water; (4) novel 
uses for waste heat from power plant cooling; (5) advanced water-
related sensors and controls at power plants to minimize adverse 
impacts to water quality; (6) novel treatment techniques for scrubber 
wastewater; and (7) novel techniques for reducing coal-washing waste 
and ash pond runoff.
Focus Area 6.0: Simulation of CO2-Brine-Mineral Interactions
    One strategy under evaluation to mitigate increasing atmospheric 
concentrations of CO2 is to inject it into geological 
formations such as deep saline aquifers. When CO2 is 
injected into brine formations it can be trapped by several mechanisms. 
The CO2 can react with the host rock and/or brine to form 
mineral carbonates (mineral trapping) or it can become dissolved in and 
react with the slow moving basinal brine (hydrodynamic trapping) to 
form carbonic acid and its dissociation products. Mineral trapping is 
the preferred storage mechanism. In order the begin to evaluate the 
feasibility of geological sequestration in deep saline aquifers the 
thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the H2O-
CO2-NaCl system must be known in order to simulate chemical 
reactions in these complex systems. These properties are not only 
critical for the interpretation of laboratory experiments, but also to 
field scale tests, and reservoir scale simulation. Most simulations of 
these systems use an equation of state (EOS) to describe the properties 
of the H2O-CO2-NaCl system. The thermodynamic 
properties for gas-liquid-salt systems can be described by EOS, which 
describes the quantitative relationships between intensive parameters 
of a system (e.g., T, P) and extensive parameters (e.g., volume, mass). 
Consequently, research directed toward evaluation of the ability of 
existing EOS to accurately estimate the properties of this system is of 
interest to the U.S. DOE.
    Grant applications directed toward critical evaluation of the 
ability of existing equations of state (EOS) to predict the properties 
of the H2O-CO2-NaCl system at temperatures up to 
200 C and pressures up to 500 atmospheres are sought. A comparison of 
the ability of existing EOS to describe the properties of the system 
under these conditions is needed. An estimation of the deviation 
between properties predicted using various EOS found in the literature 
with measured values under a wide range of temperature and pressure 
must be included. Based upon the results of this evaluation of existing 
EOS, the researchers may decide to develop a new EOS as part of the 
application.
Focus Area 7.0: CO2 Separation From Coal Gasification 
Process
    Separation of CO2 from coal derived synthesis gas for 
capture and sequestration is a key technology in the reduction of 
greenhouse gases emissions to the environment. If required today, 
existing technologies, such as Rectisol and Selexol, can be applied to 
capture CO2; however, such applications require expensive 
solvent and operate at less than 40[deg]C, imparting a severe energy 
penalty on the system. The following CO2 separation 
technologies are being investigated in existing projects: production of 
carbon dioxide hydrates, dry scrubbing processes with regenerable 
sorbents, and membrane separation (dense ceramic and polymer). 
Applications are invited that incorporate ``outside-the-box'' 
approaches to the separation of CO2 from the coal 
gasification process. As this would be the first step toward a 
completely novel approach, applications comprising literature studies, 
theoretical approaches and/or modeling analysis, etc. would be 
expected. The goal of this work would be to find an approach that:
    1. Does not require expensive/proprietary solvents or cool 
temperatures.
    2. Is not already being considered by existing projects.
    3. Minimizes the cost of CO2 separation.
    Technologies that produce both high-pressure hydrogen and 
CO2 (in separate streams) are preferred.

UCR IC Phase II Program

    The goal of the Phase II Program, the principal R&D effort of the 
IC Program, is to solicit research that augments research previously 
funded through the Phase I Program. Only recipients receiving a Phase I 
grant awarded in fiscal year 2001 will be eligible to submit an 
application for continuation of their Phase I projects. The maximum DOE 
funding for each Phase II award under the IC Program is $200,000 and 
will require a 36-month performance period. Its anticipated that 
institutions submitting an application with approaches that appear 
sufficiently promising from the Phase I efforts could receive a Phase 
II award in 2003. Applications will be accepted in the following focus 
areas:
Focus Area 1.0 Advanced Sensors for Vision 21 Systems
Focus Area 2.0 Carbon Sequestration
Focus Area 3.0 Mercury and Other Emissions in Advanced Power Systems
Focus Area 4.0 Thermodynamics Measurement for Mixture of Asymmetric 
Hydrocarbons

    Issued in Pittsburgh, PA on October 16, 2002.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Acting Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 02-27208 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P