[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55599-55604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24350]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of a Financial Assistance Solicitation

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a financial assistance solicitation.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue a Financial 
Assistance Solicitation No. DE-PS26-04NT41898 entitled ``Support of 
Advanced Coal Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities.'' Pursuant to 
10 CFR 600.6(b), DOE has determined that issuance of this financial 
assistance solicitation on a restricted eligibility is necessary and 
appropriate.
    In support of advanced coal research to U.S. colleges and 
universities, financial assistance awards under this Program 
Solicitation are intended to maintain and upgrade the education, 
training, and research capabilities of our colleges and universities in 
the fields of science, environment, energy, and technology related to 
coal. The involvement of professors and students generates fresh 
research ideas and enhances the education of future scientist and 
engineers.

DATES: The solicitation will be available for downloading on the DOE/
NETL's Home page 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 September 26, 2003. Applications 
must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the instructions in 
the Program Solicitation and must be received by November 6, 2003. 
Prior to submitting your application to the solicitation, periodically 
check the NETL Web site for any amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jodi L. Collins, MS I07, U.S. 
Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, 3610 
Collins Ferry Road, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880, E-mail 
Address: [email protected]. Telephone Number: (304) 285-1390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through Program Solicitation DE-PS26-
04NT41898, 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 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.

Eligibility

    To assure this Program continues to support the performance of high 
quality fundamental research by professors and students at U.S. 
colleges and universities, applications must be submitted by U.S. 
colleges, universities, and university-affiliated research institutions 
provided the following criteria are met:
    [sbull] Principal Investigator or a Co-Principal Investigator 
listed on the application is a teaching professor at the submitting 
university. If this condition is met, other participants, including Co-
Principal Investigators or research staff, who do not hold teaching 
positions may be included as part of the research.
    [sbull] Proposals from university-affiliated research institutions 
must be submitted through the college or university with which they are 
affiliated.
    [sbull] At least one student registered at the university is to 
receive compensation for work performed in the conduct of research 
proposed in the Core and the Innovative Concepts Phase-II Subprograms. 
This criterion is not applicable in the Innovative Concepts Phase-I 
Subprogram where the grants are of shorter duration and funded at lower 
levels to develop unique ideas applicable to coal utilization and 
conversion.
    [sbull] Under the Innovative Concepts Phase-I Grants, research may 
be done by either the Principal Investigator, postdoctoral students, or 
graduate students.
    Additional restricted eligibility is also imposed on the Innovative 
Concepts Phase-II Grants. Only Innovative Concepts Phase-I grantees 
will be eligible to compete for subsequent Phase-II continuation of 
their Phase-I projects.

Background

FY 2004 Focus Areas/Technical Topics

    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 university, 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 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 pathways to clean, 
affordable energy achieved through a combination of technology 
evolution and innovation aimed at creating the most advanced collection 
of

[[Page 55600]]

flexible, clean, efficient, competitively priced coal-derived products, 
and low-cost environmental compliance energy systems. Subsequently, 
this focus remains key to this nation's continuing prosperity and our 
commitment to tackle environmental challenges, including climate 
change. It is envisioned that these advanced systems 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.
    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.
    Recent improvements within advanced coal-based power systems, in 
many ways is the culmination of decades of power and fuels research and 
development (R&D). The most advanced systems have 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 and can 
be built in the configuration best suited for its market application by 
combining technology modules. Designers of these systems would tailor 
their use of the desired feedstocks and produce the desired products by 
selecting and integrating the appropriate ``technology modules.''
    The DOE goals for these advanced systems are to effectively 
eliminate, at competitive costs, environmental concerns associated with 
the use of fossil fuel for producing electricity and transportation 
fuels. Research objectives for these advanced power systems are 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 twenty-first 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 ever more strict environmental 
standards.
    To develop and sustain a national program of university research 
that advances the previously stated objectives, DOE is interested in 
innovative and fundamental research pertinent to coal conversion and 
utilization. To accomplish the program objective, applications will be 
accepted in three program areas: (1) The Core Program and (2) The 
Innovative Concepts Phase-I Program, and the Innovative Concepts Phase-
II Program.

Core Program

    The DOE anticipates funding at least one proposal in each focus 
area under the Core Program; however, DOE reserves the right not to 
fund any of the proposals in a given area if they do not meet 
programmatic needs of the agency. Additionally, high-quality proposals 
in a higher ranked focus area may be given more consideration during 
the selection process. Research in the Core Program is limited to the 
following six (6) focus areas and are listed in descending order of 
programmatic priority:

Materials for Advanced Fossil Energy Systems

    New materials, ideas, and concepts are required to significantly 
improve performance and reduce the costs of existing advanced power 
systems or to enable the development of new systems and capabilities 
for coal combustion and coal gasification, gas separations, hydrogen 
storage, high-temperature fuel cells, and advanced turbine systems. 
Materials' issues are related to operation in the hostile conditions 
created when fossil fuels are converted to energy. These conditions 
include high temperatures, elevated pressures, pressure oscillations, 
corrosive environments (oxidizing or reducing conditions, gaseous 
alkali, chloride or sulfur-containing species), surface coating or 
fouling, and high particulate loading. The following topics are of 
interest in this solicitation:
(a) Computer-Aided Design of High-Temperature Materials
    The quest for high-temperature materials is one of the dominant 
themes in materials development for efficient energy systems. High-
temperature materials is a fast-moving research area with numerous 
practical applications. Materials that can withstand extremely high 
temperatures and extreme environments are generating considerable 
attention worldwide; however, designing materials that have low 
densities, elevated melting temperatures, oxidation resistance, creep 
resistance, and intrinsic toughness encompass some of the most 
challenging problems in materials science. The search for high-
temperature materials is largely based on traditional, trial-and-error 
experimental methods which are costly and time-consuming. An effective 
way to accelerate research in this field is to use advances in 
materials simulations and high performance computing and communications 
to guide experiments. This synergy between experiment and advanced 
materials modeling will significantly enhance the synthesis of novel 
high-temperature materials. The studies should only address materials 
of interest to fossil energy conversion systems.
(b) Coatings for Coal-Fired Environments
    Coatings with superior corrosion resistance in oxidizing, 
sulfidizing, carburizing and water-containing environments are needed 
to sustain the life of advanced energy systems. They are of particular 
interest for improving the corrosion resistance of Fe- and Ni-base 
alloys to achieve higher operating temperatures in fossil energy 
systems where sulfur and water vapor can cause severe oxidation 
problems. For optimum utilization of new coatings, one needs sufficient 
data about their potential benefits in terms of lifetime and applicable 
environments. In order to address that issue, model coatings need to be 
fabricated for corrosion testing and diffusion studies aimed at 
developing a comprehensive lifetime evaluation approach for the 
coatings. At least one ferritic and one austenitic alloy should be 
selected as substrate materials for study. Additionally, nickel-based 
superalloys are also of interest.
(c) Materials for Hydrogen Storage
    Another critical need of advanced energy systems, is the 
development of materials for hydrogen storage. These may include alloys 
and intermetallics, sodium and lithium alanates, nanocubes, carbon 
nanotubes or other emerging materials. Factors that are relevant for 
useful materials are hydrogen storage density and stability at

[[Page 55601]]

commercially relevant conditions of temperature and pressure. 
Experimental studies should include analytical methods such as XRD, 
SEM, TEM and pressure-composition isotherm measurements to determine 
the phase purity, microstructure and hydrogen absorption 
characteristics. The investigations should aim to optimize the hydrogen 
absorption characteristics, such as the amount of hydrogen absorbed, 
the plateau pressure and kinetics by modifying the composition of the 
material and its microstructure.

Sensors and Control

    DOE/NETL's Advanced Research Program is aimed at bridging the gap 
between the basic sciences and applied research as it relates to fossil 
energy applications. One area in which this transitional fundamental 
type research is needed is in the area of novel high temperature 
materials that can be used in the fabrication of miniaturized in-situ 
sensing devices for the measurement of various gas species.
    Available sensors for measuring gaseous emission of CO, 
CO2, HC's, Hg, H2S, NOX, etc. cannot 
withstand the high temperature, hostile environments found in advanced 
fossil energy systems. Experimental research projects are sought for 
the development of materials suitable for the production of low cost 
disposable sensors which can be used in a ``plug and play'' fashion for 
the detection of various fossil fuel gases under high temperature 
(500 [deg]C) and high pressure (200 psi) conditions. 
Fundamentally-based research programs focused on new materials 
(including material matrices, functionalized or coated substrates, 
doped ceramics, nano derived micro structures) such that the bulk 
properties of the material can be utilized in miniaturized devices with 
sensing characteristics at high temperature are encouraged.
    The long term envisioned use of the materials will be to fabricate 
low cost micro sensors that can be used and easily replaced after 180-
360 days of exposure to the harsh conditions found in ultra clean 
fossil energy applications. Hence the promising candidates identified 
as a result of this fundamental research will be explored to address 
cost associated with the development and fabrication processes that 
would provide sensing devices for commercial applications.
    While revolutionary ideas that have the sound scientific basis to 
support significant advancements in this area are sought, experimental 
studies with material systems in which the sensing properties are 
understood are discouraged.

Measurement and Technology for Gasification

    To sustain our nation's economic growth, utilization of our most 
abundant fossil energy resource, coal, in an efficient and 
environmentally responsible manner is needed. Consequently, the DOE is 
supporting the development of advanced technology power plants that 
offer higher efficiency, lower emissions, and reduced capital and 
operating costs. Gasification technologies are key to addressing 
several of the advanced technologies issues of clean production of 
electric power, hydrogen for the new ``hydrogen economy,'' and 
industrial chemicals or refined fuels while reducing the impacts on 
water resources, solid waste disposal, and capturing carbon dioxide 
(CO2) that is generated in the use of fossil fuels. To meet 
the demands of the Hydrogen Initiative, the requirements for fuel cell 
and advanced turbine power units, and to meet the increasingly 
stringent environmental regulations, the synthesis gas produced by 
gasification will need to be cleaned to tighter specifications. At the 
same time, the gasification and gas cleanup processes will need to have 
reduced costs, improved reliability, and the ability to be readily 
integrated for increased efficiency. These improvements will enable the 
integration of advanced concepts for high-efficiency power generation 
and pollution control into a class of fuel-flexible facilities capable 
of operating with near zero environmental emissions. Based on 
gasification, there are a variety of configurations to meet differing 
market needs, including both distributed and central generation of 
power. The development and optimization of advanced coal gasifiers will 
be critical to the success of this program. This topic seeks to develop 
key support technologies and measurement techniques for these 
gasifiers. Grant applications are sought only in the following 
subtopics:
a. Advanced Refractory Systems for Gasification Systems
    Refractory liners in high temperature slagging gasifiers are known 
to undergo significant deterioration over a relatively short period of 
time, requiring considerable maintenance. Depending upon the operating 
temperature of the gasifier, plant size, and the feedstock, refractory 
liners last only 6-18 months and cost over $1 million in materials, 
manpower, and lost revenues to replace. Therefore grant applications 
are sought to develop advanced refractory systems or new materials with 
an expected useful life of three or more years. Of particular interest 
are materials with the ability to withstand multiple feed stocks such 
as coal, biomass, and petroleum coke, and materials that contain no 
chromium.
b. On-Line Flow and Composition Measurements for Gasification Systems
    The ability to measure, control, and quickly respond to 
fluctuations in the flow quantities and composition of feed streams to 
gasifiers and in the synthesis gas product stream can be crucial to 
maintaining performance to design standards and keeping the production 
of gasifiers on-stream at high capacity factors. Real-time and on-
stream measurements are likely to be helpful in identifying systems 
upsets and responses to protect downstream equipment. Grant 
applications are sought to develop robust on-line measurement and 
control systems for (1) feeding abrasive and eroding solids across 
pressure barriers to 1000 psi into gasifiers, and for (2) product 
synthesis gas streams at high temperatures (to 2500 [deg]F) and high 
pressure (to 1000 psi) laden with aggressive particulates. Gasifier 
feeds are typically water slurries with loadings of 50 to 70% solids, 
or pneumatically fed dry pulverized solids. The feed may contain coal, 
pet coke, coal-pet coke mixtures (typical 50-50%), water as slurry 
agent, or biomass (typically 10-20%). On-line measurements of feed 
quantities and composition should address attributes such as particle 
size distribution, particle loading, coal/pet coke/biomass composition 
changes, and amount of water. The synthesis gas product will typically 
contain bulk constituents (CO, CO2, H2, 
H2O, CH4), major contaminants (H2S, 
COS, NH3, Cl), and trace contaminants (Hg, As, Se, V, Ni). 
On-line measurement of any or all of these constituents at gasifier 
exit conditions of high temperature and pressure will enable more 
direct control of the operation of the gasifier.
c. Novel CO2 and/or Hydrogen Separation Technology
    One vision of clean energy in the future is to make hydrogen from 
coal in an ultra-clean production plant. In this vision, coal is 
gasified using oxygen, and the resultant syngas (mostly CO, 
H2 and H2O) is then turned into a stream of 
predominantly H2 and CO2 through the water-gas-
shift reaction. The purpose of hydrogen separation technology is to 
economically transform this mixed gas into two pure streams: One of 
H2, and one of CO2. The mixed gas stream is 
expected to be 450-500 [deg]F and 300 psi. Most current projects in

[[Page 55602]]

hydrogen separations are membrane processes. The only non-membrane 
process is the hydrate process, which must operate at low temperatures. 
This solicitation seeks completely novel CO2 and/or 
H2 separation technologies, with particular interest in 
technologies that maintain CO2 pressure and do not require a 
significant drop in temperature.

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 advanced power systems, i.e., 
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.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) Sealing Systems

    A secure future for our Nation depends on the continued 
availability of reliable, affordable, and environmentally-safe 
technologies for production of energy from advanced power systems, such 
as fuel cells. Solid oxide fuel cells are capable of operating on a 
variety of fossil fuels, including coal derived synthesis gas. 
Currently, numerous SOFC design concepts are under development by 
industry. These industrial developers have identified sealing as a top-
priority technical barrier in their efforts to commercialize advanced 
power generation systems based on solid oxide fuel cell technology and 
operating on coal and other fossil fuels. These seals have a demanding 
set of imposed performance criteria due to the extreme SOFC operation 
environment. The seals must prevent the mixing of fuel and oxidant 
streams as well as prevent reactant escape to the surrounding 
environment. The seal material must have a low electrical conductivity 
and be mechanically and chemically stable under reducing/oxidizing/wet 
conditions, as well as with oxidizing and reducing environments 
separated by the seal. Of particular importance is the ability to seal, 
with adequate bond strength, materials (e.g. Fe-Cr alloys, Ni-YSZ 
cermet and LSM) with differing coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), 
and do so while exposed to temperature transients over a range from 
room temperature up to SOFC operating temperature ([sim]850 [deg]C). In 
addition, the seals must accommodate the thermal expansion of the fuel 
cell caused by temperature gradients in the direction of fuel flow, the 
result of the electrochemical reaction, without imposing excessive 
stresses within the cell. In the case of auxiliary power unit (APU) and 
mobile applications, the seals must be resistant to thermal shock in 
order to permit a rapid ([sime]10 minutes) transition from ambient to 
operating temperature, and in the latter case, vibration. The seal 
material must be capable of a service life of more than 40,000 hours 
and hundreds of thermal cycles for stationary systems, or at least 
5,000 hours and 3,000 thermal cycles for transportation systems.
    Current state-of-the-art sealing concepts utilizing glass or glass-
ceramic materials have been largely successful in meeting performance 
requirements in the short-term. The viscous, wetting behavior of glass 
facilitates hermetic sealing, and glass-ceramics avoid viscous flow and 
uncontrolled, progressive crystallization during operation. The 
properties of these materials (CTE, Tg for glasses) can be 
affected via composition/structure modifications. Furthermore, glasses 
are relatively inexpensive and easily fabricated.
    However, long-term performance under thermal cycling has been 
unsatisfactory. Glasses and glass-ceramics are brittle; consequently, 
thermal stress-induced bulk microcracking of the seal, resulting from 
as few as one start-up/shut-down/start-up cycle, may cause unacceptable 
reactant leakage. Furthermore, these stresses are affected by a host of 
factors, including the cell/interconnect/seal geometry and the unique 
component material properties of the particular SOFC stack design. The 
potential for seal fracture is exacerbated by the potential chemical 
reaction of glass with metal interconnects, resulting in the formation 
of interfacial compounds and/or extensive porosity in the glass near 
the glass/metal interface.
    Glass, glass-ceramic, ceramic-filled glass composite, metal-filled 
glass composite and/or ceramic-filled metal composite based seal 
materials and systems are sought with significantly improved long-term 
durability under SOFC operating conditions, with particular emphasis 
placed upon the ability of the seal or seal system accommodate 
dimensional changes of cell components resulting from thermal 
transients (shock) and thermal gradients. Material composition and/or 
structure modifications may potentially possess the capability to 
accommodate larger displacements, local dimensional variations and 
material movement. In addition, these materials must be chemically and 
physically stable in a high temperature reactive environment. The seal 
material must be compatible with the cell and interconnect materials of 
the particular SOFC system design. The ultimate objective is the 
development of an economically-practical seal material/system that can 
provide hermetic sealing under all operating conditions for the life of 
planar SOFC stacks.
    Financial assistance applications are sought to research and 
develop glass, glass-ceramic, ceramic-filled glass composite, metal-
filled glass composite and/or ceramic-filled metal composite based seal 
materials and systems to address planar SOFC sealing needs. Of 
particular interest are novel seal concepts focusing on seal material 
composition and structure with an emphasis on attaining long-term 
durability under typical SOFC operating conditions. Emphasis in this 
solicitation is on investigating and developing viable sealing 
materials for us with synthesis coal gas compositions feed to SOFC. 
Current Solid-State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program goals 
require a seal service life of more than 40,000 hours and hundreds of 
thermal cycles for stationary systems, or at least 5,000 hours and 
3,000 thermal cycles for transportation systems. Effective sealing 
concepts must perform under high temperature, chemically reactive 
conditions and need to accommodate thermal transient/gradient-induced 
movement of cell and stack components and enclosures while minimizing 
transmission of structural loads to delicate cell components. Proposed 
approaches should combine analysis and experimentation to establish 
theoretical limits, and to evaluate the practical limit of the sealing 
concept. Manufacturability and

[[Page 55603]]

cost are also critical factors in meeting SECA program goals.

Turbine Combustion: Flashback

    In support of the Turbine Program, advanced power systems has goals 
of very low plant emissions (NOX less than 2-ppm) and 
turbine combustors capable of stable operation with fuel compositions 
ranging from natural gas to a broad range for syngas. Although syngas 
has wide composition variability, the following gives an example of 
representative properties for a fuel gas from oxygen blown coal 
gasification: 25% H2, 40% CO, 20% H2O, and 200 
BTU/ft3 lower heating value.
    The primary goal for the research is to provide fundamental 
information and data, or computational tools, that will enable design 
of turbine combustors with improved stability and emissions. Proposed 
research should give highest priority to addressing fuel composition 
and variability issues associated with use of syngas and alternate 
fuels in gas turbine combustors.
    Flashback is an issue for premixed combustors, both in terms of 
increased emissions and hardware damage. Proposals are sought in this 
topic for achieving premixing without excessive pressure drop and 
suitable fuels with a variety of flame speeds, including syngas and 
hydrogen. Research of interest includes:
    [sbull] The effect of syngas compositions and percentage 
concentrations of higher hydrocarbons in natural gas on the propensity 
of a premixed flame to flashback. Of particular interest is the 
propensity to flashback in the presence of combustion oscillations 
(either self-excited or externally driven).
    [sbull] Measurement of flashback characteristics representing 
various fuels and fuel compositions (IGCC syngas, natural gas 
composition variations, liquid fuels, etc.), especially for high 
pressures and in the 700 to 950K temperature range. Of special interest 
is the effect of higher concentrations of H2 in syngas on 
flashback.

Innovative Concepts Phase-I Program

    The DOE anticipates funding at least eight awards under the Phase-I 
Program. In the twenty-first century, the challenges facing coal and 
the electric utility industry continue to grow. 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. Innovative Concepts applications will be 
accepted in any of the six (6) focus areas listed in the Core Program 
above or the four (4) technical Innovative Concepts Phase-I Program 
areas listed below. The focus areas under the IC program are not listed 
in any programmatic priority.

Innovative Concepts Phase-I Technical Topics

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 
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 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.

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.

Novel Uses of the Calcium Sulfate and Calcium Sulfite-Based FGD 
Material

    In order to clean up sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants, 
many utilities have installed either wet or dry flue gas 
desulfurization (FGD) systems. Currently, the majority of this FGD 
material is disposed of into landfills. However, there are some 
utilities that market this material.
    The largest reuse market of the material is in wallboard 
manufacturing processes.
    It is estimated that in order to meet future stringent air 
pollution requirements, many additional utilities will install this 
technology in the next decade. Grant applications are

[[Page 55604]]

requested that will look at novel uses of the calcium sulfate and 
calcium sulfite-based FGD material.

Development of Advanced SCR Catalysts

    National NOX emissions may be capped at levels well 
below current emissions under proposed multi-pollutant control 
initiatives to address continued concerns about secondary fine 
particles (including those formed by reactions with NOX) and 
ozone. Such proposals would essentially extend the current 
NOX State Implementation Plan Call to twelve months and 
expand it to all 48 contiguous states. While selective catalytic 
reduction (SCR) is the workhorse for the largest units of the existing 
generating fleet in meeting current NOX regulations, future 
more stringent requirements drive the need to lower the cost of this 
technology. Accordingly, development of advanced SCR catalyst 
technology that is cheaper and has fewer balance-of-plant issues than 
current SCR technology could offer a lower cost option for the smaller 
units. In order to adapt SCR technology to hard to retrofit boilers, 
three options are proposed for research:
    a. Development of a more reactive catalyst than current 
commercially available catalysts that would require a smaller reactor 
with less catalyst and able to operate at higher gas velocities to 
achieve NOX removal efficiencies of 90%.
    b. Development of a catalyst that would operate at low dust 
conditions and temperatures experienced after the particulate removal 
device to achieve NOX removal efficiencies of 90%.
    c. Development of a catalyst for items (1) or (2) that has a dual 
function of oxidizing elemental mercury.
    In both cases, it is suggested to have the reducing agent to be 
other than an ammonia-based reagent or methane due to their balance-of-
plant issues, availability, and cost. Utilization of combustion gas 
constituents such as carbon monoxide would be a plus. In all cases, an 
economic goal of developing the technology at \3/4\ the levelized cost 
of the current state of the art SCR technology should be established.
    The proposal of the successful applicants should be able to 
demonstrate knowledge of the process conditions of a coal-fired utility 
boiler equipped with low NOX burners for the targeted area 
of catalyst development.

Innovative Concepts Phase-II Program

    The DOE anticipates funding two to four awards in the 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 the institutions 
receiving a Phase-I grant awarded in fiscal year 2002 will be eligible 
to submit an application for continuation of their Phase-I projects. 
The following institutions are eligible to participate in the Phase-II 
Program in FY04:

Drexel University
    --``Ultrasensitive High-Temperature Selective Gas Detection Using 
Piezoelectric Microcantilevers''
University of Albany
    --``Feasibility of a SOFC Stack Integrated Optical Chemical 
Sensor''
University of Nevada
    --``Advanced Heat Exchanges Using Tunable Nanoscale-Molecular 
Assembly''
University of Pittsburgh
    --``A Novel Concept for Reducing Water Usage and Increasing 
Efficiency in Power Generation''
The Pennsylvania State University
    --``Reaction Mechanism of Magnesium Silicates with Carbon Dioxide 
in Microwave Fields''
Arizona State University
    --``Simultaneous Mechanical & Heat Activation: A New Route to 
Enhanced Serpentine Carbonation Reactivity & Lower CO2 
Mineral Dequestration Process Cost''
University of Utah
    --``Carbon Dioxide Sequestration by Mechano-chemical Carbonation of 
Mineral Silicates''
Iowa State University
    --``Development of a Catalyst/Sorbent for Methane Reforming''
University of Maine
    --``Inorganic Membranes''
University of North Dakota
    --``Advanced Heterogeneous Reburn Fuel from Coal and Hog Manure''
The University of Mississippi
    --``Heterogeneous Reburning by Mixed Fuels''
University of North Dakota
    --``Mercury Oxidation via Catalytic Barrier Filters''
University of Pittsburgh
    --``Engineered Coal Reburning in Oxidizing Environments''

    Once released, the solicitation will be available for downloading 
from the IIPS Internet page. At this Internet site you will also be 
able to register with IIPS, enabling you 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 E-mail the Help 
Desk personnel at center.doe.gov">IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov. The solicitation 
will only be made available in IIPS, no hard (paper) copies of the 
solicitation and related documents will be made available. Telephone 
requests, written requests, E-mail requests, or facsimile requests for 
a copy of the solicitation package will not be accepted and/or honored. 
Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the 
instructions and forms contained in the solicitation. The actual 
solicitation document will allow for requests for explanation and/or 
interpretation.

References

    1. T. Schwickert, P. Greasee, A. Janke, R. Conradt, and U. 
Diekmann, in Proceedings of IBSC 2000, Albuquerque, pp. 116-122 
(2000).
    2. K.L. Ley, M. Krumpelt, R. Kumar, J.H. Meiser, and I. Bloom, 
J. Mat. Res., 11, 1489-1493 (1996).
    3. N. Lahl, K. Singh, L. Singheiser, K. Hilpert, and D. Bahadur, 
J. Mat. Sci. 35, 3089-3096 (2000).
    4. L. Blum, L.G.J. de Haart, I. Vinke, D. Stolten, H.P. 
Buchremer, F. Tietz, G. Bla[beta], D. St[ouml]ver, J. Remmel, A. 
Crammer, and R. Sievering, in 5th European Solid Oxide Fuel Cell 
Forum, Lucerne, Switzerland, ed. J Huijsmans, pp. 784-790 (2002).
    5. Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance website, http://www.seca.doe.gov/

    Issued in Morgantown, WV on September 16, 2003.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 03-24350 Filed 9-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M