PROGRAM
AREA OVERVIEW --
BASIC
ENERGY SCIENCES
http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/bes.html
The Basic
Energy Sciences (BES) program supports fundamental research in the natural
sciences leading to new and improved energy technologies.
The program’s purpose is to create new scientific knowledge by
supporting basic, peer-reviewed research in areas of materials sciences,
chemical sciences, geosciences, plant and microbial biosciences, and engineering
sciences that are relevant to energy resources, production, conversion, and
efficiency. The results of BES-supported research are routinely published in the
open literature.
A key function
of the program is to plan, construct, and operate premier national user
facilities to serve researchers at universities, national laboratories, and
industrial laboratories, thus enabling the acquisition of new knowledge that
cannot be obtained in any other way. The
scientific facilities include synchrotron radiation light sources, high-flux
neutron sources, electron-beam microcharacterization centers, and specialized
facilities such as the Combustion Research Facility.
These national resources are available free of charge to all researchers
based on the quality and importance of proposed nonpropriety experiments.
A major
objective of the BES program is to promote the transfer of the results of our
basic research to advance and create technologies important to Department of
Energy (DOE) missions in areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy resources,
improved use of fossil fuels, mitigation of the adverse impacts of energy
production and use, and future fusion energy sources. The following set of
technical topics represents one important mechanism by which the BES program
augments its system of university and laboratory research programs and
integrates basic science, applied research, and development activities within
the DOE.
The Generation IV nuclear energy initiative is an
international collaboration to identify, assess, and develop sustainable nuclear
energy technologies that are competitive in most markets, while further
enhancing nuclear safety, minimizing the nuclear waste burden, and further
reducing the risk of proliferation (reference 1).
Many nuclear energy systems have been proposed to advance the goals of
the Generation IV program (see references 2-8), including designs that use
liquid-metal coolants such as sodium and lead, gas coolants such as helium,
water coolants such as supercritical water, and molten salt coolants.
For these systems, operation at higher temperature has been identified as
a means to improve economic performance and to support the thermochemical
production of hydrogen. However, the
move to higher operating temperatures will require the development and
qualification of advanced materials to perform in the more challenging
environment. As part of the process
of developing advanced materials for these reactor concepts, a fundamental
understanding of materials behavior must be established and a database that
defines the critical performance limitations of these materials under
irradiation must be developed. A
recent workshop details many of the research challenges for higher temperature
materials associated with proposed Generation IV systems (reference 9).
Grant applications are sought only
in the following subtopics:
a.
Advanced Radiation Resistance Ferritic-Martensitic Alloys - Because
of their resistance to void swelling, 9 Cr and 12 Cr ferritic-martensitic steels
are considered prime candidates for intermediate temperature reactors such as
the proposed liquid metal and supercritical water concepts operating in the
temperature range of 400-750°C. However,
many ferritic-martensitic steels are limited by poor higher temperature creep
strength, typically degrading at temperatures greater than 550-600°C (reference
10). Grant applications are sought
to improve the creep strength of 9 Cr and 12 Cr ferritic-martensitic steels
through alloying, dispersion strengthening, or precipitation hardening.
Innovative alloys with protective coatings are also of interest.
Proposed approaches must provide for (1) isotropic creep properties with
strength greater than that of Sandvik HT9 steel, (2) a ductile to brittle
transition temperature less than room temperature, and (3) a minimum
plane-strain fracture toughness of 0.25õy.
Alloying elements that act as neutron poisons (e.g., boron) or that
become highly activated in a neutron spectrum (e.g, cobalt) must be minimized or
eliminated. Because the
ferritic-martensitic steels likely would be used in conjunction with
sodium-cooled, lead- or lead-bismuth-cooled, or supercritical water-cooled
reactor concepts, approaches that optimize corrosion performance while achieving
improved high temperature strength would be considered high priority.
Lastly, approaches that also address irradiation performance are strongly
encouraged.
b.
Advanced Refractory, Ceramic, Ceramic Composite, or Coated
Materials - Some Generation IV concepts aim for very high temperature
(>900°C) operation. However,
with the exception of limited data on SiC-based systems, the radiation
resistance of construction materials subjected to very high temperatures has not
been identified or proven. Grant
applications are sought to develop advanced refractory, ceramic, ceramic
composite, or coated materials that can meet the very demanding conditions
required to operate at temperatures greater than 900°C in a fast spectrum
nuclear energy system. For these
conditions, the materials should have low thermal expansion coefficients,
excellent high temperature strength, excellent high temperature creep
resistance, and good thermal conductivity. For
post-irradiation handling at lower temperatures, sufficient room temperature
fracture toughness must be maintained. Additionally,
the materials need to be easily fabricated and capable of being joined.
Because the reactors operating in this temperature regime are expected to
be helium cooled, the materials must have low erosion properties in flowing
helium and be able to survive an air ingress condition.
Because sustainable nuclear energy systems are likely to be based on fast
spectrum systems, the materials must avoid low atomic mass components such as
hydrogen and carbon. Because the high temperature strength and corrosion
resistance may be difficult to achieve with a single material, composite or
coated systems may be required. Finally,
because sustainable nuclear energy systems may be based on fast spectrum (i.e.,
fast flux) designs, materials intended for fast reactor concepts should minimize
the use of low atomic mass components such as hydrogen and carbon.
References:
1.
Moving Forward: Generation
IV Nuclear Energy Systems, U.S. DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and
Technology, http://gen-iv.ne.doe.gov
2.
Sekimoto, H., et al., “Small
Lead-Bismuth-Eutectic (LBE)-Cooled Fast Reactor for Expanding Market,” Proceedings
of the Tenth International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 10),
Arlington,
3.
Wade, D. C., et al., “Status of the
Encapsulated Nuclear Heat Source (ENHS) Reactor Concept,” Proceedings of
the Tenth International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 10),
Arlington,
4.
Hejzlar, P., et al., “Design
Strategies for a Lead-Bismuth-Cooled Reactor for Actinide Burning and Low-Cost
Electricity,” Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Nuclear
Engineering (ICONE 10),
5.
Kiryushin, A. I. et al., “BN-800—Next Generation of Russian
Sodium Fast Reactors,” Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on
Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 10), Arlington, VA, April 14-18, 2002, ASME, 2002. (Paper No. ICONE
10-22405) (Available via FAX from DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and
Technology. Contact Madeline Feltus
at madeline.feltus@hq.doe.gov.)
6.
Hittner, D., “The Programme and First
Results of the European High Temperature Reactor (HTR) Technology Network (HTR-TN),”
Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE
10),
Arlington, VA, April 14-18, 2002, ASME, 2002. (Paper
No. 10-22423)*
7.
King, R. L. and Porter, D. L.,
“Performance of Key Features of [the] Experimental Breeder Reactor
(EBR)-II and the Implications for Next-Generation Reactor Systems,” Proceedings
of the Tenth International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 10),
Arlington, VA, April 14-18, 2002, ASME, 2002. (Paper
No. 10-22524)*
8.
9.
Allen, T., et al., Workshop on Higher
Temperature Reactor Materials,
10.
Klueh, R. L. and Harries, D. L., High
Chromium Ferritic and Martensitic Steels for Nuclear Applications,
_______________________
*
Abstract available at:
http://www.asmeconferences.org/icone10/SearchPaperSchedule.cfm.
To order proceedings, see:
http://www.asme.org/catalog/.
29. ADVANCED FOSSIL FUELS RESEARCH
For the foreseeable future, the energy needed to sustain
economic growth will continue to come largely from fossil fuels. In supplying
this energy need, however, the Nation must address growing global and regional
environmental concerns, supply issues, and energy prices. Maintaining low-cost
energy in the face of growing demand, diminishing supply, and increasing
environmental pressure requires new technologies and diversified energy
supplies. These technologies must
allow the Nation to use all of its indigenous resources more wisely, cleanly,
and efficiently. These resources
include inherently clean natural gas and the Nation's most abundant and
lowest cost resource, coal. Grant applications are sought only in the following subtopics:
a. Hydrogen
Fuels and Technologies - Clean forms of energy are needed to support
sustainable global economic growth while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and
impacts on air quality. Hydrogen
systems can provide viable, sustainable options for meeting the world’s energy
requirements in all energy sectors – transportation, buildings, utilities, and
industry. However, hydrogen energy
systems still face a number of technical and economic barriers that must be
overcome for these systems to become competitive.
For example, infrastructure barriers, particularly in the storage area,
hinder the near-term application of hydrogen for transportation applications.
Additionally, safety issues, both real and perceived, are concerns for
acceptance of hydrogen by the general population. Because
of these barriers, the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is considered a mid-
to long-term goal. Advances must be
made in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilization technologies
and in the integration of these components into complete energy systems.
This subtopic focuses on hydrogen production.
Initially, hydrogen will be produced from fossil fuels because it will
take some time before the production of hydrogen from renewables is
cost-competitive. In particular,
domestic coal can be a major source of hydrogen in the near- to mid-term.
Research is needed to improve technologies that not only will lower the
cost of producing hydrogen from coal but also will enable the sequestration of
carbon. Therefore, grant applications are sought to develop advanced separation
and cleanup technologies for the efficient production of hydrogen from coal,
particularly for fuel cell applications. Areas
of interest include improved gas cleanup, sulfur removal, and hydrogen
separation processes.
b. Small Scale Continuous
Hydrogen Generator as a Fuel Source for Power Units - A safe means to
provide a controlled stream of hydrogen as a fuel for power units would be
desirable because, essentially, only steam and nitrogen would be emitted from
the combustion air. Since combustion
emissions are one of the worst sources of pollutants, this would be a
significant improvement. Therefore,
grant applications are sought to design, evaluate, and test candidate
hydrogen-fueled power unit systems.
The Steam-Iron Process, configured
some years ago as a continuously operating two-reactor process, is one possible
candidate. In its first reactor,
granular Fe2O3 is reduced to the elemental state by
reaction at an elevated temperature with a reducing material such as HC gas or
liquid fuels. The elemental iron is
transferred to the second reactor where it reacts with steam to yield Fe2O3
and hydrogen. The Fe2O3
is recycled. Although extensively
studied in the 1990s through the pilot plant stage, the Steam-Iron Process was
not scaled up to demonstration size because its projected economics as a
commercial source of large quantities of hydrogen was unsatisfactory.
However, it may be possible to reconfigure this process as a source of
hydrogen for a power unit. For example, with suitable valving, one or more pairs
of Fe/Fe2O3 columns could be alternately reduced by a fuel
and oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen. The engine driven by the hydrogen
fuel could be a gas turbine, a fuel cell-electric engine combination, or an
adapted multi-cylinder engine. Other
novel means of generating a controllable stream of hydrogen fuel are also of
interest. Whatever method is
proposed, the suitability of the process and its economics must be compared with
(1) state-of-the-art schemes for producing hydrogen by reforming
hydro-carbonaceous material with steam/oxygen and (2) at least one candidate
type of commercial power unit.
c. Biogeochemical
Carbon Sequestration/Conversion - Carbon sequestration is a relatively new
approach to the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentration (i.e., new
compared to the other two pathways – improving the efficiency of energy use
and reducing the carbon content of fuels). Current
approaches include the conversion of carbon dioxide to benign, stable compounds
for long-term storage or to value added products for reuse.
Grant applications are sought to develop practical methods to:
(1) grossly accelerate the natural bioconversion of carbon dioxide to
methane in geologic reservoirs by employing methanogen microorganisms as
catalysts, as well as other geochemical reactants, (2) apply similar processes
to the capture of carbon dioxide at large point sources, and (3) efficiently
employ microorganisms and/or biomimetic catalysts to convert carbon dioxide in
flue gas to intermediates that can be subsequently reacted to calcium/magnesium
carbonates for terminal sequestration.
d.
Instrumentation and Sensors for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Materials
Science -
Grant
applications are sought to develop innovative instrumentation and sensors to
advance the scientific investigation of SOFC materials.
Some of the important materials parameters that require measurement
include: (1) depth and/or area
resolved residual stress in a layered cell, (2) ionic vacancy distributions, (3)
cracks and interfacial delaminations, (4)
porosity distributions and gradients; (5) ionic and electronic conductivity
profiles; (6) catalytic activity distributions, (7) electrical conductivity and
structural integrity of thin oxide films on metal interconnects, and (8) small
area defect characterization (such as images of gas pinhole or electrical shorts
in electrolyte layers). Of
particular interest are techniques and sensors that allow for in situ
measurements; pre- and post-operation, non-destructive evaluation involving
buried interfacial regions; and imaging techniques that can characterize spatial
inhomogeneities with regard to charge transfer activity and transport, or its
underlying functional materials properties.
For the latter, a connection between image data sets and finite element
modeling approaches should be made apparent, with the ultimate goal of
validating SOFC performance models (reference 5).
Grant applications also should demonstrate that the instrumentation and
sensors, though focused on basic materials science, will have relevance to
developers and manufacturers of optimized SOFCs.
References:
Subtopic
a: Hydrogen Fuels and Technologies
1.
National Hydrogen Energy
Roadmap: Production,
Delivery, Storage, Conversion, Applications, Public Education and Outreach, U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), November 2002.
(Full text available at: www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/national_h2_roadmap.pdf)
2.
Hydrogen and Other Clean
Fuels, U.S.
DOE, Office of Fossil Energy, 2003. (Available
at: http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/fuels/)
3.
Song, C., “Fuel Processing for Low-Temperature and
High-Temperature Fuel Cells – Challenges, and Opportunities for Sustainable
Development in the 21st Century,” Catalysis Today, 77:17-49, 2002
4.
5.
Gardner, T. H., et al., “Fuel Processor Integrated H2S
Catalytic Partial Oxidation Technology for Sulfur Removal in Fuel Cell Power
Plants,” Fuel, 81:2157-2166, 2002.
6.
Swartz, S. L, et al., “Fuel Processing Catalysts Based on
Nanoscale Ceria,” Fuel Cells Bulletin,
4(30):7-10, March 2001. (For
ordering information and to view abstract, see:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14642859)
Subtopic
b: Small Scale Continuous Hydrogen Generator as a Fuel Source for Power Units
7.
Werth, J., (Inventor), Fuel
cell using an aqueous hydrogen-generating process.
(U.S.
Patent No. 6093501 of
8.
O’Brien, J. P., Gas
Turbines for Automotive Use, Noyes Publications, June 1980.
(Out of print. ASIN:
0815507860)
9.
Institute
of
10.
Heffel, James W., “NOx emission and performance data for a
hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine at 1500 rpm using exhaust gas
recirculation,” International Journal of
Hydrogen Energy, 28 (8):901-908, August 2003.
(ISSN: 0360-3199)
Subtopic c: Biogeochemical
Carbon Sequestration/Conversion
11.
Beecy, D. J., et al., “Biogenic Methane:
A Long-Term CO2 Recycle Concept,” presented at the First
National Conference on Carbon Sequestration, Session 5A,
12.
Koide, H., “Prospect of Geological Sequestration for Greenhouse
Gas Mitigation and Natural Gas Recovery,” International Journal of the
Society of Materials Engineering for Resources, 7(1), 1999.
13.
Schoell, M., “Multiple Origins of Methane in the Earth,” Chemical
Geology, 71:1-10, 1988.
14.
Rice,
15.
Scott, A. R., “Improving Coal Gas Recovery with Microbially
Enhanced Coalbed Methane,” Coalbed Methane:
Scientific, Environmental, and Economic Evaluations, pp. 89-111, July
1999. (ISBN:
0792356985)
16.
Wolfe, R. S., “1776-1996: Alessandro
Volta’s Combustible Air,” ASM News (American
Society for Microbiology), 62(10):529-534, October 1996.
(ISSN: 0044-7897)
17.
Putting Carbon Back in the Ground, IEA Greenhouse Gas
R&D Programme Report, February 2001. (ISBN:
1-898373-28-0)
18.
Stevens, S. and Gale, J., “Geologic CO2
Sequestration,” Oil and Gas Journal, 98(20):40-44,
19.
Bond, G. M., et al., “Enzymatic Catalysis and CO2
Sequestration,” World Resource Review, 11(4):603-619, 1999.
(ISSN
1042-8011)
Subtopic d: Instrumentation
and Sensors for SOFC Materials Science
20.
Minh, N. Q. and Takahashi, T.,
Science and Technology of Ceramic Fuel Cells,
21.
22.
Bai, W., et al., “The
Process, Structure and Performance of Pen Cells for the Intermediate Temperature
SOFCS,”
23.
Hu, H., et al., “Interfacial Studies of Solid-State Cells, Based
on Electrolytes of Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conductors,”
24.
Herbstritt, D., et al., “Modelling and DC-polarisation of a
three dimensional electrode/electrolyte interface,” Journal
of the European Ceramics Society, 21(10-11):1813-1816, 2001.
(ISSN: 0955-2219) (For ordering information or to view abstract
see: www.elsevier.com/gej-ng//10/25/37/42/39/144/abstract.html
The
Department of Energy supports a number of large-scale, national user facilities
that provide intense beams of neutrons and electrons for the characterization of
materials. Grant applications are
sought only in the following subtopics:
a.
Neutron Facilities - As a unique and increasingly utilized research
tool, neutrons have made invaluable contributions to the physical, chemical, and
biological sciences. The Department
is committed to enhancing the operation and instrumentation of its present and
future neutron science facilities so that their full potential is realized.
Grant applications are
sought to develop improved neutron detectors and associated electronics needed
for DOE’s existing and proposed steady-state and pulsed neutron scattering
facilities (References 1-2, 5). New
detectors must represent substantial improvements in one or more of the
following parameters: efficiency at short wavelengths, high counting rate
capability, high spatial resolution in one or two dimensions, cost per unit
area, or adaptability to unique geometries.
Detectors for pulsed neutron applications must be able to identify the
time of arrival of each neutron. All
detectors must have low intrinsic dark count rates and low sensitivity to gamma
radiation.
Grant applications are also sought to develop novel or improved neutron optical components for use in neutron scattering instruments (References 2-3, 5). Such components include, but are not limited to, neutron choppers, neutron guides, neutron lenses and focusing mirrors, neutron monochromators, or neutron polarization devices including 3He polarizing filters. Applications are also sought for novel use of such components in neutron scattering instruments.
b.
Electron Beam Microcharacterization Facilities - The Department of Energy
supports four collaborative research centers for electron beam
microcharacterization of materials. These
tools are important in the materials and biological sciences and are used in
numerous research projects funded by the Department.
Innovative instrumentation developments offer the promise of radically
improving the capabilities of electron beam microcharacterization and thereby
stimulate new innovations in materials science.
Grant applications submitted to this subtopic must address improvements
in electron beam instrumentation capabilities beyond the present
state-of-the-art.
Grant
applications are sought to develop stages, holders, and/or detectors with new
capabilities for quantifying data and collection efficiency in electron beam
instruments. Areas of interest
include: (1) extremely stable
holders and stages that allow long exposure/analysis times, with accurate
tilting and alignment capability (to an angle accuracy ±0.005 degrees on two
axes while maintaining eucentricity to within 20 nm); (2) fast CCD camera
systems that allow electron imaging exposure times in the millisecond range and
kHz frame rates; (3) high sensitivity electron imaging systems based on CCD
technology that provide 16 bit dynamic range or better over large areas; and (4)
improved electron and x-ray detectors that are robust and not susceptible to
electron beam damage. Proposed
approaches for electron detectors must show suitability for either low- or
high-energy electrons, and address one or more of the following three aspects:
high quantum efficiency, high spatial resolution, and high temporal
resolution. Proposed approaches for
x-ray detectors should show significant improvement in sensitivity or spectral
resolution for elemental analysis in electron microscopes.
Grant applications are also sought to develop stages and
holders with new capabilities for in situ experiments or sample
manipulation in the transmission electron microscope.
Stages and/or holders must provide for one or more of the following:
(1) application of magnetic field up to 5000 Oe in the plane of the
specimen, with capability to rotate field orientation in the specimen plane with
respect to the sample; (2)
manipulation or measurement of the sample using a 4-probe nanomanipulator,
including capability to measure deflection or strain, or capability to apply
electric fields or current; and (3) precision control of specimen temperature
(to an accuracy of 10oC in the range 5-2000K), ambient gas pressure
and flow rate (to within several percent for each), and alignment (to an angle
accuracy ±0.005 degrees on two axes).
Grant applications are also sought to develop electron
sources for scanning transmission electron microscopy with brightness on the
order 109 Amp/cm2/steradian or higher.
Current sources are based on tungsten emitters, and it is hoped that
higher brightness can be achieved with new materials and designs.
Proposed electron sources must be suitably robust for practical
applications, have long lifetimes (greater than 6 months), and offer a
significant increase in brightness over existing sources.
Grant applications are also sought for systems for
automated data collection, processing, and quantification.
Systems should include hardware and platform-independent software for
data collection and visualization, including automated measurement and mapping
of crystallography, internal magnetic or electric field, or strain, and for
multi-spectral analysis. Software
and quantification routines for image reconstruction and for interpretation of
interference patterns/holography are encouraged.
Finally, grant applications are sought for extremely stable
power supplies to improve lens stability in electron beam instruments.
Power supplies should be capable of producing 15 amperes with current
stability exceeding 0.1 ppm, or 5 amperes with current stability exceeding 0.05
ppm, and should exhibit voltage stability of 0.1 ppm in the range of 1 kV to
200kV.
Subtopic a: Neutron
Facilities
1.
Anderson, I. S. and Guerard, B., eds., Advances in Neutron
Scattering Instrumentation, San Diego, CA, July 7-8, 2002, Proceedings of
the SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering), Vol. 4785,
Bellingham, WA: SPIE, 2002. (ISBN:
0819445525)
2.
Carpenter, J. M., et al., eds., Neutrons, X-Rays, and Gamma
Rays: Imaging Detectors, Material
Characterization Techniques, and Applications, San Diego, CA, July 21-22, 1992,
Proceedings of the SPIE, Vol. 1737, Bellingham, WA:
SPIE, 1993. (ISBN:
0819409103)
3.
Majkrzak C. F. and Wood, J. L., eds., Neutron Optical Devices
and Applications, San Diego, CA, July 22-24, 1992, Proceedings of the
SPIE, Vol. 1738, Bellingham, WA: SPIE,
1992. (ISBN: 0819409111)
4.
Majkrzak, C., ed., Thin-Film Neutron Optical Devices: Mirrors,
Supermirrors, Multilayer Monochromators, Polarizers, and Beam Guides, San Diego,
CA, August 16-17, 1988, Proceedings of the SPIE, Vol. 983,
Bellingham, WA: SPIE, 1989.
(ISBN: 0819400181)
5.
Technology and Science at a High-Power Spallation Source:
Proceedings of a Workshop Held at
6. Wilpert, T., ed., International Workshop on Position-Sensitive Neutron Detectors: Status and Perspectives, Hahn-Meitner-Institute, Berlin, Germany, June 28-30, 2001. (URL: www.hmi.de/bensc/psnd2001)
7.
Windsor, C. G., Pulsed Neutron Scattering,
Subtopic b: Electron
Beam Microcharacterization Facilities
8.
Proceedings of the
Microscopy Society of America, Annual Meetings, Springer-Verlag New York,
Inc. (Printed version ISSN:
1431-9276) (Electronic version ISSN: 1435-8115)
9.
Ultramicroscopy, 78(1-4), Elsevier-Holland, June 1999.
(ISSN: 0304-3991)
10.
Williams, D. B. and Carter, C. B., Transmission Electron
Microscopy: A Textbook for Materials
Science, Vols. 1-4, Plenum Publishing Corp., New York-London, 1996.
(ISBN: 0-306-45247-2)
11.
Aberration Correction in
Electron Microscopy: Materials
Research in an Aberration-Free Environment,
12.
Report:
Second TEAM [Transmission Electron Aberration-corrected Microscopy]
Workshop: Materials Research in an
Aberration-Free Environment, Lawrence
Berkeley
National Laboratory,
31. ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES
The commercial use of electric and hybrid electric vehicle
technologies has been limited by the performance and excessive costs of power
sources and storage devices. In
conjunction with the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy is interested in identifying and developing
innovative concepts for advanced energy storage devices (batteries) that will
improve the performance, extend the life, and significantly reduce the cost of
the vehicles.
Battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) require energy
storage devices with high energy density, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs)
require devices that can deliver high power pulses.
Advanced hybrids may require devices that both store significant energy
and can deliver high power pulses. All
of these devices must be able to accept high power recharging pulses from
regenerative braking. For high
energy density systems, the goal is to develop cells that provide at least 200
Watt-hours/kg (Wh/kg), 400 Wh/l, 400 W/kg, and 800 W/l; have a life of 1000
cycles at 80 percent depth of discharge; and have a calendar life of at least 10
years. For high power applications,
the goal is to develop cells that provide peak power of 1500 W/kg or greater,
have a cycle life of at least 300,000 shallow cycles, and have a calendar life
of 15 years. For all systems,
materials to be utilized should be plentiful, have low cost (< $10/kg), be
environmentally benign, and be easily recycled.
Evaluation of the technology with regard to the above criteria should be
performed in accordance with applicable U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium test
procedures or Society of Automotive Engineers recommended practices (see
references that follow).
Grant applications must show how proposed innovations would
result in significant advances in performance and cost reduction over
state-of-the-art technologies. Grant
applications are sought only in the following subtopics:
a. Technologies
that Facilitate the Use of a Lithium Metal Anode in a Rechargeable Battery
– The use of lithium metal as the anode (negative electrode) in a rechargeable
battery offers advantages over lithium-ion systems; these potential advantages
include lower cost, higher energy density, and the option of using positive
electrode materials that do not have to be pre-lithiated.
Unfortunately, multiple discharges and recharges of a lithium electrode
can result in the growth of metal dendrites and the formation of finely divided
lithium particles. These phenomena
limit the life and compromise the safety of any battery incorporating such an
electrode. Therefore, grant
applications are sought to develop novel technologies, such as (but not limited
to) interfacial materials or electrolytes, that will allow the use of a lithium
metal anode in a rechargeable battery that meets the cycle and calendar life
requirements associated with vehicular use. Grant applications must address the
theoretical basis of the proposed R&D effort, the probable cost of using the
technology in vehicular batteries, and the impact of the technology on other
performance parameters such as power capability – technologies that adversely
affect the performance of other parameters are not likely to be adopted.
The proposed approach must be evaluated by cycling a lithium/lithium cell
in Phase I, with full electrochemical cells containing a lithium electrode
developed in Phase II. (References 2
and 3 are particularly applicable to this issue.)
b. Novel
Electrochemical Couples for Advanced Batteries - New electrochemical couples
offer the potential to overcome the limitations of current electrochemical
systems, and to provide high-specific energy, long-life, and low-cost
alternatives. Grant applications are
sought to develop and demonstrate novel rechargeable couples that meet the
criteria described in the introduction to this topic.
Rechargeable battery couples that incorporate anodic active materials
such as aluminum or magnesium are of particular interest because of their
potential use in high-performance, non-aqueous batteries for electric and hybrid
vehicles. Areas of interest include
(1) the synthesis and/or characterization of ionic conducting polymers and gel
electrolytes that can transport polyvalent ions; (2) development of electrolytes
that are capable of conducting alkaline earth, other divalent cations, and
trivalent transition metal ions; (3)
development of cathodes composed of intercalation compounds that allow the rapid
diffusion of polyvalent ions; and (4) development of novel non-lithium couples
that do not involve a polyvalent species. In
addition, grant applications related to novel, non-lithium couples that do not
involve the movement of metal ions from the negative to the positive electrode
are also of interest. Proposed
approaches must be demonstrated in full electrochemical cells of at least 0.2
Ampere-hour in size. Reference 8 is
one of many articles on this subtopic.
c. Technologies to Improve the Tolerance of Lithium-Ion
Cells and Batteries to Abusive Overcharge – High energy and high power
lithium-ion cells and batteries may be subject to inadvertent, abusive
overcharge if the battery’s charging control mechanism fails.
Depending upon the failure mode, cells may experience charging voltages
that exceed the design specification by as little as 100 millivolts or up to
many volts. Even low levels of
overcharge have been shown to make a cell more susceptible to thermal runaway.
More extreme overcharge can produce rapid events such as venting with
smoke and flames. Grant applications are sought to develop novel methods of
improving the tolerance of lithium-ion cells to overcharge.
Improvements must be demonstrated in cells of at least 0.2 Ampere-hour in
size. Grant applications may focus
on changes in one or more of a cell’s basic components (anode, electrolyte,
separator, and cathode), or on materials added to a “standard” cell.
Any standard, commercially available lithium-ion cell, suitable for
vehicular use, may be used as the basis for the changes/improvements.
(Note: some commercially
available cells are not suitable for vehicular use because they contain costly
components, operate only at low rates, have relatively limited cycle or calendar
lives, etc.) Investigators that do
not have access to specific information about the components of commercially
available cells may use the specifications published by the Advanced Technology
Development Program for its Generation 1 and Generation 2 cells as a starting
point (see references 4 and 5).
Grant applications must be for novel research and
development as defined in the introductory sections of this solicitation,
provide a theoretical basis for the research, address the probable cost of using
the technology in vehicular batteries, and address the impact of the technology
on other performance parameters such as calendar life, power capability, and
energy density – technologies that adversely affect these parameters are not
likely to be adopted.
d. Non-carbonaceous Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion
Batteries – Conventional
lithium-ion cells use carbon-based materials for their anodes (negative
electrodes). The use of carbon in
these cells does offer some advantages (e.g., a potential very near that of pure
lithium), but disadvantages include an irreversible capacity loss on the first
charge and limited capacity for lithium in terms of both weight and volume.
Grant applications are sought for the development of new materials (i.e.,
that are not a form of carbon) that can serve as the active component of the
anodes of lithium ion cells. Grant
applications must address the probable cost of using the material in vehicular
batteries and the impact of the technology on other performance parameters such
as calendar life, power capability, and energy density – technologies that
adversely affect these parameters without commensurate benefits are not likely
to be adopted. The novel materials
must be demonstrated in full electrochemical cells of at least 0.2 Ampere-hour
in size. Compatibility of the new
anode material with other cell components (electrolyte, separator, and positive
electrode material) must be demonstrated. (For
this purpose, investigators may choose components described by the Advanced
Technology Development Program for its Generation 2 cells (see references 4 and
5) or choose other components.)
References:
Please note:
Paper copies of these references not available in the open literature
or from NTIS. They may be obtained
by addressing a request to Mr. Irwin Weinstock, Senior Engineer, Sentech, Inc., 4733 Bethesda Ave., Suite 608,
Bethesda, MD
1.
Links to the following manuals are all available at:
http://ev.inel.gov/battery.
These documents provide a good general basis for understanding the
performance requirements for electric and hybrid electric vehicle energy storage
devices.
·
FreedomCAR 42V
·
FreedomCAR
·
PNGV
·
Electric Vehicle Capacitor Test Procedures
·
USABC Electric Vehicle
2.
The internet site for the Batteries for
Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) program at http://berc.lbl.gov/BATT/BATT.html
includes quarterly and annual reports. This
program addresses many long-term issues related to lithium batteries, including
new materials and basic issues related to abuse tolerance.
3.
Zhou, J., et al., “Interfacial
Stability Between Lithium and Fumed Silica-Based Composite Electrolytes,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(9):A1121-A1126, 2002.
(Addresses issues related to the formation of Li dendrites.) (ISSN:
0013-4651) (Available via Electrochemical
Society Web site at: http://ojps.aip.org/JES/?jsessionid=2984621059489204943
. On menu at left, select “Browse
all JES issues,” and then “Volume 149.”
Scroll down to September 2002, Issue 9, and select either TOC, from which
you may access article.)
References
4 and 5 discuss issues related to more mature, high power, lithium-ion
batteries. They include information
about cell chemistries that have proven to be useful model systems for these
applications along with discussions of issues related to abuse tolerance and
cell life.
4.
FY
2000 Progress Report for the Advanced Technology Development Program, U.S.
DOE, Office of Advanced Automotive Technologies, December 2000., http://www.cartech.doe.gov/pdfs/FC/97.pdf
5.
Advanced
Technology Development (High-Power
6.
Information about requirements for
vehicular batteries, separators for lithium-ion batteries, and abuse testing can
all be found at the USABC section of the USCAR internet site.
Go to http://www.USCAR.org;
click on “Teams”; scroll down and click on “United States Advanced Battery
Consortium (USABC)”. This site
provides a second source for many of the documents found at reference 1.
7.
The abuse test procedures, developed for FreedomCAR by Sandia
National Laboratories may be accessed directly at:
http://www.uscar.org/consortia&teams/USABC/SAND99-0497%20USABC%20Safety%20Manual.pdf
8.
Amatucci, G. G., et al., “Polyvalent
Intercalation Batteries, a Step into Next Generation Energy Storage,”
presented at the 198th Meeting of
the Electrochemical Society, Phoenix, AZ, October 22-27, 2000,
Abstract No. 215, Meeting Abstracts, Vol. MA2000-2, Electrochemical
Society, 2000. (ISSN: 1091-8213)
(Paper published under new title: “Investigation
of Yttrium and Polyvalent Ion Intercalation into Nanocrystalline Vanadium
Oxide,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 148(8):A940-A950, 2001.
(ISSN: 0013-4651) (Available via Electrochemical Society Web site at:
http://ojps.aip.org/JES/?jsessionid=2984621059489204943
. On menu at left, select “Browse
all JES issues,” and then “Volume 148.”
Scroll down to August 2001, Issue 8, and select either TOC from which you
may access article.)
32. INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR THE HYDROGEN ECONOMY
Clean and secure forms of energy are needed to support
sustainable economic growth while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and
impacts on air quality. To address
these challenges, the President’s National Energy Policy and the U.S.
Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Strategic Plan call for expanding the
development of diverse domestic energy supplies.
In his February 28, 2003, State of the Union address, President Bush
expressed a goal to reverse America’s growing dependence on foreign oil by
developing commercially-viable, hydrogen-powered fuel cells to power
automobiles, homes, and businesses with near-zero pollution or greenhouse gases.
The President’s new Hydrogen Fuel Initiative proposes to provide more
than $1.2 billion in funding over the next five years to accelerate the
development of the technologies and infrastructure necessary to achieve this
goal. Working with industry, the DOE
has developed a national vision for moving toward a hydrogen economy.
To realize this vision, the U.S.
must develop and demonstrate advanced technologies for hydrogen production,
delivery, storage, and use. This
topic addresses two important concerns for the hydrogen economy:
the production of hydrogen from biomass and the utilization of Polymer
Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology.
Grant applications are sought only in the following subtopics:
a. Modification of Biomass Composition through Plant
Science – One of the advantages of hydrogen is that it can be produced
from a variety of feedstocks and process technologies.
Renewable biomass is an important potential feedstock because its use
would be carbon-dioxide neutral relative to climate change concerns.
Ultimately, the ability to produce hydrogen from biomass competitively
will require lower feedstock costs. Examples
of the desired traits of these feedstocks include increased yield, fast growth,
less input requirements, and the ability to withstand stresses such as drought.
Currently there is a lack of understanding of plant biochemistry, as well
as inadequate genomic and metabolic data on potential crops.
Grant applications are sought to further the understanding of the
metabolic pathways for biomass crops and to modify these pathways in order to
achieve step-change improvements in the above desired traits.
In addition, grant applications are sought to genetically engineer the
introduction of process-active cellulases and/or hemicellulases into the cell
walls of biomass feedstock crops in order to enable the low cost hydrolysis of
biomass to sugars.
b.
Hydrogen Fermentation – The
fermentation of sugars produced from biomass is a biomass-based production
option that has not been extensively explored.
This route to hydrogen production would be valuable because greenhouse
gas emissions would be near zero. A
few micro-organisms have the capability to produce hydrogen through the
fermentation of carbohydrate (sugar) feedstock.
However, known hydrogen production rates are far too low to be of
practical interest. Therefore, grant
applications are sought to significantly increase the rate of hydrogen
production by the micro-organism fermentation of sugars generated from biomass.
c. Fuel Cell System
Coolants and Membranes – PEM fuel cell technology is under development for
a variety of applications, including light-duty transportation, portable power,
distributed generation, and auxiliary power units.
Much of this work is focused on cost reduction and performance
enhancement to meet stringent targets for durability, specific power, power
density, efficiency, and cost. Further
work is sought to address specific component needs that ultimately aid in the
development of cost-effective fuel cell systems.
This subtopic address two of these needs:
improved coolants and lower cost membranes.
Grant applications are sought to
develop improved fuel cell system coolants that operate at elevated temperature
(120°C), have very low electrical conductivity (less than 2.0 microsiemens/cm),
are compatible with other materials in the coolant loop, and are non-flammable
(i.e., have a very high flash point). In
addition, the advanced fuel cell coolants also should have good thermo-physical
properties (viscosity, heat capacity and thermal conductivity), a low freezing
point (<-40°C), and low cost.
The high cost of the fluorinated polymers used to produce
the membrane in PEM fuel cells is one of the major barriers to fuel cell
commercialization. Polymer
electrolyte membranes typically are composed of poly (perfluorosulfonic) acid,
and the synthesis of the polymer includes a costly fluorination step.
Grant applications are sought to develop novel membranes that are less
than fully fluorinated, yet maintain high performance.
The new membrane must be able to tolerate an acidic environment, perform
under standard operating conditions, and cost no more than $5/kW.
d. Innovative Fuel
Cell Concepts - Typical PEM fuel cell configurations include multiple cells
that are stacked to achieve adequate working voltages and are fueled by hydrogen
and air. Grant applications are
sought to develop alternative, innovative PEM fuel cell configurations and
concepts that address niche markets or employ unique technology that show
promise for commercialization in the long-term.
Areas of research interest include but are not limited to applications
from biotechnology, microtechnololgy, or nanotechnology; unique cell design; and
alternative concepts for membrane conduction.
Proposed approaches should clearly demonstrate the potential benefits
compared to conventional fuel cell technology.
References:
1.
The
Vision and Technology Roadmap for Plant/Crop-Based Renewable Resources 2020,
Renewables Vision 2020 Executive Steering Group, February 1999.
(Full text available at: http://www.oit.doe.gov/agriculture/pdfs/technology_roadmap.pdf)
2.
Vision for Bioenergy and
Biobased Products in the United States, Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, October 2002.
(Full text available at: http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/pdfs/BioVision_03_Web.pdf)
3.
Roadmap for Biomass
Technologies in the United States, Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, December 2002.
(Full text available at: http://www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/pdfs/FinalBiomassRoadmap.pdf)
4.
Himmel, M. E., et al., “Cellulases:
Structure, Function, and Applications,” Chapter 8, Handbook
on Bioethanol: Production and
Utilization, pp. 143-161,
5.
Hardy, R. W. and Segelken, J. B., Agricultural
Biotechnology: Novel Products and
New Partnerships, Report No. 8,
6.
Tengerdy, R. P. and Szakács, G.,
“Perspectives in Agrobiotechnology,” Journal of Biotechnology, 66(2-3):91-99, December 1998.
(ISSN: 0168-1656) (Ordering information and abstract available at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681656)
7.
Zechendorf, B., “Sustainable
Development: How Can Biotechnology
Contribute?” Trends in Biotechnology,
17(6):219-225,
8.
Wu, R., et al., “Molecular Genetics
and Developmental Physiology: Implications
for
9.
Zaborsky, O. R., ed.,
10.
National
Hydrogen Energy Roadmap, U.S.
Department of Energy, November 2002.
(Full text available at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells
)
11.
Hydrogen,
Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program: Multi-Year Research,
Development and Demonstration Plan,
12.
FY
2002 Progress Report for Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, & Infrastructure Technologies
Program, U.S. DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, November 2002.
(Full text available at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/annual_report.html)
The
a. Nanomaterials
with Catalytic Activity - Recent discoveries suggest that some materials
with nanosized features may exhibit novel heterogeneous catalytic activity.
Grant applications are sought to develop new nanoscale materials with
catalytic properties. Chemical
transformations of interest include, but are not limited to isomerizations,
halogenations, oxidations, reductions, stereospecific transformations, or
combinations of these. Proposed
approaches must demonstrate that (1) the materials exhibit catalytic behavior
only when their functional properties are imparted at the nanoscale, and (2) the
intended products of the chemical reactions have commercial value.
Partnership with chemical companies that have the manufacturing
capabilities needed to bring the technology to widespread commercial application
is strongly encouraged.
b. New
Nanoscale Polymer Materials, Polymer Composites, and Polymer Processes -
Recent research has shown that polymer materials with controlled nanocrystalline
features may exhibit special or new properties that are not exhibited otherwise
when the polymer material’s nanosize features are not controlled.
Furthermore, a composite material comprising both polymers and nanosize
organic or inorganic substances could exhibit useful properties that are not
exhibited by the polymer alone. Grant
applications are sought to develop novel polymer processes with the potential to
control features of the polymer at the nanoscale, resulting in polymer materials
that have properties unmatched by any other materials.
(Examples of such naturally occurring processes include the spinning of a
web by a spider or the clotting of blood.) Grant
applications should (1) address commercial applications or markets for proposed
approaches, (2) demonstrate a careful review of the relevant scientific
literature, and (3) address possibilities for forming partnerships with
industrial chemical companies willing to assist in the development and
application of the technology.
c. Development
of Materials with Structure or Function Derived from Analogy with Properties
Exhibited by Living Systems (“Biomimetics”) - Grant applications are
sought to develop materials that, due to the nanoscale features of the material,
mimic some of the remarkable properties exhibited by living organisms.
Such properties include self-repair, unusual hardness or strength or
both, novel optical or electromagnetic behavior, or unusual transport properties
for heat or mass. Grant applications
must identify: (1) the novel
biomimetic features to be developed; (2) the basis in nanoscience for the
proposed materials development; (3) reasonable commercial applications for the
new materials, and how these applications would save energy or materials or both
in their intended use; and (4) a chemical industry partner that would
participate in the development of the materials and that has the manufacturing
capability to bring the materials to the marketplace.
d. Nanomaterials
and Specialty Products Chemistry - In addition to the catalysts sought in
subtopic a above, grant applications are sought to develop new products, based
on nanoscience and nanotechnology, for use in specialty chemicals markets.
These products include adhesives, antoxidants, biocides, corrosion
inhibitors, dyes, flame retardants, flavorings and fragrances, specialty
coatings, surfactants, and water-soluble polymers.
Grant applicants must identify (1) specialty chemicals markets that will
use the new materials, (2) energy benefits to be obtained from using the new
materials, (3) the basis in nanoscience for the properties of the new materials,
and (4) a specialty chemicals manufacturer that is prepared to assist in the
commercialization of new materials technology.
References:
1.
Siegel, R. W., et al., eds., Nanostructure
Science and Technology: A Worldwide
Study, prepared under guidance of NSTC/CT and IWGN, Baltimore, MD:
Loyola
2.
National Nanotechnology
Initiative: Leading to the Next Industrial Revolution, Supplement to
President's FY 2001 Budget, NSTC/IWGN Report, February 2000.
(Full text available via OSTI Web site:
http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/iwgn/iwgn.fy01budsuppl/nni.pdf
)
3.
Roco, M. C., et al., eds., Nanotechnology Research Directions:
IWGN Workshop Report. Vision for Nanotechnology Research and Development in the
Next Decade, prepared under guidance of NSTC/CT, Baltimore, MD:
Loyola
College, September 1999. (Full text
available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/bes/IWGN.Research.Directions/welcome.htm)
4.
Nanomaterials and the
Chemical Industry R&D Roadmap Workshop:
Preliminary Results, sponsored by Vision 2020, NNI, and U.S. DOE
Industrial Materials and Chemicals Program, October 2002.
(Full text available at: (http://www.energetics.com/download/chemvision2020/nanomaterialsroadmap/nano_workshop_results_report.pdf)
5.
Roco, M. C. and Bainbridge, W. S., eds., Societal
Implications of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Final Report on Nanoscale
Science, Engineering, and Technology Workshop held
Reactive separations utilize close coupling of separation
and chemical reactor systems, often in a single unit, to improve the yield of
the reaction, the production of desired products, and/or to lower energy
consumption and capital investment. Reactive
separation systems may take many forms and may not resemble conventional
chemical reactors and separations equipment.
Reactors could be catalytic or homogeneous, continuous or batch.
Any separation method could be used including adsorption, distillation,
or extraction. A simple example of a
reactive separation is a tubular reactor that utilizes a selective membrane tube
filled with catalyst. The membrane
selectively permeates a desired reaction product, and the removal of that
product along the reactor length continuously shifts the chemical equilibrium
among the potential products and reactants, increasing both the utilization of
reactants and the production of the desired product.
Improvements from combining separations and chemical
reactor operations can be substantial. In
conventional systems, the yields of desired products are often limited by the
equilibrium constant, and a product's concentration is usually determined by a
thermodynamic equilibrium distribution of products and reactants.
By combining a reactor with a separation operation that removes the most
desired product, as in the above example, the utilization of reactants can be
improved, and the reaction can provide significantly higher yields of the most
desired product. Energy savings can
also be realized when products from one reaction step can be separated and used
as reactants in a second reaction step. When
one reaction step is exothermic and the other reaction is endothermic, the
energy from the exothermic reaction can be used to drive the endothermic
reaction.
Unfortunately, effective reactive separation systems
usually are highly system-specific, and particular combinations of separation
and reactive systems are required for each potential application.
For numerous low yield systems, no effective reactive separation systems
are likely to be found. (Part of the
difficulty is that reactive separation systems not only must include both
reactor and separation capabilities, but also both functions must take place at
approximately the same temperature and pressure, at least if they are to be
incorporated in the same equipment.) Therefore,
each grant application must identify a particular application -- one with the
potential for large savings of energy and materials, and/or for significant
reduction in waste products. Grant
applications targeting new and/or improved processing of radioactive wastes
(i.e. high level waste, spent nuclear fuel, low level wastes, etc.) will not be
considered under this topic.
Also, grant applications aimed at demonstrating reactive separation
systems that have been studied extensively in the past, or those limited to
testing a particular system under a specific set of conditions, are not of
interest and will be declined.
Proposed efforts should not only be innovative but also
should seek to understand the dynamics of the reactive separation system.
Grant applications must explain how or why the proposed reactive
separation concept would result in improved raw material utilization (reactor
yield) and energy savings compared to current (or currently proposed) approaches
to producing the target products. Grant
applications should also address the likelihood of further development or
commercialization beyond Phases I and II (e.g., by identifying particular
industries, government agencies, or even companies, that not only would benefit
from the technology development but also may contribute follow-on funding).
Grant applications are sought only
in the following subtopics:
a.
Reactive Distillation - Forty thousand distillation columns are used
today in manufacturing 90 to 95 percent of all products in the continuous
process industries. Advances in
distillation could increase productivity, reduce costs, enhance product purity,
and increase overall energy efficiency. Reactive
distillation offers the possibility of reducing capital costs by combining
reaction and distillation in one process step.
The best candidate reactions involve reversible exothermic reactions with
favorable kinetics at temperatures of separation.
Several reactive distillation processes for the preparation of ethers,
such as ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME), have
been commercialized already, and efforts to broaden the application of reactive
distillation to other reaction systems have begun.
However, the advantages of reactive distillation can be off-set by
kinetics, equilibrium, and mass transfer issues; catalyst placement; and the
compatibility of separation and reaction conditions for a given system.
Grant applications are sought to adopt the reactive distillation process
to other reversible exothermic reaction systems to improve energy efficiency and
product yield. Proposed efforts must
provide an understanding of process fundamentals and show how and why the above
technical barriers will be overcome.
b.
Membrane Reactors - Membrane reactors have been proposed in a variety
of configurations employing polymeric, ceramic, metallic, or liquid membranes
for coupling and combining process reactions and separations.
The membrane reactors can improve process performance through equilibrium
shifts, reducing product inhibition, the use of catalyst activated membranes,
etc. However, to be competitive with
conventional technologies, membrane reactors must be shown to have superior
economics (e.g., reduced material and energy intensity, lowered pollutant
dispersion) over a full life cycle. Grant
applications are sought to develop improved membrane reactors for particular
applications with outstanding economics compared to existing technology. Proposed
efforts must include the development of membrane reactor materials with improved
reliability and performance (e.g., better selectivity, permeability, stability) as
well as the development of unique approaches for engineering the membrane
contacting devices. Grant
applications that simply apply membrane technology to existing reactor processes
are not of interest and will be declined; rather, proposed efforts must identify
and exploit new, more efficient chemical pathways that membrane reactors would
make possible.
c. Reactive Separations For Waste Reduction - Most industrial interest in reactive separations is due to the potential to increase product yields and improve the economics of a number of important synthesis processes. However, the increased product yield also provides an opportunity for decreasing waste generation. Grant applications are sought to develop reactive separation systems, other than reactive distillation and membrane reactors, which provide significant reductions in waste generation and pollutant dispersion. Areas of interest include reductions in net CO2 production, solvent use, and the release of persistent, bio-accumulating, toxic materials into the environment.
1.
Gonzalez, J. C. and Fair, J. R., “Preparation of Tertiary Amyl
Alcohol in a Reactive Distillation Column. 1-Reaction Kinetics, Chemical
Equilibrium, and Mass-Transfer Issues,” Industrial
and Engineering Chemistry Research, 36(9):3833-3844, September 1997.
(ISSN 0888-5885)
2.
Gonzalez, J. C., et al., “Preparation of Tert-Amyl Alcohol in a
Reactive Distillation Column. 2-Experimental Demonstration and Simulation of
Column Characteristics,” Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry Research, 36(9):3845-3853, September 1997.
(ISSN 0888-5885)
3.
Ho, W. W. and Sirkar, K. K., Membrane
Handbook, Chapman & Hall, 1992. (ISBN
0412988712)
4.
Humphrey, J. L. and Keller, G. E., II, Separation
Process Technology, McGraw-Hill, 1997. (ISBN
0-07-0331173-0)
5.
Preprints of the Topical Conference on Separation Science and
Technologies, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual
Meeting,
6.
Subawalla H., et al., “Capacity and Efficiency of Reactive
Distillation Bale Packing: Modeling and Experimental Validation,” Industrial
and Engineering Chemistry Research, 36(9):3821-3832, September 1997.
(ISSN 0888-5885)
7. Vision 2020: 2000 Separations Roadmap, New York: AIChE, Waste Reduc