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Argonne National Laboratory Annual Report of Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program Activities FY 2012 (open access)

Argonne National Laboratory Annual Report of Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program Activities FY 2012

None
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Biological Conversion of Sugars to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway (open access)

Biological Conversion of Sugars to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This technology pathway case investigates the biological conversion of biomass derived sugars to hydrocarbon biofuels, utilizing data from recent literature references and information consistent with recent pilot scale demonstrations at NREL. Technical barriers and key research needs have been identified that should be pursued for the pathway to become competitive with petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel and jet range hydrocarbon blendstocks.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Davis, Ryan; Biddy, Mary J.; Tan, Eric; Tao, Ling & Jones, Susanne B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Irradiation Experiment Conceptual Design Parameters for NBSR Fuel Conversion (open access)

Irradiation Experiment Conceptual Design Parameters for NBSR Fuel Conversion

It has been proposed to convert the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) research reactor, known as the NBSR, from high-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. The motivation to convert the NBSR to LEU fuel is to reduce the risk of proliferation of special nuclear material. This report is a compilation of relevant information from recent studies related to the proposed conversion using a metal alloy of LEU with 10 w/o molybdenum. The objective is to inform the design of the mini-plate and full-size plate irradiation experiments that are being planned. This report provides relevant dimensions of the fuel elements, and the following parameters at steady state: average and maximum fission rate density and fission density, fuel temperature distribution for the plate with maximum local temperature, and two-dimensional heat flux profiles of fuel plates with high power densities. . The latter profiles are given for plates in both the inner and outer core zones and for cores with both fresh and depleted shim arms (reactivity control devices). In addition, a summary of the methodology to obtain these results is presented.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: R., Brown N.; Brown,N. R.; Baek, J. S.; Hanson, A. L.; Cuadra, A.; Cheng, L. Y. et al.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Package Equivalent Reactor Networks as Reduced Order Models for Use with CAPE-OPEN Compliant Simulation (open access)

Package Equivalent Reactor Networks as Reduced Order Models for Use with CAPE-OPEN Compliant Simulation

Engineering simulations of coal gasifiers are typically performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, where a 3-D representation of the gasifier equipment is used to model the fluid flow in the gasifier and source terms from the coal gasification process are captured using discrete-phase model source terms. Simulations using this approach can be very time consuming, making it difficult to imbed such models into overall system simulations for plant design and optimization. For such system-level designs, process flowsheet software is typically used, such as Aspen Plus® [1], where each component where each component is modeled using a reduced-order model. For advanced power-generation systems, such as integrated gasifier/gas-turbine combined-cycle systems (IGCC), the critical components determining overall process efficiency and emissions are usually the gasifier and combustor. Providing more accurate and more computationally efficient reduced-order models for these components, then, enables much more effective plant-level design optimization and design for control. Based on the CHEMKIN-PRO and ENERGICO software, we have developed an automated methodology for generating an advanced form of reduced-order model for gasifiers and combustors. The reducedorder model offers representation of key unit operations in flowsheet simulations, while allowing simulation that is fast enough to be used in iterative flowsheet calculations. …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Meeks, E.; Chou, C. -P. & Garratt, T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Recovery Act: Integrated DC-DC Conversion for Energy-Efficient Multicore Processors (open access)

Recovery Act: Integrated DC-DC Conversion for Energy-Efficient Multicore Processors

In this project, we have developed the use of thin-film magnetic materials to improve in energy efficiency of digital computing applications by enabling integrated dc-dc power conversion and management with on-chip power inductors. Integrated voltage regulators also enables fine-grained power management, by providing dynamic scaling of the supply voltage in concert with the clock frequency of synchronous logic to throttle power consumption at periods of low computational demand. The voltage converter generates lower output voltages during periods of low computational performance requirements and higher output voltages during periods of high computational performance requirements. Implementation of integrated power conversion requires high-capacity energy storage devices, which are generally not available in traditional semiconductor processes. We achieve this with integration of thin-film magnetic materials into a conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process for high-quality on-chip power inductors. This project includes a body of work conducted to develop integrated switch-mode voltage regulators with thin-film magnetic power inductors. Soft-magnetic materials and inductor topologies are selected and optimized, with intent to maximize efficiency and current density of the integrated regulators. A custom integrated circuit (IC) is designed and fabricated in 45-nm CMOS silicon-on-insulator (SOI) to provide the control system and power-train necessary to drive the power inductors, …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Shepard, Kenneth L
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation (open access)

Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation

The objective of the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy�s (DOEs) Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation (AVTE) project was to provide test and evaluation services for advanced technology vehicles, to establish a performance baseline, to determine vehicle reliability, and to evaluate vehicle operating costs in fleet operations. Vehicles tested include light and medium-duty vehicles in conventional, hybrid, and all-electric configurations using conventional and alternative fuels, including hydrogen in internal combustion engines. Vehicles were tested on closed tracks and chassis dynamometers, as well as operated on public roads, in fleet operations, and over prescribed routes. All testing was controlled by procedures developed specifically to support such testing. Testing and evaluations were conducted in the following phases: � Development of test procedures, which established testing procedures; � Baseline performance testing, which established a performance baseline; � Accelerated reliability testing, which determined vehicle reliability; � Fleet testing, used to evaluate vehicle economics in fleet operation, and � End of test performance evaluation. Test results are reported by two means and posted by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to their website: quarterly progress reports, used to document work in progress; and final test reports. This final report documents work conducted for the entirety of the …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Garetson, Thomas
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Pressure Swing Absorption Device and Process for Separating CO{sub 2} from Shifted Syngas and its Capture for Subsequent Storage (open access)

Pressure Swing Absorption Device and Process for Separating CO{sub 2} from Shifted Syngas and its Capture for Subsequent Storage

Using the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([bmim][DCA]) as the absorbent on the shell side of a membrane module containing either a porous hydrophobized ceramic tubule or porous hydrophobized polyether ether ketone (PEEK) hollow fiber membranes, studies for CO{sub 2} removal from hot simulated pre-combustion shifted syngas were carried out by a novel pressure swing membrane absorption (PSMAB) process. Helium was used as a surrogate for H{sub 2} in a simulated shifted syngas with CO{sub 2} around 40% (dry gas basis). In this cyclic separation process, the membrane module was used to achieve non-dispersive gas absorption from a high-pressure feed gas (689-1724 kPag; 100-250 psig) at temperatures between 25-1000C into a stationary absorbent liquid on the module shell side during a certain part of the cycle followed by among other cycle steps controlled desorption of the absorbed gases from the liquid in the rest of the cycle. Two product streams were obtained, one He-rich and the other CO{sub 2}-rich. Addition of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer of generation 0 to IL [bmim][DCA] improved the system performance at higher temperatures. The solubilities of CO{sub 2} and He were determined in the ionic liquid with or without the dendrimer in solution as well as …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Sirkar, Kamalesh; Jie, Xingming; Chau, John & Obuskovic, Gordana
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
In-Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Technology Pathway (open access)

In-Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to hydrocarbon fuels to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This pathway case investigates converting woody biomass using in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis followed by upgrading to gasoline, diesel, and jet range blendstocks. Technical barriers and key research needs that should be pursued for this pathway to be competitive with petroleum-derived blendstocks have been identified.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Biddy, Mary J.; Dutta, Abhijit; Jones, Susanne B. & Meyer, Pimphan A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Concrete for Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Generation (open access)

Development and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Concrete for Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Generation

Thermal energy can be stored by the mechanism of sensible or latent heat or heat from chemical reactions. Sensible heat is the means of storing energy by increasing the temperature of the solid or liquid. Since the concrete as media cost per kWhthermal is $1, this seems to be a very economical material to be used as a TES. This research is focused on extending the concrete TES system for higher temperatures (500 ºC to 600 ºC) and increasing the heat transfer performance using novel construction techniques. To store heat at high temperature special concretes are developed and tested for its performance. The storage capacity costs of the developed concrete is in the range of $0.91-$3.02/kWhthermal Two different storage methods are investigated. In the first one heat is transported using molten slat through a stainless steel tube and heat is transported into concrete block through diffusion. The cost of the system is higher than the targeted DOE goal of $15/kWhthermal The increase in cost of the system is due to stainless steel tube to transfer the heat from molten salt to the concrete blocks.The other method is a one-tank thermocline system in which both the hot and cold fluid occupy …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: R. Panneer Selvam, Micah Hale and Matt strasser
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Catalytic Upgrading of Sugars to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway (open access)

Catalytic Upgrading of Sugars to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to hydrocarbon fuels to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This technology pathway case investigates the catalytic conversion of solubilized carbohydrate streams to hydrocarbon biofuels, utilizing data from recent efforts within the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium (NABC) in collaboration with Virent, Inc.. Technical barriers and key research needs that should be pursued for the catalytic conversion of sugars pathway to be competitive with petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel and jet range hydrocarbon blendstocks have been identified.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Biddy, Mary J. & Jones, Susanne B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
LG Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Model Development (open access)

LG Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Model Development

This report presents a summary of the work performed by LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc. during the project LG Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Model Development (DOE Award Number: DE-FE0000773) which commenced on October 1, 2009 and was completed on March 31, 2013. The aim of this project is for LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc. (formerly known as Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc.) (�LGFCS�) to develop a multi-physics solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) computer code (MPC) for performance calculations of the LGFCS fuel cell structure to support fuel cell product design and development. A summary of the initial stages of the project is provided which describes the MPC requirements that were developed and the selection of a candidate code, STAR-CCM+ (CD-adapco). This is followed by a detailed description of the subsequent work program including code enhancement and model verification and validation activities. Details of the code enhancements that were implemented to facilitate MPC SOFC simulations are provided along with a description of the models that were built using the MPC and validated against experimental data. The modeling work described in this report represents a level of calculation detail that has not been previously available within LGFCS.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Haberman, Ben; Martinez-Baca, Carlos & Rush, Greg
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Carolinas Energy Career Center (open access)

Carolinas Energy Career Center

Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), located in Charlotte, North Carolina, established the Carolinas Energy Career Center (Center) - a comprehensive training entity to meet the dynamic needs of the Charlotte region's energy workforce. The Center provides training for high-demand careers in both conventional energy (fossil) and renewable energy (nuclear and solar technologies/energy efficiency). CPCC completed four tasks that will position the Center as a leading resource for energy career training in the Southeast: • Development and Pilot of a New Advanced Welding Curriculum, • Program Enhancement of Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) Technology, • Student Support through implementation of a model targeted toward Energy and STEM Careers to support student learning, • Project Management and Reporting. As a result of DOE funding support, CPCC achieved the following outcomes: • Increased capacity to serve and train students in emerging energy industry careers; • Developed new courses and curricula to support emerging energy industry careers; • Established new training/laboratory resources; • Generated a pool of highly qualified, technically skilled workers to support the growing energy industry sector.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Classens, Anver; Hooper, Dick & Johnson, Bruce
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Final Technical Report - DE-EE0003542 (open access)

Final Technical Report - DE-EE0003542

Wind has provided energy for thousands of years: some of the earliest windmill engineering designs date back to ancient Babylonia and India where wind would be used as a source of irrigation. Today, wind is the quickest growing resource in Americas expanding energy infrastructure. However, to continue to positively diversify Americas energy portfolio and further reduce the countrys reliance of foreign oil, the industry must grow substantially over the next two decades in both turbine installations and skilled industrial manpower to support. The wind sector is still an emergent industry requiring maturation and development of its labor force: dedicated training is needed to provide the hard and soft skills to support the increasingly complex wind turbine generators as the technology evolves. Furthermore, the American workforce is facing a steep decline in available labor resources as the baby boomer generation enters retirement age. It is therefore vital that a process is quickly created for supporting the next generation of wind technicians. However, the manpower growth must incorporate three key components. First, the safety and technical training curriculum must be standardized across the industry - current wind educational programs are disparate and dedicated standardization programs must be further refined and implemented. Second, …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Haley, James D
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ex-Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Technology Pathway (open access)

Ex-Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to hydrocarbon fuels to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This pathway case investigates converting woody biomass using ex-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis followed by upgrading to gasoline , diesel and jet range blendstocks . Technical barriers and key research needs that should be pursued for this pathway to be competitive with petroleum-derived blendstocks have been identified.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Biddy, Mary J.; Dutta, Abhijit; Jones, Susanne B. & Meyer, Pimphan A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Algal Lipid Extraction and Upgrading to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway (open access)

Algal Lipid Extraction and Upgrading to Hydrocarbons Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This technology pathway case investigates the cultivation of algal biomass followed by further lipid extraction and upgrading to hydrocarbon biofuels. Technical barriers and key research needs have been assessed in order for the algal lipid extraction and upgrading pathway to be competitive with petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel and jet range hydrocarbon blendstocks.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Davis, Ryan; Biddy, Mary J. & Jones, Susanne B.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Van Zandt News (Wills Point, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 47, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 31, 2013 (open access)

Van Zandt News (Wills Point, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 47, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 31, 2013

Weekly newspaper from Wills Point, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Vaughan, Julie
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 52, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 31, 2013 (open access)

Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 104, No. 52, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 31, 2013

Semiweekly newspaper from Seminole, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Wright, Dustin
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Panola Watchman (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 26, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 31, 2013 (open access)

The Panola Watchman (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 141, No. 26, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 31, 2013

Semi-weekly newspaper from Carthage, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Syngas Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels Technology Pathway (open access)

Syngas Upgrading to Hydrocarbon Fuels Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to hydrocarbon fuels to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This pathway case investigates the upgrading of biomass derived synthesis gas (‘syngas’) to hydrocarbon biofuels. While this specific discussion focuses on the conversion of syngas via a methanol intermediate to hydrocarbon blendstocks, there are a number of alternative conversion routes for production of hydrocarbons through a wide array of intermediates from syngas. Future work will also consider the variations to this pathway to determine the most economically viable and risk adverse conversion route. Technical barriers and key research needs have been identified that should be pursued for the syngas to hydrocarbon pathway to be competitive with petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel and jet range blendstocks.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Talmadge, M.; Biddy, Mary J.; Dutta, Abhijit; Jones, Susanne B. & Meyer, Pimphan A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction Technology Pathway (open access)

Whole Algae Hydrothermal Liquefaction Technology Pathway

In support of the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are undertaking studies of biomass conversion technologies to hydrocarbon fuels to identify barriers and target research toward reducing conversion costs. Process designs and preliminary economic estimates for each of these pathway cases were developed using rigorous modeling tools (Aspen Plus and Chemcad). These analyses incorporated the best information available at the time of development, including data from recent pilot and bench-scale demonstrations, collaborative industrial and academic partners, and published literature and patents. This pathway case investigates the feasibility of using whole wet microalgae as a feedstock for conversion via hydrothermal liquefaction. Technical barriers and key research needs have been assessed in order for the hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae to be competitive with petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel and jet range blendstocks.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Biddy, Mary J.; Davis, Ryan; Jones, Susanne B. & Zhu, Yunhua
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Using Snow Fences to Augument Fresh Water Supplies in Shallow Arctic Lakes (open access)

Using Snow Fences to Augument Fresh Water Supplies in Shallow Arctic Lakes

This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to address environmental research questions specifically related to Alaska�s oil and gas natural resources development. The focus of this project was on the environmental issues associated with allocation of water resources for construction of ice roads and ice pads. Earlier NETL projects showed that oil and gas exploration activities in the U.S. Arctic require large amounts of water for ice road and ice pad construction. Traditionally, lakes have been the source of freshwater for this purpose. The distinctive hydrological regime of northern lakes, caused by the presence of ice cover and permafrost, exerts influence on lake water availability in winter. Lakes are covered with ice from October to June, and there is often no water recharge of lakes until snowmelt in early June. After snowmelt, water volumes in the lakes decrease throughout the summer, when water loss due to evaporation is considerably greater than water gained from rainfall. This balance switches in August, when air temperature drops, evaporation decreases, and rain (or snow) is more likely to occur. Some of the summer surface storage deficit in the active layer and surface water bodies (lakes, ponds, …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Stuefer, Svetlana
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ultra-High Temperature Distributed Wireless Sensors (open access)

Ultra-High Temperature Distributed Wireless Sensors

Research was conducted towards the development of a passive wireless sensor for measurement of temperature in coal gasifiers and coal-fired boiler plants. Approaches investigated included metamaterial sensors based on guided mode resonance filters, and temperature-sensitive antennas that modulate the frequency of incident radio waves as they are re-radiated by the antenna. In the guided mode resonant filter metamaterial approach, temperature is encoded as changes in the sharpness of the filter response, which changes with temperature because the dielectric loss of the guided mode resonance filter is temperature-dependent. In the mechanically modulated antenna approach, the resonant frequency of a vibrating cantilever beam attached to the antenna changes with temperature. The vibration of the beam perturbs the electrical impedance of the antenna, so that incident radio waves are phase modulated at a frequency equal to the resonant frequency of the vibrating beam. Since the beam resonant frequency depends on temperature, a Doppler radar can be used to remotely measure the temperature of the antenna. Laboratory testing of the guided mode resonance filter failed to produce the spectral response predicted by simulations. It was concluded that the spectral response was dominated by spectral reflections of radio waves incident on the filter. Laboratory testing …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: May, Russell; Rumpf, Raymond; Coggin, John; Davis, Williams; Yang, Taeyoung; O'Donnell, Alan et al.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Determining Optimal Performance in Adapting Onsite Electrical Generation Platforms to Operate on Producer Gas from Fuels of Opportunity (open access)

Determining Optimal Performance in Adapting Onsite Electrical Generation Platforms to Operate on Producer Gas from Fuels of Opportunity

The University of Minnesota is pleased to submit the final report for “Determining the Optimal Performance in Adapting Onsite Electrical Generation Platforms to Operate on producer Gas from Fuels of Opportunity, Concept Definition through Technology Development.” The University of Minnesota Morris campus was selected for this study primarily due to the advanced work the Morris campus has done in developing local fuels as a replacement for conventional fossil fuel supplies. Morris collaborated within the U of MN organization to bring the best research capabilities to the project. In addition, a core group of leading private partners was brought into the project based on their knowledge and expertise in portable energy platforms. The following report will illustrate the design and development process of comparing a nonconventional stationary biofueled combined heat and power plant with the state of the art biofueled portable internal combustion generator. The common denominator in this comparison is the focus on fuels of opportunity, which in this case is locally grown corn cobs. Both platforms used local sustainable fuel supplies to conduct the research and measure the outcomes.
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Rasmussen, Lowell
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
The CUNY Energy Institute Electrical Energy Storage Development for Grid Applications (open access)

The CUNY Energy Institute Electrical Energy Storage Development for Grid Applications

1. Project Objectives The objectives of the project are to elucidate science issues intrinsic to high energy density electricity storage (battery) systems for smart-grid applications, research improvements in such systems to enable scale-up to grid-scale and demonstrate a large 200 kWh battery to facilitate transfer of the technology to industry. 2. Background Complex and difficult to control interfacial phenomena are intrinsic to high energy density electrical energy storage systems, since they are typically operated far from equilibrium. One example of such phenomena is the formation of dendrites. Such dendrites occur on battery electrodes as they cycle, and can lead to internal short circuits, reducing cycle life. An improved understanding of the formation of dendrites and their control can improve the cycle life and safety of many energy storage systems, including rechargeable lithium and zinc batteries. Another area where improved understanding is desirable is the application of ionic liquids as electrolytes in energy storage systems. An ionic liquid is typically thought of as a material that is fully ionized (consisting only of anions and cations) and is fluid at or near room temperature. Some features of ionic liquids include a generally high thermal stability (up to 450 °C), a high electrochemical …
Date: March 31, 2013
Creator: Banerjee, Sanjoy
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library