-14 The solid oxide fuel cell is an advanced, high temperature solid state fuel cell that offers promise in electric utility and in cogeneration applications in industrial and commercial sectors. Solid oxide electrolyte fuel cells have the advantage of solid state stability and have been projected to be more easily manufactured than other fuel cell concepts. The $1,600,000 requested for the Advanced Concepts fuel cell activity would: о Complete testing of a 5 kW solid oxide fuel cell module and continue development of a 25 to 200 kW generator. ($1,600,000) HEAT ENGINES ACTIVITY Operating Expense Deferral to Finance FY87 1/ Total Includes reductions in accordance with P.L. 99-177, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings) The goal of this program is to establish technical data which will enable the private sector to assess the commercial viability of coal-fueled power conversion systems. The program focuses on key technical problems associated with substituting coal or coal-derived gaseous fuels for distillate fuels or natural gas in gas turbine and diesel power conversion systems. · The goal is to assist the private sector, through selected research efforts, in developing the technology needed for direct firing of coal, either dry or suspended in a liquid carrier, or a coal-derived gaseous fuel cleaned at minimal cost. The $7,942,000 in requested funds for FY 1987 will be used as follows: -15 Gas Turbines ($6,394,000) Complete first portion of the integrated systems test program. ($5,994,000) Continue evaluation of coal-liquid mixtures in the gas turbine combustor test stand. ($400,000) Diesels ($1,548,000) Continue evaluation of coal-liquid mixtures in the diesel engine test facility. Initiate research activities related to the FY 1986 Program Research and Development Announcement for the coal-fired diesel engine integrated systems test validation. Complete technical and economic analyses and related experimental tests of the coal-fired diesel engine project. ($1,548,000) 1/ Includes reductions in accordance with P.L. 99-177, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings) in Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a process for converting coal, place (in situ), to a readily cleanable synthetic gas comparable to that produced from surface gasification systems. The energy for the process is derived from partial combustion of the coal (pyrolysis) resulting in the identical reactions that occur in aboveground gasification. The technical feasibility of underground gasification techniques applied to several types of coal resources has been proven. In FY 1986 and FY 1987 ongoing technology base activities will be phased out. In FY 1987 industrial-proposed applied research efforts will be candidates for the cooperative R&D venture pool. Gasification Technology Development ($0) O Complete technology base development using prior year funds. Environmental and Advanced Research ($0) No activity. MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS -16 ACTIVITY Operating Expenses Deferral to Finance FY87 1/ Total Includes reductions in accordance with P.L. 99-177, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings) The current MHD program continues the implementation of the June 1984 cost-shared multiyear program which provides for basic supporting research and the development of systems/subsystems which will provide proof-ofconcepts needed for the advancement of the MHD technology to the retrofit stage. No funds are requested for MHD research in FY 1987. The Department believes that the cost of continuing its MHD program is not affordable in light of current fiscal constraints. Other technologies can contribute more directly to the nation's energy security with lower investment requirements, in a more timely manner and with significantly more cost-sharing. Specific programmatic goals of the Surface Coal Gasification Program are to: (1) advance the state-of-the-art of Surface Coal Gasification technology to optimize its potential for development of more viable or advanced gasification systems through the study of promising long term, high risk concepts, (2) identify and support those R&D efforts that will make available the full capabilities and processing flexibility of surface coal gasification systems as the key coal conversion technology directly applicable for -17 generating alternative energy options from coal for every sector of the energy consuming marketplace, and (3) continue management and monitoring of the Great Plains Gasification project as necessary. The $5,598,000 requested for FY 1987 would be applied to the following research efforts: Advanced Research ($968,000) o Continue research on the fundamental chemistry and reaction mechanisms associated with mild gasification and investigate the parameters that control product yield distribution. ($593,000) O Continue research on the chemistry of ash and slag from coal gasifiers ($375,000). Advanced Process Development ($1,689,000) Complete studies on advanced staged, concurrent rapid rate reactors to enhance data base on rapid rate pyrolysis. Continue characterization of char during devolatilization. ($309,000) O Continue studies using coal based sorbents and zeolites in pressure swing adsorption for separation of gases. Continue development of low cost, highly selective permeable membranes for hydrogen separation. ($235,000) Continue operation of the advanced gasification concepts facility to generate data essential to advancing entrained gasification and hot gas cleanup technology. ($192,000) Continue theoretical studies on coal gasifiers and gasification systems needed for design of optimized systems. ($703,000) O Redirect and continue essential studies leading to economic production, upgrading and use of new fuel forms. ($250,000) Systems Engineering Concepts ($1,373,000) O Continue to investigate parameters controlling the use of minimally Continue effort to develop more economical methods for production of oxygen in large quantities--advance the solid state zirconia system to the "process development unit" stage of study. ($350,000) -18 O Utilize results of studies on composite sorbents, mixed metal oxides, catalysts, etc. to establish reaction mechanisms by which gasifier performance can be controlled through use of in-bed/coal-feed additives. ($200,000) o Continue key studies on integration of gasifiers/gasification technologies with other conversion systems to determine the most optimum configurations and on identification of problems requiring R&D effort to resolve. ($173,000) Continue to provide engineering analyses and systems evaluation capability for joint DOE/GRI Coal Gasification Program through monitoring processes, review of technical data and economic assessments. ($600,000) Continue the "process development unit" effort exploring issues limiting the integration and development of gasifier/advanced hot gas cleanup systems/turbines for the production of power. ($0) (Prior year funding) Environmental and Engineering Analysis ($1,131,000) O Continue the development of process modifications that will reduce the generation of trace hazardous compounds. ($375,000) Complete the study of novel approaches to use microorganisms for removing trace amounts of organic contaminants in waste water. (Prior year funding) ($0) Continue development of analytical models such that computer based systems analysis can be used to identify advanced gasifier systems--expand efforts to prepare environmental information for entry into the model. ($200,000) Investigate new and novel methods for sampling and analyzing organics, sulfur species, nitrogen, trace elements, etc., and study ways to reduce toxicity of oils and tars. ($186,000) o Initiate comprehensive environmental sampling and analysis of systems employing hot gas cleanup systems. ($200,000) o Initiate the environmental assessment of those processes found suitable for production of new fuel forms. Make recommendations on areas of study needed to minimize the impact of those mild gasification processes that produce liquids derived from coal. ($170,000) Great Plains ($437,000) O Continue management/monitoring of the Great Plains project as necessary. ($437,000) |