DOE/Federal Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 10940, MS 921-143, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940

A -- RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DUE 123196 POC Kenneth S. Askew WEB: For more information about the Federal Energy Technology Center, click here., http://www.petc.doe.gov. E-MAIL: To e-mail responses to Kenneth Askew, click here., askew@petc.doe.gov. SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT Fiscal Year 1997 Federal Energy Technology Center (Pittsburgh, PA) The U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, is contemplating the procurement of research efforts in the areas listed below during the 1997 fiscal year. This announcement is NOT a formal solicitation and is NOT a request for proposals. Availability of any formal solicitations will be announced separately throughout the ensuing fiscal year, via the Commerce Business Daily, the Federal Register, and/or our HomePage on the Internet. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes ONLY and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Your responses will be used to develop a source list of potential bidders for future solicitations. Interested firms may submit responses to the U. S. Department of Energy via regular mail or e-mail. TELEPHONE RESPONSES WILL NOT BE HONORED. For your organization to be included in our source lists for all appropriate FiscalYear (FY) 1997 competitions, your response must be received not later than close of business on DECEMBER 31, 1996. Responses will be accepted after that date, but cannot be assured of automatic inclusion in all appropriate FY 1997 source lists. Responses should include the bidder's total number of employees and professional qualifications of scientists, engineers, and technical personnel; a description of general and specific facilities and equipment; a synopsis of previous projects in related fields, and other descriptive information. Firms responding should indicate whether they are socially and economically disadvantaged businesses or women-owned businesses. There is no specific format or outline that your response must follow. Responses must be limited to twenty typed pages. Our source lists are maintained from year to year, so entities which responded in previous years do not need to respond again in FY 97, unless their line of business has changed [which alters the Code(s) that they want tobe considered for], or their mailing address has changed. You may indicate an interest in one or more of the following codes (e.g., PM11, PM43, RLE, ADCS, etc.), but one copy of your response is required for EACH code that you select. For more information about the Federal Energy Technology Center, please refer to our HomePage on the Internet, at: http://www.petc.doe.gov Mail responses to: U. S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, ATTN: Kenneth S. Askew, MS 921-143, P.O. BOX 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940. Overnight mail should be sent to: U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, ATTN: Kenneth S. Askew, Bruceton Research Center, Building 921 Room 143, Wallace Road, Bruceton (Allegheny County), PA 15236-0940 E-mail responses should be sent to: askew@petc.doe.gov The research areas are as follows: PM-10 Advanced Clean Fuels Systems Code: PM11 Direct Liquefaction The Federal Energy Technology Center is supporting technology development efforts for production of alternate transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel) from coal. Current The Projects in areas 1 and 2 are envisioned as laboratory and bench-scale activities involving novel approaches having potential for scale-up to proof-of-concept size and for achievement of significant technical and economic improvements. Federal Energy Technology Center is supporting technology development efforts for production of alternate transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel) from coal. Current activities in this Direct Coal Liquefaction program are being conducted in laboratory and bench-scale facilities to establish the basis for advancement to a proof-of-concept scale in which to verify the technical feasibility of using coal as a replacement or supplement to petroleum-derived fuels in an economical and environmentally acceptable manner. No solicitations are expected in FY 1997. In future years, solicitations are contemplated to procure additional projects for liquefaction technology improvement in the following three areas: (1) alternative processing of solids-containing feed stocks to produce greater liquids yields and improved product quality; (2) refining and end-use testing of liquefaction products; and (3) bench-scale testing of novel coprocessing concepts. Code: PM12 Indirect Liquefaction The Federal Energy Technology Center is conducting research on the conversion of synthesis gas (i.e., a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) typical of those attainable from modern coal gasification technology into environmentally superior transportation fuels, oxygenated fuel additives, and premium chemicals/chemical intermediates. The current research activities in the Indirect Liquefaction program are directed toward improving the activity and selectivity of catalysts normally required for such conversions, developing more efficient reactor systems for controlling the conversion process, and improving product processing to maximize the yield of marketable products. The scope of work in the current program ranges from exploratory studies at the laboratory scale to proof-of-concept studies at a scale of 30 barrels per day. No solicitations are expected in FY1997. In future years, solicitations are contemplated to procure additional projects that focus on the following areas: Development of attrition-resistant Fischer-Tropsch catalysts, Kinetic studies of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and Catalyst/wax separation for slurry phase Fischer-Tropsch bubble column reactors. Code: PM13 Fuels Systems Advanced Research The Federal Energy Technology Center's Advanced Research-Liquefaction Program has a goal of exploring innovative concepts that have potential for leading to improved methods of coal liquefaction. For concept definition, research projects in this program include fundamental investigations of the basic reaction mechanisms that govern coal liquefaction chemistry as well as the coprocessing of coal with hydrocarbon-based or paper-based wastes toproduce a feedstock that can be converted to premium transportation fuels. No solicitations are expected in FY 1997. In future years, solicitations are contemplated to procure additional research projects in the following areas: Investigation of novel concepts in all catalytic routes for conversion of coal and waste materials to hydrocarbons and/or oxygenated chemicals, such as alcohols and ethers, Biological transformation of coal-derived materials into hydrocarbons and/or oxygenated chemicals, and Novel concepts in indirect coal liquefaction. Code: PM14 Natural Gas-To-Liquids The Federal Energy Technology Center's Gas-to-Liquids program is focused on the development of advanced processes for the production of environmentally superior transportation fuels and premium chemicals/chemical intermediates from domestic natural gas resources. The current research activities in the Gas-to-Liquids program include the direct conversion of natural gas to products via single and two-step processes and the indirect conversion of natural gas to products via synthesis gas, a fundamental building block consisting of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The scope of work in the current program ranges from exploratory studies at the laboratory scale to proof-of-concept testing. In FY 1997, a Program Opportunity Notice (PON) will be issued to solicit proposals for the "Engineering Development of Ceramic Membrane Reactor Systems for Converting Natural Gas to Synthesis Gas and Hydrogen." Code: PM15 Coal Preparation The Federal Energy Technology Center is managing Federal activities for Coal Preparation. The Coal Preparation Program is directed toward producing economically competitive and environmentally acceptable clean coal products for all potential market applications. Projects in advanced coal cleaning focus on (1) advanced coal cleaning systems capable of deeply cleaning moderate- and high-sulfur coals to reduce acid rain precursors from pre-NSPS boilers; (2) technologies for selectively removing hazardous air pollutant precursors from coal; (3) methods for reducing the ash-forming mineral matter and sulfur contents to levels that will permit the cleaned coal-based fuel to replace premium fuels; and (4) providing advanced means to clean, dewater, dry, and handle fine coal in conventional cleaning circuits. However, there will be no solicitations in the Coal Preparation Program area in FY 1997. PM-20 Advanced Clean Efficient Power Systems Code: PM21 Advanced Pulverized Coal-Fired Power Plant; Indirectly Fired Cycle The Federal Energy Technology Center, under the Office of Fossil Energy's Advanced Clean/Efficient Power Systems area, is managing the development of very clean, high-efficiency, coal-fired power systems based on pulverized coal-firing and on the indirectly fired cycle. The FETC program, called "Combustion 2000," comprises the development of the Low-Emission Boiler System (LEBS) -- the advanced pulverized coal-based system -- and the High Performance Power System (HIPPS) -- the indirectly fired cycle-based system. The Low-Emission Boiler System is a highly advanced power plant that is being designed using an integrated approach to derive maximum benefit from progress in low-NOx combustion, flue gas cleanup, and supercritical and two-component- working-fluid cycle (ammonia-water) technology. Performance objectives for first generation LEBS commercial plants are thermal efficiencies of 42-45% (hhv basis), emissions of SO2, NOx, and particulates of 0.1, 0.1, and 0.01 lb/million Btu, respectively, and a cost of electricity that is lower than current coal-fired plants designed to meet the federal New Source Performance Standards. Three industry teams, led by ABB Combustion Engineering, Babcock & Wilcox Company, and DB Riley, are conducting the program. Phase I of the LEBS program, completed in September 1994, included technical and economic evaluations of candidate plant subsystems, a systems analysis of the entire power plant, and the preliminary design of a commercial scale, 300-400 MWe, LEBS plant. In Phase II, now underway, the industry teams are continuing engineering analysis and modeling activities and are conducting experimental testing of plant subsystems at scales of approximately 3-10 MWe. Phase III will produce the site-specific designs for proof-of-concept test facilities, 10-50 MWe in size, and updated commercial plant designs and economics based on Phase II results. At the end of Phase III, DOE will select one team to continue into Phase IV, detailed design, construction, and operation of the proof-of-concept facility. When Phase IV is completed in FY2001, LEBS plants will be offered to the electric power industry. No demonstration plants will be required. Technical goals for HIPPS include a thermal efficiency of 47-50% (hhv basis) and emissions of SO2, NOx, and particulates of 0.06, 0.06, and 0.003 lbs/million Btu, respectively. The HIPPS program comprises three phases. Phase I, recently completed, focused on the analysis of various configurations of indirectly fired cycles and on technical assessments of alternative plant subsystems and components. Phase I, which was conducted by industry teams led by Foster Wheeler Development Corporation (FW) and United Technologies Research Center (UT), also included preliminary R&D, and the preparation of designs for a HIPPS commercial plant approximately 300 MW in size. As the result of a competitive procurement during FY1994-95, FW and UT were selected to conduct the remainder of the HIPPS program. Phase II, now underway, involves the development and testing of plant subsystems, refinement and updating of the HIPPS commercial plant design, and the site selection and engineering design of a HIPPS prototype plant. At the completion of Phase II, one team will be selected to continue into Phase III. In this concluding phase, a detailed design of the HIPPS prototype plant will be prepared and the plant will be constructed and operated. When Phase III ends in FY2004, power plant designers and manufacturers will be able to offer commercial HIPPS plants to the electric power industry. No procurements are planned in FY1997. Very limited funding may be available within the advanced research and environmental technology, and advanced research and technology development, program budgets for work that supports the objectives of the LEBS and HIPPS programs. Code: PM-22 Power Systems Environmental Technology The Federal Energy Technology Center manages the National Program for Flue Gas Cleanup Research and Development. This program is directed toward (1) enhancing the environmental performance of coal-fired boilers; (2) providing inexpensive, adaptable, and non-complex methods for compliance with the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990; and (3) developing technology to address potential future regulatory actions associated with more stringent control of nitrogen oxide emissions, air toxics and fine particulates. Current projects, ranging in scope from laboratory studies of system phenomena to proof-of-concept tests (e.g. 3-10 MWe size), are being performed in the areas of (1) superclean emissions control (one-tenth of New Source Performance Standards) for SO2, NOx, and particulate matter; (2) air toxics characterization and control; (3) fine particulate control; and (4) carbon dioxide (CO2) recovery, reuse, and disposal. During FY1997 no new solicitations are planned. PM-40 ADVANCED POWER GENERATION, FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH, AND SOLIDS TRANSPORTATION Code: PM41 University Coal Research The Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) manages the Office of Fossil Energy's University Coal Research Program (UCR). Through the UCR program solicitation FETC seeks to support fundamental and high risk research that advances the technical understanding of the chemical and physical processes involved in coal conversion and utilization. In FY1997, applications to this solicitation will be accepted from U.S. universities and colleges in the Solicitation s Core Program and Innovative Concepts Program. The UCR Core Program is governed by the following two focus areas: (1) NOx Control As environmental regulations become more stringent, the restrictions placed upon emissions from coal combustion processes will require either an improved understanding of the combustion process itself or tight post-combustion control or some combination of both. Currently, significant NOx control can be achieved both through decreased formation of NOx and NOx destruction prior to its exit from the combustion chamber. Further decreases in NOx emissions and control of the Products of Incomplete Combustion (PICs) from all combustion sources may be achieved with advances in our understanding of the combustion process and an ability to control it. Products of Incomplete Combustion includes: unburnt carbon; formation of trace, complex, organic compounds; and liberation and reaction of trace inorganic. Additional reductions in NOx emissions may also be sought through post-combustion control. Direct conversion of NOx, from dilute flue gas streams, to nitrogen or a saleable/ marketable product would be highly desirable. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is a commercially available post-combustion control that converts NOx to nitrogen. One of the limitations to the widespread use of SCR is the possibility that increased toxic emissions, ammonia and carbon monoxide, will occur when NOx removals greater than 90% (85% by some estimates) are desired. Research is necessary to identify alternate reductants, catalysts, and/or chemical pathways that will not result in the release of toxic emissions when high removals (> 95%) are required. (2) Catalysts for Coal Conversion and Utilization Catalysts are used in a host of coal conversion and utilization reactions. Although a vast and highly specialized literature exists for catalysts, a thorough understanding of the fundamental nature of catalytic coal conversion and utilization processes is still lacking. Systematic studies focused on understanding thesefundamentals would lay the foundation for efficient development of catalysts for application in processes such as gasification, liquefaction, waste minimization, and contaminant control. New or improved catalysts for controlling product distribution, removing pollutants, upgrading products, and reducing the severity of reaction conditions are needed. Regenerable, poisoning-resistant, and attrition-resistant catalysts for cleaving specific bonds in coals, converting cyclic saturates to branched saturates in coal-derived liquids, or promoting selective conversion of gasification products (into condensible and non-condensible hydrocarbons) and oxygenates are also of interest. Methods focused on the recovery of catalysts and the removal of catalyst-deactivating species would also be valuable. The UCR Innovative Concepts Program seeks unique, "out-of-the-box," approaches for addressing fossil energy related issues; therefore, well-developed ideas, past the conceptual stage, are not eligible. The DOE is interested in innovative and fundamental research pertinent to coal conversion and utilization limited to the technical topic that follows. The examples provided under the technical topic are not intended to be all-encompassing; therefore, offers on other subjects that fall within the scope of the area will receive the same consideration as the examples cited. Innovative Concepts Technical Topic -- As the twenty-first century approaches, the challenges facing coal and the electric utility industry continue to grow. Environmental issues such as pollutant control, both criteria and trace, waste minimization, and the co-firing of coal with biomass, waste, or alternative fuels will remain important. The need for increased efficiency, improved reliability, and lower costs will be felt as an aging utility industry faces deregulation. Advanced power and environmental systems will come into play as older plants are retired and utilities explore new ways to meet the growing demand for electricity. Innovative research in the coal conversion and utilization areas will be required if coal is to continue to play a dominant role in the generation of electric power. Questions, like the ones that follow, will need to be answered: How can net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels be achieved? What are the implications of lowering the particulate matter standards (i.e. PM-2.5)? Where can the largest efficiency gains be realized in a power plant? How can adaptive control systems and neural networks be integrated into the electric utility industry? How can the trace element emissions from power plants (i.e. mercury, selenium) be cost-effectively controlled? How do we develop and test materials for advanced power systems? Successfully answering these and other questions in innovative ways will help us move confidently to the year 2000 and beyond. Code: PM42 Coal Utilization Science The Coal Utilization Science Program (CUS) is designed to generate thefundamentally-based knowledge and data required by designers of advanced combustion systems in order to make significant improvements in power plant efficiency and environmental performance. The CUS sponsors targeted engineering science research that seeks to bridge the gap between basic science and engineering development. Projects utilize the unique resources of the industrial, academic and national laboratory communities to tackle significant barrier issues pertinent to advanced power systems technology. Projects make use of state-of -the- (0340)

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