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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF APRIL 1,1999 PSA#2315EMERGING PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS (NATURAL GAS PROCESSING AND
UTILIZATION) In order that potential sources learn more about the
Federal Energy Technology Center's (FETC) program emphasis areas, and
to afford our customers the opportunity to discuss their capabilities
and to allow FETC to ascertain how to assist industry with emerging
energy and environmental technologies, a special notice is published
here. Product Line: Emerging Processing Technology Applications
(Natural Gas Processing & Utilization) Contact: Venkat K. Venkataraman
Tel: (304) 285-4105 Fax: (304)285-4403 E.mail: vvenka@fetc.doe.gov
Business Area Perspective: The goals are to catalyze the
commercialization of novel, environmentally sound, and economically
competitive natural gas to transportation fuels, premium chemicals and
hydrogen systems as well as systems for upgrading low quality natural
gas including landfill gas, coal mine and coal bed methane for
value-added applications. The specific objectives of the natural
gas-to-liquids subprogram element is, in partnership with industry,
develop and demonstrate advanced technologies and processes for the
economical conversion of methane to liquids that can be used as fuels
or chemical feedstocks. This will increase the available sources of
supply for liquid transportation fuels and reduce the demand for crude
oil derived liquid transportation fuels. The objective of the natural
gas upgrading subprogram element is, within 10 years, develop
polymeric membranes and other novel hybrid gas separation technologies
that will advance the utilization of low quality natural gas.
Membrane-based technologies have been successful because of their lower
cost, modularity, and smaller size than many other hybrid gas
separation techniques. In addition, the subprogram will promote the
development of evolving technologies for upgrading methane emissions
from coal mines for natural gas pipeline use and carbon dioxide
emissions from landfills for commercial product use. FETC's Program
Emphasis for FY2000: Natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) research could have
a significant impact on the liquid fuels market by increasing the use
of natural gas to meet liquid fuel shortages. As research on the
conversion of natural gas to higher value products continues, several
research areas will be emphasized. These include 1) improved
selectivity at high conversion for both catalytic and noncatalytic
processes, 2) reduction of the temperature required for conversion, 3)
improved methods for separation of products from unreacted feed, 4)
improved methods for oxidant production 5) improved catalyst life and
rejuvenation procedures, and 6) improved knowledge of the potential for
alternative fuels and chemical feedstocks in the marketplace. The GTL
program will have several joint efforts with coal liquefaction product
line and other product lines as appropriate and will work with Heavy
Vehicles Technology program of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy to advance fossil fuels application in the
transportation sector. In addition work will continue on scale up
efforts to convert gas to Liquefied natural gas (LNG) using novel
technologies. In the low-quality gas upgrading subprogram area,
emphasis will be on the initiation of Phase I of the activities
selected under the Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA)
for the development of novel gas upgrading technologies using
small-scale gas upgrading facilities including but not limited to
absorption/adsorption, and/or hybrid combination of these technologies.
The contaminants of interest include nitrogen, carbon dioxide and
hydrogen sulfide. In the area of coal mine methane utilization RD&D
efforts will focus on the demonstration of available methods to
economically collect and utilize this methane for pipeline sales,
small-scale electric power generation, and other uses. The goal is to
expand the number of mines that utilize emitted gas, instead of passing
it into the atmosphere. This will be accomplished by demonstrating
technologies to cost effectively capture and productively use methane
gas released during underground coal mining. Posted 03/30/99
(W-SN314041). Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0107 19990401\SP-0007.MSC)
SP - Special Notices Index Page
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