AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
BOA: Asbestos pipe-insulation removal robot system. Phase I. Topical report, November 1993--December 1994

Based on several key design criteria and site visits, we developed a Robot design and built a system which automatically strips the lagging and insulation from the pipes, and encapsulates them under complete vacuum operation. The system can operate on straight runs of piping in horizontal or vertical orientations. Currently we are limited to four-inch diameter piping without obstacles as well as a somewhat laborious emplacement and removal procedure. Experimental results indicated that the current robotic abatement process is sound yet needs to be further expanded and modified. One of the main discoveries was that a longitudinal cut to fully allow the paddles to dig in and compress the insulation off the pipe is essential. Furthermore, a different cutting method might be explored to alleviate the need for a deeper cut and to enable a combination of certain functions such as compression and cutting. Unfortunately due to a damaged mechanism caused by extensive testing, we were unable to perform vertical piping abatement experiments, but foresee no trouble in implementing them in the next proposed Phase. Other encouraging results have BOA removing asbestos at a rate of 4-5 ft./h compared to 3 ft./h for manual removal of asbestos with a 3-person crew. However, we feel confident that we can double the asbestos removal rate by improving cutting speed, and increasing the length of the BOA robot. The containment and vacuum system on BOA is able to achieve the regulatory requirement for airborne fiber emissions of 0.01 fibers/ccm/8-hr. shift. Currently, BOA weighs about 117 pounds which is more than a human is permitted to lift overhead under OSHA requirements (i.e., 25 pounds). We are considering designing the robot into two components (i.e., locomotor section and cutter/removal section) to aid human installation as well as incorporating composite materials. A more detailed list of all the technical modifications is given in this topical report.

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Advanced turbine systems program conceptual design and product development: Task 8.1, Low-pressure drop recuperator

Purpose of the ATS program is to develop a new baseline for industrial gas turbine systems for the 21st century. A recuperated gas turbine cycle was selected; the eventual engine that result will utilize Solar`s Primary Surface Recuperator (PSR) technology. Besides higher thermal efficiency, other goals included lower emission, cost of power, and improved RAMD (reliability, availability, maintainability). Performance data have been obtained for the candidate heat transfer surface, and on a scaled rig. Pretest predictions of air-side and gas-side pressure drop were in very good agreement with tests results; predicted effectiveness also agreed well with experiment. A flattened tube test to determine changes of the PSR heat transfer surface profile after exposure is underway.

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Molten carbonate fuel cell product design and improvement. Quarterly report, December 1994--March 1995

Primary objective is to establish the commercial readiness of MW- class IMHEX {reg_sign} MCFC power plants for distributed generation, cogeneration, and compressor station applications. The following tasks are reported: product definition/planning, system design/analysis, manufacturing process development, packaging/assembly, test facilities, and technology development/improvement/verification.

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Base program on energy related research. Quarterly progress report, August--October 1995

Brief progress reports are presented for the following tasks: oil and gas; advanced systems applications; environmental technologies; applied energy science; and remediation. Oil and gas includes the following subtasks: CROW{trademark} process modeling; miscible/immiscible gas injection processes; development of a portable data acquisition system and coalbed methane simulator; and tank bottom waste processing using the TaBooRR{trademark} process. Advanced systems applications include; development and optimization of a process for the production of a premium solid fuel from Western U.S. coals; process support and development; and Easter shale oil residue as an asphalt additive. Environmental technologies include: Conditioning and hydration reactions associated with Clean Coal Technology ash disposal/utilization; remediation of contaminated soil; Syn-Ag{trademark} Process--Coal combustion ash management option; Maxi-Acid{trademark} Process--in-situ amelioration of acid mine drainage; and spill test facility data base; Applied energy science includes: heavy/oil plastics co-processing; and fossil fuel and hydrocarbon conversion using hydrogen-rich plasmas. Remediation covers North site remediation.

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Naturally fractured tight gas reservoir detection optimization. Annual report, September 1993--September 1994

This report is an annual summarization of an ongoing research in the field of modeling and detecting naturally fractured gas reservoirs. The current research is in the Piceance basin of Western Colorado. The aim is to use existing information to determine the most optimal zone or area of fracturing using a unique reaction-transport-mechanical (RTM) numerical basin model. The RTM model will then subsequently help map subsurface lateral and vertical fracture geometries. The base collection techniques include in-situ fracture data, remote sensing, aeromagnetics, 2-D seismic, and regional geologic interpretations. Once identified, high resolution airborne and spaceborne imagery will be used to verify the RTM model by comparing surficial fractures. If this imagery agrees with the model data, then a further investigation using a three-dimensional seismic survey component will be added. This report presents an overview of the Piceance Creek basin and then reviews work in the Parachute and Rulison fields and the results of the RTM models in these fields.

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Stabilization and reuse of heavy metal contaminated soils by means of quicklime sulfate salt treatment. Final report, September 1992--February 1995

Capillary and hydraulic flows of water in porous media contaminated by heavy metal species often result in severe aquifer contamination. In the present study a chemical admixture stabilization approach is proposed, where heavy metal stabilization/immobilization is achieved by means of quicklime-based treatment. Both in-situ treatment by injection and on-site stabilization by excavation, mixing, and compaction will be investigated. In addition, the potential to reuse the resulting stabilized material as readily available construction material will also be investigated. The heavy metals under study include: arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury. The proposed technical approach consists of three separate phases. During phase A, both artificial and naturally occurring contaminated soil mixes were treated, and then tested for stress-strain properties, leachability, micromorphology, mineralogical composition, permeability, setting time, and durability. In such a way, the effectiveness of the proposed remediation technology was verified, the treatment approach was optimized, and the underlying mechanisms responsible for stabilization were established. During phase B, the proposed technology will be tested for two DOE-site subscale systems, involving naturally occurring contaminated soil, using the same testing methodology as the one outlined for phase A. Provided that the proposed technology is proven effective for the subscale systems, a field application will be demonstrated. Again process quality monitoring will be performed by testing undisturbed samples collected from the treated sites, in the same fashion as for the previous phases. Following completion of the proposed study, a set of comprehensive guidelines for field applications will be developed. 42 refs., 196 figs., 26 tabs.

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Energy and environmental research emphasizing low-rank coal: Task 6.2. Joining of advanced structural materials

Silicon carbide (SiC) is considered an attractive material for structural applications in fossil energy systems because of its corrosion and wear resistance, high thermoconductivity, and high temperature strength. These same properties make it difficult to sinter or join SiC. Conventional sintering techniques require applying pressure and heating to temperatures near 2000{degree}C, or the use of binders with lower melting temperatures, or pressureless sintering with the aid of carbon and boron to near full density about 2100{degree}C. The sintering temperature can be reduced to 1850{degree}--2000{degree}C if SiC is sintered with the addition of small quantities of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} {plus} Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}. In addition, reaction sintering has been used by mixing Si and C with SiC powder and heating the mixture to 1400{degree}C to cause the Si and C to react and form SiC, which bonds the aggregate together. Work proposed for this year was to center on determining gas compositions that could be used to increase the sinterability of oxide binders and on using the binder and gas combinations to join bars of SiC, alumina, and mullite (3Al{sub 2}O{center_dot}2SiO{sub 2}). During the course of the year the focus was shifted to SiC joining alone, because it was felt that alumina and mullite are too prone to thermal shock for use in structural applications in fossil energy systems. Because of a thermal expansion mismatch between alumina and SiC, only SiC and mullite were investigated as joining aides for SiC. Therefore, the objectives of this work evolved into examining the sintering phenomena of SiC and mullite-derived binders at and below 1500{degree}C in various atmospheres and determining which conditions are suitable to form strong joints in monolithic SiC structures to be used at temperatures of 1000{degree}--1400{degree}C.

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Energy and environmental research emphasizing low-rank coal: Task 6.1. Corrosion of advanced structural materials

In order to increase national energy self-sufficiency for the near future, energy systems will be required to fire low-grade fuels and use more efficient energy cycles than those available today. The steam cycle used at present is limited to a maximum steam temperature of 550{degrees}C and thus a conversion efficiency of 35%. To boost efficiency significantly, much higher working fluid temperatures are required, compelling subsystems to operate at much higher temperatures and, therefore, in much more corrosive environments than those currently used. Problems of special concern are corrosion and fatigue of direct-fired turbine blades, corrosion and blinding of hot-gas cleanup filters, catastrophic failure of high-temperature heat exchangers, and spalling and dissolution of refractory materials. The extreme conditions will require the use of advanced structural materials such as high-temperature ceramics for the construction of the subsystems. Unfortunately, little is known of the performance of these materials in actual coal combustion environments. Although some corrosion testing has been performed in the past, most has been done by groups experimenting with ash or slag stimulants composed of only one or two simple compounds. For this project performed at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), actual coal ash and slag will be used in simulated combustion conditions so that more realistic determinations of the mechanisms of corrosion can be made. The work includes three main research areas focusing on two fossil energy subsystems: high-temperature heat exchangers and hot-gas cleanup filters. The first area involves developing existing abilities in thermodynamic equilibrium calculations to determine the most appropriate corroding agents to include in the tests; the second area involves coal slag corrosion of high temperature heat exchangers; and the third, lower-temperature ash and gas corrosion hot-gas cleanup filters.

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Road Transportable Analytical Laboratory (RTAL) system. Quarterly report, May--July 1995

Goal is to develop and demonstrate a system for rapid, accurate analysis of hazardous and radioactive contaminants in soil, groundwater, and surface waters. Goal throughput is 20 samples per day, within 16 hours on each sample (after sample preparation). Purpose is to improve the efficiency of cleanup and remediation throughout the DOE complex. During this period, the tasks on prototype system construction and on-site prototype demonstration were worked on; progress is reported.

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Road transportable analytical laboratory (RTAL) system. Quarterly report, August--October 1995

Goal is the development and demonstration of a system to meet DOE needs for rapid, accurate analysis of a wide variety of hazardous and radioactive contaminants in soil, groundwater, and surface waters. The system consists of a set of individual laboratory modules. This report documents progress on Phase II, which is a transition to Maturity Level 5, Full-Scale Demonstration.

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Task 7.1 - Strategic Planning

Energy industry decisions on resources, utilization technologies, and environmental control measures are made in reference to changing patterns of fuel cost and availability, emerging technological choices, externality impacts, and governmental policies, statutes, and regulations. Energy and environmental research that makes a difference must be performed with an awareness of the forces that shape these future trends and should anticipate needs in advance to compensate for developmental lead time. Research relevance begins with the appropriate selection of research thrust and topical content and ends with integration, interpretation, and application of results in real-world commercial development. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has endeavored to maintain a highly relevant research focus through activities dating back to the benchmark 1980 Low-Rank Coal Study, 1983 defederalization plans, and the 1991 comprehensive white paper on energy policy and technologies. Work was completed in FY94 on an energy and environmental profile for selected East Central European nations. Task 7.0 continues a limited effort devoted to strategic studies under the base Cooperative Agreement. The objective of this activity is to understand the potentialities, limitations, and status of competing energy technologies in terms of scientific basis, state of development, technical barriers, cost, efficiency, policy treatment, and environmental performance for the purpose of planning and evaluating research activities under the Cooperative Agreement. This work will be performed under the direction of the EERC director and associate directors to provide guidance for planning the broad outline for future research under the Cooperative Agreement in keeping with industry needs and national goals. This is being accomplished through directed studies and technical oversight.

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Field Fracturing Multi-Sites Project

The objective of the Field Fracturing Multi-Sites Project (M-Site) is to conduct experiments to definitively determine hydraulic fracture dimensions using remote well and treatment well diagnostic techniques. In addition, experiments will be conducted to provide data that will resolve significant unknowns with regard to hydraulic fracture modeling, fracture fluid rheology and fracture treatment design. These experiments will be supported by a well-characterized subsurface environment, as well as surface facilities and equipment conducive to acquiring high-quality data. A primary project goal is to develop a fully characterized, tight reservoir-typical, field-scale hydraulic fracturing test site to diagnose, characterize, and test hydraulic fracturing technology and performance, It is anticipated that the research work being conducted by the interdisciplinary team of GRI and DOE contractors will lead to the development of a commercial fracture mapping tool/service.

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Market Assessment and Technical Feasibility Study of PFBC Ash Use

The commercial introduction of pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) has spurred evaluation of ash management options for this technology. The unique operating characteristics of PFBC compared to atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) units indicate that PFBC ash will exhibit unique chemical and physical characteristics, and hence, unique ash use opportunities. Western Research Institute (WRI), under sponsorship of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Ahlstrom Pyropower, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC), has initiated a study of the use properties of PFBC ashes involving both an assessment of the potential markets, as well as a technical feasibility study of specific use options. The market assessment is designed to address six applications, including: (1) structural fill, (2) road base construction, (3) supplementary cementing materials in Portland cement, (4) bricks and blocks, (5) synthetic aggregate, and (6) agricultural/soil amendment applications. Ashes from the Ahlstrom circulating PFBC pilot facility in Caroler, Finland, combusting western U.S. low-sulfur subbituminous coal with limestone sorbent, were made available for the technical feasibility study. The technical feasibility study examined the use of PFBC ash in construction-related applications, including its use as a supplemental cementing material in concrete, fills and embankments, soil stabilization, and synthetic aggregate production. In addition, testing was conducted to determine the technical feasibility of PFBC ash as a soil amendment for agricultural and reclamation applications. PFBC ash does not meet the ASTM chemical requirements as a pozzolan for cement replacement. However, it does appear that potential may exist for its use in cement production as a pozzolan and/or set retardant. PFBC ash shows relatively high strength development, low expansion and low permeability properties that make its use in fills and embankments promising. Testing has also indicated that PFBC ash, when mixed with low amounts of hydrated lime, develops high strengths, suitable for soil stabilization applications and produces a synthetic aggregate capable of meeting ASTM/AASHTO specifications for many construction applications.

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NMR Analysis of Mowry Formation Shale From Different Sedimentary Basins

The work performed in this study is Task 017 `NMR Analysis of Mowry Formation Shale from Different Sedimentary Basins` of U.S. Department of Energy cooperative agreement DE-FC21-93MC30127. This topical report covers work done between November 1993 and December 1994. This jointly sponsored research (JSR) project augments and complements research being conducted by the University of Wyoming Institute For Energy Research for the Gas Research Institute (GRI). The project --A New Innovative Exploitation Strategy for Gas Accumulations Within Pressure Compartments -- is a 3-year renewal of a project funded by the GRI Pressure Compartmentalization Program that began in 1990. That project, Analysis of Pressure Chambers and Seals in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana, characterized a new class of hydrocarbon traps, the discovery of which can provide an impetus to revitalize the domestic petroleum industry. This research project is pertinent to the U.S. Department of Energy Geoscience and Enhanced Oil Recovery Programs.

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Chemical Sensor and Field Screening Technology Development: The Measurement of Soil Fuel Contamination by Extraction and Fluorescence

The purpose of the current study was to probe the spectral characteristics of various fuel types at wavelengths that can be obtained with relatively inexpensive lamps and detectors. For example, single aromatic ring, and two- and three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) systems are common components of most fossil fuel materials. With appropriate mercury lamp sources, two readily available wavelengths at which these materials absorb are 254 nm and 280 nm (mercury lamp with 280 nm phosphor). Two wavelength regions where mercury lamps show no emission are near 340 and 450 nm. Therefore, the initial wavelengths that were studied were 254 and 280 nm excitation and 340 and 450 nm emission. This approach could define a new procedure using a relatively inexpensive portable instrument to gain some qualitative and quantitative information on soil contaminants.

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Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Product Design Improvement

This annual report provides results of Energy Research Corporation`s technical approach to performing the program `Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) Product Design Improvement` covered under the DOE-ERC Cooperative Agreement DE-FC21-95MC31184. This work is supported by DOE/METC and DOD/DARPA as well as ERC Team funds. The objective of the DOE-sponsored program is to advance the direct carbonate fuel cell technology to a level suitable for commercial entry for civilian applications. The overall objective of the DOD/DARPA initiative is to adapt the civilian 2 MW-Class fuel cell power plant for dual fuel DOD applications. This program is designed to advance the carbonate fuel cell technology from the power plant demonstration status to the commercial entry early production unit design stage. The specific objectives which will allow attainment of these overall program goals are: (1) Provide environmental information to support DOE evaluation with respect to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), (2) Define market-responsive power plant requirements and specifications, (3) Establish design for multifuel, low-cost, modular, market-responsive power plant, (4) Resolve power plant manufacturing issues and define the design for the commercial manufacturing facility, (5) Acquire capabilities to support developmental testing of 0370 stacks and BOP equipment as required to prepare for commercial design, and (6) Resolve stack and BOP equipment technology issues and design, build, and field test a modular commercial prototype power plant to demonstrate readiness of the power plant for commercial entry.

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Evaluation of a zirconium additive for the mitigation of molten ash formation during combustion of residual fuel oil

Florida Power & Light Company (FP&L) currently fires a residual fuel oil (RFO) containing catalyst fines, which results in a troublesome black aluminosilicate liquid phase that forms on heat-transfer surfaces, remains molten, and flows to the bottom of the boiler. When the unit is shut down for a scheduled outage, this liquid phase freezes to a hard black glass that damages the contracting waterwalls of the boiler. Cleaning the boiler bottom and repairing damaged surfaces increase the boiler downtime, at a significant cost to FP&L. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) proposed to perform a series of tests for FP&L to evaluate the effectiveness of a zirconium additive to modify the mechanism that forms this liquid phase, resulting in the formation of a dry refractory phase that may be easily handled during cleanup of the boiler.

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Task 23 - field studies of the occurrence, transport, and fate of mercury at natural gas industry sites. Topical report, May 1, 1992--December 31, 1995

The objective of this research project is to define the occurrence, transport, and fate of mercury in air, water, and soil at natural gas production sites that had been instrumented with mercury-based gas flowmeters in the past. The primary focus of this research was initially on determining the potential for mercury contamination in groundwater at these sites. The scope was later broadened to include determinations of the spatial distribution of mercury in soil. Air concentrations were determined solely as a health and safety routine.

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