AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Effects of coal combustion and gasification process contaminants on the neuromuscular system. Final report

This study is a preliminary investigation of the possible toxic effects of flyash particles from an experimental fluidized-bed combustion process at the Morgantown Energy Research Center. Emphasis has been placed on the action of trace metals present on the surface and in the matrix of the particulates emissions, since these elements may be toxic in low dosages. In this paper the ability of cadmium to substitute for calcium at the neuromuscular junction was investigated. 20 references, 9 figures.

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Coal gasification: Technology status report

The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) is currently sponsoring research and development (R and D) activities in surface coal gasification. The activities are primarily aimed at exploring and developing flexibility of the coal gasification technology. A wide range of technical needs could then be met for systems that are based on coal gasification. The systems include (1) integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) for electric power production, (2) production of synthesis gas, (3) production of value-added coproducts, and (4) production of industrial fuel gas. The R and D projects that are included in the Surface Coal Gasification Program cover a wide spectrum of technology development stages. These projects range from laboratory-scale investigations of a fundamental nature to the engineering-scale process development units (PDU's). In the area of laboratory-scale projects, fundamentals of gasification, gas purification, and gas separation are investigated to understand certain key parameters that will lead to gasification-based systems as the most desired energy alternatives. For the engineering-scale PDU's, novel process concepts are evaluated to obtain critical engineering and process data to translate the concepts into sound engineering designs. In addition, activities in the area of mathematical interpretation of coal gasification and associated gas separation and gas purification technologies are pursued to develop predictive capabilities and to conduct preliminary evaluations of various systems. This report provides comprehensive summaries of major accomplishments of the various projects in the Surface Coal Gasification Program. 5 refs., 18 figs., 4 tabs.

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The extraction of bitumen from western tar sands

This report represents the work done during the year of May 8, 1987 to June 9, 1988. This year was the first year of a five-year program. The overall objective of the latter is to advance the technologies for recovering bitumen from the tar sands by thermal and water assisted extraction means and upgrading of bitumen to synthetic crude, and conversion of bitumens to specialty products such as asphalt and resins to levels where realistic evaluations of technical and commercial potential can be made. Additionally, it is desired to have the data at a level which is adequate for design of pilot plants of appropriate size deemed necessary for commercial scale-up of the various processes being studied. The main areas for studies covered in this report are modelling and optimization of the hydropyrolysis process for upgrading bitumens, bitumen recovery by pyrolysis of the circle Cliffs tar sands in a fluid bed, pyrolysis of Whiterocks tar sand in a rotary kiln, modelling of the combustor in the coupled fluidized bed with interbed heat transfer using heat pipes, development of superior diluents for use in the water extraction of Utah's tar sands, and fractionation and characterization of the bitumens from Asphalt Ridge and Sunnyside tar sands. 169 refs., 60 figs., 31 tars.

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Use of cheap, sacrificial materials for valve trim in erosive slurry applications: Final report

Laboratory tests were done to evaluate the feasibility of three novel concepts for high pressure let-down or control valves in abrasive/erosive slurry applications. All three assumed inexpensive, sacrificial materials to be eroded away and continuously replaced in service. A method was established for accelerated observation of erosion phenomena, using slurries of fine quartz dust, several times as hard as coals, in water at ambient temperature, acting on test fixtures of soft materials such as acrylic plastic. By this simulation method, erosion phenomena for novel slurry valve and pump designs can be studied with time and costs reduced by at least an order of magnitude. Of the design concepts studied, the Lathe Valve, used an expendable steel rod closing against the end of a thick-walled tube. Slow rotation of the rod delayed but failed to prevent valve failure by channeling of the plug or seat. With alternate valves in parallel, in a common housing, one can be reground, using the slurry as a grinding medium, while the other is controlling flow. The Mud Turbine involves closely opposing disks of expendable material, with flow spirally inward to an exit through one of the supporting shafts. Fluid friction railed to rotate the disks, as desired for process energy recovery, while seal and bearing problems were excessive. The most successful design was the Gravel Bucket, in which the slurry passes through a packed bed of narrowly sized, continuously replaceable crushed rock, with flow controlled by varying the flow pattern through the bed. No plugging or channeling occurred.

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Surface adhesion of low rank coal ash: (Quarterly technical progress report): October 1-December 31, 1986

Darco (TX) lignite was ion-exchanged with ammonium acetate. The amount of ASTM ash (dry basis) was reduced from 11.3 to 7.1 wt % after the lignite was ion-exchanged. The amount of exchangeable sodium and calcium were found to be 90% and 78%, respectively. The gas-fired drop tube furnace was used to produce deposits with raw and ion-exchanged Darco lignite on mild steel substrates at conditions similar to those producing utility boiler slagging. The hot zone temperature was held at 1500/sup 0/C and the constrictor temperature was held at 1300/sup 0/C for these tests. The estimated particle residence time within the hot zone was approximately one to two seconds. The sticking fraction of the Darco lignite ash was 0.45 for a 20 minute test duration and a feed rate of 0.35 g/minute. The resultant deposit was very fused at the top and had a high strength (>5.5 MPa). Increasing the oxygen partial pressure to 60% did not have a significant effect on deposit formation rate or strength for Darco lignite. The electrically-heated drop furnace was used to form deposits with raw and ion-exchanged Darco lignite on stainless steel substrates at conditions similar to those producing utility boiler convective fouling. The hot zone temperature and constrictor temperature were held at 1500/sup 0/C and 1200/sup 0/C, respectively. The estimated particle residence time within the hot zone was about 2.0 to 3.5 seconds. The gas velocity at the constrictor was held at 15 m/second. The sticking fraction of the Darco lignite ash was 0.42 for a 20 minute test period; the resultant deposit was strongly sintered at the top and had a moderate strength of 2 to 6 MPa.

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Re-Analysis of the MWX Fracture Stimulation Data From the Paludal Zone of the Mesaverde Formation

For a number of years the US Department of Energy has been engaged in research to enhance gas recovery from ''tight gas sands'', particularly the lenticular sandstone formations common to the western United States. To investigate these western US tight gas sands, DOE established the Multi-Well Experiment (MWX), a field research facility near Rifle, Colorado, where three closely spaced wells were drilled through the lenticular Mesaverde formation in the Piceance basin. Testing included extensive coring and core analysis, production testing, and instrumented fracture stimulation experiments. Because one of the more important aspects of the MWX project was to establish the predictability of well stimulation procedures, extensive pre-frac testing was conducted in the Paludal, Coastal, and Fluvial zones. This report concentrates on a review and re-analysis of the MWX stimulation data for the Paludal zone. The primary goal of the review was to establish the conditions affecting fracture geometry and behavior in this lenticular environment; and determine the degree of predictability of fracture behavior from pre-frac testing. 13 refs., 44 figs., 9 tabs.

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Waste oil: Technology, economics, and environmental, health, and safety considerations

The current status of environmental information on the waste oil industry is reviewed. The sources, properties, and availability of waste oil are summarized. The topics of waste oil collection, utilization, and disposal, energy and economic considerations, and regulatory constraints are discussed, based upon the most recent data available at this time. The health and safety implications of the resource through end-use waste oil system are also presented.

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Evolution of fuel nitrogen during the vacuum thermal devolatilization of coal

The fate of fuel nitrogen during the combustion or gasification of coal is a matter of practical and fundamental concern. During coal combustion, NO/sub x/ is known to form via HCN species released from the nitrogen-containing molecular components of the coal. During gasification processes, the release of nitrogen-containing fused ring compounds in evolved tar species is a matter of environmental concern. Since the thermal decomposition of the parent coal is an initial phase in both combustion and gasification, it is necessary to develop a knowledge of the fate of fuel nitrogen during thermal decomposition. This study contains results of an investigation of the evolution of fuel nitrogen during the vacuum thermal decomposition of coal. Results are shown for variations with coal characteristics and apparent thermal history. Apparent heating rates of 75 C/sec to 2000 C/sec and final temperatures of 500 C to 1780 C were utilized. A variety of coals were investigated ranging in rank from lignite to anthracite. The results indicate that nitrogen distribution in the volatiles is a sensitive function of the chemical characteristics of the parent coal. This distribution of nitrogen in the light gas, tar and char products of vacuum devolatilized coal is highly dependent on rank of the parent coal. Variations in nitrogen evolution with coal characteristics are most readily apparent in several aspects: (1) the coal nitrogen released with the tar species; (2) the release of nitrogen contained in primary tars as HCN upon secondary thermal decomposition reactions of the primary tars; (3) the retention of nitrogen in the char species.

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Determination of valuable metals in liquefaction-process residues, Report No. 45. Quarterly technical progress report, January 1, 1979-March 31, 1979. [Imports these elements in 1974, demand in 1985 and 2000]

Included in the list of US imports in 1974 are metals for which a substantial quantity of reserves within the US have been identified; however, in most cases extraction of these metals would involve higher costs than imported prices. The 33 elements for which over 25% of the total US need was met through imports in 1974 include: Pd, Hf, Pt, Ni, Sb, I, Hg, Th, Al, F, Sr, Tl, Cr, Sn, Bi, W, Co, Ta, Ag, In, Mn, Cd, Zn, Te, Ge, Ti, Au, Se, Ba, Sc, As, Fe, and V. A comparison of this list with elements found in the coal liquefaction residue shows that with the exception of I, Hg, F, Te, and Se, all the 28 other elements are present in the coal liquefaction residues in varying concentrations. Their economic significance will depend not only upon the demand-supply factors but also upon the feasibility of their recovery, both technical and economical. To further determine metals of economic value, the second criteria used is the projected growth in demand. An examination of the US Bureau of Mines Projections shows that there are 30 elements for which the demand by the year 2000 would more than double. The demand for two elements - thorium and cesium - is projected to increase by more than 1000% by the year 2000. In addition there are four elements for which the demand is projected to increase more than 200% between 1974 and 2000. These include uranium, hydrogen, beryllium and gallium. The other elements for which demand is projected to increase by more than 100% included: V, Au, O, Cl, Se, Al, B, Li, W, Zr, Br, F, Mg, Mo, Sb, Hf, Ti, I, Ta, N, Cu, S, Zn and Cd. With the demand for these elements projected to increase dramatically over the next two decades, procurement of some of these elements could become difficult. All but Cl, Se, Br, F, I, N, and S are present in varying concentrations in the liquefaction residues.

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Low-rank coal study :  national needs for resource development. Volume 2. Resource characterization

Comprehensive data are presented on the quantity, quality, and distribution of low-rank coal (subbituminous and lignite) deposits in the United States. The major lignite-bearing areas are the Fort Union Region and the Gulf Lignite Region, with the predominant strippable reserves being in the states of North Dakota, Montana, and Texas. The largest subbituminous coal deposits are in the Powder River Region of Montana and Wyoming, The San Juan Basin of New Mexico, and in Northern Alaska. For each of the low-rank coal-bearing regions, descriptions are provided of the geology; strippable reserves; active and planned mines; classification of identified resources by depth, seam thickness, sulfur content, and ash content; overburden characteristics; aquifers; and coal properties and characteristics. Low-rank coals are distinguished from bituminous coals by unique chemical and physical properties that affect their behavior in extraction, utilization, or conversion processes. The most characteristic properties of the organic fraction of low-rank coals are the high inherent moisture and oxygen contents, and the correspondingly low heating value. Mineral matter (ash) contents and compositions of all coals are highly variable; however, low-rank coals tend to have a higher proportion of the alkali components CaO, MgO, and Na/sub 2/O. About 90% of the reserve base of US low-rank coal has less than one percent sulfur. Water resources in the major low-rank coal-bearing regions tend to have highly seasonal availabilities. Some areas appear to have ample water resources to support major new coal projects; in other areas such as Texas, water supplies may be constraining factor on development.

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Computer software for multicomponent bulk separation by pressure swing adsorption: Equilibrium, linear driving force and bidispersed pore diffusion models: Final report, Part 2

Three mathematical models (Equilibrium, Linear Driving force and Bidispersed Pore Diffusion Models) were developed to simulate and predict the performance of binary and multicomponent pressure swing adsorption processes. These models are capable of simulating all steps of the PSA cycle and predicting the effects of different process variables on the separation performance. Input data required by the models are equilibrium adsorption isotherms, and kinetic or diffusion data. Two FORTRAN programs were developed to simulate a PSA process for multicomponent bulk separation. In the subsequent sections, production of hydrogen from a coal gasification mixture (a mixture of H/sub 2/, CH/sub 4/, CO, CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/S) using 5A zeolite is used as an example to explain the usage of the program. However, with slight modifications this software can be used for other PSA systems. 22 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

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Displacement of Oil by Carbon Dioxide

Results of a comprehensive research program on factors influencing CO/sub 2/ flooding are reported. Equipment constructed for static equilibrium measurements of phase volumes, compositions, densities and viscosities is described. Design of an apparatus used for a variety of displacement tests is also reported. Apparatus and experimental procedures are described for a new experiment in which equilibrium phase compositions can be measured rapidly and continuously. Results of displacements of crude oil from slim tubes, cores and mixing cells are presented and interpreted in terms of detailed measurements of the phase behavior and fluid properties of the CO/sub 2/-crude oil mixtures. The complex phase behavior of low temperature CO/sub 2/-crude oil mixtures is described and compared with similar behavior for CO/sub 2/-alkane mixtures. A simple correlation is offered for the ranges of reservoir temperature and pressure at which liquid-liquid and liquid-liquid-vapor phase behavior should be expected to occur. Direct evidence is presented of the efficiency with which a CO/sub 2/-rich liquid phase can extract hydrocarbons from a crude oil. A simple one-dimensional process simulator for CO/sub 2/ flooding applications is described. Simulation results are compared with experimental data from slim tube displacements. Good agreement is reported between calculated and experimental results as long as the volume change of CO/sub 2/ on mixing with the oil is not too great. Sensitivity of calculated results to phase behavior and fluid properties is discussed. Comparison of displacement results, phase behavior measurements, and model calculations provides strong evidence that the high displacement efficiency which can be obtained when pressure is high enough and viscous fingering is controlled is the result of efficient extraction of a broad range of hydrocarbons by a dense CO/sub 2/-rich phase which is a liquid if the temperature is below about 50/sup 0/C (130/sup 0/F).

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Low-rank coal study. Volume 4. Regulatory, environmental, and market analyses

The regulatory, environmental, and market constraints to development of US low-rank coal resources are analyzed. Government-imposed environmental and regulatory requirements are among the most important factors that determine the markets for low-rank coal and the technology used in the extraction, delivery, and utilization systems. Both state and federal controls are examined, in light of available data on impacts and effluents associated with major low-rank coal development efforts. The market analysis examines both the penetration of existing markets by low-rank coal and the evolution of potential markets in the future. The electric utility industry consumes about 99 percent of the total low-rank coal production. This use in utility boilers rose dramatically in the 1970's and is expected to continue to grow rapidly. In the late 1980's and 1990's, industrial direct use of low-rank coal and the production of synthetic fuels are expected to start growing as major new markets.

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Computer model for comparative economic analysis of enhanced oil recovery projects. GURC Report No. 184A

A computer model has been developed for comparative analysis of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project economics which affords the versatility to analyze economic sensitivities for most injection sequences and economic aspects of several different types of enhanced oil recovery processes. Input of economic parameters is in terms of constant value dollars for investments and operating costs. Input of project performance is by specifying cumulative fractional oil recovery versus cumulative pore volumes of material injected. Risk can be appraised by input of three such relations, i.e., expected, good, and poor performance, each of which can be probability-weighted. Conversion to time-rate of recovery is done internally, either through input transmissibility data or user specified pore volume injection rate for each injection stage. Economic sensitivities to various input parameters are in terms of a new economic parameter, present value cost per present value barrel, which was developed in the course of this work. Project performance and economic data from Maraflood projects in Pennsylvania and Illinois were utilized to demonstrate model capability. Economic sensitivities are presented for variation in: barrels per acre-foot recovered, time rate of recovery, cost of chemical slug, cost of polymer, initial investment, and direct operating cost. The model is intended primarily for investigation of economic sensitivities to parameters like: oil in place at project initiation, recovery efficiency, transmissibility, and material-investment-operating costs. It is not intended for a stand alone evaluation of the feasibility of undertaking a specific project, although it can be used in support of programs designed to do so.

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In-situ combustion models for the steam plateau and for fieldwide oil recovery

In this study, two interrelated parts of the in-situ combustion oil recovery process have been investigated. The steam plateau region of laboratory combustion tube experiments was studied and heat transfer modes describing the steam plateau were defined. The combustion parameters affecting the steam plateau were also studied and evaluated. An analytical heat model was developed which describes the movement of the steam plateau axially along a cylinder with heat loss through an annular insulation. The behavior of the solution was studied to determine the interaction of the heat transfer mechanisms in laboratory cores. The agreement between experimental laboratory temperature profiles and those computed by model were satisfactory. In the second part of the study, correlations were developed to predict field scale recovery of dry in-situ combustion processes. Basically, a case history analysis was made on field tests as a first step. The recovery histories of those field systems were studied. A combination of an engineering and a statistical approach was used to develop the correlations. The match between the correlations and field test results was also satisfactory. The study shows that the recovery correlations developed for dry combustion processes may be used for the recovery prediction of the wet combustion test in which the air-water injected ratio is high. This study also indicated that air injection and/or oil migration losses are important factors affecting the recovery mechanisms of a pilot project. Thus in pilot projects, for the same air injection, the recovery is somewhat less than found in fieldwide cases. The extension of one of the correlations to pilot dry in-situ combustion projects shows that the correlation parameters used to predict field scale recovery appeared to be reasonable as correlating parameters for dry pilot projects.

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