AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Studies of fracture mechanics of coal. Phase II. Final technical report, 10 April 1981-31 July 1982

The objective of the research project is to develop a useful, predictive model for hydraulic fracturing of coal through (1) determination and use of experimental data on coal properties, (2) development of a computer model of the hydraulic fracturing process, and (3) to develop a field testing program. This report is divided into three, mutually exclusive sections. The first section reports experimentally obtained results on the variability of the fracture toughness of coal. Section II contains a description of a numerical simulation of the hydrofracturing process. The last section provides a review of the hydrofracture stimulation literature. Each section provides its own pertinent references. The first section titled Fracture toughness of coal - variability between seams and correlation with its grindability and chemical characteristics was abstracted and indexed separately for inclusion in the Energy Data Base. 50 references, 26 figures, 11 tables.

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Western gas sands project status report

The Western Gas Sands Project Plan, Project Implementation Plans, Project Plan Document FY 78 and the Quarterly Basin Activities Report are in various stages of preparation. Information gathering by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) of the initial data base for many of the project activities is continuing. Some base maps are complete and field investigations in the principal areas of interest are being conducted. Investigation of tight gas sands with scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction techniques and an X-ray spectrometer is proceeding. Research and Development by Energy Research Centers and National Laboratories funded by DOE has been directed toward the development of new tools and instrumentation systems, rock mechanics experiments, mathematical modeling and data analysis. The positive results of system development and data analysis techniques by Sandia and USGS/Menlo Park in determining fracture orientation have been very encouraging. The Field Test and Demonstrations section reports primarily on joint Government/Industry experiments. The Uinta Basin in Utah and Piceance Basin in Colorado have active massive hydraulic fracturing (MHF) experiments in the Upper Cretaceous tight gas formations. These are: Gas Producing Enterprises (GPE)--Natural Buttes No. 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22; Mobil Research and Development--F-31-13G; and Rio Blanco Natural Gas.

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Effect of rapid heating on coal nitrogen and sulfur release. Final report

A high energy laser was used for the rapid heating (up to 10/sup 6/ K/sec) of an entrained stream of pulverized coal particles in dilute phase with an inert gas. Residence time of the particles varied between 3 to 30 milliseconds, and particle temperature history was measured with a specially designed, scanning three color pyrometer. Mass loss of the various species during pyrolysis and devolatilization was determined by a seeded-tracer technique, utilizing a non-volatile additive (fine tungsten carbide powder). A two step, first order, global pyrolysis kinetics model describes the release of the total volatiles, the fuel bound nitrogen and the total sulfur. The experimental temperature history data along with the corresponding mass loss were used in a numerical least-squares algorithm to determine the Arrhenius type rate constants for two different coals.

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Modeling of CWM droplet combustion. Final report

The objective of the present study was to develop a one-dimensional, unsteady state model for coal-water mixture droplet combustion, and to compare the characteristic times for the various processes, such as water vaporization, devolatilization and char oxidation with available experimental data. A water film surrounding a spherical coal particle is considered to undergo vaporization by heat transfer from the hot air. After the water vaporization is complete, devolatilization begins. This process is assumed to be kinetically controlled. Water vaporization and devolatilization processes are modeled by using a hybrid Eulerian-Lagrangian method to obtain the properties of the gas-phase and the condensed-phase. An explicit finite difference scheme is used to solve the Eulerian gas-phase equation where as a Runga-Kutta scheme is employed to solve the Lagrangian condensed-phase equations. The predicted characteristic times for water vaporization is in good agreement with values proposed in the literature. At the present time there is insufficient data to draw any conclusions on the model. Methods are proposed to refine the simple kinetic model which takes into account pore diffusion and mass transfer for devolatilization and char oxidation. 9 references, 12 figures.

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A sensitivity analysis of the NPC study of tight gas

The TGAS model now under development is a useful tool to undertake further sensitivity analysis and evaluation on tight sands gas. This paper addresses the issue of economic rent and its implication for early resource development. The analysis of economic rents at the Uinta and Liceance Basins in the Rocky Mountains and the Edwards Lime and Cotton Valley regions of Texas indicates that the greatest near-term development potential appears to be in the Rockies and Texas--despite the preponderance of tight gas assumed by NPC to exist in the Northern Great Plains. The use of risk analysis in estimating resource economics is shown to be particularly important to the RandD community.

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Proceedings of the second workshop on remote sensing/lineament applications for energy extraction

The Second Workshop on Remote Sensing/Lineament Applications for Energy Extraction was held April 23-24, 1986, at the Ramada Inn in Morgantown, West Virginia, and was sponsored and hosted by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Fossil Energy, Morgantown Energy Technology Center. This annual meeting provides a forum for the exchange of information and was attended by 82 individuals who represented industry, private consulting firms, and DOE. Nine papers were presented at the meeting; participants in a panel discussion and an open discussion reviewed and analyzed the information presented. The proceedings has been reproduced from camera-ready manuscripts furnished by the authors. The papers have not been refereed, nor have they been extensively edited. All papers have been processed for inclusion in the Energy Data Base.

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Model for single-particle erosion of ductile materials

A model, based on engineering principles, is developed to predict surface erosion caused by the impact of a single particle. The particle trajectory is determined by solving the equations that govern the particle's motion during  its contact with the surface. The vertical force on the particle during impact is obtained by extending an analytical solution of the force versus penetration for a sphere indenting an elastic surface to a situation in which plastic deformation could also occur. The horizontal force on the particle is determined by assuming that the material ahead of the particle fails in shear. The influence of particle shape on erosion is investigated. Also, the local temperature rise due to impact is estimated in order to ascertain whether surface properties will be altered appreciably. Since this model was developed primarily for studying erosion in fluidized-bed combustors, most test cases have used properties of steel for the surface, properties of limestone for the particle, and relatively low impact velocities (<50 fps). The model predicts a velocity exponent varying between 1.8 and 2.3 and an angle of peak erosion in the range of 25/sup 0/ to 45/sup 0/. The particle diameter (d/sub p/) is found to have a significant effect on the erosion per unit particle mass only for small values of d/sub p/. For larger particle diameters, the erosion per unit particle mass is nearly independent of d/sub p/. An angular particle is shown to produce significantly more erosion than a spherical one and the peak erosion occurs at a smaller angle of impingement. The temperature rise of the surface strongly increases with increasing particle diameter and impact velocity. These trends are in good agreement with the information in the literature. Comparisons between model predictions and reported experimental data are provided when available. 35 refs., 52 figs., 1 tab.

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Enhanced Oil Recovery by CO2 Foam Flooding

The objective is to identify commercially available additives which are effective in reducing the mobility of carbon dioxide, CO/sub 2/, thereby improving its efficiency in the recovery of tertiary oil, and which are low enough in cost to be economically attractive. During the past year significant progress has been made in developing a commercial method of reducing the mobility of carbon dioxide in enhanced oil recovery processes. Four basic chemical structures, listed below, appear to show most promise for gas mobility control: (1) ethoxylated adducts of C/sub 8/ - C/sub 14/ linear alcohols; (2) sulfate esters of ethoxylated C/sub 9/ - C/sub 16/ linear alcohols; (3) low molecular weight co-polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; and (4) synthetic organic sulfonates. With the exception of the sulfonates, the above types are compatible with normal oil field brines, unaffected by the presence of crude oil and stable under conditions common in a petroleum reservoir. The second significant result during the year involves identification of several sulfonate structures that have high potential for mobility control for carbon dioxide. Commercial sulfonate additives are available that appear optimum for reservoirs where freshwater will be used to inject the surfactant solution. They can also be considered for limited brine applications, for as temperature increases the utility of sulfonates for mobility control also increases. This is encouraging since some of the previously identified additives are chemically unstable at temperatures encountered in most petroleum reservoirs. 113 references, 23 figures, 4 tables.

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Evaluation of alternate combustor concepts for gas turbine applications. Final report, October 1984-September 1986

This document reports work on the DOE/METC program entitled ''Evaluation of Alternate Combustor Concepts for Gas Turbine Applications.''This program aimed at an evaluation of the potential for controlling the products of combustion from coal combustion by the use of a slagging combustor. The coal fuels considered were coal water mixtures and dry pulverized coal. The program work included the design and fabrication of a refractory lined slagging combustor and combustion testing at 6 atmospheres pressure utilizing these coal fuels. Two combustion test runs utilizing No. 2 fuel oil and coal water slurry were made and showed that the combustor design and the test implementation were viable. The work has demonstrated the preliminary performance of slagging combustor system designed and fabricated under this program. Test results to date indicate that the designed exit temperatures have been obtained and that slagging can occur at these temperatures. Thus, this system is ready for the additional tests required to delineate the problems in coal-burning in a gas turbine combustor. 30 figs., 17 tabs.

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Determination of optimum electrolyte composition for molten carbonate fuel cells

The Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) is a promising option for highly efficient generation of electricity. The overall objective of this study was to optimize the composition of the presently used alkali carbonate electrolyte by modifying important fuel cell performance and endurance-related properties. A short list of carbonate melt characteristics affected by changes in alkali composition includes: ionic conductivity, vapor pressure and melting range, gas and electrode solubilities, materials corrosion and matrix stability effects, as well as surface tension, diffusion and electrokinetic effects. The study focused primarily on out-of-cell corrosion, solubility and stability of components, and electrode kinetic and wetting effects of the various candidate electrolyte compositions selected for screening. Finally, bench-scale (300 cm{sup 2}) fuel cell tests were operated, lasting from 1000 hours up to 5000 hours to confirm the general conclusions reached from the literature data and out-of-cell experiments. Overall, the major accomplishment of this study has been to show that significant improvements in fuel cell operation may be obtained by employing the eutectic lithium/sodium carbonate composition as the MCFC electrolyte. 84 refs., 26 figs., 13 tabs.

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COMPLETION AND STIMULATION OF FIVE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WELLS ALLEGANY AND CATTARAUGUS COUNTIES, NEW YORK

In order to evaluate the potential of the Devonian Shales as a source of natural gas, DOE/METC in Morgantown, West Virginia, has undertaken the Eastern Gas Shale Program (EGSP,4432 ); not only to characterize and identify the resource, but also to enhance and improve the productivity of wells completed in the shale. One of the methods used to achieve improved productivity is hydraulic fracturing and, more specifically, foam fracturing. The efforts by DOE/METC included completion and stimulation of five New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) wells; located in western Allegany County and southwestern Cattaraugus County, New York. The five wells were drilled on high school and college properties during the months of June and July 1981. DOE/METC's contribution to the program funded the stimulation and completion of the wells. This work was done under the engineering and field supervision of Gruy Federal, Inc. as contractor to DOE. The completion work took place in the months of July and August 1981. This consisted of running a cement bond log in each well. All logs showed good bonding. This was followed by perforating the Marcellus Shale through the 4-1/2-inch casing. During the next phase, the formation was broken down with 1500 gallons of regular HF acid and, then, foam fractured using 50,000 gallons of foam consisting of water and nitrogen; the fractures were propped with 60,000 pounds of sand. After the cleanout operations, open flow potentials and rock pressures were measured in each well. None of the wells had a gas show before fracturing but, after fracturing, open flow ranged from a low of 19 Mcf/D to a high of 73 Mcf/D. 1 reference, 6 figures, 1 table.

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Central Arkansas Energy Project:  coal to medium-Btu gas. Executive summary

The Central Arkansas Energy Project has as its objective the conversion of coal in a central location to a more readily usable energy source, medium Btu gas (MBG), for use at dispersed locations as fuel for power production and steam generation, or as a feedstock for chemical processing. The project elements consist of a gasification facility to produce MBG from coal, a pipeline to supply the MBG to the dispersed sites, called end-of-line users. The end-of-line users investigated were the repowering or refueling of an existing Arkansas Power and Light Co. (AP and L) generating station, an ammonia plant, and a combined cycle cogeneration facility for the production of steam and electricity. The steam would be supplied to industrial users and electricity distributed by the AP and L power grid. A comprehensive 14-month study was performed to investigate the project feasibility. The study included preliminary design of the gasification plant including process engineering design bases, process flow diagrams, utility requirements, system descriptions, project engineering design, equipment specifications, plot plan and section plot plans, preliminary piping and instrument diagrams, and facilities requirements. Capital and operating costs were developed based on information from the technical design. Financial analyses and sensitivities were determined. Detailed design and construction schedules and manpower loadings were developed. In summary, the project is technically feasible, but the financial soundness is difficult to project due to uncertainty in energy markets of competing fuels. Key variables which must be defined to a greater degree of certainty before the project can proceed are projections of competing fuel costs, development of the project market and fixing the value of electricity for the cogeneration market.

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A 32-month gasifier mechanistic study and downstream unit process development program for the pressurized ash-agglomerating fluidized bed gasification system: Quarterly report, October 1-December 32, 1986

During this past quarter, the TP-037 series of tests conducted to date demonstrated: a sulfur loading of the desulfurizer zinc-ferrite bed to >30 wt. %; a steady decrease in supplemental steam use per pound of product gas; sharp radial; temperature and sulfur loading gradients existing within the desulfurizer zinc-ferrite bed; and steam regeneration, one-tenth the rate of oxygen regeneration at two volume percent oxygen. Other work completed was: a Test Program Scope for PDU testing in 1987, revisions to the jet temperature model as discussed in section 7.0 and Appendix A, and an assessment of a material failure that occurred in the first cold wall spool piece at the gasifier exit. 5 refs., 51 figs., 51 tabs.

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A 32-Month gasifier mechanistic study and downstream unit process development program for the pressurized ash-agglomerating fluidized bed gasification system: Quarterly report, July 1-September 30, 1986

Work at KRW this reporting period focused primarily on design of an external hot gas zinc ferrite desulfurization process (Task 1) and PDU testing of an in-bed desulfurization and alkali removal system (Task 2) to develop PDU-scale data. Under Task 1, work continued toward finalizing subsystem design specifications and releasing procurement packages for system components so that PDU modifications can begin no later than December 1985. In-bed desulfurization testing at the PDU thus far has provided the following operational and process performance insights: in-bed desulfurization with dolomite is operationally feasible without great effect on gasifier performance and carbon utilization; dolomite feed and withdrawal rates can be independently controlled to assure dolomite balance; sulfur removal greater than 90% can be achieved with a high-sulfur (4.6%) coal versus 86% with a lower sulfur (2.4%) coal; maximum carbon conversion efficiency of 93%  was achieved during TP-036-3 (S.P. 7B). Carbon conversion efficiency was affected by performance of the fines recycle system. Analyses of data collected to date show that the primary parameters influencing desulfurization efficiency are: high bed dolomite concentration, low moisture content of the product gas, the mass input of sulfur, and gas residence time. 67 figs., 23 tabs.

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Catalytic carbon membranes for hydrogen production

Commercial carbon composite microfiltration membranes may be modified for gas separation applications by providing a gas separation layer with pores in the 1- to 10-nm range. Several organic polymeric precursors and techniques for depositing a suitable layer were investigated in this project. The in situ polymerization technique was found to be the most promising, and pure component permeation tests with membrane samples prepared with this technique indicated Knudsen diffusion behavior. The gas separation factors obtained by mixed-gas permeation tests were found to depend strongly on gas temperature and pressure indicating significant viscous flow at high-pressure conditions. The modified membranes were used to carry out simultaneous water gas shift reaction and product hydrogen separation. These tests indicated increasing CO conversions with increasing hydrogen separation. A simple process model was developed to simulate a catalytic membrane reactor. A number of simulations were carried out to identify operating conditions leading to product hydrogen concentrations over 90 percent. (VC)

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Study of the effects of soot, particulate, and other contaminants on molten carbonate fuel cells fueled by coal gas: Final report, August 1984-August 1987

This is an initial study to look at a broad spectrum of possible coal-gas, soot, particulate, and contaminant effects in the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) using both out-of-cell thermogravimetric analysis (isothermal TGA) and fuel cell testing. Initial studies with the TGA apparatus concerned soot formation at 650/degree/C and atmospheric pressure in a simulated coal-gas, after which soot-deposition with the same gas compositions was studied in bench-scale cells under both ambient and high pressure conditions. Good agreement was found between these tests. The effects of particles depositing inside the MCFC was also tested in bench-scale cells. Both modeling efforts and experimental data have shown that only a minor fraction of the submicron particles still present in fuel after passing a typical coal-gas (e.g. >1 ..mu..m) are strongly affected by gravitational settling and appear to precipitate and be removed from the gas in the various ducts and manifolds prior to entering the fuel cell. 31 refs., 28 figs., 19 tabs.

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Risk comparison

This report presents data for the comparison of societal risk from natural and man-made hazards. Only fatalities resulting from the hazards are used in the comparison, with the data and the comparative analysis taken from current literature. In comparing societal risks for most of the hazards, both expected values and frequency vs. consequence curves are presented. For a subset of hazards, notably the power generation technologies (nuclear, coal, oil, and gas), which have not exhibited high consequence events (catastrophes), the comparisons are based on estimated expected values only. Individual risk data are presented in two ways, a probability of death within a year and the amount of life shortening of an average life span. 27 refs., 21 figs., 25 tabs.

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Studies involving high temperature desulfurization/regeneration reactions of metal oxides for fuel cell development. Final report

Research conducted at Giner, Inc. during 1981 to 1983 under the present contract has been a continuation of the investigation of a high temperature regenerable desulfurization process capable of reducing the sulfur content in coal gases from 200 ppM to 1 ppM. The overall objective has been the integration of a coal gasifier with a molten carbonate fuel cell, which requires that the sulfur content be below 1 ppM. Commercially available low temperature processes incur an excessive energy penalty. Results obtained with packed-bed and fluidized bed reactors have demonstrated that a CuO/ZnO mixed oxide sorbent is regenerable and capable of lowering the sulfur content (as H/sub 2/S and COS) from 200 ppM in simulated hot coal-derived gases to below 1 ppM level at 600 to 650/sup 0/C. Four potential sorbents (copper, tungsten oxide, vanadium oxide and zinc oxide) were initially selected for experimental use in hot regenerable desulfurization in the temperature range 500 to 650/sup 0/C. Based on engineering considerations, such as desulfurization capacity in per weight or volume of sorbents, a coprecipitated CuO/ZnO was selected for further study. A structural reorganization mechanism, unique to mixed oxides, was identified: the creation of relatively fine crystallites of the sulfided components (Cu/sub 2/S and ZnS) to counteract the loss of surface area due to sintering during regeneration. Studies with 9 to 26% water vapor in simulated coal gases show that sulfur levels below 1 ppM can be achieved in the temperature range of 500/sup 0/ to 650/sup 0/C. The ability of CuO/ZnO to remove COS, CS/sub 2/ and CH/sub 3/SH at these conditions has been demonstrated in this study. Also a previously proposed pore-plugging model was further developed with good success for data treatment of both packed bed and fluidized-bed reactors. 96 references, 42 figures, 21 tables.

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