[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51839-51843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26276]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Restricted Eligibility in Support of Advanced Coal Research at 
U.S. Colleges and Universities

AGENCY: Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC), Pittsburgh, Department 
of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Issuance of financial assistance solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The FETC announces that pursuant to 10 CFR 600.8(a)(2), and in 
support of advanced coal research to U.S. colleges and universities, it 
intends to conduct a competitive Program Solicitation and award 
financial assistance grants to qualified recipients. Proposals will be 
subjected to a comparative merit review by a Peer Review/DOE technical 
panel, and awards will be made to a limited number of proposers on the 
basis of the scientific merit of the proposals, application of relevant 
program policy factors, and the availability of funds.

DATES: The Program Solicitation is expected to be ready for release by 
October 15, 1997. Applications must be prepared and submitted in 
accordance with the instructions and forms in the Program Solicitation 
and must be received by the Department of Energy by November 26, 1997. 
Upon receipt of the solicitation document, check for any changes (i.e. 
closing date of solicitation) and/or amendments, if any, prior to 
proposal submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Debra A. Duncan, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Federal Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 10940 (MS 921-
143), Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940; (Telephone: 412-892-5700; Facsimile: 
412-892-6216; E-Mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1672637875777856707362753872797338717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6307160d00020d23050617004d070c064d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>).

ADDRESSES: The solicitation will be posted on the internet at FETC's 
Home Page (http://www.fetc.doe.gov/business/solicit/solicit.html). The 
solicitation will also be available, upon request, in Wordperfect 5.1 
format on 35'' double-sided/high-density disk. Requests can be made via 
letter, facsimile, or by
E-mail. Telephone requests will not be accepted for any format version 
of the solicitation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Through Program Solicitation DE-PS26-
98FT98200.000, the DOE is interested in applications from U.S. colleges 
and universities (and university-affiliated research centers submitting 
applications through their respective universities). Applications will 
be selected to complement and enhance research being conducted in 
related Fossil Energy (FE) programs. Applications may be submitted 
individually (i.e., by only one college/university) or jointly (i.e., 
by ``teams'' made up of: (1) three or more colleges/universities, or 
(2) two or more colleges/universities and at least one industrial 
partner. Collaboration, in the form of joint proposals, is encouraged 
but not required.

Eligibility

    Applications under this solicitation may be accepted in two 
subprogram areas: (1) University Coal Research (UCR) Core Program, and 
(2) University Coal Research Innovative Concepts Program. Applications 
must address coal research in one of the solicitation key focus areas 
in the Core Program or as outlined in the Innovative Concepts Program.

Background

    A concept called ``Vision 21'' is being developed as part of the 
Coal and Power Systems Strategic Plan which will provide DOE's Fossil 
Energy organization with a clear focus and mission and will be central 
to the course of fossil energy research. Vision 21 is, in essence, the 
idea of a modular co-production facility that is designed for facile 
capture of CO<INF>2</INF>. The concept does not define a single, 
optimum configuration but rather allows for a series of plant 
configurations, based on common modules, capable of co-producing power, 
fuels, chemicals, and other high value products with avoidance or 
sequestration of CO<INF>2</INF> and with low emissions of 
SO<INF>2</INF>, NO<INF>X</INF> , and particulates. It is envisioned 
that their modular construction will permit the plants to be tailored 
to fit a geographic location and specific market area by selection of 
the appropriate combination of modules. The modules will be scaled to 
operate together and may be available in several size ranges. In 
summary, the distinguishing features of the definitive Vision 21 fleet 
would be (1) the capability of producing low cost electricity at 
efficiencies over 60%; (2) near-zero pollutants, i.e., one-tenth of New 
Source Performance Standards for criteria pollutants; (3) no net 
CO<INF>2</INF> emissions; (4) fuel flexibility (coal plus other 
opportunity fuels); (5) co-production of higher value commodities; and 
(6) modular design that permits customizing a plant to a given market 
area.
    For purposes of this solicitation, the feedstock may be coal or any 
carbonaceous material in combination with coal. Gas or biomass could be 
combined with the coal to reduce or offset fossil carbon emissions in 
stages of development where CO<INF>2</INF> was not completely 
sequestered. Petroleum coke could be used near refineries and municipal 
waste could also be a fraction of any feed. These Vision 21 plants 
would answer the needs of a deregulated power industry in that they 
would provide the ability to supply distributed power while producing 
high value products. The flexibility to shift product distribution with 
market forces would make the fledgling plants more robust in a 
competitive market. The capability to readily capture a concentrated 
CO<INF>2</INF> stream will be an added benefit should a ``carbon tax'' 
be levied and would allow market forces to determine whether carbon is 
sequestered or taxed-on-release. The Power/Fuels/ Chemicals industry 
will produce environmentally responsible power, fuels, and chemicals 
that will be the basis for a secure energy future. The high efficiency 
of the new power systems will allow more efficient use of indigenous 
resources and further reduce CO<INF>2</INF> emissions. Developments in 
breakthrough technologies, such as the high temperature hydrogen 
separation membrane and advanced oxygen production, will be spinoffs 
that will be beneficial to many industries. The work in three-phase 
slurry reactors is universally applicable to chemical and petroleum 
industries, and development of advanced Diesel fuels will increase gas 
mileage by 50% or more while reducing particulates and CO<INF>2

[[Page 51840]]

</INF>emissions. Advanced research into areas of proposed regulation 
and into newly regulated materials, such as PM<INF>2.5</INF> and 
mercury, will provide the knowledge base necessary for judicious 
application of the law. A module will be included in the Vision 21 
slate when it has been physically demonstrated at full-scale. Data from 
these demonstrations will permit ready simulation of any permutation of 
modules in a ``virtual demonstration'' of a plant configuration. At 
some point, it will be possible to provide the market and feedstock 
information for a geographic area and receive a prioritized list of 
plant configurations based on demonstrated modules. This virtual 
demonstration will provide significant economies when siting, 
designing, and constructing Vision 21 plants. Research should be 
continuous in all areas of fuels, chemicals, and carbon materials 
production and power generation to include environmental mitigation 
technologies and facile CO<INF>2</INF> capture. As developments in some 
technologies are slowed by barriers, those technologies may be moved 
back into a more advanced research mode. No area should be completely 
abandoned. The advantage of the Vision concept is that, for example, if 
one gasifier technology is slowed, another will be developed in 
parallel. If a technology is not able to be economically developed, it 
will not stop the progress of Vision 21, but will only change 
configuration options. The UCR program is moving in the direction of 
Vision 21 and will be providing the longer range research needs 
asociated with Vision 21 in addition to continuing to support our 
present program areas. As you may infer, Vision 21 is not exclusive of 
our present work, but is rather a concept that provides a longer term 
focus and direction to our research programs.

UCR Core Program

    The DOE is interested in innovative and fundamental research 
pertinent to coal conversion and utilization limited to six (6) focus 
areas under the UCR Core Program. The focus areas are listed in 
descending order of programmatic priority. The DOE intends to fund at 
least one proposal in each focus area; however, high quality proposals 
in a higher ranked focus area may be given more consideration during 
the selection process. The areas sought in the focus areas are not 
intended to be all-encompassing, and it is specifically emphasized that 
other subjects for coal research that fall within their scope will 
receive the same evaluation and consideration for support as the 
examples cited.

UCR Core Program Focus Areas

Mercury Detection and Control

    Concern over mercury emissions from power plant stack gas has 
increased since the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act, where mercury 
was included in the list of 189 hazardous air pollutants. Mercury is 
present in most coals at trace levels and, during gasification or 
combustion processes, is partitioned between the ash, particulate (fly 
ash), and gas phases. Any mercury in the ash or particulate is readily 
measured and controlled, but the behavior of vapor phase mercury is 
problematic. Significant quantities of mercury leave the gasification 
or combustion zone in the vapor phase as elemental mercury, mercuric 
chloride, or some other volatile mercury compound, and no known single 
technique can effectively remove all forms of mercury. The initial 
distribution between the elemental and oxidized mercury varies with the 
plant, coal, and conditions. As the entrained vapor travels down the 
thermal and chemical gradients of subsequent gas processing, be it for 
gasification or combustion, the valence states and forms of the mercury 
change, yet again, as the various mercury species react with oxidizing 
gases, such as chlorine, added gas treatment reagents, and compounds 
sorbed on them. In addition, fly ash, unburned carbon, and other 
particulate components of the gas stream may interact or catalyze 
reactions of the mercury compounds.
    It has become apparent that the system is significantly more 
complex than previously imagined and that to measure and control 
mercury in these gas streams, a basic understanding of the chemistry of 
mercury under the range of thermal and chemical conditions found in 
gasification and combustion processes is necessary.
    Grant applications are sought for fundamental investigations into 
the measurement and the removal of mercury and mercury compounds in 
coal fired power plant flue gases and coal gasifier internal process 
streams. In particular, the proposals should focus on one or both of 
the following aspects: (1) Defining and understanding the mechanisms 
involved with mercury transformation during combustion and 
gasification, focusing on the identification of the rate-controlling 
steps (i.e., transport, equilibria, and kinetics), and (2) Defining and 
understanding the mechanisms involved with mercury transformations 
during post combustion/gasification conditions (i.e., gas and particle 
phase interactions) resulting in the absorption of mercury and 
conversion of one form of mercury to another. This would include 
defining and understanding the physical and chemical interactions of 
flue gas constituents (vapor and particle) on the absorption of mercury 
while injecting novel sorbents.
    Novelty of approach, coupled with the likelihood of providing 
useful measurements and fundamental data must be demonstrated in the 
successful application. Proposals based on incremental additions to the 
current data base are not encouraged.

Novel Catalysts for Advanced Diesel Fuels

    With the renewed interest in synthetic diesel fuels derived from 
Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) reaction of Syngas and the concomitant research 
into oxygenated diesel fuels, such as ethers and acetals, there is a 
need for new catalysts that are more selective, operate under milder 
conditions, and economically produce stable, high-cetane-number diesel 
fuels and additives. These would be produced either in a stand alone 
facility or, more likely, as part of a coal-fed Vision 21 co-production 
plant. The drive to produce diesel specification fuels is the result of 
increased sales of light trucks, vans, and sport/utility vehicles that 
now account for over 50% of the market. These vehicles, much less fuel 
efficient than modern sedans, will probably be forced to use diesel 
engines to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements. The 
engines will behave operationally and environmentally like modern spark 
ignition engines and use fuels that are compatible with the present 
distribution infrastructure to ease the conversion to the new fuels.
    Grant applications are sought for investigations into the area of 
new catalysts for selective, economic, and environmentally acceptable 
oxygenated and high-cetane-number diesel fuels. The fuels produced must 
be compression ignitable and may not include methanol. The work should 
lead to novel catalysts to produce such fuels or a better basic 
understanding of catalytic production of diesel fuels.

Advanced Air Separation Technologies

    An Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) system is a likely 
modular component of a Vision 21 co-production plant. In an IGCC 
system, coal and other carbonaceous feedstocks are partially combusted 
at elevated temperatures and pressures to produce synthesis gas, a 
mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas must be 
cleaned of sulfur compounds and particulates before use. IGCC 
technology

[[Page 51841]]

is ideally suited for the coproduction of electricity and high quality 
transportation fuel or a host of high-value chemicals to meet specific 
market needs. For the production of electricity, the gasifier can use 
either air or pure oxygen for the partial combustion reactions. 
However, for coproduction of power and fuels/chemicals, oxygen is 
required to reduce the quantity of inert materials in downstream 
process units. The coproduction option offers the potential for early 
introduction of IGCC technologies in the United States through 
integration with existing manufacturing facilities and will lead 
directly to Vision 21 plants. Through the continued development of 
improved technologies, DOE hopes to further reduce the capital cost of 
IGCC facilities to below $1,000 per kilowatt, achieve high overall 
plant efficiencies, produce environmentally superior transportation 
fuels that are cost competitive with those produced from petroleum, and 
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
    Grant applications are sought to develop advanced air separation 
techniques that have potential for substantial reductions in capital 
and operating costs compared with commercial cryogenic air separation 
technologies and result in improved overall process efficiencies for 
Vision 21 modules such as IGCC with co-production of fuels and 
chemicals.
    The proposed technologies can either focus on the production of 
pure oxygen or enriched air (e.g., 65-85% oxygen in nitrogen). Such 
technologies are not further defined but could include advanced 
molecular sieve membranes, advanced absorption technologies or oxygen 
transport membranes. The proposed concept need not be a standalone 
technology and those that require integration into specific processes 
to achieve the desired cost and efficiency improvements are acceptable.

Direct Coal Liquefaction

    Direct coal liquefaction includes technologies for converting coal 
or mixtures of coal with petroleum resids, waste materials (plastics, 
rubber), or biomass (wood, paper) to liquid products suitable for 
further refining for ultimate use as transportation fuels. Application 
of these technologies has been delayed by the need to reduce costs of 
both the initial conversion processes and the downstream processes for 
the upgrading of the liquid products. Better knowledge of chemical 
reactions pertinent to the conversion of coal and the prevention of the 
formation of refractory products would benefit the design of process 
strategies and to reduce cost of direct liquefaction. Knowledge that 
would enable the more efficient use of hydrogen would improve the 
overall thermal efficiency and reduce the net emissions of 
CO<INF>2</INF> from the conversion process. A key requirement for 
improving the science underlying the technology of the initial 
conversion of coal, or its co-processing mixtures, is a better 
understanding of the complex chemistry of the conversion steps. These 
steps involve combinations of thermal cracking and hydrogenation, 
usually with a dispersed or supported catalyst. Another problem lie in 
the hydrotreatment of the liquids produced by the initial steps. This 
downstream catalytic upgrading involves extensive hydrogenation in 
order ultimately to produce a fuel that will meet performance and 
environmental standards. Reduction of the cost and hydrogen consumption 
in these upgrading steps requires raising the performance of catalytic 
hydrotreating processes. Such improvements would be made easier if 
better knowledge of the target molecules for hydrodesulfurization and 
hydrodenitrogenation were available.
    Grant applications are being sought to understand these mechanisms 
better, or to develop ways to overcome these barriers to advancing this 
technology.

CO<INF>2</INF> Capture and Sequestration

    Future advanced power generation systems, such as Vision 21, will 
be designed to eliminate any CO<INF>2</INF> emissions from the plant. 
The high energy penalties and high costs associated with removing 
CO<INF>2</INF> from the flue gas of a fossil fuel-fired power plant 
represent major impediments to future use of CO<INF>2</INF> 
sequestration. Novel methods for capture and sequestration of 
CO<INF>2</INF> that sharply reduce these energy penalties and costs 
must be investigated. Promising approaches could include the 
development of new scrubbing solvents or sorbents, or the development 
of advanced sequestration techniques that are compatible with the 
Vision 21 concept. Since, in the sequestration schemes for 
CO<INF>2</INF>, transport could be a major economic and practical 
concern, proposed ideas may also be related to the ease of transporting 
CO<INF>2</INF> to a storage site. Proposed methods of CO<INF>2</INF> 
disposal could include but not be limited to new ideas on using oil and 
gas reservoirs, the deep oceans, deep confined aquifers, and mineral 
carbonates.
    Grant applications are sought to investigate areas of novel methods 
of CO2 capture and sequestration that are technically, economically, 
and ecologically feasible. The proposed work should be consistent with 
the Vision 21 concept, novel in nature, and may include, but must not 
be limited to a review of prior research related to this focus area.

Advanced Diagnostics and Modeling Techniques for Three-Phase Slurry 
Reactors (Bubble Columns)

    The Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis reaction represents an 
important route to convert coal-derived synthesis gas to hydrocarbon 
fuels and will be a module for the Vision 21 plants. Slurry phase 
Fischer-Tropsch processing is considered a potentially more economic 
scheme to convert synthesis gas into liquid fuels, largely due to its 
relatively simple reactor design, improved thermal efficiency, and 
ability to process CO-rich synthesis gas. The application of the three-
phase slurry reactor system to coal liquefaction and the chemical 
process industry has recently received considerable attention. A 
reliable model will be invaluable for the design, scale-up, and 
efficient operation of the three-phase slurry reactors. To develop such 
a model, the hydrodynamic parameters and the complex chemistry of the 
F-T reaction must be fully understood. ``Hydrodynamics'' includes the 
rate of mass transfer between the gas and the liquid, gas bubble size, 
gas, liquid, and solids holdup, and gas, liquid, and solids axial and 
radical distributions, velocity distribution and flow regimes. 
Measurement of these parameters must be made under reaction conditions, 
such as high temperature and pressure, and with the presence of a 
reaction liquid medium and high gas and solids holdup. It is expected 
that advanced diagnostic techniques will be required to conduct the 
measurements under the reaction conditions.
    The completed model must be able to predict the holdup of all 
phases (gas, liquid, and solids), temperature and pressure profiles, 
and concentration profiles for individual reactants and products.
    Grant applications are sought for investigations of the advanced 
diagnostic techniques for the measurement of hydrodynamic parameters 
under Fischer-Tropsch reaction conditions. Novelty and innovation 
coupled with the likely prospect of providing new insight on these long 
standing problems must be demonstrated in the successful application. 
Proposals based on extensions of traditional methods or past results 
are discouraged.
    Grant applications are sought for investigations of the development 
of models for the three-phase slurry reactor. The model must 
incorporate the

[[Page 51842]]

hydrodynamic parameters and reaction kinetics. Novelty and innovation 
coupled with the likely prospect of providing new insight on these long 
standing problems must be demonstrated in the successful application.

UCR Innovative Concepts Program

    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 systems, such 
as a Vision 21 plant, and environmental systems will come into play as 
older plants are retired and utilities explore new ways to meet the 
growing demand for electricity.
    The DOE is interested in innovative research in the coal conversion 
and utilization areas that will be required if coal is to continue to 
play a dominant role in the generation of electric power. Technical 
topics like the ones that follow, will need to be answered but are not 
intended to be all-encompassing. It is specifically emphasized that 
other subjects for coal research will receive the same evaluation and 
consideration for support as the examples cited.

UCR Innovative Concepts Program Technical Topic(s)

Fine Particulate Matter

    Fine particulate matter is defined as material with an aerodynamic-
equivalent diameter of 2.5 microns or less and is generally represented 
as PM<INF>2.5 </INF>It represents a broad class of substances dispersed 
through the atmosphere and originates from a variety of sources. These 
particles, which have been associated with adverse human health 
effects, are generally divided into two classes, Primary and Secondary. 
Primary particles are emitted directly as such, as fly ash, soot, dust, 
or sea salt. Secondary particles are formed in the atmosphere mainly 
from gas phase precursors such as SO<INF>2</INF>, NO<INF>X</INF>, and 
VOC to produce particles such as sulfuric acid, ammonium nitrate, and 
ammonium bisulfate. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency 
promulgated a new PM<INF>2.5 </INF>National Ambient Air Quality 
Standards. These standards will affect the operation of much of our 
industrial base, including fossil fueled power and industrial plants. 
In light of the regulations, it will be important to capture and 
identify particles as to composition and probable sources and would 
greatly affect the industries controlled and the levels of controls 
required.
    Grant applications are sought for proposals to investigate 
innovative methods for the quantitative capture and chemical analysis 
of air borne PM<INF>2.5 </INF>particles with the goal of source 
apportionment.
    Additionally, grant applications are sought for methods that allow 
on-line measurement or control at sources such as fossil fueled power 
and industrial plants.

Materials--Development of Innovative Protective Surface Oxide Coatings

    Protection from corrosion and environmental effects arising from 
damaging reactions with gases and condensed products is required to 
exploit the potential of advanced high-temperature materials designed 
to improve energy efficiency fully and reduce deleterious environmental 
impact (e.g., to achieve the performance goals of the Vision 21 
powerplants). The resistance to such reactions is best afforded by the 
formation of stable surface oxides that are slow growing, compact, and 
adherent to the substrate or by the deposition of coatings that contain 
or develop oxides with similar characteristics. However, the ability of 
brittle ceramic films and coatings to protect the material on which 
they are formed or deposited has long been problematical, particularly 
for applications involving numerous or severe high temperature thermal 
cycles or very aggressive environments. This lack of mechanical 
reliability severely limits the performance or durability of alloys and 
ceramics in many high-temperature utility and powerplant applications 
and places severe restrictions on deployment of such materials. The 
beneficial effects of certain alloying additions on the growth and 
adherence of protective oxide scales on metallic substrates are well 
known, but satisfactory broad understandings of the mechanisms by which 
scale properties and coating integrity (i.e., corrosion resistance) are 
improved by compositional, microstructural, and processing 
modifications are lacking.
    Grant applications are sought for expanding the scientific and 
technological approaches to improving stable surface oxides for 
corrosion protection in high-temperature oxidizing environments. The 
needs are associated with developing innovative oxide coatings and 
characterizing oxide-metal interfaces and stress effects on scale 
growth as part of DOE's efforts to establish a sound technical basis 
for the formulation of specific compositions and synthesis routes for 
producing materials with tough, adherent, stable, slow growing oxide 
scales or coatings that exhibit the improved elevated temperature 
environmental resistance crucial to the success of many of FE's 
advanced systems.

In-Situ Removal of Contaminants From High-Temperature Fuel Cells

    The product gas from advanced coal gasification systems contains 
numerous contaminants that are unacceptable for the present designs of 
high-temperature molten carbonate and solid oxide fuel cells (MCFCs and 
SOFCs, respectively). In a Vision 21 Plant, as in all coal gasification 
and combustion processes, there is a tradeoff between gas cleanup and 
downstream process durability. The desired long-term operation (40,000 
hours) of current MCFCs and SOFCs can be significantly reduced by even 
trace amounts of these contaminants. These contaminants include 
particulates (e.g., coal fines and ash), sulfur compounds (e.g., 
H<INF>2</INF>S and COS), halides (e.g., HCl and HF), nitrogen compounds 
(e.g., NH<INF>3</INF> and HCN), and trace metal species (e.g., As, Pb, 
Hg, Cd, Sn). The effects of these contaminants include plugging of gas 
passages, corrosion of fuel cell components, and voltage losses due to 
various mechanisms, including physical absorption, chemisorption, or 
chemical reaction with fuel cell materials. Tolerance limits can be 
below 1 ppm, and the effects vary in severity but all are detrimental 
to fuel cell performance. It is unlikely that the next generation of 
gas cleanup and gas separation processes in the Vision 21 scenario will 
provide gas purity sufficient for long-term operation of MCFCs and 
SOFCs manufactured with current materials and fabrication techniques. 
If coal-based systems, such as Vision 21, are to take advantage of the 
high efficiency and other benefits of high-temperature fuel cells, 
methods for in-situ removal of contaminants will greatly increase the 
resiliency of these devices and would be applicable to any level of 
electrode materials technology.
    Grant applications are sought for proposals to investigate 
innovative methods for cost-effective, in-situ removal of deposits, 
including ash, carbon, and trace metals, from MCFC and SOFC surfaces. 
The proposed work may include, but must not be limited to a review of 
prior research related to this focus area.

[[Page 51843]]

Prevention of Catalyst Carryover in Three Phase Reactors

    There is renewed interest in F-T derived diesel fuels, produced in 
a stand alone facility or as part of a coal-fed Vision 21 co-production 
plant. To maximize the percentage of diesel fuel obtained, the catalyst 
would be designed to allow diesel range products to be the second 
largest portion of the product, while maximizing the production of wax. 
The wax would be further hydrocracked to diesel fuel in a separate 
step. Assuming that a three-phase slurry reactor would be chosen for 
the F-T process, there exists the problem of separating the wax from 
the molten catalyst-wax slurry as its level rises. The wax, of carbon 
number 20 to 70, is both the product and the slurry medium.
    Grant applications are sought to develop operations, processes, or 
reactor configurations that maintain the necessary catalyst inventory 
in the reactor.

Advanced Power Generation Cycles

    One of the most effective ways to reduce CO<INF>2</INF> and other 
emissions from coal-fired powerplants and to achieve the targets for 
the Vision 21 plant is to significantly increase the efficiency of 
power plants. New cycles are intended for combined cycle applications, 
that could increase the efficiency of powerplants to well over 45%.
    Grant applications are being solicited for investigation and study 
of new cycles for power generation. Specific areas of study may include 
high temperature (<difference>1,000F), high pressure (<difference>2,400 
psi) ammonia/water vapor/ liquid thermodynamic properties at various 
volume ratios, validation of efficiency projects, alternative 
approaches to complex combined cycle evaluations for better matching of 
conventional and advanced technology processes, economics, and 
identification of barriers (corrosion and new materials investigations, 
heat transfer coefficients in two liquid mixtures for application in 
falling film heat exchangers), to commercialization. Any novel topping 
and bottoming cycles may be offered.

Liquids From Coal

    The many advantages of using and handling liquid fuels and chemical 
feedstocks has driven research to produce these materials from low-
cost, abundant coal. During most of this century, many processes have 
been developed and a few of these were commercialized at some point. 
With the advent of Vision 21 and the co-production concept, 
opportunities may now exist for identification and development of novel 
liquefaction processes that would fit the modular design criterion and 
permit ready sequestration of CO<INF>2</INF>.
    Grant applications are being solicited for investigation and study 
of new methods to produce value-added liquids from coal consistent with 
the Vision 21 concept.

Awards

    DOE anticipates awarding financial assistance grants for each 
project selected. Approximately $2.7 million will be available for the 
Program Solicitation. An estimated $2.2 million is budgeted for the UCR 
Core Program and should provide funding for approximately one to three 
(1-3) financial assistance awards in each of the six focused areas of 
research. The maximum DOE funding for individual colleges/universities 
applications in the UCR Core Program varies according to the length of 
the proposed performance period as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Maximum 
                      Performance period                        funding 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-12 months..................................................    $80,000
13-24 months.................................................    140,000
25-60 months.................................................    200,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The maximum DOE funding for UCR Core Program joint applications is 
$400,000 requiring a performance period of 36 months.
    Approximately $0.5 million is budgeted for the UCR Innovative 
Concepts Program and should provide support for approximately ten (10) 
financial assistance awards. The maximum DOE funding for UCR Innovative 
Concepts Program awards is $50,000 with 12-month performance periods.

    Issued in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 25, 1997.
Richard D. Rogus,
Contracting Officer, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 97-26276 Filed 10-02-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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