Institutional plan: Supplements, FY 1998--FY 2003 Page: 41 of 125
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SUPPLEMENT 1: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS S1-33
science and to analysis of regional, national, and
global environmental issues, including acid
precipitation, air toxics, global climate change,
and wetlands management.
b. Current Programs (AA, AB, AC, AU,
and AW)
Argonne's R&D in fossil energy covers a
wide spectrum, including environmental control
technology; advanced technology in materials,
transport, and multiphase flow; liquefaction,
especially novel conversion from natural gas;
wetlands and waste management for oil producers;
fuel cells; upgrading of heavy crude oil and
residuum; gas recovery, transport, use, and
tracking; and environmental discharges.
Argonne's work in environmental control
technology emphasizes the development and
evaluation of new processes that offer
more cost-effective control of emissions. Current
research focuses on improving techniques for
controlling hazardous air pollutants ("air toxics"),
such as mercury, that are emitted when fossil fuels
are burned. The Laboratory has developed
sorbents based on chemical treatment of low-cost
substrates as a more economical alternative to
activated carbon for injection into power plant
ductworks; in addition, Argonne's flue gas
cleanup laboratory has studied the performance of
several proprietary sorbents in collaboration with
private industry. To decrease costs by removing
several pollutants in a single process, the
Laboratory is studying techniques for converting
mercury into soluble forms that can be captured in
existing flue gas scrubbers. Argonne researchers
have discovered beneficial reactions involving
multiple pollutants (nitrogen oxides and mercury)
that may lead to totally new commercial processes.
Other work addresses the sources and sinks of
mercury emissions; relative risks from utilities'
emissions of hazardous air pollutants; and impacts
from flue gas cleaning on emissions of air toxics,
discharges to water, and generation of solid
wastes.
Argonne is working in cooperation with filter
vendors to investigate pulse cleaning and material
behavior for ceramic-membrane dead-end filters
and advanced ceramic candle filters. Analytical
models are being developed to determine fluidmechanics and particle transport during filtration
and reverse gas cleaning. Specimens exposed for
extended periods (over 2,000 hours) to coal ash,
alkali, and contaminants are evaluated for changes
in physical and thermomechanical properties and
microstructure. Theoretical models and experi-
mental data are used in conjunction to predict
survivability of filters under conditions anticipated
in commercial service.
The Laboratory's work in advanced research
and technology development focuses on three
areas: materials, energy transport processes and
mechanisms, and multiphase flow. In the area of
materials applicable to advanced technologies for
coal conversion and combustion, the Laboratory
continues to develop (1) improved ceramics and
ceramic-based composites, along with non-
destructive techniques for evaluating ceramics at
various stages of processing, and (2) improved
metals and alloys.
Argonne's research on ceramic materials
continues to emphasize development of
nondestructive characterization methods. Current
work focuses on methods of characterizing
(1) density variations in ceramic composites for
cleaning up hot gas streams and (2) in situ thermal
properties of thermal-barrier coatings for advanced
gas turbines. Research continues on the gaseous
corrosion of metal alloys, with emphasis on (1) the
development of protective scales and their effects
on mechanical properties and (2) corrosion of
thermal-barrier coatings.
The Laboratory is providing technical support
for a field demonstration to evaluate technologies
for the treatment and disposal of naturally
occurring radioactive materials (NORM). At
present, few waste management facilities will
accept NORM wastes, a difficulty impairing the
development of U.S. petroleum resources. For the
field demonstration, Argonne is developing plans,
guiding the development of risk assessments, and
providing technical oversight.
In support of the DOE-Fossil Energy fuel cell
utility program, Argonne is investigating
technological issues important for industrial
development. For solid oxide fuel cells,
relationships between (1) interfacial geometry and
composition and (2) electrochemical overpotential
are being explored. For molten carbonateSUPPLEMENT 1: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS
S1-33
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Institutional plan: Supplements, FY 1998--FY 2003, report, July 1, 1997; Illinois. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc699077/m1/41/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.