Award Data

NITROGEN OXIDE POLLUTION (NO(X)) EMITTED FROM COMBUSTORS FIRING FOSSIL FUELS (GAS, OIL, OR COAL) IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ACID RAIN PROBLEM. THE MOST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR REDUCING NO(X) INVOLVE THE INJECTION OF AMMONIA (NH(3)) INTO THE FLUE GAS TO REACT WITH NO(X), RESULTING IN THE FORMATION OF INERT MOLECULAR NITROGEN (N(2)) AND WATER. THESE PROCESSES INCLUDE THE USE OF BOTH CATALYSTS ...

60424 A decontamination method that is safe, is easily deployed, minimizes secondary wastes, and is effective on a large scale is needed within the DOE nuclear weapons complex to support the deactivation and decommissioning (D & D) mission. Leaving this key need unmet results in continued excess waste generation, increased personnel radiation exposure, adverse environmental impact, excessive ...

Worldwide fossil-fuel consumption is skyrocketing ¿ creating major social, political, economic, and environmental problems for the U.S. ¿ and once again revealing the urgent need to boost renewable energy sources, including biodiesel. However, key technical and economic challenges continue to make biodiesel fuel production too costly to compete with other liquid fuels, largely based on the cost ...

AUTOMATIC PIPE WELDING, FOR BOTH NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRWELDING, CURRENTLY DEPENDS UPON OPERATOR SKILL AND OTHER CONTROLS TO ASSURE SOUND WELDED JOINTS. ADDITIONAL EXPENSESSUCH AS X-RAY INSPECTION COMBINE TO MAKE THE COSTS OF ANY NECESSARY REWORK OF WELDED PIPES PROHIBITIVE. ELECTRODYNAMIC ARC AND PUDDLE CONTROL (EDAP) IS A THROUGH-THE-ARC METHOD OF SENSING BOTH WELD PUDDLE SIZE AND PENETRATIO ...

The long-term monitoring of groundwater contamination plumes to determine the fate of contaminants in the environment is expensive and labor intensive. Current baseline methods have resulted in monitoring programs that collect less data than is required to fully understand the fate and transport mechanisms of the contaminants. In this project, an automated field-deployable monitoring system, whi ...

60311 There are economic and environmental justifications for replacing conventional distillation processes with simpler membrane separations in certain applications. However, at present, there are no commercial membranes able to withstand the aggressive conditions associated with important industrial chemicals, including hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, and ozone. Prototype, chemic ...

60395 Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from gasoline refueling facilities continue to be an energy, safety, and environmental issue. In such applications, it is desired to vent the air in the system and keep the VOC behind. This project will develop a reverse separation membrane (RSM) system that allows for rapid venting of air while retaining the gasoline in underground storag ...

Membrane reactors have the potential to improve reactivity and productivity of various chemical syntheses, including transesterification. However, to be of value, these systems must provide a higher use temperature, improved chemical resistance, and better mass transfer. This project will identify chemically- and thermally-resistant membrane components, fabricate a membrane reactor based on thes ...

Many refinery product streams, particularly those from Ultra Low Hydrodesulfurisation units, are prone to haze due to water emulsions. Haze is also problematic for biodiesel production, as hazy fuel cannot be used until the haze settles or is removed, which creates costly scheduling and shipping delays. This project will develop a novel membrane process for the removal of dissolved and dispersed ...

60742 Magnet systems for Next Step Option (NSO) fusion devices will require insulation systems that can tolerate exposure to high levels of radiation as well as cryogenic and elevated temperatures. Currently available insulation systems either will not meet these requirements, or will compromise the magnet system design or economics to such an extent as to make them unfeasible. In this proj ...