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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Sorbent Based Post-Combustion CO 2 Slipstream Testing

TDA Research, Inc. has developed a low-cost sorbent (alkalized alumina) based technology for post-combustion CO 2 capture. The sorbent runs in an isothermal process for adsorption and regeneration. Neither temperature swing nor pressure swing is needed. TDA designed a system which operated 10 fixed beds to simulate a moving bed process. The flow pattern was optimized to minimize the steam usage for regeneration. An excellent sorbent (Batch 1) was also developed with collaboration with our partner. The sorbent degraded after long term operation. We developed a reprocessing procedure, which can be conducted in situ, to restore the sorbent capture capacity as the fresh sorbent after running for about 1250 hours. The reprocessing extended the sorbent longevity significantly. TDA designed a pilot unit (40’ x 32’ x 11.5’), processing flue gas equivalent to 0.5 MW of power generation. It had 10 beds and each bed could hold 1.75 m 3 of sorbent. We worked with Springs Fabrication, Inc. to complete the construction of the pilot unit. It was then shipped and installed at NCCC. The pilot unit was kept running in 24-hour mode when the flue gas and steam were available. It could run automatically without operator on site. Parametric and long-term (2 months) tests were carried out successfully. The results showed that TDA’s process can achieve 90% capture and 95% CO 2 purity for both coal and NG flue gases. For coal flue gas, the system reached performance target when processing up to 0.62 MW flue gas, 24% higher than the design capacity. Thus, capital cost could be saved on the reactors and sorbent. The strip air flow was designed to be 0.25 of that of the flue gas. The test data showed the strip/flue ratio can be reduced to as little as 0.18, which saves the power consumption for the strip air blower. The pressure drop was found to be lower than what the empirical equation calculated. The sorbent still had 91.7% of original capacity after 3-month test. With the data from the pilot test, we updated the TEA. For a 550-MW e supercritical coal fired power plant with CO 2 capture, the capture cost for TDA’s process is $34.9/tonne CO 2 captured, which meets DOE’s goal of $40/tonne and is 17.1% less than the DOE baseline Case 12. Therefore, TDA’s process has a good potential for commercialization.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Microstructural Characterization of the Second High Fluence Baffle-Former Bolt Retrieved from a Westinghouse Two-loop Downflow Type PWR

As one of the pressurized water reactor (PWR) internal components, baffle-former bolts (BFBs) are subjected to significant mechanical stress and neutron irradiation from the reactor core during the plant operation. Over the long operation period, these conditions lead to potential degradation and reduced load-carrying capacity of the bolts. In support of evaluating long-term operational performance of materials used in core internal components, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), through the Department of Energy (DOE), Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program, Materials Research Pathway (MRP) has harvested two high fluence BFBs from a commercial Westinghouse two-loop downflow type PWR. The two bolts of interest, i.e. bolts # 4412 and 4416, were withdrawn from service in 2011 as part of a preventative replacement plan. No identification of cracking or potential damage was found for these bolts during their removal in 2011. However, the bolts required a lower torque for removal from the baffle structure than the original torque specified during installation. Irradiation displacement damage levels in the bolts range from 15 to 41 displacements per atom. The goal of this project is to perform detailed microstructural and mechanical property characterization of BFBs following in-service exposures. The information from these bolts will be integral to the LWRS program initiatives in evaluating end of life microstructure and properties. Furthermore, valuable data will be obtained that can be incorporated into model predictions of long-term irradiation behavior and compared to results obtained in high flux experimental reactor conditions. In this report, we present our latest study in FY22 on microstructural characterizations of the second high fluence baffle-former bolt, i.e., bolt # 4412. Analytical electron microscopy and atom probe tomography characterization were performed. The radiation-induced defects in the material add to the large wealth of knowledge for neutron-induced defects in 304/316 grades of stainless steels, specifically for radiation-induced precipitation after high fluence commercial PWR irradiation. The main findings are summarized as follows: 1) The cavity size was considerably larger in the bolt thread section than in the bolt head, with the bolt thread section having a bimodal distribution of cavities greater than ~6 nm in diameter and less than ~3 nm in diameter. The bolt head only had the small-sized cavities. In addition, there was a denuded zone of large cavities near grain boundaries in the thread section of the bolt. 2) Radiation-induced precipitation in the BFB #4412 was highly complex, with the volume fraction, size, and number density of Ni/Si and Cu-rich precipitates depending strongly on the radiation temperature/dose. In many cases, co-precipitates of adjoined clusters were found with Ni/Si-rich precipitates sandwiched between Cu-rich clusters and Mo/Cr/P-rich clusters. 3) Solute segregation out of solution was highest for most solutes in the thread section of the bolt #4412 with the exception of Cu, which experienced more separation out of solution into Curich clusters in the bolt head section. This highlights the difference in the mechanisms for precipitation of Ni/Si clusters, which have the Ni 3 Si phase composition, and precipitation of Cu-rich clusters. 4) There appear to be multiple simultaneous influences that affect the microstructural variation along the length of the bolt that overcomes the ~2X difference in irradiation dose between the bolt head and the bolt thread. The irradiation temperature, thermal/fast neutron ratio variation, potential strain gradient, and exposure to PWR coolant water that each section of the bolt sees may have more influence on the microstructural evolution than the total irradiation dose. The bolt thread and shank, with higher temperature, higher relative fast neutron flux, higher strain, and exposure to coolant but lower dose, underwent more enhanced cavity formation, precipitation, and solute segregation than the bolt head section.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Separation of CO 2 from Flue Gas and Potential for Geologic Sequestration

The objectives of this study were to review various methods reported in the literature for the separation and geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide and evaluate the potential of TVA fossil fuel-burning plant locations for onsite geologic sequestration of CO 2 from stack emissions. Several conventional and nonconventional technologies for the separation of CO 2 from flue gas, including absorption, adsorption, cryogenic distillation, membranes, hydrate formation and dissociation, and ammonia carbonation, have been reviewed in terms of separation mechanisms, flow diagrams, and costs. Most of the technologies that have been reviewed are still at the research and development stage. Critical information needed to assess and compare these technologies is still lacking. In addition, information on some of the technologies that have been tested at a pilot or industrial scale has not been fully disclosed in the open literature. Because of this lack of data, it is difficult to make a critical assessment of each of the separation technologies. Based on limited information, it was concluded that the most promising methods are membrane separation and the Mitsubishi process for chemical absorption. Both processes involve separating CO 2 at high temperature, minimizing the cost for cooling prior to separation. Physical and chemical geologic formations of CO 2 were also reviewed. It was concluded that due to the geologic time scale of CO 2 sequestration periods, relatively safe conditions, general proximity to CO 2 sources, and extensive knowledge of underground conditions, sequestration of CO 2 in underground aquifers and coal beds is a very promising method of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The cost is predicted to be relatively low and the suitable sites are numerous for this application, with many of these sites located close to the plants.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Low Regeneration Temperature Sorbents for Direct Air Capture of CO 2

Susteon Inc., in partnership with University of Wyoming and SoCalGas, successfully met all major technical objectives to (1) scale up the ionic liquid catalyst for amine-based sorbents for improved desorption and absorption kinetics, (2) evaluate the catalyzed amine-based sorbents for direct CO 2 capture process to determine CO 2 adsorption and desorption rates and energy requirements, and (3) based on the experimental results, develop a conceptual process design to perform a preliminary economic assessment to evaluate the potential for DAC process cost reduction using the catalyzed sorbents. Amine doped solid sorbents are effective for DAC applications and can be regenerated by heat or by a combination of heat, steam, and vacuum. The best sorbent composition identified was polyethyleneimine (PEI) on fumed silica with 200 ppm ionic liquid catalyst. This sorbent formulation was shown to have a CO 2 breakthrough capacity twice that of the non-catalyzed sorbent, in laboratory tests with air at 75% relative humidity (RH). The CO 2 adsorption rate was also 40% higher than that of the non-catalyzed sorbent. This type of sorbents has the attributes required for lowering the overall cost of DAC with high CO 2 capacity and high rate of adsorption. The combination of an industrially utilized amine-based sorbent with a highly active catalyst to form a new class of materials for DAC provides a technically viable pathway for reducing the cost of DAC to <$100/tonne of CO 2 . Laboratory measurements show that the silica/PEI (polyethyleneimine) sorbents with 100 ppm of ionic liquid catalyst have almost 100% higher CO 2 cyclic capacity and 40% higher adsorption rate. Generally, CO 2 desorption occurred at higher temperatures with a rate of desorption 10 times faster than adsorption (which occurred at ambient conditions). Therefore, adsorption rate is a much more important factor in the cost of DAC because it is directly linked to the CAPEX of the total system and the cycle time (i.e., sorbent productivity in ton/day of CO 2 captured per unit volume of the air contactor). An initial process design, coupled with techno-economic analysis, based on optimal experimental results and preliminary resulting from structured sorbent testing, showed a path to lower the DAC cost from the current cost of over $200/tonne CO 2 to less than $100/tonne with a scale-up, mature state of the technology, with projected material and process improvements. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the catalyst in silica/PEI sorbents in enhancing sorbents’ CO 2 working capacity, in (a) increasing the rate of adsorption and desorption, and (b) in lowering the CAPEX and OPEX of the DAC system employing the ionic liquid catalyzed sorbents.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Advancing Post-Combustion CO 2 Capture through Increased Mass Transfer and Lower Degradation

The over-arching goal of the proposed project is to develop three techniques to enable aqueous post-combustion CO 2 capture technologies to meet the DOE performance and cost targets of 90% CO 2 capture, 95% purity, at a cost of less than $30/tonne CO 2 captured. This will be accomplished by the development of materials and processes to increase mass transfer in the absorber and reduce the environmental impacts. While constantly working to reduce the cost of CO 2 capture via solvent development and process & heat integration, increasing CO 2 mass transfer through development of custom dynamic packing materials and tuning solvent physical properties may offer a route to increased solvent capacity, lower energy consumption and reduced aerosol formation. The environmental concerns that have been identified in amine-based CO 2 capture systems, nitrosamines specifically, are another critical element that will be addressed in this project. The specific objectives of the project were to: 1) conduct detailed studies to understand how solvent physical properties and aerosol formation are impacted by additives; 2) quantify the CO 2 mass transfer improvement from the dynamic polarity packing in the absorber and the additive-modified solvent using the existing UK bench-scale CO 2 capture unit; 3) quantify the energy consumption savings associated with enhanced mass transfer; 4) quantify the benefits of the UK’s electrochemical cell to decompose nitrosamines; and 5) collect the necessary information/data to conduct a high-level TEA assessment of the proposed technologies. The project involved the fabrication and installation of customized dynamic polarity packing and an investigation into the understanding of the impact of chemical additives on solvent properties to increase CO 2 mass transfer in the absorber column, and lastly the design of an electrochemical cell to decompose nitrosamines in a water wash. After both systems were fabricated, they were tested at UK facilities, including on the bench-scale CO 2 capture unit under parametric and long-term operation.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterizing Impacts of Dry Coal Feeding in High Pressure Oxy-Coal Combustion Systems

Reaction Engineering International (REI) has managed a team of experts from the University of Utah, Southeast University (SEU) in Nanjing, China, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Corrosion Management Ltd. (C-M), Praxair, and Brigham Young University (BYU) to investigate dry pulverized coal feeding for pressurized oxy-coal combustion. Dry feed firing systems for entrained flow, pressurized, oxy-coal combustors have not been well developed, although related technologies have been used in the Shell Gasification Process and for pressurized fluid bed combustion. DOE-funded research recently completed at REI and the University of Utah focused on characterizing impacts of high temperatures and pressures in oxy-coal combustion systems. For high pressure combustion, that research used a coal slurry feed into a 17 bar pressurized combustor. As a consequence of that research, it was identified that fuel feeding and firing system flexibility are challenges that require attention. Based on that experience, the approach of using a coal slurry feed system leads to challenges in producing consistent atomization of the slurry, which causes burnout problems, especially at high pressures. In addition, slurry atomization processes may be difficult to scale to sizes appropriate for practical commercial use. Dry pressurized coal burner systems, on the other hand, have the potential to yield efficiency gains, improve flexibility and facilitate applications at larger scales. Experimental work was conducted at the University of Utah Industrial Combustion and Gasification Research Facility as well as the 100 kW pressurized oxy-coal combustor (POC) facility at Brigham Young University. Mechanism development and CFD-based combustion and dense-phase flow modeling were performed at REI. Successful completion of the project objectives has resulted in the following key deliverables: 1) Design and prototype of a pressurized pulverized coal feeding and oxy-firing system 2) Data from a 100kW, pressurized (15 bar) entrained flow reactor with a dry feeding delivery and burner system that describes flame characteristics, radiative heat flux profiles, carbon burnout, along with characteristics of ash aerosols, fouling, and slagging. 3) Validated and transportable models that describe the relevant conditions in pressurized oxy-combustion systems and that can be used for scale-up and optimization. 4) Principles to guide design of high pressure, pilot-scale and full-scale coal oxy-firing systems. 5) Assessment of pressurized oxy-combustion impacts on key parameters relevant to oxy-coal fired utility boilers such as coal devolatilization, char oxidation, mineral matter transformation, deposition, and corrosion. The experimental data, pressurized oxy-firing system principles, and process mechanisms provided by this work can be used by electric utilities, boiler OEMs, equipment suppliers, design firms, software vendors, consultants and government agencies to assess the use of high temperature and high pressure oxy-combustion in current research and to guide development of new oxy-coal boiler designs.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Characterizing Impacts of Dry Coal Feeding in High Pressure Oxy-Coal Combustion Systems

Reaction Engineering International (REI) has managed a team of experts from the University of Utah, Southeast University (SEU) in Nanjing, China, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Corrosion Management Ltd. (C-M), Praxair, and Brigham Young University (BYU) to investigate dry pulverized coal feeding for pressurized oxy-coal combustion. Dry feed firing systems for entrained flow, pressurized, oxy-coal combustors have not been well developed, although related technologies have been used in the Shell Gasification Process and for pressurized fluid bed combustion. DOE-funded research recently completed at REI and the University of Utah focused on characterizing impacts of high temperatures and pressures in oxy-coal combustion systems. For high pressure combustion, that research used a coal slurry feed into a 17 bar pressurized combustor. As a consequence of that research, it was identified that fuel feeding and firing system flexibility are challenges that require attention. Based on that experience, the approach of using a coal slurry feed system leads to challenges in producing consistent atomization of the slurry, which causes burnout problems, especially at high pressures. In addition, slurry atomization processes may be difficult to scale to sizes appropriate for practical commercial use. Dry pressurized coal burner systems, on the other hand, have the potential to yield efficiency gains, improve flexibility and facilitate applications at larger scales. Experimental work was conducted at the University of Utah Industrial Combustion and Gasification Research Facility as well as the 100 kW pressurized oxy-coal combustor (POC) facility at Brigham Young University. Mechanism development and CFD-based combustion and dense-phase flow modeling were performed at REI. Successful completion of the project objectives has resulted in the following key deliverables: 1) Design and prototype of a pressurized pulverized coal feeding and oxy-firing system 2) Data from a 100kW, pressurized (15 bar) entrained flow reactor with a dry feeding delivery and burner system that describes flame characteristics, radiative heat flux profiles, carbon burnout, along with characteristics of ash aerosols, fouling, and slagging. 3) Validated and transportable models that describe the relevant conditions in pressurized oxy-combustion systems and that can be used for scale-up and optimization. 4) Principles to guide design of high pressure, pilot-scale and full-scale coal oxy-firing systems. 5) Assessment of pressurized oxy-combustion impacts on key parameters relevant to oxy-coal fired utility boilers such as coal devolatilization, char oxidation, mineral matter transformation, deposition, and corrosion. The experimental data, pressurized oxy-firing system principles, and process mechanisms provided by this work can be used by electric utilities, boiler OEMs, equipment suppliers, design firms, software vendors, consultants and government agencies to assess the use of high temperature and high pressure oxy-combustion in current research and to guide development of new oxy-coal boiler designs.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of Novel Materials for Direct Air Capture of CO 2 : MIL-101(Cr)-Amine Sorbents Evaluation Under Realistic Direct Air Capture Conditions (Final Report)

The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate the CO 2 adsorption properties of a small family of metal-organic framework (MOFs) materials functionalized with amines at sub-ambient conditions. Our goal is to develop capabilities to measure CO 2 adsorption at conditions more relevant to the weather of the planet. For this purpose, Georgia Tech is constructing a “sub-ambient adsorption facility” in partnership with ZCP Sorbent Development, LLC, aimed specifically at rapidly and deeply characterizing the performance of DAC candidate materials in this important operational range (adsorption at -20 to 20 °C and RH of 0-100%). Here, we use the sub-ambient lab instrumentation designed or adapted to study the behavior of the pristine metal organic framework (MOF) MIL-101(Cr) and the MOF in the presence of amines ranging from small molecules (e.g. TREN, tris(2-aminoethylamine)) to oligomers (e.g. PEI, poly(ethyleneimine)). Any DAC sorbent must be amenable to deployment in practical contactors for gas-solid contacting (traditional pellet-based fixed beds are impossible at scale). To this end, we developed and tested these DAC materials in the forms of composite polymer/MOF fibers and custom 3D-printed monolith structures containing MOF DAC sorbents. The proposed studies advance these materials from technology readiness level (TRL) 2 to TRL 3.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Damage Accumulations Predictions for Boiler Components Via Microstructurally Informed Material Models

The goal of the project was to model material behavior and degradation during cyclic plasticity— with and without hold time—for nickel-based superalloys used in USC (ultra-super-critical) and A-USC (advanced-ultra-super-critical) boiler components. The study provided physically informed models, capturing the microstructural changes taking place in the industrial components under cyclic loading and long duration stress (up to 300,000 hours) and high temperature exposure (1100°F/593°C to 1400°F/760°C). The major developments were: 1) Qualitative and quantitative understanding of microstructure evolution (gamma prime precipitates), deformation (dislocation density), and damage mechanisms of Haynes ® 282 alloy. 2) Qualitative understanding of microstructural features generating local strain variations. 3) A continuum damage mechanics model (CDM) for Haynes ® 282 alloy at 1100°F to 1400°F capturing cyclic behavior with and without hold time. 4) Structural analysis for creep and LCF life predictions of an USC thick-wall Grade 91 superheater steel header and understanding life sensitivity to wall thickness of an AUSC Haynes ® 282 header.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Component level modeling of materials degradation for insights into operational flexibility of Existing Coal Power Plants

Increasingly, coal-fired power plants are required to balance power grids by compensating for the variable electricity supply from renewable energy sources. Fossil-fueled power plants, originally designed to be base loaded, will increasingly need to operate on a load following or cyclic basis. This demanding requirement for operational flexibility needs insights into accelerated material degradation arising due to the harsh operating conditions (e.g., fatigue, early oxide exfoliation due to stresses) along with current damage mechanisms (fireside corrosion, creep and erosion) observed in service. Our research objective is to develop component level modeling toolkit for materials-based degradation for two key mechanisms that can accelerate with cyclic operations. In more detail, this includes the fireside corrosion/steam oxidation/erosion/creep/fatigue of superheaters/reheaters and steam pipework and also the water droplet erosion/ fatigue of last stage steam turbine blades degradation mechanisms, that demand routine and sometimes unplanned maintenance and repair. The innovation is in developing a computational fluid dynamics/finite element (CFD/FE) modeling toolkit for the component level models of the boilers and low-pressure steam turbines in coal power plants that can tackle multidisciplinary failure mechanisms occurring concurrently for extreme environment materials. Lifetime assessment in such environments also needs to account for the unit-specific analyses, operational history and fuel feedstock; this can only be obtained by destructive analysis of components. This, in turn, enables validation of the model toolkits utilizing service feedback data, improving the probability of time/temperature dependent life prediction.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

NETL UPGrants Addendum to the CO2U LCA Guidance Toolkit

The NETL UPGrants Addendum provides additional guidance and changes to the Carbon Dioxide Utilization Life Cycle Analysis Guidance for the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Version 2.0 to make it more applicable to vendors preparing life cycle analyses for the Utilization Procurement Grants program.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Integrated Transpiration and Lattice Cooling Systems developed by Additive Manufacturing with Oxide-Dispersion-Strengthened (ODS) Alloys (Final Report)

The primary goal of this research was to develop an innovative approach to provide a significantly improved level of thermal protection for hot-section components, such as turbine airfoils, in modern and future gas turbines. Current and future designs for “air breathing” turbine systems are targeting turbine inlet temperatures of 1700°C or higher, which is well beyond the substrate melting temperature, and a combined cycle energy efficiency of 65%. Meanwhile, targeted cycle efficiency calls for a reduction of the amount of coolant air significantly below the current level. Hence the development of novel internal airfoil designs that provide a satisfactory level of component durability with affordable coolant management is critical to the further advances of today’s turbine technology. This project was a response to this grand challenge with the research efforts primarily focused on the development of integrating transpiration cooling with lattice enhanced internal cooling. The research on these advanced cooling technologies was accompanied with development of anti-oxidation material in the form of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloy which also possessed enhanced high temperature strength. A novel approach of fabricating the ODS alloy as powder with high compatibility with state-of-the-art additive manufacturing (AM) process was also developed.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Light Water Reactor Sustainability: Program Materials Research Pathway (FY22 Technical Program Plan)

The Materials Research (MR) Pathway within the Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program is charged with performing R&D to develop the scientific basis for understanding and predicting the long-term environmental degradation behavior of materials in nuclear reactors. Furthermore, the mechanistic understanding of degradation phenomena in materials must be leveraged to develop mitigation and repair strategies and new material alternatives for existing components. This research will provide data and methods to assess the performance of systems, structures, and components essential to safe and sustained reactor operations. The R&D products developed from the LWRS program will be used by stakeholders—including utilities, industry groups, and regulators—to inform operational and regulatory requirements for materials in reactor systems, structures, and components subjected to long-term operation conditions, providing key inputs to regulators and industry. Therefore, the intent of this research is to provide options to reduce the operating costs, which may be in the form of offset maintenance costs due to better predictive models for component lifetimes, improved analyses of materials through nondestructive evaluation, reduced costs for repairs, or extended performance of plants through the selection of improved replacement materials. To provide the best options, industry experience and guidance are important because of their role in coordinated or collaborative research projects. The objectives of this report are to describe the motivation and organization of the MR Pathway within the LWRS program; provide details on the individual research tasks within the MR Pathway; describe the outcomes and deliverables of the MR Pathway, including recent technical highlights and progress; and describe the requirements for performing this critically important research.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pressure Composition Temperature Curves of Hydride Moderators

Microreactors are compact and mobile reactors which operate at low power and high temperatures. These reactors generate heat which is then converted to electricity for use in a variety of special purpose applications. Microreactors are of interest due to their light weight, compact size and the ability to meet the needs for high energy in difficult or remote areas. Metal hydrides have been studied for nuclear and aviation applications. The emergence of microreactors the interest in metal hydrides is significant due to their ability to moderate neutrons in a light weight and solid form. In case of an off normal event, more accurate data is needed for the absorption/desorption rates of the hydrides due to the high uncertainties on hydrogen redistribution in the moderator. The literature shows considerable discrepancies in the PCT curves for yttrium and zirconium. The uncertainty is much more notable at higher stoichiometries of the hydride phase at high temperature. To understand the in-pile performance, a detailed understating of the impurities and microstructure is needed.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coupon synthesis status report

This letter report is in submission of completion of the Level 4 milestone number M4AT-23OR1101023 “Coupon synthesis status report” for the AT-23OR110102 “Beryllium Carbide as moderator for MSRs – ORNL” WBS number 2.04.11.01 within the larger Advanced Reactor Technologies program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This effort is an initial study of the viability of beryllium carbide as a future neutron moderator for molten salt reactors and other high temperature reactors. The research was awarded funding in September 2022 and this effort will be completed and reported on as a Level 2 milestone by the end of August 2023. This work is a collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Michigan. This report will discuss the status of this effort and planed work before the final reporting.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Fundamental Graphite Irradiation Behavior Research at ORNL for FY23

This letter report is in submission of completion of the Level 3 milestone number within the larger Advanced Reactor Technologies Gas Cooled Reactor program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The focus of this year’s efforts is the aggregation of background information about the irradiation experiments for property change in H-451 graphite, getting the irradiation-induced property change of IG-110 and ETU-10 written up in journal articles for publication, and involvement with ASTM D02.F0 Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Products and the ASME Working Group on Nonmetallic Design and Materials (SG HTR)(BPV III). This report will document the status of these activities.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Novel Transformational Membranes and Process for CO 2 Capture from Flue Gas (FE0031731)

The objectives of this project are to develop a cost-effective design and fabrication process for a novel transformational membrane and its membrane modules that capture CO 2 from flue gas. Optimization of the novel transformational membrane, scale-up of the membrane to a prototype size of about 20" wide in continuous roll-to-roll fabrication, and construction and testing of a skid for the integrated membrane process will be performed. For the design of this membrane, we use a cost-effective polymer support and coat a thin top layer of the membrane. The simplicity of this membrane design offers a low cost for the membrane element in commercial spiral-wound (SW) configuration (<$2.00/ft 2 or $21.5/m 2 ). The prototype membrane will be used to fabricate 6 pilot-size membrane modules (each about 20" length, 3 modules each at the commercial-size diameter of 8 inches with 35 m 2 membrane area for Stage 1 and 3 modules each at 5-inch diameter with 12 m 2 membrane area for Stage 2) for testing with simulated flue gas at OSU and with actual flue gas at the National Carbon Capture Center, Wilsonville, AL using the skid to capture the CO 2 (at 60 – 90%) with at least 95% CO 2 purity. The prototype membrane modules will be in commercial SW configuration with a minimal pressure drop (<0.103 bar/meter (1.5 psi/meter)). These objectives have been achieved successfully.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗