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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Versatile soil gas concentration and isotope monitoring: optimization and integration of novel soil gas probes with online trace gas detection

Abstract. Gas concentrations and isotopic signatures can unveil microbial metabolisms and their responses to environmental changes in soil. Currently, few methods measure in situ soil trace gases such as the products of nitrogen and carbon cycling or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that constrain microbial biochemical processes like nitrification, methanogenesis, respiration, and microbial communication. Versatile trace gas sampling systems that integrate soil probes with sensitive trace gas analyzers could fill this gap with in situ soil gas measurements that resolve spatial (centimeters) and temporal (minutes) patterns. We developed a system that integrates new porous and hydrophobic sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (sPTFE) diffusive soil gas probes that non-disruptively collect soil gas samples with a transfer system to direct gas from multiple probes to one or more central gas analyzer(s) such as laser and mass spectrometers. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of this automated multiprobe system for soil gas measurements of isotopic ratios of nitrous oxide (δ18O, δ15N, and the 15N site preference of N2O), methane, carbon dioxide (δ13C), and VOCs. First, we used an inert silica matrix to challenge probe measurements under controlled gas conditions. By changing and controlling system flow parameters, including the probe flow rate, we optimized recovery of representative soil gas samples while reducing sampling artifacts on subsurface concentrations. Second, we used this system to provide a real-time window into the impact of environmental manipulation of irrigation and soil redox conditions on in situ N2O and VOC concentrations. Moreover, to reveal the dynamics in the stable isotope ratios of N2O (i.e., 14N14N16O, 14N15N16O, 15N14N16O, and 14N14N18O), we developed a new high-precision laser spectrometer with a reduced sample volume demand. Our integrated system – a tunable infrared laser direct absorption spectrometry (TILDAS) in parallel with Vocus proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), in line with sPTFE soil gas probes – successfully quantified isotopic signatures for N2O, CO2, and VOCs in real time as responses to changes in the dry–wetting cycle and redox conditions. Broadening the collection of trace gases that can be monitored in the subsurface is critical for monitoring biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem health, and management practices at scales relevant to the soil system.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Recovery of Natural Gas Equipment Emissions into Gas Compression Engines for the Reduction of Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Since the turn of the millennium, the United States (U.S.) oil and natural gas (ONG) industry has nearly doubled its natural gas production rate. As a result, the ONG industry has recently come under increasing scrutiny for its contributions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Consequently, various solutions to this problem have been proposed and formulated to reduce the impacts of GHG emissions on the environment. West Virginia University (WVU) have found it important to research the impacts of recovering vented gas streams into prime-mover engines. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have granted WVU funding to research and develop a “Methane Mitigator” (M2) - a “Scalable Vent Mitigation Strategy to Simultaneously Reduce Methane Emissions and Fuel Consumption from the Compression Industry.” One of the main areas of interest for this research was the collection of emissions from natural gas equipment into a Caterpillar G3508J natural gas compression engine. The parameters being analyzed from the engine were brake-specific emissions and power output. The emissions sources considered for this research were pneumatic controllers (PCs), reciprocating compressor vents, and the engine’s open crankcase breather. The compressor vent and PC emissions were simulated using a mass flow controller (MFC) and flowed into the engine using two separate methods: (1) directly into the air intake, and (2) through a retrofitted closed crankcase ventilation system (CCV), serving as a buffer volume. The crankcase emissions were quantified without the CCV, and the impact on exhaust emissions from circulating the crankcase gases into the intake was measured. The simulated compressor vent and PC flows from the MFC had limited effect on the steady state operation of the engine and resulting performance. When the simulated flows were fed directly into the engine’s air intake, the changes within the engine’s continuous performance and emission parameters were larger but lasted for shorter durations. Conversely, when the simulated flows were fed into the CCV before entering the air intake, the changes in the engine’s performance and emission parameters were less pronounced for continuous analysis but lasted for longer durations. In either case, the continuous emission changes in both emissions and performance varied in size depending on the test scenario being run, but the cycle average changes in emissions and performance showed little impact overall compared to the engine’s baseline operation. As a result, the inclusion of a CCV shows a decrease in baseline carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq.) engine emissions (from combined exhaust and open crankcase) of almost 4%. Likewise, the CCV inclusion reduced baseline total methane (CH4) from combined exhaust and open crankcase by upwards of 16%. These atmospheric emissions only decreased further with the inclusions of collected PC and compressor vent flows. The resulting changes in time-averaged rated exhaust behavior (or lack thereof) prove that the proposed M2 system could likely be deployed at sites with modern lean-burn natural gas engines as a viable option for reducing and eliminating potential GHG sources that would have otherwise been unutilized as energy sources.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Low-carbon fuels for spark-ignited engines: A comparative study of compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas on a CFR engine with exhaust gas recirculation

Decades of work on low-carbon fuels have established their potential for substantial emissions reductions; however, their adoption is still limited by infrastructure concerns and engine efficiency deficits. As infrastructures have begun to evolve, research on strategies that maximize engine efficiency through interactions with fuel properties must also now take center place. This paper compares the performance, emissions, and combustion characteristics of two forefront low-carbon fuels: compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in a cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine over a range of compression ratios and engine loads. The effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), end-gas auto-ignition, and a novel combustion control tool, the combustion intensity metric (CIM), were also evaluated at different stoichiometric engine operating conditions. In comparison to LPG, CNG operation demonstrated an extended knock-free regime, allowing engine operation at higher engine loads and compression ratios, but LPG operation exhibited enhanced combustion characteristics with higher peak pressures and faster apparent heat release rates (AHRR). LPG operation achieved higher brake thermal efficiencies and lower equivalent CO 2 emissions compared to CNG operation at the tested engine loads and compression ratios. LPG demonstrated significantly higher EGR tolerance limits compared to CNG, with a maximum of 28% EGR rate, compared to 23% for CNG. This improved EGR dilution tolerance was responsible for a 90% reduction in NOx emissions for LPG compared to a maximum of 70% with CNG. EGR dilution also exhibited more effective knock mitigation potential with LPG, suppressing knock intensity values by up to 98% and transitioning the engine operation towards normal combustion from heavy knocking conditions. As a result, the CIM was found to decrease burn durations and improve the quality of combustion by controlling the desired fraction of end-gas auto-ignition.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2020

CONTROLLED END GAS AUTO IGNITION WITH EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION ON A STOICHIOMETRIC, SPARK IGNITED, NATURAL GAS ENGINE

The goal of this study is to address fundamental limitations to achieving diesel-like efficiencies in heavy duty on-highway natural gas (NG) engines. Engine knock and misfire are barriers to pathways leading to higher efficiency engines. This study explores enabling technologies for development of high efficiency stoichiometric, spark ignited, natural gas engines. These include design strategies for fast and stable combustion and higher dilution tolerance. Additionally, advanced control methodologies are implemented to maintain stable operation between knock and misfire limits. To implement controlled end- gas autoignition (C-EGAI) strategies a Combustion Intensity Metric (CIM) is used for ignition control with the use of a Woodward large engine control module (LECM). Tests were conducted using a single cylinder, variable compression ratio, cooperative fuel research (CFR) engine with baseline conditions of 900 RPM, engine load of 800 kPa indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP), and stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) tests were performed using a custom EGR system that simulates a high pressure EGR loop and can provide a range of EGR rates from 0 to 40%. The experimental measurements included the variance of EGR rate, compression ratio, engine speed, IMEP, and CIM. These five variables were optimized through a Modified Box- Benken design Surface Response Method (RSM), with brake efficiency as the merit function. A positive linear correlation between CIM and f-EGAI was identified. Consequently, CIM was used as the feedback control parameter for C-EGAI. As such, implementation of C-EGAI effectively allowed for the utilization of high EGR rates and CRs, controlling combustion between a narrower gap between knock and lean limits. The change from fixed to parametric ignition timing with CIM targeted select values of f-EGAI with an average coefficient of variance (COV) of peak pressure of 5.4. The RSM efficiency optimization concluded with operational conditions of 1080 RPM, 1150 kPa IMEP, 10.55:1 compression ratio, and 17.8% EGR rate with a brake efficiency of 21.3%. At this optimized point of peak performance, a f-EGAI for C-EGAI was observed at 34.1% heat release due to auto ignition, a knock onset crank angle value of 10.3° aTDC and ignition timing of - 24.7° aTDC. This work has demonstrated that combustion at a fixed f-EGAI can be maintained through advanced ignition control of CIM without experiencing heavy knocking events.

Cooperative Fuel Research Engine, Auto Ignition, E↗
DOE OSTI2024

Repurposing Inactive Oil and Gas Wells for Energy Storage: Maximizing the Potential Via Optimal Drivetrain Control: Preprint

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on utilizing energy storage to enhance grid resilience against disruptive events. While renewable energy supply continues to expand, gravity-based solutions like pumped hydro remain dominant in the commercial space. However, their geographical limitations constrain availability, scalability, and increase costs for co-locating solar and wind energy. An alternative approach proposes repurposing idle oil and gas wells located closer to existing grid infrastructure, offering a promising and cost-effective solution. This paper addresses the optimization and control of a regenerative drive system coupled to an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine in a 300-meter well with a 100-Newton weight. The study employs a dynamic MATLAB/Simulink model to simulate the operation of the electric drivetrain system during storage and discharge operations. The results demonstrate an initial round-trip efficiency of 85.9% for the electrical system alone and identify crucial factors for maximizing efficiency. The optimized operation and control of the electromechanical drivetrain system hold great potential for minimizing the levelized cost of storage while maximizing efficiency and revenue generation.

ENERGY STORAGE,ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Computational Design to Advance AM Fabrication of High Gamma Prime Alloys for Hot Gas Path Components in Gas Turbine Engines: A Pathway to Enhanced Gas Turbine Efficiency and Energy Saving (Final CRADA Report)

Raising turbine inlet temperature is a key lever for improving industrial gas-turbine efficiency and power output, but it increases thermo-mechanical demands on hot-gas-path components. Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), enables complex internal cooling features in critical components such as turbine tip shoes that are difficult to produce by conventional casting. However, qualification of new high-temperature AM alloys and aggressive geometries is often limited by trial-and-error iteration of build parameters and post-build heat treatments, with cracking during stress relieving or hot isostatic pressing (HIP) being a recurring failure mode.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Phenomenological Model of Nonlinear Dynamics and Deterministic Chaotic Gas Migration in Bentonite: Experimental Evidence and Diagnostic Parameters

Understanding gas migration in compacted clay materials, e.g., bentonite and claystone, is important for the design and performance assessment of an engineered barrier system of a radioactive waste repository system, as well as many practical applications. Existing field and laboratory data on gas migration processes in low-permeability clay materials demonstrate the complexity of flow and transport processes, including various types of instabilities, caused by nonlinear dynamics of coupled processes of liquid–gas exchange, dilation, fracturing, fracture healing, etc., which cannot be described by classical models of fluid dynamics in porous media. We here show that the complexity of gas migration processes can be explained using a phenomenological concept of nonlinear dynamics and deterministic chaos theory. To do so, we analyzed gas pressure and gas influx (i.e., input) and outflux (i.e., output), recorded during the gas injection experiment in the compact Mx80-D bentonite sample, and calculated a set of the diagnostic parameters of nonlinear dynamics and chaos, such a global embedding dimension, a correlation dimension, an information dimension, and a spectrum of Lyapunov exponents, as well as plotted 2D and 3D pseudo-phase-space strange attractors, based on the univariate influx and outflux time series data. These results indicate the presence of phenomena of low-dimensional deterministic chaotic behavior of gas migration in bentonite. In particular, during the onset of gas influx in the bentonite core, before the breakthrough, the development of gas flow pathways is characterized by the process of chaotic gas diffusion. After the breakthrough, with inlet-to-outlet movement of gas, the prevailing process is chaotic advection. During the final phase of the experiment, with no influx to the sample, the relaxation pattern of gas outflux is resumed back to a process of chaotic diffusion. The types of data analysis and a proposed phenomenological model can be used to establish the basic principles of experimental data-gathering, modeling predictions, and a research design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modeling gas migration through clay-based buffer material using coupled multiphase fluid flow and geomechanics with stress-dependent gas permeability

A model for gas migration through clay-based buffer material is developed for modeling gas generation and migration associated with deep geologic nuclear waste disposal. The model is based on a multiphase fluid flow and geomechanics simulator that is adapted to consider enhanced gas flow when gas pressure is high enough to approach the confining stress magnitude. A key feature in the model is a direct coupling between gas permeability and stress, through a non-linear stress-dependent permeability function. The model was first tested and calibrated by modelling two different laboratory gas migration tests on Wyoming (MX-80) bentonite samples. The calibrated model was then applied to model gas migration through a bentonite buffer of a large-scale gas injection test (Lasgit) conducted at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in Sweden. Observed preferential gas migration along interfaces (between compacted blocks and along the canister surface) required explicit representation of such interfaces in the model. The model with the stress-dependent gas permeability accurately captured observed experimental responses in terms of gas breakthrough time, peak gas pressure, and cumulative gas flow rates. The calibrated model was finally applied to simulate migration of hydrogen gas generated within a breached nuclear waste canister over 10,000 years, involving migration of much larger gas volumes. For the considered gas generation rate and host rock properties, the generated gas could migrate through the bentonite buffer and released into the surrounding host rock at a maximum gas pressure somewhat higher than the initial total stress, though a significant amount of hydrogen remained within the buffer. This modelling sets the stage for further detailed analysis of the impact of hydrogen gas generation on the long-term performance of nuclear waste repositories.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Characterization of the Structural–Stratigraphic and Reservoir Controls on the Occurrence of Gas Hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend, Alaska North Slope

One of the most studied permafrost-associated gas hydrate accumulations in Arctic Alaska is the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend. This study provides a detailed re-examination of the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend with a focus on the gas hydrate accumulation in the western part of the Prudhoe Bay Unit. This integrated analysis of downhole well log data and published geophysical data has provided new insight on structural, stratigraphic, and reservoir controls on the occurrence of gas hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend. This study revealed the relatively complex nature of the gas hydrate occurrences in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend, with gas hydrates present in a series of coarsening upward, laterally pervasive, mostly fine-grained sand beds exhibiting high gas hydrate saturations. Most of the gas hydrate-bearing reservoirs in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend are laterally segmented into distinct northwest- to southeast-trending fault blocks, occur in a combination of structural–stratigraphic traps, and are only partially hydrate filled with distinct down-dip water contacts. These findings suggest that the traditional parts of a petroleum system (i.e., reservoir, gas source, gas migration, and geologic timing of the system formation) also control the occurrence of gas hydrates in the Eileen Gas Hydrate Trend.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Using Natural Gas Liquids to Recover Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources (Final Report)

This document presents final technical findings for the project Using Natural Gas Liquids to Recover Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources (FE0031782). The project is part of the U.S. Department of Energy Oil and Gas Program to develop and advance technologies that can significantly improve the recovery efficiencies of unconventional oil and gas resources. The overall objective of this project is to improve the ultimate recovery from unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources in the United States by developing a method for using unrefined natural gas liquids (NGLs) as treatment fluids to improve hydrocarbon production. Horizontal extended-lateral drilling coupled with high volume hydraulic fracturing has significantly increased production from UOG resources in the U.S. However, the recovery efficiency is low compared to the estimated oil and gas in place. Recent data indicate that less than 10% of the oil in the liquid-rich UOG reservoirs is produced. Alternative completion methods using NGLs could increase production (Battelle, 2016; Wan et al., 2013; Wan, 2013; Downey et al, 2021); however, field validation tests are needed to develop an approach that is economical, efficient, and compatible in the UOG setting to advance towards commercial deployment. This project aims to develop and field test a method to improve recovery of oil resources in UOG shale plays by using Y-Grade NGLs, or a similar combination of NGLs, as treatment fluids. Refined NGLs have been used as a hydraulic treatment fluid in UOG plays for decades and are shown to be particularly effective because their miscibility with oil allows oil to flow more freely; however, the use of Y-Grade (unrefined) NGLs has not been studied. The use of Y-Grade NGLs would be advantageous over refined NGLs because Y-Grade NGLs do not require infrastructure or investment in refining and are already being produced from many UOG reservoirs. The concept was tested and monitored in the field at a commercial well site owned by project partner Hopco, Ltd. The project team, which consists of multiple oil and gas operators, Linde Gas North America LLC (Linde) and the Ohio Division of Geological Survey (ODGS), has extensive experience with oil and gas production in the Appalachian basin and the ability to work together quickly to solve technical issues and research needs. A key part of the proposed work was the use of existing wells for field testing and monitoring. A total of four wells (three vertical and one horizontal) were available for this project. One of the vertical wells was utilized as the test well for the NGL treatment test. A nearby vertical well was used for microseismic monitoring. The remaining vertical well and the horizontal well provided a baseline for typical UOG production in the oil window of the Utica/Point Pleasant (UPP). Major technical tasks of the project include characterization of the geotechnical properties of the UPP with an emphasis on the field site; design and planning for the NGLs testing; field testing and monitoring; analysis and integration of field data; and economic and resource/reserve assessment. The Shoman monitoring well and Doughty NGL treatment well were successfully plugged back during September-October 2020 in preparation for treatment and monitoring. A nitrogen diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) was completed on the Doughty well on July 22, 2021, consisting of 133,000 scf (91 Bbl.) of nitrogen. A nitrogen foam frac was completed in the Utica-Point Pleasant interval on August 17, 2021 with funding from outside sources. A microseismic monitoring array was installed in the Shoman well and monitored microseismic activity during the Doughty well frac job. Y-Grade NGL injection commenced on August 26, 2021. A total of 215 Bbl. was injected but the job was shut down due to a small leak on the suction hose on the pump truck. The Y-Grade treatment resumed on August 27, 2021 and an additional 726 Bbl. of Y-Grade NGL was injected at a well head pressure of 3850 psi. Total volume of injected Y-Grade over the two days of injection was 941 Bbl. The well was shut-in for 17 days following injection to allow the Y-Grade NGLs to soak on the formation. Y-Grade treatment flow back commenced on 9/13/2021 on a weekly basis. Production data, including surface pressures, oil, nitrogen, natural gas, and flow times was measured and recorded. Periodic gas samples were collected and analyzed to determine composition of flowback gas. As of July 2022, the treatment well had produced 726 Bbl of oil and 2,888 mcf gas. In August 2022, tubing and packer in the well were removed and a pump was installed to enhance oil recovery. Currently, the operator is producing the well about 2 days a week for a few hours. The performance of the NGL treatment test was evaluated based on reservoir simulations of the treatment process, processing of well testing data, analysis of micro seismic monitoring data, and production data analysis. This analysis suggested that oil production in the small test would continue through 2025. Upscaling the treatment to a horizontal Utica Point-Pleasant well would allow more oil recovery, but the process would involve more investment, services, and operational support. An economic analysis was conducted for scenarios aimed at upscaling the NGL treatment process for more typical horizontal UPP wells in the Appalachian Basin.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2022

Review of the gas breakdown physics and nanomaterial-based ionization gas sensors and their applications

Ionization gas sensors are ubiquitous tools that can monitor desired gases or detect abnormalities in real time to protect the environment of living organisms or to maintain clean and/or safe environment in industries. The sensors’ working principle is based on the fingerprinting of the breakdown voltage of one or more target gases using nanostructured materials. Fundamentally, nanomaterial-based ionization-gas sensors operate within a large framework of gas breakdown physics; signifying that an overall understanding of the gas breakdown mechanism is a crucial factor in the technological development of ionization gas sensors. Moreover, many studies have revealed that physical properties of nanomaterials play decisive roles in the gas breakdown physics and the performance of plasma-based gas sensors. Based on this insight, this review provides a comprehensive description of the foundation of both the gas breakdown physics and the nanomaterial-based ionization-gas-sensor technology, as well as introduces research trends on nanomaterial-based ionization gas sensors. The gas breakdown is reviewed, including the classical Townsend discharge theory and modified Paschen curves; and nanomaterial-based-electrodes proposed to improve the performance of ionization gas sensors are introduced. The secondary electron emission at the electrode surface is the key plasma–surface process that affects the performance of ionization gas sensors. Finally, we present our perspectives on possible future directions.

nanomaterial-based gas breakdown characteristics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Investigating anode off-gas under spark-ignition combustion for SOFC-ICE hybrid systems

Solid oxide fuel cell – internal combustion engine (SOFC-ICE) hybrid systems are an attractive solution for electricity generation. The system can achieve up to 70% theoretical electric power conversion efficiency through energy cascading enabled by utilizing the anode off-gas from the SOFC as the fuel source for the ICE. Experimental investigations were conducted with a single cylinder Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine by altering fuel-air equivalence ratio (φ), and compression ratio (CR) to study the engine load, combustion characteristics, and emissions levels of dry SOFC anode off-gas consisting of 33.9% H 2 , 15.6% CO, and 50.5% CO 2 . The combustion efficiency of the anode off-gas was directly evaluated by measuring the engine-out CO emissions. The highest net-indicated fuel conversion efficiency of 31.3% occurred at φ = 0.90 and CR = 13:1. These results demonstrate that the anode off-gas can be successfully oxidized using a spark ignition combustion mode. The fuel conversion efficiency of the anode tail gas is expected to further increase in a more modern engine architecture that can achieve increased burn rates in comparison to the CFR engine. NO x emissions from the combustion of anode off-gas were minimal as the cylinder peak temperatures never exceeded 1800 K. This experimental study ultimately demonstrates the viability of an ICE to operate using an anode off-gas, thus creating a complementary role for an ICE to be paired with a SOFC in a hybrid power generation plant.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2021

Numerical simulation of gas production from natural gas hydrate deposits with multi-branch wells: Influence of reservoir properties

Vast amounts of natural gas hydrate are buried in subseafloor sediments without impermeable boundaries, which is recognized as an essential energy source for the future. Previously, the multi-branch well was proposed to enhance the recovery efficiency of natural gas hydrate, and the gas production rate has been dramatically improved comparing with the vertical well. However, the multi-branch well shows a terrible performance in gas production duration. Here, as a continuation of the previous study, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of hydrate reservoir properties on the gas production potential. Results indicate that it is hard to extract hydrate commercially for hydrate accumulations without impermeable boundaries. A high initial hydrate saturation leads to a long gas production duration but a low gas production rate. An increase in the intrinsic permeability of isotropic reservoirs would shorten the gas production duration and result in a low gas recovery ratio. Permeability anisotropy shows a noticeable effect on enhancing the gas recovery ratio and the gas production duration due to the improved pressure propagation pattern. Therefore, in the upcoming field tests, reservoir reconstructions that enhance permeability anisotropy are strongly suggested to obtain better outcomes.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Soil gas probes for monitoring trace gas messengers of microbial activity

Abstract Soil microbes vigorously produce and consume gases that reflect active soil biogeochemical processes. Soil gas measurements are therefore a powerful tool to monitor microbial activity. Yet, the majority of soil gases lack non-disruptive subsurface measurement methods at spatiotemporal scales relevant to microbial processes and soil structure. To address this need, we developed a soil gas sampling system that uses novel diffusive soil probes and sample transfer approaches for high-resolution sampling from discrete subsurface regions. Probe sampling requires transferring soil gas samples to above-ground gas analyzers where concentrations and isotopologues are measured. Obtaining representative soil gas samples has historically required balancing disruption to soil gas composition with measurement frequency and analyzer volume demand. These considerations have limited attempts to quantify trace gas spatial concentration gradients and heterogeneity at scales relevant to the soil microbiome. Here, we describe our new flexible diffusive probe sampling system integrated with a modified, reduced volume trace gas analyzer and demonstrate its application for subsurface monitoring of biogeochemical cycling of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and its site-specific isotopologues, methane, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide in controlled soil columns. The sampling system observed reproducible responses of soil gas concentrations to manipulations of soil nutrients and redox state, providing a new window into the microbial response to these key environmental forcings. Using site-specific N 2 O isotopologues as indicators of microbial processes, we constrain the dynamics of in situ microbial activity. Unlocking trace gas messengers of microbial activity will complement -omics approaches, challenge subsurface models, and improve understanding of soil heterogeneity to disentangle interactive processes in the subsurface biome.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Apparatuses and methods for generating carbon particles and exhaust gas used by gas turbine systems

Apparatuses for generating carbon particles and exhaust gas used by gas turbine systems are disclosed. One apparatus may include a decarbonization component combusting or reacting a mixture of a fuel and a mixing gas to generate the carbon particles and the exhaust gas and an exhaust conduit to receive the exhaust gas generated by the decarbonization component. The apparatus may also include a mixing duct in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit and the gas turbine system. The mixing duct may receive the exhaust gas and provide the exhaust gas to the gas turbine system to be used to produce a working fluid within the gas turbine system. The apparatus may further include a carbon particle collection component for receiving and storing the generated carbon particles.

Berry, Jonathan Dwight↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ultra-clean condensing gas furnace enabled with acidic gas reduction

Natural gas furnaces are the most common space heating equipment in the U.S. residential and commercial building markets. However, current residential natural gas condensing furnaces generate substantial acidic condensate as well as significant emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and methane (CH 4 ) contributing to environmental degradation of air, water, and soil. This paper describes a novel solution to reduce the environmental impact of natural gas condensing furnaces based on the technology of monolithic acidic gas reduction (AGR) catalyst for SOx trapping, NOx redox to nitrogen, and oxidation of formic acid, CO, HC, and CH 4 . This technology offers a new condensing natural gas furnace with both ultra-clean flue gas and neutral condensate. Here, a prototype of the condensing gas furnace with the AGR component is demonstrated to have condensate with pH = 7, NOx emissions of 1–2 ng/J, and an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 96%. The AGR component and the AGR-enabled furnace were tested for long-term reliability and durability, as well as for SOx storage and regeneration activity. In addition, this paper provides new data on measurements of the specific acidic gas content in natural gas condensing furnaces.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗