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FY2005 FRED Database Project Description:
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Project
Information
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Project Title:
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Chemical
Fixation of CO2 in Coal Combustion Products and Recycling Through Algal Biosystems
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Project I.D.:
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DE-FC26-00NT40933
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FE Program:
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Adv.
Power - Supporting Research and Environmental Technology
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Research Type:
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Basic
Research
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Funding Memorandum:
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Cooperative
Agree't (nonCCT) - Tech
R&D
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Project
Performer
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Performer Type:
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U.S. Government Agency
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Performer:
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Tennessee Valley Authority
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Performer Address:
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3J Lookout Place 1101 Market Street
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Other Project Team
Members:
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Project
Dates
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Project Start Date:
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1-Oct-00
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Project End Date:
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30-Sep-03
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Project
Location
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City:
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Chattanooga
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State:
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TN
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ZIP Code:
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37402-2801
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Congressional District:
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3
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Responsible FE Site:
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NETL
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Project
Contact
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Name:
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Copeland,
Robert
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Telephone:
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(303)
940-2323
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Fax Number:
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Email Address:
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copeland@tda.com
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DOE/FE
Contact
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Name:
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Figueroa,
Jose' D.
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Telephone Number:
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4123864966 4966
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Site Location:
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NETL
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Email Address:
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jose.figueroa@netl.doe.gov
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Cost
& Funding Info.
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Total Estimated Cost:
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$755,291
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DOE Share:
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$604,233
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Non-DOE Share:
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$151,058
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Project
Description
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Project Description:
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The
overall objective is to develop basic methods for use of coal combustion
products (CCP) produced at fossil fuel power plants as a sequestering medium
for CO2 in stack gas from gas turbine plants; with subsequent production of
methane and other recyclable carbon-containing products from the system.
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Project Background:
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A research area under consideration by DOE to address
carbon sequestration is pumping of CO2 to underground geologic formations;
such as coal beds; to displace and recover methane. A more effective and economical alternative
may be the use of coal combustion products (CCP) produced at fossil fuel
power plants as a sequestering medium for CO2; with subsequent production of
methane and other recyclable carbon-containing products from this system.
Each year in the U.S.; about 22 million metric tons of
fly ash and flue gas desulfurization products (FGD) are stored on power plant
sites in vast ponds or other disposal areas.
Such CCP may serve as a sink for CO2 and eliminate the expense of
locating suitable underground storage areas and costs of pumping stack gas
over long distances. Conceptually;
these impoundments may function as large reaction vessels wherein the fly ash
and FGD; due to their large surface area and the presence of a surface
electrical charge; might serve as highly reactive media for sequestration of
the CO2 produced by gas turbine generators.
After suitable adjustments to system pH; adsorption and exchange
reactions of CO2 in the sterile CCP medium; followed by precipitation as
carbonates; would maintain carbon in an inorganic; stable form and prevent
reintroduction into the carbon cycle for an indefinite period. When economically feasible; the CCP might
be used as flowable fill material for construction
or could be back-hauled and used to fill underground mine voids.
The carbon-enriched CCP media may also be used to create an algae biosystem; which is expected to extract and utilize
carbon compounds sequestered in the CCP.
Stack gas diverted into the biosystem will
expose the algae to additional CO2.
The CCP will provide a nutrient growth matrix for the algae; and more
importantly; should provide the critical mechanism needed to increase the available CO2 in
solution above the limits that are achievable with the dissolved gas
alone. This would most likely increase
algal growth beyond what is normally attainable. Carbon in the algal biomass can then be
extracted and converted to hydrogen gas with a gasifier or converted to liquid
CO2. An anaerobic digestor
in the system may be used to convert the biomass into methane for on-site use
in a gas turbine generator. The solid
biomass residue from the digestor may be re-cycled
as additional fuel stock for the gasifier.
The liquid residue from the digestor may be
re-cycled to provide nutrients to perpetuate the algal biosystem. The system provides for continued cycling
of sequestered carbon within the system.
Being solar driven; the CCP biosystem requires
minimal inputs of energy and materials; and solves the energy storage
problems associated with the photovoltaic cells of a solar collection
system. The turnaround time for
biomass production in the system is short; since it is not limited by
transpiration or sunlight exposure; as would be terrestrial plants. A reasonable estimate for the area of
algal biomass required to generate methane to support a 1000 MW gas turbine
plant would be in the range of 2.5 - 25km2.
The primary limiting factor for biosystem
output would be the time required for the system to reach steady-state
production of algae; methane; hydrogen; and liquid CO2.
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Project Accomplishments:
[NOTE: Updated information not
available beginning 2004]
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17-Oct-02:
Accomplishment: Technical Assessment
Description: Conversion of CO2 to bicarbonate using fly ash as a
catalyst. The rate of uptake of CO2 in
a fly ash column id 5 to 9 times the rate of uptake in the control column
containing glass beads. At 1.5 hours
the fly ash column ph was 6.5 while the glass bead column was 5.6. This indicates the fly ash has a capacity
to buffer the solution. At a ph of 6.5 the bicarbonate using the fly ash
column was double that of the glass beads. The ph and higher bicarbonate level from
the fly ash column are more suitable for biological systems than the glass
bead column.
Signifcantly increases in biomass production can be
obtained by supplementing the algae growth medium with additional
bicarbonate. The annual production of bimass from an algae facility could be in excess of 150
metric tons per hectare (74 metric tons per year)
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