NETL researchers are continually finding innovative ways to improve the efficiencies of fossil energy based power generation, but the improvements generally come at a cost. Advanced fossil energy technologies, such as ultra-supercritical steam plants and oxyfuel combustion boilers, have the potential to increase efficiency and bolster clean coal efforts, since they operate at higher temperatures and pressures. However, this leads to harsher and more corrosive conditions compared to traditional power plants in use today. A supercritical steam boiler and turbine operate at very high pressure. As a result, the quantity of coal needed to create equivalent energy is less, resulting in less coal used per unit of energy generated, and therefore, less emissions. Meanwhile, oxyfuel combustion boilers burn fuel using pure oxygen instead of air as the primary oxidant. Because the nitrogen component of air is not heated, fuel consumption is reduced in oxyfuel combustion boilers making higher flame temperatures possible, improving efficiency.

Increasing the efficiency of the way energy is produced in an array of facilities that dot America’s landscape is at the core of efforts to reduce the amount of fuel required to produce power, decrease harmful emissions, and eliminate waste. Increasing efficiency requires better processes and, especially, better pressure and temperature-withstanding materials for use in everything from the boilers that combust fuels to the power-making turbines that keep the nation warm in winter, cool in summer and keeps its lights on year-round. Amid the heat, noise, and commotion in NETL’s alloy fabrication laboratory in Albany, Ore., researchers are experimenting with the design, development, manufacture, and testing of advanced heat-resistant alloys, superalloys and novel alloys such as high-entropy alloys that can meet escalating efficiency improvement challenges and help create the next generation of energy industry hardware.

A research paper authored by two NETL experts that explains how a new computational algorithm was applied to alloy development to optimize heat treatments and increase consistency of mechanical properties in nickel superalloys and steel castings was selected as one of only five editor’s choice open access articles for 2017 by the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance(JMEP). JEMP is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published on behalf of ASM International that covers all aspects of materials engineering. The scope of the publication includes all substances used in engineering applications. Selection by the editors as a highlighted article reflects the comprehensive nature of the paper and its overall excellence.

Few things are as universally important to all Americans as clean drinking water. Regulatory agencies, municipalities, oil and gas exploration companies, and landowners all have a need for water quality assurance. Unfortunately, the most common monitoring solutions are expensive and labor intensive, requiring samples to be collected from the source, prepared, and sent offsite to be analyzed – actions that can dramatically alter the sample. NETL researchers are hoping to overcome these challenges with a more affordable, in situ monitoring tool based on laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS technology provides rapid elemental analysis without extensive sample collection or preparation. Many of the available LIBS systems are large and complex, employing above-ground, laboratory-scale lasers, but NETL has designed a simple, easy-to-fabricate, handheld LIBS system fully adaptable to field use and capable of measurements even in harsh environments.

NETL co-hosted a special event April 18 to help mitigate participation disparities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields by connecting enthusiastic professionals with interested students and their educators. NETL, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Oregon State University (OSU) College of Science hosted the Mid-Willamette STEM Mentoring Café at OSU’s Memorial Union in Corvallis, Ore. Middle and high school students broke into small groups for speed mentoring sessions, during which they had the opportunity to chat with STEM role models, see samples of their work, and ask questions. Educators received take-home materials to continue STEM engagement with their students. Participating professionals were encouraged to offer ongoing mentoring to students and educators in their community.

Developing improved sensors and controls for power plants offers the potential to cut costs for utility operators and customers by increasing efficiency, limiting outages, and reducing CO2 emissions. The challenge for researchers is devising sensors that can provide real-time measurements of temperature, pressure, gas species and more amid harsh conditions. The laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) system at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) allows researchers to fabricate optical fiber sensors that are ideal for the challenging environments associated with fossil fuel-based power generation systems. Modern sensor applications extend beyond traditional coal-fired power plants to include solid oxide fuel cells, gas turbines, boilers, and oxy-fuel combustion.

The inside of today’s energy systems host some of the harshest environments anywhere on the planet, and the faults, fractures, and carbon dioxide plumes deep underground present an array of challenges for resource recovery. Sophisticated sensors help energy systems to operate more efficiently, and assist in recovering underground oil and gas. However, creating sensors that can withstand these formidable environments is a challenge. NETL is on the task. Sensors are detectors that can measure physical quantities like temperature and pressure. The sensors convert measurements into a signal that communicates with an electronic device that is read by operators who take actions to adjust conditions if necessary.

The Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI), led by the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), released the CCSI Toolset as open source software. The CCSI Toolset is the nation’s only suite of computational tools and models designed to help maximize learning and reduce cost and risk during the scale-up process for carbon capture technologies. The toolset is critically important to perform much of the design and calculations, thus reducing the cost of both pilot projects and commercial facilities. The release makes the toolset code available for researchers in industry, government, and academia to freely use, modify, and customize in support of the development of carbon capture technologies and other related technologies. The toolset is hosted on GitHub. Since the release of CCSI’s first toolset in 2012, the initiative exceeded goals, and earned an R&D 100 Award – an "Oscar of Innovation" – as one of the top 100 technology products of 2016. The major capabilities of the CCSI Toolset include:

Most people care about the environment, but wonder, “What can I do to help?” For this Earth Day, April 22, NETL has created a video showing that everyone can help keep their earth the best place to live in the galaxy. The new video, “Nine Ways Kids Can Help the Environment,” highlights fun activities for young and old, such as recycling, upcycling, and planting a garden. After watching the video, children can complete an Earth Day themed word search, coloring activity, and more on an activities page developed by NETL. All of the activities promote an ongoing, helpful relationship with the Earth. NETL participates in a wide variety of educational outreach activities to promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) literacy and to educate the next generation of America’s energy researchers. To explore NETL’s commitment to STEM education visit the education section at the top of this page.

Water is an essential resource for human life. It’s also a key component of energy production. In celebration of World Water Day, we’re sharing some of our innovative water conservation projects. For example, thermoelectric power generation accounts for more than 40 percent of freshwater withdrawals and more than 3 percent of freshwater consumption. That adds up to billions of gallons of water per day. As populations grow and economic development continues to expand, so too will our energy demand and water consumption.