In his long career at NETL, McMahan Gray has experienced more than a few successes. For example, the award-winning research chemist has made valuable contributions to remove carbon from industrial emissions and extract rare earth elements (REEs) from coal byproducts, wastewater and even acid mine drainage. Another ground-breaking contribution may be just around the corner. As part of an ongoing research effort, Gray serves on an NETL team that’s writing a new chapter in the long productive history of coal that may revolutionize how the mineral is used in the future.

Photo Caption: Image courtesy of Gas Technology Institute. The new STEP facility, supported by NETL, will house a desk-sized sCO2 turbine that could power 10,000 homes.

Researchers in NETL’s Fundamental Combustion Laboratory (FCL) have developed advanced diagnostic techniques that are providing accurate, real-world data to validate models of next-generation fossil fuel and combustible renewable (i.e., hydrogen) technologies like direct power extraction (DPE) systems and rotating detonation engines (RDE).

NETL researchers have developed a method to custom-formulate low-cost membranes to more effectively separate carbon dioxide from nitrogen in a high volume of flue gas. This ability to achieve both high selectivity and high permeability during post-combustion carbon capture operations is one of the most difficult problems facing membrane researchers today.

NETL Research Associate Kristyn Johnson took the top prize at the national Ignite Off! Competition this week for her dynamic Ignite Talk — a fast-paced presentation that uses 20 picture-centric slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds. She previously advanced from the local round at NETL and went on to compete against the other finalists from Argonne National Laboratory and Oakridge National Laboratory, winning for a presentation on her research investigating rotating detonation engines.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes will serve as opening keynote speaker and NETL representatives will share program updates during the ESA Energy Storage Annual Virtual Conference & Expo to be held Monday, Aug. 24, through Thursday, Aug. 27. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) principal advisor on energy policy and existing and emerging energy technologies, Menezes will take part in The Road Ahead, a Keynote Session scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 24.

Two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), are working with the University of Kentucky and the Pennsylvania State University to further the research and development of coal-derived carbon fibers.

The second week of the DOE-NETL 2020 Virtual Integrated Project Review Meeting is filled with opportunities to learn from the best. Experts in simulation and modeling to achieve efficiencies in coal- and gas-fired power plants and others in the fields of high performance materials, the current state of the existing power plant fleet, and the use of artificial intelligence and sensors for improved plant operations will be featured Aug. 24-27 in this series of free programs. Session titles and dates are:

NETL researchers envision a future in which hospitals, universities and other institutions will use on-site combined heat and power (CHP) systems to produce their own electricity, as well as the energy to heat and cool their buildings, while burning less fuel and releasing fewer emissions into the atmosphere. To make that happen, NETL’s Thermal Sciences Team is designing advanced airfoils for natural gas turbines to enable CHP systems to operate with greater efficiency.

Oil and gas producers will benefit from NETL’s aptitude as its researchers share their expertise regarding water and the Marcellus Shale during the upcoming Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) Waste and Water Technical Session. Scheduled for Aug. 19, the Water and Waste Management Training Session comes as part of PIOGA’s Technical Seminar Series which will be held in a virtual format due to COVID-19. NETL’s presentations will provide attendees with information that can improve the outcomes of their production operations.