Director’s Corner

by Brian Anderson, PhD.

As NETL Director, it’s my honor and privilege to tout the innovative work of our talented experts. It’s a particular honor to share how NETL’s work is benefiting our nation and having a global impact. Coal, oil and natural gas provide power to people around the world, but our reliance of fossil fuels means we are also faced with a changing climate as a result of human-induced carbon dioxide emissions. NETL researchers have been hard at work to develop technology solutions that will ensure continued access to affordable, reliable energy with responsible stewardship of the environment. Here’s a brief look at some of our successes over the past year. In 2019, we:

• Deployed mobile air monitoring equipment at the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory site and used a suite of sophisticated data-gathering instruments to measure emissions and dispersion rates for various compounds.
• Demonstrated that our laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology can provide a cost-effective, rapid, and precise method for determining the elemental composition of organic-rich shales like the Marcellus.
• Applied our versatile and powerful MFiX code to solve a critical technical issue at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Integrated Waste Treatment Unit, which prevented a long-term delay of start-up operations.
• Modeled the cost of carbon capture for more than one million hypothetical mixed matrix membrane materials in a research effort designed to make carbon capture more affordable for coal-fired power plants.
• Worked with partners to produce smart temperature sensors capable of operating up to 1800 degrees Celsius as well as pressure sensors that operate at temperatures up to 1600 degrees Celsius for improved performance in monitoring gas turbines, combustion systems and more.
• Received a patent for a groundbreaking invention for rapid kick detection, which provides updates of downhole conditions to aid in maintaining control of an oil or gas well. The technology results in safer drilling operation and significant cost savings for both consumer and operators.
• Advanced our Raman Gas Analyzer toward commercialization. This advanced sensing technology is designed to enable more flexible operation of gas-fired power plants.
• Unleashed the power of microwaves to improve ammonia synthesis and save considerable water and energy resources. Ammonia is an important precursor to a variety of fuels, foods and pharmaceuticals.
• Enhanced gasifier performance through improved oxygen carriers to cut costs and maximize efficiency.
• Conducted a study of natural gas liquids unloading to better understand an important methane emission source from natural gas operations.

This is just a quick snapshot highlighting some of NETL’s advancements. Throughout the end of 2019, we will be highlighting additional examples of the Lab’s progress in discovering, integrating and maturing technology solutions to enhance the nation’s energy foundation and protect the environment for future generations. Learn more in our newsroom.