University Coal Research (81.057)
Program
81.057 University Coal Research
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Energy
Authorization
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, Public Law 83-703; Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, Public Law 93-438; Research and Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, Public Law 85-934; Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93- 577; Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1980, Public Law 96-126; Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 2004, Public Law 108-108.
Program Number
81.057
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To improve scientific and technical understanding of the chemistry and physics involved in the conversion and utilization of coal. The primary objective is to fund long-term, high-risk, meritorious fundamental research for the advancement of science related to all Fossil Energy's coal-related programs. Through an annual solicitation, applications are sought with the potential to overcome barriers in technology development and accelerate the identification of solutions for energy and environmental problems. Solicited research should contemplate nearly total carbon closure by the year 2015 along with substantial increases in energy conversion efficiency for utilizing our nation's abundant coal resources.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Work must be related to program objectives. The eligibility of recipients for DOE financial assistance awards under the UCR Program is limited to U.S. universities, colleges, and university-affiliated research institutions. Projects selected for an award must have a teaching professor as Principal Investigator or a Co-Principal Investigator.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Only US colleges and universities can apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
In accordance with 10 CFR 600.6(b), eligibility for award is restricted to U.S. colleges, universities, and university-affiliated research institutions. Grants awarded through the UCR Program are for maintaining and upgrading the educational, training and research capabilities of U.S. universities and colleges in the fields of science, environment, energy and technology related to coal. The involvement of professors and students generates fresh research ideas and enhances the education of future scientists and engineers. To assure the program continues to support the performance of high quality fundamental research by professors and students at U.S. colleges and universities, applications may be submitted by U.S. colleges, universities and university-affiliated research institutions provided the following criteria are met: (1) Principal Investigator or a Co-Principal Investigator listed in the application is a teaching professor at the submitting university. If this condition is met, other participants, Co-Principal Investigators or research staff, who do not hold teaching positions may be included as part of the research team; (2) Applications from university-affiliated research institutions must be submitted through the college or university with which they are affiliated; and (3) At least one student registered at that university is to receive compensation for performing research.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
An environmental questionnaire is required from institutions whose applications are selected for award. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of 10 CFR 600. Proposals should be submitted through http://www.grants.gov.
Award Procedure
Proposals reviewed by qualified experts in accordance with the factors listed in 10 CFR Chapter II, Part 600 with specific emphasis on the scientific and technical merit of the proposed research and the factors listed in the formal solicitation for proposals.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 90 to 180 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 25.%. Limited university/industry collaboration is encouraged but not required. A minimum of 25% cost sharing is required for larger sized grants that support university/industry collaboration. 10-CFR-600.3.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Projects awarded through the UCR Program have a performance period of 36 months and usually are funded by the Electronic Transfer System. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly reports and technical progress reports containing research accomplishments and information on cost status, reported per task is required. Quarterly project Financial Cash Transaction Report is required. Quarterly project technical progress and a final report is required. Topical Reports may be submitted as appropriate. Expenditure reports are required quarterly. Performance monitoring is achieved through submission of progress reports, site visits, and the Principal Investigators are required to participate in a two day Annual Contractors Review Meeting, typically held in June.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110, in conjunction with OMB Circular No. A-21, "Cost Principles for Education Institutions".
Records
Retention of records will be required pursuant to guidelines set forth in 10 CFR 600.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
89-0213-0-1-271.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $2,305,702; FY 09 est $2,352,382; FY 10 est $2,400,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Maximum funding for 36 month project is $300,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
A formal competitive solicitation for proposals will be issued in [month] for the fiscal year 2010 program.
Related Programs
81.089 Fossil Energy Research and Development
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None. Project Office - National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. Contact: Ms. Paula Flenory, Telephone (412) 386-4781.
Headquarters Office
Fred Glaser, Office of Fossil Energy (FE-22), Department of Energy , Washington, District of Columbia 20585 Email: fred.glaser@hq.doe.gov Phone: (301) 903-2676.
Web Site Address
http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/advresearch/.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, two awards were made and the remainder of funding was used to pay outstanding mortgages. Research was limited to a single broad topic: enabling advanced modeling and simulation for fuel-flexible combustors. The projects selected include:
Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., will determine the ability of simulation to capture fuel variability effects on turbines. Currently, combustor simulations are unable to predict such key features as flame stability and pollutant emissions. Such simulations are critical for optimizing turbine efficiency and minimizing emissions. The new project will resolve these problems and enable large eddy simulation (LES) to be used to optimize turbine design. The optimized turbine-engine design will aid in planning and construction of future turbines by predicting performance for new gasification-created fuels. (DOE award: $276,264)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va., will determine the sensitivity of transient thermo-acoustic computational fluid dynamics simulations to poorly defined or misrepresented acoustic boundary conditions. Time-dependent experimental boundary conditions, such as combustor inlets and compressor diffusers, will be simulated and measured experimentally. The study will result in a methodology to measure these experimental boundary conditions, describe them properly in a simulation, and apply them to an analysis of a realistic combustion system. (DOE award: $276,256). Fiscal Year 2009: In 2009, six projects were awarded in three broad topics:
AREA OF INTEREST: Computational Energy Sciences
Work in this interest area will include multiphase flow research to complement ongoing NETL-funded modeling research and the development of process and equipment co-simulations of highly efficient, near-zero-emission fossil energy plants.
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.)—In collaboration with the University of Florida, University of Michigan researchers will perform a comprehensive study of horizontal gas jets injected into a two-dimensional bubbling fluidized bed of non-spherical particles. (DOE share: $297,219)
Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)—Ohio State researchers seeks to develop an ASPEN Plus® plant model coupled with FLUENT® equipment models that can accurately and conveniently simulate the operation of chemical-looping reactor systems for both chemical-looping combustion and chemical-looping gasification. (DOE share: $299,819)
AREA OF INTEREST: Material Science
Research in this area of interest will focus on (1) new materials ideas and concepts that reach beyond the current state-of-the-art for fossil energy applications, and (2) the development of computational tools and simulations that will reliably predict properties of materials for fossil energy systems in advance of fabrication.
University of Texas at Dallas (Richardson, Texas)— In this project, researchers will prepare novel mixed-matrix membranes based on polymer composites with nanoparticles of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and related hybrid frameworks, and then use these membranes to evaluate separations important to coal gasification. Membrane performance will be evaluated under operating conditions defined by 2015 DOE targets. (DOE share: $299,974)
University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)— In collaboration with Northwestern University, University of Tennessee, researchers will use modern computational tools, integrated with focused experiments, to design innovative ferritic superalloys strengthened mainly by nickel aluminide–type precipitates for advanced fossil energy systems at temperatures up to 1,033 Kelvin. (DOE share: $300,000)
AREA OF INTEREST: Novel Materials for Sensing or Monitoring in Extreme Environments of Fossil Energy Systems - Projects under this topic will focus on innovations in the development of novel sensor materials and devices to measure process parameters in the corrosive, high temperature (greater than 500 degrees Celsius), high pressure (250 pounds per square inch) conditions found in fossil energy systems.
Research Foundation of SUNY, University at Albany (Albany, New York)— SUNY is using a plasmonics-based, all-optical sensing technique which utilizes the optical properties of tailored nanomaterials as the sensing layer. This novel approach to gas sensing under harsh environmental conditions is much simpler than current sensor designs. Researchers seek to develop a detailed understanding of the sensing mechanism as a function of temperature and humidity and work to enhance sensor selectivity. (DOE share: $300,000)
University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)— In collaboration with researchers from Missouri University of Science and Technology are investigating the development of two new types of doped-ceramic nanofilm-coated optical fiber chemical sensors that will possess desired stability, sensitivity, and selectivity for rapid in situ gas detection in coal-derived syngas streams Sensors being developed through this project also includes sensors for hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide detection at temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius and pressures up to 250 pounds per square inch. (DOE share: $299,915)
Project descriptions are available at:
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/advresearch/advresearch-university.html. Fiscal Year 2010: In 2010, 6-7 awards are anticipated to be awarded.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Emphasis is on the scientific and technical merit of the proposed research and the factors listed as generic goals in the formal solicitation for proposals.
