Fossil Generation Technology
Argonne can help utility companies reduce atmospheric emissions, lower costs,
and increase operational efficiency of fossil-generation plants.

n Introduction

Argonne National Laboratory's extensive capabilities in process and materials research and in economic, engineering, and policy assessment have resulted in more efficient and environmentally benign fossil-generation plants. Working with industrial partners, Argonne has developed tools that have brought new technologies, like fluidized-bed combustors, closer to reality; conducted studies that helped set national policies, like emissions trading and fuel switching under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments; and anticipated future needs, like cost-effective mercury control systems for wet scrubbers. Utility companies can use Argonne's expertise to develop and evaluate technology options, address environmental concerns, and make management decisions.

n Basic and Applied Research

Combine chemistry and engineering expertise to create new fossil-generation technologies:

Improved corrosion and erosion resistance of materials under severe process conditions, such as those of advanced generation systems.

Prediction of the flow, thermal, and stress behavior of ceramic and ceramic-composite elements, such as filter elements.

Mercury speciation and capture studies that can be used as the basis for improved control systems for wet and dry scrubbers.

Control and reduction of material wastage in the operation of fluidized-bed combustors.

n Emissions Control

Develop processes and technologies for efficient emissions control in fossil-generation plants:

Improved NOx, SOx, and particulate control in wet and dry flue gas scrubbers.

More cost-effective control technologies for mercury and other toxic materials in flue gases.

Ceramic membranes that are selectively permeable for controlling NH3 and NOx in advanced fossil generation processes, such as the integrated coal-based gasification combined cycle.

Integrated systems for CO2 capture, sequestration, and reuse.

n Market, Resource, and Policy Assessments

Conduct economic and engineering assessments of the effects on resources and infrastructure of generating electricity with fossil-fuel technologies:

Evaluation of policy option impacts using extensive unit-level generation data and demographics databases and models.

Estimates of the market penetration potential of generation technologies based on generation demographics and economics-based market models, such as AMIGA.

Estimates of the effects of fuel and technology switching using geographic information systems, such as GASMAP.

n Contacts

For technical information, contact David Schmalzer, Argonne National Laboratory, Bldg. 202, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439; phone: 630/252?7723; e?mail: schmalzer@anl.gov.

For information on working with Argonne, contact Paul Eichamer, Industrial Technology Development Center, Argonne National Laboratory, Bldg. 201, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439; phone: 800/627-2596; fax: 630/252-5230.
 

February 1998
 

Argonne National Laboratory is operated by The University of Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract No. W-31-109-Eng-38.
 

Argonne's on-site boiler house has served as a testbed for innovative emissions control technology.