EERC research addresses technical and cost barriers impeding the commercial deployment of advanced power systems leading to their demonstration. This program area at the EERC opens new opportunities for greatly improving the efficiency and environmental performance of electrical power generation from fossil fuels, both in repowered and new plants.

The EERC works closely with technology vendors in developing second-generation designs for pressurized fluidized-bed combustor (PFBC), integrated gasification combined cycle, integrated gasification fuel cell, and indirect-fired combined-cycle systems, with the EERC contributing by doing the following:

• Engineering new reactor concepts
• Testing coals, catalysts, and sorbents
• Resolving problems in reactor slagging, hot-gas filtration, and high-temperature materials

The EERC is also adapting advanced concepts to fit the requirements of small, flexible-fuel systems for remote-site power generation.

Power Systems Development Capabilities

• Engineering and testing advanced reactors for combustion and gasification
• Design of the slagging furnace system/high-temperature air furnace for Combustion 2000, a high-efficiency power system
• Underground coal gasification with environmental safeguards
• Optimization of full-scale gasification systems at Great Plains Synfuels Plant
• Ash deposition, slagging, and agglomeration in combustion systems
• High-temperature properties of ash and slag under reducing conditions
• Drop-tube furnace capabilities for studying combustion and gasification
• Fuel and sorbent evaluation for fluidized-bed combustion (atmospheric fluidized-bed combustor and PFBC)
• Integration of catalytic gasification and molten carbonate fuel cells
• Catalytic tar-cracking applications in hot-gas cleanup
• Hot-gas filter testing and evaluation of filter blinding
• Ceramic membranes for gas separation
• Adaptation of advanced concepts to small power systems
• High-temperature ceramic and alloy materials

Hydrogen Production and Distribution
The EERC specializes in developing new technologies that convert fossil fuels and biomass to high-quality hydrogen for fuel cell use. Among the EERC's accomplishments are projects that study:

• The conversion of coal to hydrogen through catalytic gasification for fuel cell use.
• Efficient and economical conversion of wood chips, switchgrass, and turkey manure to hydrogen in a fluidized-bed gasifier.
• New technologies for efficient and economical reforming of liquid fuels for use in fuel cells.

Fuel Cell Technology
The EERC performs advanced fuel cell system studies, combining fuel cells with gasification systems. Several new fuel cell projects hold the promise of making the EERC a recognized leader in fuel cell energy system development:

• The EERC has performed a number of system studies on combining fuel cells with gasification systems.
• The EERC is currently working on designing and testing an integrated gasification-fuel cell system for use in small biomass power systems. This 4-year project may make it possible for remote farms and organizations to utilize their waste biomass streams to economically produce electricity.
• The internal carbon gasification fuel cell is an advanced technology designed to convert solid carbon directly to electricity without an intermediate synthesis gas phase. Development of this technology at the EERC would provide an energy system that can convert coal or biomass directly to electricity.

More on Hydrogen Production, Distribution, and Fuel Cell Technology

Advanced Materials Science
EERC research on high-temperature ceramic materials is contributing to the development of second-generation advanced power systems by improving the service life and reliability of hot-particulate filters and heat exchangers.