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Magnetic Refrigeration

Ames Lab and Astronautics Corporation of America, are making considerable progress towards a commercially viable refrigeration technology based on the magnetocaloric effect present in certain rare earth materials .

Magnetic refrigeration has been around for a long time, and was used principally to reach ultra low temperatures in cryogenics research. Developments on two fronts are mutually moving the technology towards room temperature and commercial application. One is the refrigeration cycle itself–new approaches have been developed, which are reaching performance at room temperature that is very competitive with vapor compression. A laboratory scale magnetic refrigerator built by Astronautics produces 600 watts of cooling power, achieves temperature span of 28 degrees K near room temperature with the lowest temperature being just above the freezing point of water, efficiencies up to 60% of Carnot, and a COPs of five to eight. It has been in continuous operation since December ’96. This work used traditional gadolinium spheres as the magnetic refrigerant.

The other key ingredient is the magnetic material. Ames Lab, a leader in the field of rare earth metals research, announced a breakthrough this summer of a giant magnetocaloric effect in new alloys of gadolinium, silicon and germanium. Magnetocaloric effect in these materials is 2 to 7 times larger than in other prototype refrigerant materials. Also, the operating temperature (the Curie point) can be tuned from -400 degrees F to 65 degrees F, by adjusting the ratio of silicon to germanium.

Magnetic refrigeration operates by magnetizing and demagnetizing the material, analogous to compression and expansion in a vapor cycle. However, magnetizing and demagnetizing losses are much less compared to friction losses during compression and expansion. Two ÒbedsÓ filled with magnetic material are pushed in and out of a magnetic field. As a bed enters high magnetic field space, it heats up (magnetocaloric effect) and the heat is picked up by a flow of heat transfer fluid (which is water in this laboratory scale magnetic refrigerator) and is dissipated into the surroundings. When a bed is pulled out of magnetic field, it cools down due to the reverse magnetocaloric effect, cooling the water.

The use of solid refrigerant material (gadolinium) and water as a heat transfer fluid offer another advantage compared to conventional vapor cycle refrigerators: it is the absence of harmful chemicals as liquid refrigerants that present serious environmental hazard .

Strong magnetic fields are needed, currently produced by superconducting magnets. However, the team is finding ways to lower the field required, while new developments in permanent magnets (materials, fabrication, and expiration of key patents) offer the possibility of simpler and less expensive systems. Also, high temperature superconductors are coming into their own, which likewise could change things dramatically.

The need for a strong field puts the economics in favor of larger systems, however smaller scale devices are also anticipated. The key differentiating features are:

1. Higher efficiency (which can be highly significant when power is limited–e.g. in an electric vehicle).
2. None of the environmental issues associated with
conventional liquid refrigerants.
3. Ability to cool continuously over a range of temperatures (e.g. in chilling a fluid stream) which is thermodynamically
more efficient.
4. Ability to scale down without significant losses of cooling efficiency, which is to the contrary of conventional vapor cycle refrigeration.

Initial applications will probably be in industrial and commercial (e.g. supermarkets) refrigeration, cooling and air conditioning. Other possibilities of interest to utilities are cooling of inlet air for combustion turbines, and district cooling.

The technology is at least five years from a practical commercial reality, however Ames and Astronautics are already fielding numerous inquiries from interested parties and potential partners. The developers are opened to the possibility of teaming with other companies who may do the manufacturing and marketing of actual products.

A number of technical and popular articles and other information are available from Ames.

Contacts:
Carl Zimm, Astronautics (principal investigator) Madison WI,
608-221-9001, zimm@astronautics.keafott.com
Karl Gschneidner, Ames Lab (principal investigator)
515-294-7931, cagey@ameslab.gov
Vitalij Pecharsky, Ames Lab (principal investigator)
515-294-8220 , vitkp@ameslab.gov
Alan Paau, Iowa State Univ. (intellectual property)
515-294-4740
Todd Zdorkowski, Ames Lab (tech transfer)
515-294-5640, zdorkowski@ameslab.gov

DOE Environmental Remediation — Innovative Technology Summary Reports — “Green Books”

Subject: UFTO Note – DOE Environmental Remediation — Innovative Technology Summary Reports — “Green Books”
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997
From: Ed Beardsworth

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| ** UFTO ** Edward Beardsworth ** Consultant
| 951 Lincoln Ave. tel 415-328-5670
| Palo Alto CA 94301-3041 fax 415-328-5675
| http://www.ufto.com edbeards@ufto.com
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DOE Environmental Remediation — Innovative Technology Summary Reports — “Green Books”

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Office of Environmental Management (EM)
Office of Science and Technology (OST)

Innovative Technology Summary Reports present information about remediation technologies that OST has demonstrated in the DOE complex. The information includes technology summaries and information on performance, applicability, cost, regulatory issues, and lessons learned during the demonstrations.

Officially known as Innovative Technology Summary Reports and nicknamed the “green books,” these 10- to 20-page reports cover one DOE-developed technology per book. OST began publishing the reports in April 1995. To date, 13 technologies demonstrated by OST have been the topic of a DOE green book (see list below). More titles are in preparation. In particular, the DD&D (decommissioning) Large Scale Demonstration Project results will be published as part of this series.

The purpose is to provide a quick reference that will enable technology users to determine if an innovative technology is appropriate for their sites.

To make the reports useful across federal departments, OST collaborated with the EPA and DOD to determine the information they would contain. (EPA and DOD produce similar documents about technologies they have developed and demonstrated.) Each report contains the same seven sections: summary, technology descriptions, performance, technology application and alternatives, cost, regulatory/policy issues, and lessons learned. Demonstration site characteristics and references are included as appendices.

These reports are a way for vendors to submit technologies for acceptance into the DOE EM site clean-up realm. The format was revised to standardize and simplify the general requirements for those that wish to bring an existing technology to DOE for use on a contaminated site. With a Green Book in hand, a vendor can ease into the procurement process. Without it, they may have difficulty getting site managers to consider using their technology.

Copies of these reports are available free of charge from DOE/EM’s Center for Environmental Management Information, 1-800-736-3282.
Some titles can be found through NTIS.

The publication of this series is managed by
Diana Krop, DOE-EM, 301-903-7918, diana.krop@em.doe.gov
They can also provide copies free of charge.

Most of the reports are also available on line in their entirety, at
http://em-52.em.doe.gov/ifd/ost/pubs.htm

Innovative Technology Summary Reports (abstracts below)

*Cone Penetrometer
*In Situ Enhanced Soil Mixing
*Pipe Explorer System
*Advanced Worker Protection System
*Lasagna Soil Remediation
*Dynamic Underground Stripping
*Frozen Soil Barrier Technology
*In Situ Bioremediation Using Horizontal Wells
*Resonant Sonic Drilling
*Six Phase Soil Heating
*In Situ Air Stripping Using Horizontal Wells
*Flameless Thermal Oxidation
*SEAMIST

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*Cone Penetrometer
(DOE/EM–0309) — Cone penetrometer: Innovative technology summary report . USDOE Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC . Office of Program Analysis . Apr 1996 . 24p . DOE Contract NODATA . Sup.Doc.Num. E 1.99:DE96014782. NTIS Order Number DE96014782 . Source: OSTI (DOE and DOE contractors only); NTIS (Public Sales); GPO Dep. (Depository Libraries)

Cone penetrometer technology (CPT) provides cost-effective, real-time data for use in the characterization of the subsurface. Recent innovations in this baseline technology allow for improved access to the subsurface for environmental restoration applications. The technology has been improved by both industry and government agencies and is constantly advancing due to research efforts. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and Technology (formerly Technology Development) has contributed significantly to these efforts. This report focuses on the advancements made in conjunction with DOE’s support but recognizes Department of Defense (DOD) and industry efforts.

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*In Situ Enhanced Soil Mixing
(DOE/EM–0289) In situ enhanced soil mixing. Innovative technology summary report. USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC . Feb 1996. 25p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . Source: OSTI; GPO Dep.

In Situ Enhanced Soil Mixing (ISESM) is a treatment technology that has been demonstrated and deployed to remediate soils contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The technology has been developed by industry and has been demonstrated with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science and Technology and the Office of Environmental Restoration. The technology is particularly suited to shallow applications, above the water table, but can be used at greater depths. ISESM technologies demonstrated for this project include: (1) Soil mixing with vapor extraction combined with ambient air injection. [Contaminated soil is mixed with ambient air to vaporize volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The mixing auger is moved up and down to assist in removal of contaminated vapors. The vapors are collected in a shroud covering the treatment area and run through a treatment unit containing a carbon filter or a catalytic oxidation unit with a wet scrubber system and a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.] (2) soil mixing with vapor extraction combined with hot air injection [This process is the same as the ambient air injection except that hot air or steam is injected.] (3) soil mixing with hydrogen peroxide injection [Contaminated soil is mixed with ambient air that contains a mist of diluted hydrogen peroxide (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}) solution. The H{sub 2}O{sub 2} solution chemically oxidizes the VOCs to carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) and water.] (4) soil mixing with grout injection for solidification/stabilization [Contaminated soil is mixed as a cement grout is injected under pressure to solidify and immobilize the contaminated soil in a concrete-like form.] The soils are mixed with a single-blade auger or with a combination of augers ranging in diameter from 3 to 12 feet.

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*Pipe Explorer System
(DOE/EM-0306) — Pipe Explorer{sup {trademark}} system. Innovative technology summary report . Oak Ridge National Lab., TN . Apr 1996 . 20p . DOE Contract AC0584OR21400 . Sup.Doc.Num. E 1.99:DE96014788. NTIS Order Number DE96014788 . Source: OSTI (DOE and DOE contractors only); NTIS (Public Sales); GPO Dep. (Depository Libraries)

The Pipe Explorer{trademark} system, developed by Science and Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA), under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Morgantown Energy Technology Center, has been used to transport various characterizing sensors into piping systems that have been radiologically contaminated. DOE’s nuclear facility decommissioning program must characterize radiological contamination inside piping systems before the pipe can be recycled, remediated, or disposed. Historically, this has been attempted using hand-held survey instrumentation, surveying only the accessible exterior portions of pipe systems. Various measuring difficulties, and in some cases, the inability to measure threshold surface contamination values and worker exposure, and physical access constraints have limited the effectiveness of traditional survey approaches. The Pipe Explorer{trademark} system provides a viable alternative.

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*Advanced Worker Protection System
Advanced Worker Protection System . Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States) . Apr 1996 . 17p . DOE Contract AC0584OR21400 . Sup.Doc.Num. E 1.99:DE96014778. NTIS Order Number DE96014778 . Source: OSTI (DOE and DOE contractors only); NTIS (Public Sales); GPO Dep. (Depository Libraries)

The Advanced Worker Protection System (AWPS) is a liquid-air-based, self-contained breathing and cooling system with a duration of 2 hrs. AWPS employs a patented system developed by Oceaneering Space Systems (OSS), and was demonstrated at their facility in Houston, TX as well as at Kansas State University, Manhattan. The heart of the system is the life-support backpack that uses liquid air to provide cooling as well as breathing gas to the worker. The backpack is combined with advanced protective garments, an advanced liquid cooling garment (LCG), a respirator, and communications and support equipment. The prototype unit development and testing under Phase 1 has demonstrated that AWPS has the ability to meet performance criteria. These criteria were developed with an understanding of both the AWPS capabilities and the DOE decontamination and decommissioning (D and D) activities protection needs.

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*Lasagna Soil Remediation
Lasagna{trademark} soil remediation . Science Applications International Corp., Gaithersburg, MD . Apr 1996 . 19p . DOE Contract AC0584OR21400 . Sup.Doc.Num. E 1.99:DE96014787. NTIS Order Number DE96014787 . Source: OSTI (DOE and DOE contractors only); NTIS (Public Sales); GPO Dep. (Depository Libraries)

Lasagna{trademark} is an integrated, in situ remediation technology being developed which remediates soils and soil pore water contaminated with soluble organic compounds. Lasagna{trademark} is especially suited to sites with low permeability soils where electroosmosis can move water faster and more uniformly than hydraulic methods, with very low power consumption. The process uses electrokinetics to move contaminants in soil pore water into treatment zones where the contaminants can be captured and decomposed. Initial focus is on trichloroethylene (TCE), a major contaminant at many DOE and industrial sites. Both vertical and horizontal configurations have been conceptualized, but fieldwork to date is more advanced for the vertical configuration. Major features of the technology are electrodes energized by direct current, which causes water and soluble contaminants to move into or through the treatment layers and also heats the soil; treatment zones containing reagents that decompose the soluble organic contaminants or adsorb contaminants for immobilization or subsequent removal and disposal; and a water management system that recycles the water that accumulates at the cathode (high pH) back to the anode (low pH) for acid-base neutralization. Alternatively, electrode polarity can be reversed periodically to reverse electroosmotic flow and neutralize pH

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*Dynamic Underground Stripping
(DOE/EM–0271) Dynamic underground stripping. Innovative technology summary report. Stone and Webster Environmental Technology and Services, Boston, MA ; Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA . Apr 1995. 30p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . DOE Contract FG34-91RF00117. Order Number DE96003566. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

Dynamic Underground Stripping (DUS) is a combination of technologies targeted to remediate soil and ground water contaminated with organic compounds. DUS is effective both above and below the water table and is especially well suited for sites with interbedded sand and clay layers. The main technologies comprising DUS are steam injection at the periphery of a contaminated area to heat permeable subsurface areas, vaporize volatile compounds bound to the soil, and drive contaminants to centrally located vacuum extraction wells; electrical heating of less permeable sediments to vaporize contaminants and drive them into the steam zone; and underground imaging such as Electrical Resistance Tomography to delineate heated areas to ensure total cleanup and process control. A full-scale demonstration was conducted on a gasoline spill site at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California from November 1992 through December 1993.

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*Frozen Soil Barrier Technology
(DOE/EM–0273) Frozen soil barrier technology. Innovative technology summary report. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN . Apr 1995. 20p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . Order Number DE96003568. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

The technology of using refrigeration to freeze soils has been employed in large-scale engineering projects for a number of years. This technology bonds soils to give load-bearing strength during construction; to seal tunnels, mine shafts, and other subsurface structures against flooding from groundwater; and to stabilize soils during excavation. Examples of modern applications include several large subway, highway, and water supply tunnels. Ground freezing to form subsurface frozen soil barriers is an innovative technology designed to contain hazardous and radioactive contaminants in soils and groundwater. Frozen soil barriers that provide complete containment ({open_quotes}V{close_quotes}configuration) are formed by drilling and installing refrigerant piping (on 8-ft centers) horizontally at approximately 45{degrees} angles for sides and vertically for ends and then recirculating an environmentally safe refrigerant solution through the piping to freeze the soil porewater. Freeze plants are used to keep the containment structure at subfreezing temperatures. A full-scale containment structure was demonstrated from May 12 to October 10, 1994, at a nonhazardous site on SEG property on Gallaher Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

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*In Situ Bioremediation Using Horizontal Wells
(DOE/EM–0270) In situ bioremediation using horizontal wells. Innovative technology summary report. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN . Apr 1995. 30p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . Order Number DE96003565. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

In Situ Bioremediation (ISB) is the term used in this report for Gaseous Nutrient Injection for In Situ Bioremediation. This process (ISB) involves injection of air and nutrients (sparging and biostimulation) into the ground water and vacuum extraction to remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from the vadose zone concomitant with biodegradation of the VOCs. This process is effective for remediation of soils and ground water contaminated with VOCs both above and below the water table. A full-scale demonstration of ISB was conducted as part of the Savannah River Integrated Demonstration: VOCs in Soils and Ground Water at Nonarid Sites. This demonstration was performed at the Savannah River Site from February 1992 to April 1993.

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*Resonant Sonic Drilling
(DOE/EM–0268-96003563) ResonantSonic drilling. Innovative technology summary report. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN ; Colorado Center for Environmental Management, Denver, CO . Apr 1995. 22p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . DOE Contract FG34-91RF00117. Order Number DE96003563. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

The technology of ResonantSonic drilling is described. This technique has been demonstrated and deployed as an innovative tool to access the subsurface for installation of monitoring and/or remediation wells and for collection of subsurface materials for environmental restoration applications. The technology uses no drilling fluids, is safe and can be used to drill slant holes.

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*Six Phase Soil Heating
(DOE/EM–0272) Six phase soil heating. Innovative technology summary report. Stone and Webster Environmental Technology and Services, Boston, MA ; Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA . Apr 1995. 25p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . DOE Contract FG34-91RF00117. Order Number DE96003567. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

Six Phase Soil Heating (SPSH) was developed to remediate soils contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. SPSH is designed to enhance the removal of contaminates from the subsurface during soil vapor extraction. The innovation combines an emerging technology, six-phase electric heating, with a baseline technology, soil vapor extraction, to produce a more efficient in situ remediation systems for difficult soil and/or contaminate applications. This document describes the technology and reports on field demonstrations conducted at Savannah River and the Hanford Reservation.

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*In Situ Air Stripping Using Horizontal Wells
(DOE/EM–0269) In situ air stripping using horizontal wells. Innovative technology summary report. Stone and Webster Environmental Technology and Services, Boston, MA ; Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA . Apr 1995. 30p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . DOE Contract FG34-91RF00117. Order Number DE96003564. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

In-situ air stripping employs horizontal wells to inject or sparge air into the ground water and vacuum extract VOC’S from vadose zone soils. The horizontal wells provide better access to the subsurface contamination, and the air sparging eliminates the need for surface ground water treatment systems and treats the subsurface in-situ. A full-scale demonstration was conducted at the Savannah River Plant in an area polluted with trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. Results are described.

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*Flameless Thermal Oxidation
(DOE/EM–0287) (DOE/EM–0287) Flameless thermal oxidation. Innovative technology summary report. USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC . Sep 1995. 19p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . Order Number DE96009312. Source: OSTI; NTIS; INIS; GPO Dep.

The Flameless Thermal Oxidizer (FTO) is a commercial technology offered by Thermatrix, Inc. The FTO has been demonstrated to be an effective destructive technology for process and waste stream off-gas treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and in the treatment of VOC and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) off-gases generated during site remediation using either baseline or innovative in situ environmental technologies. The FTO process efficiently converts VOCs and CVOCs to carbon dioxide, water, and hydrogen chloride. When FTO is coupled with a baseline technology, such as soil vapor extraction (SVE), an efficient in situ soil remediation system is produced. The innovation is in using a simple, reliable, scalable, and robust technology for the destruction of VOC and CVOC off-gases based on a design that generates a uniform thermal reaction zone that prevents flame propagation and efficiently oxidizes off-gases without forming products of incomplete combustion (PICs).

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*SEAMIST
(DOE/EM–0288) SEAMIST{trademark}. Innovative technology summary report. USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC . Aug 1995. 23p. Sponsored by USDOE, Washington, DC . Source: OSTI; GPO Dep.

SEAMIST has been demonstrated and deployed as an innovative tool to better access the subsurface for characterization and monitoring of contaminants in both vertical and horizontal boreholes. The technology has been developed by industry with assistance from DOE’s Office of Technology Development to ensure it meets the needs of the environmental restoration market.

EPRI ISO Project

Subject: UFTO Note — EPRI ISO Project
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 19:46:24 -0700
From: Ed Beardsworth

RP8501-02 “Transmission Dispatch and Congestion Mgt. System” Basically to write spec for computer applications an ISO will need for scheduling, dispatch, costing, etc.

I’d mentioned this project in passing to Graham Siegel the other day, and got more details about it today. The Draft Final Report is due in to project manager Ali Vojdani in a week or two. I don’t know when it will be published. (Please don’t call Ali and tell him I told you!)

Funded by core, so apparently any epri member can have it.

Bernie Pasternak, AEP, was rep on utility advisory committee from Midwest ISO. All regions were represented.

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| Edward Beardsworth * Consultant |
| 951 Lincoln Ave. tel 415-328-5670 |
| Palo Alto CA 94301-3041 fax 415-328-5675 |
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