[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 112 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36677-36679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14591]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Solicitation for Financial Assistance Applications for
Cooperative Research and Development for Advanced Natural Gas
Reciprocating Engines
AGENCY: Chicago Operations Office, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces its interest in
receiving applications for federal assistance for research and
development of Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines. Development,
subsystem testing, and demonstration of optimized and fully integrated
components for advanced natural gas engines must be performed.
DATES: The solicitation document is available on the Internet. The due
date for applications is July 31, 2000.
ADDRESSES: The solicitation is available on the Internet by accessing
the DOE Chicago Operations Office Acquisition and Assistance Group home
page at http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/acq.html under the heading
``Current Solicitations'', Solicitation No. DE-SC02-00CH11029.
Completed applications referencing Solicitation No. DE-SC02-00CH11029
must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy, Chicago Operations
Office, Communications Center, Building 201, Room 168, 9800 South Cass
Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439-4899, Attn: Nadine S. Kijak, Acquisition and
Assistance Group.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nadine S. Kijak at 630/252-2508, U.S.
Department of Energy, Chicago Operations Office, Acquisition and
Assistance Group, 9800 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439-4899, by
facsimile at 630/252-5045, or by electronic mail at
[email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For purposes of this solicitation, an
Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine is a new or upgraded internal
combustion reciprocating piston engine that deploys one or more
technologies that partially or totally accomplish the following goals
for higher energy efficiency (ultimate program target goal of 50%),
lower emissions (NOX less than .1g/hp-hr), and increased
competitiveness. The fully-developed, demonstrated Advanced Natural Gas
Reciprocating Engine would accomplish the following objectives:
1. Improve the performance of Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating
Engines. Potential benefits to energy consumers include: (1) Decreased
energy consumption and emissions; (2) increased manufacturing process
efficiencies; (3) enhanced U.S. industrial competitiveness; (4)
decreased reliance on strategic materials; and (5) reduced operational
and maintenance costs. Other projected benefits may include longer
operating time before maintenance and overhaul, utilization of waste
fuels, etc.
2. Transition the technology to back-up fuels as well as
alternative biomass-derived fuels, while achieving a substantial
reduction in oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions for these
fuels, and decrease in energy consumption.
3. Demonstrate the durability for up to 8000 hours while otherwise
maintaining reliability, availability, and maintainability of the
Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine and its component subsystems.
4. Incur no negative impacts on the performance of gas engines
including efficiency, fuel flexibility, cost of power, and reliability
and maintainability.
5. Encourage adoption and use of energy-efficient, cost-effective
natural gas engines by the distributed generation markets.
The Scope of Work covers applied research and pre-commercial
demonstration in five work areas as described below as Tasks 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5. In addition to these tasks, the Scope of Work includes Subtasks
A and B. Subtask A will require the Participant to provide a report
covering the potential technical market and technical/economic
barriers. Subtask B will require the Participant to provide a
commercialization plan for Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines.
The tasks represent an increasing progression of maturation stages
for technology development. Task 1 involves component development and
testing; Task 2 involves system development and testing; Task 3
involves engine integration and preparation; Task 4 involves engine
system fabrication and proof test, and Task 5 involves pre-commercial
demonstration. Depending on current maturation of proposed
technologies, the work may start at any task if prior work has been
performed that would satisfy completion or sufficient progress of the
previous task(s). Applications may address any combination or portions
of the tasks.
The ultimate maturation of technologies will be reached upon the
attainment of the solicitation objectives
[[Page 36678]]
in a pre-commercial demonstration of 8000 hours (Task 5). Although it
is the intention of this solicitation to support development of
advanced engine technologies that will so culminate, there also is
relevancy in gaining a better understanding of the advanced engine
technologies and their impact on natural gas engines. In such a case,
development of a completed commercial system may not be feasible. For
example, development may end prior to the maturation state of Task 5,
or Task 5 may be scheduled to complete less than the 8000 hours (but
more than 4000 hours as discussed below) identified as a goal for
commercialization.
Regardless of the tasks proposed, applications will raise the
maturation level of the concept relative to the solicitation
objectives.
Under Tasks 1 and 2 that follow, the work may be performed with
respect to test devices or engines that could serve as a logical and
cost effective intermediate basis for developing technologies for
Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines. However, any such
technology developed under Tasks 1 and 2 must have applicability to
Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines.
Under Tasks 3, 4 and 5 that follow, all work must be performed with
respect to Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines, and the
demonstration required under Task 5 must be performed on an Advanced
Natural Gas Reciprocating Engines. All work proposed to be performed
under an application must be scheduled for completion within the five-
year life expectancy of this program. Work under all tasks requires the
participation of a natural gas engine manufacturer.
Task 1
The starting point of this task shall be, as a minimum, a concept
of an advanced engine technology with prior experimental evidence of
its potential for meeting the solicitation objectives. The Participant
will identify the form, function, and fit of all components necessary
to execute the proposed technology. The Participant will also develop
preliminary component designs. First article components will be
constructed and tested at a scale suitable to confirm the design
parameters that were used and to give qualitative and quantitative
indications that the components will perform as planned.
Task 2
The Participant will complete detailed designs of the selected
system components. The design process will include the optimization and
cost reduction of the processing, fabrication, and integration of the
selected components into a viable engine system. The components will be
manufactured and the sub-system will be assembled. Development and
testing will be done to verify and optimize the overall approach, to
provide operating and control parameters during manufacture and use,
and to provide full-scale definition such as allowable engine operating
ranges, sensitivity to fuel variability, and other factors affecting
the performance and competitiveness of the engine system.
Task 3
The design of an Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine will be
adapted in parallel to component development to assure compatibility,
optimum fit, and functionality. The work under this task will integrate
hardware, controls, and operating procedures for startup, steady
operation over the engine's usual power range (for example 50% to 100%
of rated output), planned changes (such as anticipated shutdown or
transitions of operating load), and unexpected changes in power output
(such as lost load).
Task 4
The Participant shall design and fabricate a complete engine system
that utilizes the components developed under Task 2 or elsewhere. The
components shall exhibit the form, function, and fit compatible with
the modified engine developed either under Task 3 or elsewhere. The
Participant shall prove, either by subsystem rig testing or by
demonstrating on an engine, the ability of the subsystem components to
perform as planned. Such testing shall include those sensors and
controllers needed to maintain testing over the design operating range
of the engine. Test results shall include relationships among
performance, efficiency, emissions, temperatures, and all other
relevant parameters that quantify and qualify the system for commercial
delivery. The proof testing shall be based on natural gas fuel or any
other fuel with a viable market presence in the distributed generation
market such as waste fuels and biomass. Also, the market may require
dual fuel capabilities. Such dual fuel capabilities may be considered
in the design.
The completion of Task 4 would result in the assembly of an
Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine that incorporates components
completed under this task or elsewhere. The engine shall be ready for
insertion into a commercial package that is suitable for shipment,
installation, and demonstration in the field under Task 5.
Task 5
A host site(s) will be selected for demonstration of the Advanced
Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine qualified either by the completion of
Task 4 or elsewhere. The Participant will integrate the engine with the
balance of plant equipment such as a generator that is compatible with
the needs of a specific host site(s). The completion of Task 5 would
result in an 8000-hour demonstration of the engine that can be
reasonably expected to meet project objectives. At a minimum, the
demonstration shall comprise 4000 hours of operation with natural gas
fuel at a host site that is compatible with an operating rate of at
least 4000 hours per annum. The applicant shall complete a coordinated
plan for the demonstration that incorporates the perspectives of all
relevant parties, including the host site. The plan will also assign
responsibilities on all matters necessary to execute the demonstration
plan, such as business arrangements, balance of plant equipment, site
construction, site integration, periodic inspections of hardware,
visitations of third parties, data acquisition at the host site to
verify expected benefits, and obtainment of environmental,
construction, operating, and other permits.
The demonstration shall be representative of significant market
segments of the distributed power generation industry. As a result, the
successful demonstration at the host site will be expected to exemplify
the resolution of the typical barriers (such as technical,
environmental, industry acceptance, and utility grid control issues)
that impede the widespread adoption of distributed generation. In this
regard, all hours of operation accumulated under the demonstration
shall be gained while generating electric power. Additionally, all such
hours of operation shall be accumulated while the host site is
interconnected to the existing local utility transmission and
distribution grid that exists for the routine transmission and
distribution of electric power. Accordingly, the balance of plant
equipment shall be sufficient to generate and condition such electric
power, and all hardware shall be provided for interconnection,
transmission, and distribution on the local utility grid. (The sole use
of isolation switches shall not be sufficient to meet this
requirement.)
[[Page 36679]]
Subtask A
Subtask A is required for any applicant selected for award and is
to be performed in conjunction with the lowest numbered task proposed.
The completed report must be received within 90 days of award of the
cooperative agreement and will be submitted in accordance with topical
report requirements. Relative to gas engine(s), the Participant will do
program definition and planning studies that identify all essential
steps for enabling the use of an Advanced Natural Gas Reciprocating
Engine and meeting the objectives of this solicitation. The elements of
these steps will include the critical research and development needs,
areas and degree of risk, types and quantities of resources, schedule,
and cost.
The report will further define completed distributed energy
resource and/or cooling, heating and power systems likely to be
available at the successful completion of this project. The Participant
will identify and quantify the potential technical markets for such
systems. In areas such as energy efficiency, performance, cost, and
emissions, the Participant will provide detailed rationale that
supports these projections. All barriers such as the lack of uniform
code standards that will impact on the technical market will be
identified. However, any such barriers that are out of the control of
the Participant shall be deemed not to impact on the projected
technical market.
Subtask B
Subtask B is required to be performed in conjunction with the
lowest numbered task of Tasks 3, 4, and/or 5 under which the
Participant will do work. The completed report must be received within
180 days of initiation of the lowest numbered Task (3-5) proposed. This
report will be submitted in accordance with topical report
requirements.
The main impetus for this work is the commercial implementation of
an efficient, clean, and cost effective Advanced Natural Gas
Reciprocating Engine that is deployed in distributed generation and
combined heat and power systems. It is essential that a
commercialization plan support the proposed Advanced Natural Gas
Reciprocating Engine and achieves the goals of this solicitation
(Section 1.1.2). Participants doing work under Tasks 3, 4, or 5 shall
complete commercialization plans and strategies for all relevant
functions in the commercialization process such as cost-effective
manufacturing, marketing, production volumes, and support for the
Participant's engine system.
DOE expects to award three (3) to five (5) cooperative agreements
under this solicitation. It is estimated that individual awards will
range in value between approximately $500,000 and $10,000,000 of DOE
funding and will require awardee Cost Sharing.
A minimum non-federal cost sharing commitment of 30% of the total
proposed costs for Tasks 1 or 2; 45% of Tasks 3 and 4; and 60% of Task
5 is required. Any non-profit or for-profit organization, university or
other institution of higher education, or non-federal agency or entity
is eligible to apply, unless otherwise restricted by the Simpson-Craig
Amendment. DOE Laboratory participation as a subcontractor is limited
to no more than 50% of the cost of any individual task under which the
laboratory participates. This amount is further limited to 40% if
laboratory participation is proposed under Task 5.
As applicants may apply under one or more of the five tasks within
the solicitation Scope of Work, there is a range in the number of
potential awards and award values.
Estimated DOE funding is $40 million over the five-year period. DOE
reserves the right to fund any, all, or none of the applications
submitted in response to this solicitation. All awards are subject to
the availability of funds.
Issued in Argonne, Illinois on June 1, 2000.
John D. Greenwood,
Acquisition and Assistance Group Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-14591 Filed 6-8-00; 8:45 am]
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