[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26587-26589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12677]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Notice of Solicitation for Research and Development for Fuel
Cells, Direct Injection Engines, and Fuels: Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy Technology for Transportation and Buildings
AGENCY: Chicago Operations Office, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation availability.
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SUMMARY: The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy announces its interest in receiving
financial assistance applications for research and development (R&D) on
automotive fuel cells, direct injection engines, and fuels in support
of the Government/automotive industry Partnership for a New Generation
of Vehicles (PNGV). The Partnership is
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developing light-duty vehicles that achieve up to 3 times the fuel
economy of comparable conventional vehicles, meet emissions standards,
and offer the same level of performance and cost as today's vehicles.
Direct injection engines and fuel cells have been selected for their
potential for attaining the goal of 80-mpg fuel economy in a six-
passenger sedan. In support of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy fuel cell cross-cutting technologies, the Office of
Building Technologies also plans to acquire research and development
(R&D) of fuel cell technologies for building applications.
DATES and ADDRESSES: The complete solicitation document will be
available on or about July 1, 1998 on the DOE Chicago Internet Home
Page at http://www.ch.doe.gov/business/ACQ.htm under the heading
``Current Acquisition Activities,'' Solicitation No. DE-SC02-98EE50526
with applications due August 17, 1998. Any amendments to this
solicitation will be posted on the Internet. Please note that users
will not be alerted when the solicitation is issued on the Internet or
when amendments are posted on the Internet. Prospective applicants are
therefore advised to check the above Internet address on a daily basis.
The cooperative agreements are expected to be awarded on or about March
1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John O'Keefe, at (630) 252-2125, U.S.
Department of Energy, 9800 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439-4899;
by fax at (630) 252-5045; or by e-mail at keefe@ch.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Topic 1 includes research on proton-
exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells for transportation and buildings.
Proposals for light-duty transportation applications are sought in
three areas and building applications in another area: (1) Fuel cell
system integration issues, including delivery of complete sub-scale
fuel cell power systems; one to DOE for experiments to validate fuel
cell system models, another for use at the contractor(s) laboratory
facilities to develop engineering solutions for operation at extreme
conditions while ensuring water balance and demonstrating freeze-thaw
capability. DOE also seeks to update existing cost analyses
incorporating the principles of design for manufacturability. (2) Fuel
cell component R&D, including development of CO tolerant anodes, higher
activity cathodes, manufacturing technologies, air compressor/
expanders, controls and sensors, coolants, stack sealants, gaskets, and
adhesives for stack durability. (3) Fuel processing R&D, including CO
clean-up and design for manufacturability of preferential oxidation
system(s), start-up and transient response, durability, and innovative
ideas for reducing size, weight, and cost of the fuel processing
system. (4) The Fuel Cell for Buildings Program seeks advanced
components for PEM fuel cell cogeneration systems which are simple in
construction with no heavily loaded mechanical subsystems that limit
life and reliability; operate at a pressure of 1.5 atm or below; have
heat rejection temperatures in excess of 100 deg.C to provide access to
a broad range of applications for cogeneration systems and reduce the
cost of heat rejection when operating in a power only mode; and are
highly reliable during long-term operation on natural gas reformate
from low-cost fuel processors. PEM fuel cell technologies based on
NafionTM or similar materials as an electrolyte are unlikely
to meet these system requirements. In an activity which cross-cuts with
the needs of the transportation fuel cell program, the Fuel Cell for
Buildings Program seeks to acquire research and development of advanced
high temperature membrane(s) with performance equal to or better than
that of NafionTM.
Topic 2 includes research in three areas: (1) Compression-ignition
direct injection engines (CIDI), (2) spark-ignition direct injection
engines (SIDI), and (3) innovative concepts. The primary technical
barrier facing automotive DI engines is the development of combustion
and emission control technology able to reliably meet stringent
emission regulations. (1) The focus of the CIDI engine research is on
NOX and particulate matter (PM) emissions control technology
for light-duty vehicle applications. Emission control component
development includes research on advanced after-treatment technologies
that will enable PNGV-candidate CIDI engines (operating on low-sulfur
diesel fuel) and SIDI engines (operating on reformulated gasoline) to
meet NOX and PM emissions targets (0.2 g/mi NOX
and 0.01 g/mi PM) as well as other requirements (e.g., cost and
efficiency). Examples of components being sought are advanced fuel
injection systems (high-pressure, rate shaping) and exhaust gas
recirculation in combination with after-treatment approaches such as
lean NOX catalysts, non-thermal plasma, and regenerative
particulate traps. (2) The focus of the SIDI efforts will be the
development of durable fuel injectors and associated equipment for
light-duty vehicles. After treatment devices and associated sensors for
SIDI engines are needed as well. (3) In addition, proposals are sought
for innovative, high-risk research into novel means of reducing
emissions or improving the efficiency of SIDI, CIDI or conventional
gasoline-fueled, spark-ignition engines. New, forward thinking devices
and systems that make significant improvements in engine performance
and are practical to implement are sought.
Topic 3 includes research on fuels and lubricants. Proposals are
sought in four areas: (1) Optimized CIDI fuels, including research on
advanced fuel formulations, fuel characterization test development, and
lubricity additive performance mechanisms. Advanced CIDI fuel
formulations including but not limited to oxygenate additives and
cetane enhancers which facilitate meeting future passenger car emission
standards are being sought. Recommendations for fuel characterization
test methods may include, among others, means for determining
compatibility with CIDI after-treatment systems, storage stability,
thermal stability, fuel system and engine deposit forming potential,
compatibility with engine and fuel system materials, blending
compatibility with petroleum fuels, combustion particulate forming
potential, cold start, and low-temperature operation. Determination of
CIDI fuel lubricity additive performance will include evaluation of
additive mechanisms such as surface adsorption at the temperature and
pressure of operation. (2) CIDI engine lubrication research, including
advanced lubricant formulations to help meet vehicle fuel economy and
exhaust emission targets, demonstrated through lubricant bench test
characterization methods. (3) Research to identify, characterize, and
test fuels specifically optimized for automotive fuel cells. The work
may include an analysis and/or formulation of fuels that offer
advantages for on-board reforming processes (e.g., less coking, ease of
operation at extreme ambient conditions, greater hydrogen yield, and
emissions reductions) and a determination of the cost of producing
these fuels and the impact of these fuels on the fueling infrastructure
and oil imports. Offerors should assess candidate fuels using current
automotive-type partial oxidation reformers as the fuel processing
baseline. (4) Research on innovative natural gas compressors to reduce
the size, noise, and cost of the compressor island, significantly lower
energy
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consumption for compression, and reduce maintenance requirements.
Innovative concepts for gas storage, gas dispensing, operating
strategies for the storage capacity, and providing the small amount of
highest-pressure gas needed to complete vehicle fueling are desired.
Research is also sought in the area of truly conformable tank
technology (i.e., storage devices that are integral to the vehicle),
either with or without storage density enhancement techniques. The
objective is to develop storage vessels in non-cylindrical shapes that
are conducive to incorporation into automobiles and light trucks.
A major DOE program objective is to increase the involvement of the
automotive industry supplier base in key engine-related R&D programs.
The Department of Energy anticipates that approximately twenty-five
cooperative agreements will result from this solicitation. Under Topic
1 there will be approximately twelve awards, with periods of
performance ranging from eighteen to thirty months and total estimated
DOE funding of $10,000,000.00 to $30,000,000.00. Under Topic 2 there
will be approximately five awards, with periods of performance of
thirty months and total estimated DOE funding of $40,000,000.00. Under
Topic 3 there will be approximately eight awards with periods of
performance of thirty-six months and total estimated DOE funding of
$10,000,000.00. Cost sharing requirements will vary from zero to fifty
percent, depending on the topic area, and will be specified in the
solicitation. Awards are subject to the availability of funds and the
solicitation will not obligate DOE to make any award(s). Any non-profit
or for-profit organization, university or other institution of higher
education, or non-federal agency or entity is eligible to apply.
Federal laboratory participation shall be minimal and will be subject
to DOE approval. The solicitation will provide further guidance in this
area. Awards resulting from this solicitation will be subject to the
requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 which in general requires
that the awardee be a United States-owned company (including certain
non-profits) or that the foreign country in which the parent company is
located meets certain conditions of reciprocity in the treatment of
investments, access to research and development programs, and
protection of intellectual property. All responsible sources, as
indicated above, may submit an application which shall be considered by
the government.
Issued in Chicago, Illinois on May 4, 1998.
J. D. Greenwood,
Acquisition and Assistance Group Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-12677 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
