Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000059
Apply for DE FOA 0000059
- The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the energy science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fundamental Developments in Sensors and Controls for Power and Fuel Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089 Fossil Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 1, 2009 and posted on Apr 1, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 12, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) funding opportunity titled Fundamental Developments in Sensors and Controls for Power and Fuel Systems (FOA number DE-FOA-0000059) was a 2009 competitive solicitation for research and development aimed at enabling highly efficient, near-zero-emissions fossil-energy-based power generation and fuel production. The program focus sits in NETL's Advanced Research efforts, specifically targeting "transitional" research that bridges basic science and applied engineering so that new sensing, instrumentation, and control concepts can move earlier into real power and fuel system applications. NETL framed the need around the increasing complexity of next-generation plants (advanced combustion, gasification, turbines, fuel cells, gas cleaning/separation, and carbon capture, plus co-production of synthetic fuels), where better sensors and smarter control architectures are essential for integrated operation, improved efficiency, reduced emissions, predictive online maintenance, and lifecycle health monitoring.
The FOA was issued as a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement instrument (meaning DOE involvement during the project is typically more hands-on than in a standard grant). It fell under CFDA 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development) and included a cost-sharing requirement. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any qualified entity), subject to any additional eligibility language in the full FOA. The original and final closing date was May 12, 2009, with an archive date of August 1, 2009. Applicants were directed to retrieve the full Funding Opportunity Announcement through FedConnect and to follow the FOA instructions exactly; questions about the announcement had to be submitted through the FedConnect portal (registration required), with DOE indicating an intent to respond typically within three business days when possible.
Technically, the solicitation was organized as one overall topic (fundamental developments in sensors and controls for power and fuel systems) with four research areas in scope, covering both fundamental and applied work. The first area focused on advanced materials development for high-temperature sensing, seeking new materials that can survive and function in extreme conditions defined roughly as 700 degrees C to 1600 degrees C, and in some cases pressures on the order of 300 to 700 psi. NETL expressed interest in materials that enable measurement of temperature, pressure, strain, and gas composition relevant to fossil energy processes, including species such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water vapor, methane, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides, and related compounds. Examples of candidate material platforms mentioned include non-silica optical fibers, piezoelectric crystals, non-carbon nanotubes or nanowires, and three-dimensional ceramic or metal-oxide nanostructures. A durability target was emphasized: materials that could survive at least 5,000 hours in the intended high-temperature environment were viewed as desirable.
The second area sought novel sensor constructs for harsh environments, explicitly pushing applicants away from conventional strategies like heavily cooled probe designs or extractive sampling systems. Instead, NETL wanted approaches capable of real-time, online, in situ sensing in the kinds of corrosive and erosive environments created during fossil fuel conversion, including combustion, gasification, fuel cells, and gas turbines. The harshness was characterized by temperatures of about 500 degrees C to 1600 degrees C, pressures of about 300 to 700 psi, and challenging constituents (for example, molten slag in reducing coal gasification conditions, or high-oxygen turbulent regimes such as oxy-fired combustion and oxygen-enriched turbines). Desired capabilities included multidimensional mapping using sensor networks, imaging approaches, distributed sensing, and heterogeneous sensor suites that can survive and operate where commercial sensors are limited. Measurements of interest included flame/gas/surface temperature, dynamic pressure and flow (including turbine entry conditions), fuel and exhaust gas composition, and indicators of component integrity such as surface strain or refractory degradation. The FOA also set a clear boundary: approaches that rely on radiation or ionizing sources were out of scope.
The third area addressed modeling the placement and performance of sensors, recognizing that modern plants already rely heavily on process modeling and simulation for design and operations, but that additional fundamental work is needed to determine how sensors should be selected, placed, and networked to maximize both measurement value and control performance. NETL highlighted interests in algorithms and hybrid sensor architectures that support intelligent, self-organizing sensor-to-sensor communication networks, including hierarchical interactions among sensors and their embedded intelligence. A key idea was using high-fidelity coupling between measurement concepts and simulated processes or vessels (initially possibly in generic settings) and then ensuring that the resulting methods can adapt and transition to fossil energy applications such as gasification, advanced combustion, and turbines. The ultimate objective in this area was improved process control through optimized sensor type, number, and location.
The fourth area centered on multizonal reduced order model (ROM) development for gasification and combustion reactors, motivated by the need for accurate virtual representations of core processes to speed technology development, reduce pilot and demonstration time and costs, and lower technical risk for future high-efficiency, low-emission plants. NETL described a vision where process simulation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are coupled (process/CFD co-simulation) so local fluid dynamics and mixing effects can be understood in the context of full-plant performance. Within that, the FOA sought tools and methods for the automatic and systematic development of multizonal ROMs that approximate high-fidelity CFD simulations of key equipment like gasifiers and combustors. In this approach, a detailed CFD representation is reduced into an interconnected network of reactor "zones," while still retaining the chemical kinetics complexity needed to model gasification and combustion realistically. Applicants were encouraged to apply these ROM methods to coal gasification and combustion relevant to clean power and coal-derived fuels. Interoperability was also a priority: NETL stated it was desirable to use the CAPE-OPEN software standard so the resulting ROMs could work with CAPE-OPEN-compliant process simulators and NETL's Advanced Process Engineering Co-Simulator (APECS).
Operationally, the FOA emphasized that application preparation and submission requirements lived in the full announcement on FedConnect, and that following those instructions was mandatory for consideration. For help accessing the announcement electronically, the notice pointed to the IIPS HelpDesk email (iipshelpdesk@e-center.doe.gov) and listed a NETL contact, Martin Byrnes (Martin.Byrnes@netl.doe.gov), while reiterating that formal questions about FOA content should be routed through FedConnect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled Fundamental Developments in Sensors and Controls for Power and Fuel Systems, FOA number DE-FOA-0000059. It was a 2009 competitive solicitation for research and development intended to enable highly efficient, near-zero-emissions fossil-energy-based power generation and fuel production.
2) What is the main program goal?
The FOA focused on advancing sensing, instrumentation, and control concepts that can move earlier into real power and fuel system applications. NETL described this as "transitional" research that bridges basic science and applied engineering, supporting integrated operation, improved efficiency, reduced emissions, predictive online maintenance, and lifecycle health monitoring in increasingly complex next-generation plants.
3) What kinds of energy systems and processes does it target?
The solicitation was framed around the complexity of next-generation fossil energy plants and related systems, including advanced combustion, gasification, turbines, fuel cells, gas cleaning/separation, carbon capture, and co-production of synthetic fuels. The overarching theme is improving sensing and control to operate these systems more efficiently and with lower emissions.
4) What type of award instrument was used?
DOE issued this as a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement. That typically means DOE involvement during the project is more hands-on than in a standard grant.
5) What CFDA program did it fall under?
The FOA fell under CFDA 81.089 (Fossil Energy Research and Development).
6) Was cost share required?
Yes. The FOA included a cost-sharing requirement. (Specific cost-share percentages and rules were contained in the full FOA.)
7) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any qualified entity), subject to any additional eligibility language contained in the full FOA.
8) When were applications due?
The original and final closing date was May 12, 2009.
9) When was the FOA archived?
The archive date listed for the opportunity was August 1, 2009.
10) Where did applicants get the full FOA and instructions?
Applicants were directed to retrieve the full Funding Opportunity Announcement through FedConnect and to follow the FOA instructions exactly. The notice emphasized that application preparation and submission requirements were contained in the full announcement on FedConnect.
11) How were questions about the FOA handled?
Questions about the announcement were required to be submitted through the FedConnect portal (registration required). DOE indicated an intent to respond typically within three business days when possible.
12) What is the overall technical scope?
The solicitation was organized as one overall topic (fundamental developments in sensors and controls for power and fuel systems) with four research areas in scope. The FOA explicitly covered both fundamental and applied work, with an emphasis on advancing concepts toward real system applications.
13) What are the four research areas?
The four areas were:
- Advanced materials development for high-temperature sensing
- Novel sensor constructs for harsh environments
- Modeling the placement and performance of sensors
- Multizonal reduced order model (ROM) development for gasification and combustion reactors
14) What temperatures and pressures were considered "extreme" for the materials-focused area?
For advanced materials development for high-temperature sensing, NETL highlighted extreme conditions roughly in the range of 700 degrees C to 1600 degrees C, and in some cases pressures on the order of 300 to 700 psi.
15) What measurements did NETL want to enable with advanced high-temperature sensing materials?
NETL expressed interest in materials enabling measurement of temperature, pressure, strain, and gas composition relevant to fossil energy processes.
16) Which gas species and compounds were specifically mentioned as sensing targets?
The FOA mentioned species such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water vapor, methane, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides, and related compounds.
17) What example material platforms were mentioned?
Examples of candidate platforms included non-silica optical fibers, piezoelectric crystals, non-carbon nanotubes or nanowires, and three-dimensional ceramic or metal-oxide nanostructures.
18) Was durability in harsh environments emphasized?
Yes. NETL emphasized a durability target, noting that materials that could survive at least 5,000 hours in the intended high-temperature environment were desirable.
19) What was the main thrust of the "novel sensor constructs for harsh environments" area?
This area emphasized real-time, online, in situ sensing in corrosive and erosive fossil fuel conversion environments (combustion, gasification, fuel cells, and gas turbines). NETL explicitly pushed applicants away from conventional strategies such as heavily cooled probe designs or extractive sampling systems.
20) What operating conditions were highlighted for harsh-environment sensors?
NETL characterized harsh environments as including temperatures of about 500 degrees C to 1600 degrees C, pressures of about 300 to 700 psi, and challenging constituents (for example, molten slag in reducing coal gasification conditions, or high-oxygen turbulent regimes such as oxy-fired combustion and oxygen-enriched turbines).
21) What sensing capabilities were of interest for harsh environments?
Desired capabilities included multidimensional mapping using sensor networks, imaging approaches, distributed sensing, and heterogeneous sensor suites that can survive where commercial sensors are limited.
22) What specific measurements were of interest in harsh-environment sensor constructs?
The FOA called out measurements such as flame/gas/surface temperature, dynamic pressure and flow (including turbine entry conditions), fuel and exhaust gas composition, and indicators of component integrity such as surface strain or refractory degradation.
23) Were any sensor approaches explicitly excluded?
Yes. The FOA set a clear boundary that approaches relying on radiation or ionizing sources were out of scope.
24) What is meant by "modeling the placement and performance of sensors"?
This area recognized that plants rely heavily on process modeling and simulation, but additional fundamental work is needed to determine how sensors should be selected, placed, and networked to maximize measurement value and improve control performance.
25) What kinds of sensor-network concepts were of interest in the modeling area?
NETL highlighted interest in algorithms and hybrid sensor architectures supporting intelligent, self-organizing sensor-to-sensor communication networks, including hierarchical interactions among sensors and their embedded intelligence.
26) How did NETL describe transitioning sensor-placement modeling toward applications?
NETL described using high-fidelity coupling between measurement concepts and simulated processes or vessels (potentially in generic settings first), with an expectation that the resulting methods can adapt and transition to fossil energy applications such as gasification, advanced combustion, and turbines. The ultimate objective was improved process control through optimized sensor type, number, and location.
27) What is a multizonal reduced order model (ROM) in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, a multizonal ROM refers to a systematic reduction of a high-fidelity CFD representation into an interconnected network of reactor "zones." The goal is to approximate detailed CFD behavior while retaining enough chemical kinetics complexity to model gasification and combustion realistically.
28) Why was NETL interested in ROMs for gasification and combustion?
NETL described the need for accurate virtual representations to speed technology development, reduce pilot and demonstration time and costs, and lower technical risk for future high-efficiency, low-emission plants.
29) How did NETL describe the relationship between process simulation and CFD?
NETL described a vision where process simulation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are coupled (process/CFD co-simulation) so local fluid dynamics and mixing effects can be understood in the context of full-plant performance.
30) Which applications were encouraged for ROM development?
Applicants were encouraged to apply ROM methods to coal gasification and combustion relevant to clean power and coal-derived fuels.
31) Was interoperability with specific software standards mentioned?
Yes. NETL stated it was desirable to use the CAPE-OPEN software standard so ROMs could work with CAPE-OPEN-compliant process simulators and NETL's Advanced Process Engineering Co-Simulator (APECS).
32) Where could applicants get help accessing the announcement electronically?
For help accessing the announcement electronically, the notice pointed to the IIPS HelpDesk email: iipshelpdesk@e-center.doe.gov.
33) Was a NETL contact listed?
Yes. The notice listed a NETL contact: Martin Byrnes at Martin.Byrnes@netl.doe.gov, while reiterating that formal questions about FOA content should be routed through FedConnect.
34) What did DOE emphasize about following instructions?
The FOA emphasized that applicants had to follow the FOA instructions exactly, and that application preparation and submission requirements were contained in the full announcement on FedConnect.
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