Technology Innovation2010 St ra tegic Review

1

Strategic PerspectiveNear-term innovation in energy production, delivery, and utilization technologies is critical to help transition the electric sector from where it is today to where consumers, the economy, and global society need it to be in 5, 10, 20, and even 50 years from now. EPRI’s Technology Innovation Program (TI) anticipates the future, scans today’s science and technology frontiers, and implements a strategic research and development (R&D) portfolio focused on an application horizon extending across the next two decades.

Of course, innovation occurs throughout the economy, research community, and electricity enter-prise. EPRI, in collaboration with its industry partners, offers extraordinary strength in applied innovation—in understanding a need or recognizing an opportunity, in interpreting the potential attributes of an innovative technology, and then in bringing together the team required for successful development. TI nurtures concepts through early, high-risk stages toward full-scale demonstration. The TI R&D portfolio’s four components—Thought Leadership, Strategic Programs, Breakthrough Technologies, and Polaris Initiative—play complementary roles in innovation incubation (Figure 1). Successful strategic work leads to further development and industry application through EPRI’s membership programs and supplemental projects in the Generation, Nuclear, Power Delivery & Utilization, and Environment Sectors.

This Strategic Review features 2010 progress in helping advance energy efficiency and the smart grid, generate near-zero emissions from coal plants, expand deployment of renewable energy, enable long-term operation of the existing nuclear fleet, and promote sustain-able water resource

management and global electrification. In 2011, TI brings a sharpened focus to applied innovation addressing these strategic issues and the underlying science and technology priorities. We are implementing an R&D planning and optimization approach based on a technology readiness level (TRL) metric pioneered by NASA. We also are introducing new ways for identifying high-value innovations and launching high-leverage collaborations.

TRLs, which define both the status of individual innovations and pathways forward (Figure 2), are being applied to accelerate progress through TI. Each individual innovation is assigned a TRL, including technical milestones that must be achieved before reaching subsequent stages of maturity. In step-wise fashion, TRLs outline the process for advancing innovations and transitioning them to

VIce PresIdenT’s Message

EPRI Technology Innovation

ThoughtLeadership

• University Research

• Industry Leadership Initiatives

BreakthroughTechnologies

(Accelerated Development)

StrategicPrograms

(Long-Term Research)

PolarisInitiative

(Idea Incubation)

Base andSupplemental

Programs

IndustryNeeds

andApplications

Figure 1 – The TI R&D portfolio’s four complementary components address strategic R&D needs by serving as front-end incubators that feed advanced knowledge and technology to EPRI’s sectors for solution-oriented development, demonstration, and commercialization.

2

EPRI’s sectors. They provide an organized basis for determin-ing when, where, and how to best use TI funding in accelerat-ing progress.

The overall content of TI’s R&D portfolio is determined based on its Thought Leadership activities, including stake-holder outreach, technology assessment, and strategic collabo-ration as described on pp. 4-5. Over the past several years, TI’s engagement with bright minds in the university research community has expanded. In 2011, industry leaders serving on EPRI’s Research Advisory Committee are assuming a more active role in defining TI’s strategic R&D priorities, while a new collaboration exemplifies its role in focusing innovation on industry needs: As the lead technical resource for the National Electric Sector Cybersecurity Organization (NESCO), we are engaging the broader cyber security community in R&D to address critical vulnerabilities and threats facing the electricity enterprise.

Strategic Programs, the core of the TI R&D portfolio, bring together several projects in key areas. Progress reports for nine existing programs are provided on pp. 6-14, while nine new programs are being launched in 2011 to expand coverage of critical industry issues. Across all 18 areas, EPRI experts designated as “innovation scouts” are charged with identifying and pursuing high-value targets for applied innovation. Using EPRI’s phenomenal engagement with the electricity sector as a point of introduction, they are building relationships with government, university, venture capital, and other R&D communities that offer access to potential breakthroughs—including disruptive technologies—currently in the TRL1-TRL3 stages. Successful innovation capture may range from informal information exchange to provision of seed money for proof-of-concept studies to collaborative R&D, with an influencing role for EPRI being the common element.

Breakthrough Technologies accelerate progress on innovations with strong likelihood for significant—and potentially revolution-ary—impacts on current industry practice. In 2010, the four projects described on pp. 15-17 were funded to transform inspection of transmission lines and power plant components, as well as control of mercury emissions from coal-fired plants and radioactive contaminants in nuclear plant primary water systems. Based on their TRL status, a stage-gate process is being used in 2011 to drive progress toward commercialization within a 3- to 5-year timeline.

The Polaris Initiative reserves a pool of funding to pursue new ideas and potential breakthroughs as they are identified by EPRI staff, many of whom are recognized globally for their specialized expertise. On pp. 18-19, milestones are highlighted for a handful of the continuing Polaris projects and 14 new projects in 2010. Our product list on pp. 20-21 includes all 2010 TI deliverables.

I hope you enjoy reading about our accomplishments, and that your interest in our work matches my excitement about the 2011 TI portfolio. Our big-picture perspective, multidisciplinary approach, and line-of-sight focus on applied innovation are powering progress and shaping the future of electricity on behalf of EPRI’s members and society. If you have questions or would like to learn more about specific activities, please contact TI using the information provided on the back cover. Thank you for your continuing support of electricity-based innovation.

Sincerely,

Arshad Mansoor Senior Vice President, R&D Group

Commercialization

EarlyCommercialDeployment

Demonstration

EarlyDemonstration

SystemValidated

SubsystemValidated

Proof of ConceptValidated

ConceptsFormulated

ExploratoryResearch

TRL9

TRL8

TRL7

TRL 6

TRL 5

TRL 4

TRL3

TRL2

TRL1

TechnologyReadiness

Levels

Figure 2 – TRLs are used to balance and monitor the TI R&D portfolio, with some strategic work at TRL1-2 and the majority spanning TRL3-6. This ensures both a steady flow and smooth transition of innovations into EPRI’s sector programs and the electricity industry.

3

co n T en T s

Thought Leadership .........................................................4University Outreach .................................................................................................4Energy Technology Assessment Center (ETAC) ...........................................................5Innovation Network (IN) Team ..................................................................................5

strategic Program Updates ................................................6Biotechnology .........................................................................................................6Carbon Capture ......................................................................................................7Emissions, Health, and Environment ..........................................................................8Materials – Fossil and Nuclear Generation ................................................................9Materials – Grid Transformation .............................................................................10Near-Zero Emissions .............................................................................................11Nondestructive Evaluation ......................................................................................12Renewables ..........................................................................................................13Sensors and Operations ........................................................................................14

Breakthrough Technologies .............................................. 15On-Site Sorbent Activation Process for Low-Cost Multi-Pollutant Control ....................15Handheld, Real-Time, 3-D Imaging for Accurate, Low-Cost Component Inspection .....15Robotic Inspection for Enhanced Condition-Based Maintenance of Transmission Lines ...............................................................................................16Sequestration Resins for Accelerated Contaminant Removal from Nuclear Plant Coolants ........................................................................................17

Polaris Initiative .......................................................... 18Smart Phone Apps for Low-Cost Sensing and Diagnostics .........................................18Nanocrystalline Interlayer Coatings for Combustion Turbine Blades ...........................18Single-Well Engineered Geothermal System (SWEGS) .............................................18Inhibiting Frost Formation on Heat Pump Coils .........................................................18On-Line Monitoring via Transient Methods ..............................................................19Automated Wind Turbine Curtailment to Prevent Bat Mortality ..................................19

2010 deliverables ........................................................ 20

4

Thought Leadership

University OutreachTI cultivates close relationships with university research programs and with public and private laboratories and institutes recog-nized around the world for their expertise in strategic areas. By conducting outreach and sponsoring R&D, TI brings new perspectives, innovative ideas, and state-of-the-art facilities to bear on critical technology, policy, and market issues. In addition, EPRI’s members are given opportunities to collaborate directly with leading researchers.

In 2010, projects at about 60 universities, research institutes, and national laboratories accounted for roughly 20% of the total TI budget. Core support is provided for multidisciplinary, industry-focused programs at Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and University of California-San Diego, while a major study of the nuclear fuel cycle was completed by Massachu-setts Institute of Technology. Students at the University of Tennessee, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and Stanford are matched with mentors at nearby EPRI offices—both to explore the real-world potential of their own concepts and to learn from and pursue ideas developed by EPRI’s experts. Highlights from three university partnerships are introduced below, while TI’s engagement with the broader research community is featured throughout this review.

Carnegie MellonScholars and students at the Electricity Industry Center apply engineering, economics, risk analysis, and decision science to address strategic challenges using real-world data and case studies provided by industry stakeholders. One 2010 PhD dissertation addresses legal issues surrounding subsurface property rights and geological carbon storage. A second quantifies how variable-out-put wind generation affects the delivered cost of energy and air emissions in Texas. A third looks at tradeoffs associated with building long-distance transmission circuits to access higher-quality wind resources. Visit cmu.edu/electricity.

StanfordOpinion leaders with the Program on Energy & Sustainable Development provide insights on the intricacies of climate policy and mitigation and on the drivers shaping worldwide energy markets. A 2010 briefing paper highlights natural gas as the supply option offering the greatest potential to achieve near-term, cost-effective reductions in CO2 emissions, and it specifies the government actions required to increase gas demand and build delivery infrastructure. New research on renewables integration focuses on clearing regulatory barriers to transmission expansion. Visit pesd.stanford.edu.

MITFindings from a multi-year study, The Future of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, inform near-term decisions with long-term implications for nuclear plant deployment. Based on new understanding of uranium supplies, both closed and open fuel cycles are potentially viable, with each posing different issues and advantages relating to resource utilization, cost, safety, security, waste management, and proliferation. Near-term expansion of U.S. nuclear capacity is recommended for climate mitigation. Also recommended is continued R&D on fuel cycle, spent fuel processing, waste disposal, and other advanced technologies appropriate to a range of long-term deployment scenarios. Scenario modeling continues in 2011 under TI’s new Nuclear Fuel Cycle Program.

5

Energy Technology Assessment Center (ETAC)ETAC synthesizes work across EPRI and throughout the electricity enterprise to develop standardized cost-performance projec-tions for central-station supply options, as well as to assess the current status and future potential of distributed generation, delivery, storage, demand response, and utilization technologies.

Initial results from Prism 2.0 modeling were communicated to industry, academia, government, and nongovernmental leaders at EPRI’s Summer Seminar and in presentations to advisory and industry groups. Early work highlights the diverse technol-ogy response of individual U.S. regions to possible federal limits on CO2 emissions, consistent with the wide variation in generation mixes, renewable resource availability, and policy and market conditions across the country. On a nationwide basis, efficiency—including behavioral response to rising prices—and renewables represent key options for offsetting retirement of existing coal plants through about 2030, with gas filling gaps in demand and holding reliability. The long-term role of variable-output wind generation is likely to be con-strained by grid integration challenges and widespread deploy-ment of nuclear and carbon capture technologies.

The Generation Technology Reference Card explains the complex tradeoffs utilities and power producers face in trying to meet demand. Simple visual icons highlight the relative economic, environmental, and operational characteristics of major fossil, nuclear, and renewable energy options. Variations in the size and productivity of different types of generating facilities and in their current contributions to the U.S. supply mix also are illustrated.

Innovation Network (IN) TeamIn 2010, two EPRI staff members served on the IN Team, devoting a significant percentage of their time to evaluate the potential for applied innovation in key areas of science and technology. Through literature reviews, conferences, site visits, and interactions with industry and research leaders, these experts identified high-value opportunities for follow-on strategic R&D.

Maria Guimaraes, project manager in EPRI’s Nuclear Sector, completed a comprehensive review of concrete applications at nuclear and fossil plants, hydroelectric dams, and power delivery facilities. Findings highlight R&D needs and opportunities for innovation in areas such aging mechanisms, inspection methods, NDE techniques, embedded sensors, and advanced composites. In 2011, strategic work is expanding through TI’s new Concrete Program.

Haresh Kamath, senior project manager in EPRI’s Power Delivery & Utilization Sector, led comprehensive inquiries into materials innovations and strategic R&D priorities for efficiency, power electronics, and energy storage. Laboratory studies are under way on using electrochromic windows and phase-change wallboard materials to shave peak cooling loads in buildings and reduce overall demand. In addition, new battery designs, electrodes, and manufacturing technologies are being explored for stationary and transportation applications. Work is now being pursued through TI’s new Energy Efficiency, Power Electronics, and Energy Storage programs.

Building on the successes of IN Team members in these areas, TI is engaging innovation scouts to support each 2011 strategic program. These experts will monitor government and university research—as well as the work funded by venture capitalists—to identify and pursue high-value R&D investment opportunities.

Light and Solar Energy Transmitted

Light and Solar Energy Partially Transmitted

Light and Solar Energy Partially Rejected

High Transmission State (Clear) Low Transmission State (Dark)

The Prism 2.0 model projects future U.S. efficiency gains and generation mixes under climate policy and other scenarios, highlighting near- and long-term R&D priorities consistent with regional variations in existing infrastructure, market drivers, and renewable resource potential.

Windows with specialized coatings enable electronic control of solar gain to reduce cooling loads in summer and heating loads in winter.

6

strategic Programs

BiotechnologyBiotechnology promises energy-related innovations just as it has revolutionized health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries. EPRI is developing bioremediation technol-ogy for coal ash discharges and exploring algae-based carbon recycling, biofuel production, and other promising applications.

2010 HighlightsBioremediation for boron control. Currently, no commer-cial wastewater treatment methods provide cost-effective control of boron, a contaminant commonly found in dis-charges from coal ash management facilities. In EPRI research, multiple hyper-accumulators—plants and bacteria capable of growing in and treating water and soil containing very high concentrations of boron—have been discovered. The genes and processes influencing tolerance, uptake, and immobilization have been identified for a Turkish grass species that can survive and grow in soils containing more than 1500 ppm of boron. Analogous work is under way for microbes that thrive at concentrations of 7500 ppm and higher. Ongoing laboratory experiments are designed to develop genetically mediated pathways for optimizing boron uptake by natural or transgenic plants and in bacterial bioreactors. Constructed wetland and bioreactor systems capable of meeting applicable regulatory standards on a year-round basis could provide site-specific savings totaling from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

Utility-connected algae systems. In the first comprehensive, utility-focused assessment of algae-based technologies, EPRI has concluded that algal CO2 fixation is unlikely to offset a very high fraction of emissions from large fossil plants because of the land footprint required for photosynthetic processes. On a smaller scale and site-specific basis, however, power producers may be able to realize economic benefits and reduce on-site emissions by partnering with algae projects, which require a low-cost, concentrated CO2 stream. To facilitate evaluation of utility-connected

applications, EPRI has documented a pilot project in Israel where stack emissions, cooling water, and energy from a coal-fired unit are being used to cultivate marine algae and produce high-value chemicals. In addition, a research-grade model has been developed for assessing energy requirements, life-cycle CO2 balances, costs, and other

attributes of algae-based growth systems. Developments in the field are being monitored, including the potential for significant performance gains, as algae-based systems currently achieve less than 20% of the maximum possible CO2 uptake per unit area.

Strategic Drivers•Near-ZeroEmissions•WaterManagement• RenewableResources

Innovation Network•UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley•UniversityofColorado

Biotechnology innovations—such as wetland plant species capable on removing boron from coal ash management facility wastewater—promise novel solutions to economic and environmental challenges facing the electric sector.

7

Carbon CaptureNew power plant designs integrating multiple carbon capture innovations are needed to drive down the energy penalties and costs of reducing CO2 emissions and help maintain coal as an economically viable generation option. EPRI is leading a multidisciplinary modeling, screening, proof-of-concept testing, and pilot-scale demonstration program to identify and advance revolutionary capture processes for combustion, gasification, and oxycombustion applications.

2010 HighlightsProcess modeling. Initial computer representations of the major capture methods have provided new insights on cost-performance drivers, and comprehensive first-principles models for simulating the integration of adsorption, absorption, and membrane technologies within power plant design and operations are scheduled for completion in 2011. Already, this unique analysis capability is helping quantify the desired properties of separation materials, set performance targets, and accelerate the worldwide search for breakthrough capture technologies. EPRI’s model indicates that maximizing the working capacity of sorbents—the difference between the amounts of adsorbed flue-gas CO2 and desorbed high-purity CO2—rather than their total adsorptive capacity is more important for increasing carbon capture and decreasing energy penalties. Findings like this are being broadly communicated to chemists, materials scientists, and power plant engineers, helping focus R&D on parameters critical for reducing energy penalties and cost impacts.

Screening and proof-of-concept tests. Specialized laboratory facilities have been constructed to synthesize and screen solvents based on first-principles knowledge, and promising solvents collected from laboratories around the world are being tested in bench-top experiments and a small pilot-scale combustor. Also, a number of early-stage materi-als and processes have been investigated using seed funds, with 2010 project awards

from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy leveraging EPRI’s investment in eight innovative methods by about 50:1.

Precombustion capture. Evaluation of precombustion solvents and membranes is under way on syngas slipstreams from a large-scale gasifier at the National Carbon Capture Center. Independently, EPRI assessed nine early-stage technologies sup-ported by DOE, concluding that the potential benefits of any individual advance would be insufficient to meet aggressive energy- and cost-saving targets. To explore the possible benefits of integrating multiple capture innovations, a case study of an IGCC plant incorporating novel warm syngas cleanup, hydrogen transport mem-brane, and CO2 purification concepts was conducted. Results showed a 95% capture

rate, an increase in net plant output of 1.3%, and an efficiency gain of 2.3% (higher heating value basis) relative to a current state-of-the-art IGCC facility with capture, justifying further R&D on these early-stage concepts and on integrated plant designs.

Carbon capture innovations—such as the advanced sorbent formulations being designed based on new first-principles knowledge and then screened in laboratory tests—promise cost-effective coal-based generation consistent with climate stabilization objectives.

Strategic Drivers•Near-ZeroEmissions

Innovation Network•ClemsonUniversity•ColoradoSchoolofMines•ColoradoState• LawrenceBerkeleyNationalLabs• LosAlamosNationalLabs•NationalCarbonCaptureCenter•NewJerseyInstituteof

Technology•UniversityofColorado•UniversityofIllinois,Chicago•UniversityofKentucky•UniversityofTexas,Austin•UniversityofWyoming•U.S.DepartmentofEnergy

8

Emissions, Health, and EnvironmentImproved understanding of the potential adverse impacts of multimedia emissions from future power plants will help technology developers mitigate risks during the design process, reducing the need for costly and inefficient back-end controls and retrofits. EPRI is leading the first comprehensive risk assessment of emerging fossil and biomass generation, carbon capture, and environmental control technologies based on field measurement, toxicology, chemistry and thermodynamics, and occupational health and safety studies.

2010 HighlightsFuture plant configurations. Building on previous research identifying the 20 most likely fuel, conversion, and control configurations for plants operating in 2030, a database of estimated multimedia releases has been developed based on design factors and expected chemical characteristics of stack gases, wastewaters, and solid wastes. The database encompasses conventional pollutants, ultrafine particles, and novel by-products that may be associated with new fuels, conversion and control processes, and chemical additives. Using tools developed by EPRI and others, modeling is being conducted based on estimated releases for specified plant designs and sites, including cases where plumes from multiple future plants overlap. This is supporting a screening-level assessment of inhalation and multimedia exposure pathways, as well as ecosystem impacts, to identify rank-ordered risks and additional research priorities.

Airborne Releases in Amine-Based Capture Systems. In the face of growing concern about the unknown health risks associated with airborne releases from amine-based postcombustion capture systems, the first study of the toxicological behavior of solvents and their degradation products is under way. Initial inhalation exposure studies have been completed for monethanolamine and are planned for two other amines in 2011. In addition, a reaction chamber has been developed to simulate thermal and oxidative degradation, and inhalation exposure studies will be conducted on degradation products for all three solvents. Complementary work includes the first rigorous thermodynamic modeling study of the environmental behavior of amines, as well as the first emission sampling and toxicology study for chilled ammonia CCS at the Mountaineer plant in West Virginia. In 2011, similar work is planned for piperazine CCS at the Tarong station in Australia. Findings will help inform design of future systems integrating environmentally sound solvent handling and control technologies.

Biomass Emissions. For the first time, air emissions during biomass cofiring at a coal-fired plant have been sampled and characterized in detail, and toxicological analysis of particulate matter is under way. In 2011, results will be compared to those for samples collected during coal-only operation at the same plant and during

planned monitoring at a dedicated biomass plant. These studies will provide insights on possible health impacts associated with both near- and long-term biomass applications.

Strategic Drivers•Near-ZeroEmissions• RenewableResources• Long-TermOperations

Innovation Network•CommonwealthScientificand

IndustrialResearchOrganization(Australia)

•DalhousieUniversity•DesertResearchInstitute• LovelaceRespiratoryResearch

Institute•UniversityofCalifornia,Davis•UniversityofEastAnglia•UniversityofNorthCarolina,

ChapelHill

Cutting-edge scientific understanding—based on field sampling, inhalation exposure, environmental behavior, and modeling studies—enables risk-informed design of advanced power plants with near-zero emissions.

9

Materials – Fossil and Nuclear GenerationDeployment of advanced fossil and nuclear plants and cost-effective operation of existing assets depend on continued progress in materials science and technology. EPRI is leading the development of a creep-resistant austenitic stainless steel for advanced ultrasupercritical (USC) coal plants, an alterna-tive weld filler for mitigating primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) in pressurized water reactors, and refractories for higher-reliability linings in coal gasification plants. Powder metallurgy (PM) fabrication methods are being developed to reduce the cost of large, complex fossil and nuclear plant components. In addition, fundamental under-standing of major in-service damage mechanisms—including SCC, creep and corrosion fatigue, and high-temperature erosion—is being improved to enhance condition and remaining life assessment.

2010 HighlightsAlternative weld filler. Weldability limitations for the Alloy 52 materials widely used for mitigating PWSCC in welds joining the reactor pressure vessel with coolant piping have created costly problems. In efforts to develop alternative fillers, computational thermodynamics and a novel method for accelerated weldability testing are being applied to fine-tune the composition of high-chromium materials to optimize PWSCC resistance, base metal compatibility, and weldability while achieving requisite mechani-cal properties. Advanced fillers for PWSCC remediation in reactor coolant systems would yield huge benefits, as weldability problems associated with Alloy 52 have caused outage extensions and convinced some utilities to forestall SCC remediation.

PM fabrication. Relative to conventional manufacturing processes, PM fabrication offers true breakthrough potential for large and complex components. In 2010, PM methods were used to produce valve bodies in near-net-shape form, with superior mechanical properties, from multiple heats of Grade 91, IN625, and 316L stainless steel. Detailed testing is under way, addressing inspectability, weldability, and qualification of PM for manufacturing of pressure-retaining components in power generation systems. PM fabrication could reduce the lifetime cost of critical stainless steel equipment by 30 to 40% while removing barriers to the manufacturing of nickel-based components for USC, advanced USC, and oxy-combustion plants.

Corrosion fatigue. For low-pressure steam turbine blades, cracking often begins in corrosion pits subject to high steady and dynamic stresses. In 2010, an accelerated ultrasonic fatigue testing program was initiated to quantify the pit-to-crack transition in common blade materials. Imaging and other methods are being used to monitor damage progression, elucidate effects of environmental and operational conditions,

and develop algorithms for the pitting, transition, and cracking stages. Once incorporated in a blade life assessment code, these algorithms will allow power producers to optimize O&M practices, extend lifetimes, and prevent failures based on in-service history and observed damage.

Strategic Drivers•Near-ZeroEmissions• Long-TermOperations

Innovation Network•BattellePacificNorthwestLabs• BOKU(Austria)•CRIEPI(Japan)•NationalPhysicalLabs(UK)•OakRidgeNationalLaboratory• TohokuUniversity(Japan)•UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley•UniversityofMichigan

Materials innovations—such as powder metallurgy fabrication of large, complex components in near-net-shape form—create the foundation for lower-cost advanced coal plants and reliable, cost-effective, long-term operation of existing nuclear and fossil capacity.

10

Materials – Grid TransformationAdvances in materials technology are required to realize the smart grid’s potential and improve the overall performance of electricity infrastructure in terms of O&M cost, asset utiliza-tion, renewables integration, service reliability, power quality, energy efficiency, and environmental compatibility. EPRI is developing nanotechnology-enabled insulators and cables, next-generation power electronics and energy storage systems, and building envelope components with demand-response capability. In addition, substitutes are being pursued for sulfur hexafluoride, the common switchgear insulator with high global warming potential.

2010 HighlightsNanocoatings for insulators. To help address environmental aging and other degradation mechanisms constraining application of composite insulators, a thin-film nanocoating was designed, developed, and applied directly to the surface of fiberglass samples. Initial evaluations revealed excellent adhesion strength, excellent abrasion and mar resistance, and other useful characteristics. Revised thin-film formulations are being subjected to accelerated aging tests to optimize moisture resistance and absorption of ultraviolet radiation. In 2011, EPRI plans to collaborate with a component supplier in evaluating nanocoatings on commercial insulators. A low-cost coating resistant to environmental aging and handling damage would improve the reliability and life expectancy of fiberglass insulators, helping expanding industry application.

Energy storage. Continuing design and grid integration studies indicate that adiabatic “no-fuel” compressed air energy storage plants incorporating EPRI-devel-oped innovations in thermal storage technology represent a low-cost, zero-emissions option for bulk storage of wind power, with pilot-scale testing planned for 2012. Meanwhile, an energy storage roadmap concludes that existing battery technologies are unlikely to meet long-term cost-performance targets for utility-scale applications. Strategic R&D targets battery materials breakthroughs for 2015 and beyond. Use of silicon nanowires as the anode in lithium-ion batteries is being explored for a possible six-fold increase in energy density, while inkjet-based manufacturing of battery electrodes is being evaluated for improving performance and reducing costs. Collab-orative studies of zinc-air and high-temperature sodium beta batteries focus on

technical requirements for future grid storage applications.

Electrochromic window coatings. In work cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, thin-film electrochromic coatings are being developed for changing the energy transmittance characteristics of windows to increase heating and cooling efficiency. By adjusting the voltage applied to these coatings, windows may be switched between being more transparent in winter and more opaque in summer to control solar gain. Research focuses on enhancing roll-to-roll production processes to facilitate low-cost retrofit of existing windows. In addition, demand-response and other implementation strategies are being explored to maximize the value of electrochromic coatings in reducing energy consumption and peak loading.

Strategic Drivers•SmartGrid• EnergyEfficiency

Innovation Network•RensselaerPolytechnicUniversity•UniversityofArkansas•UniversityofSouthCarolina•UniversityofUtah

Materials innovations—such as durable, low-cost nanocoatings for fiberglass insulators—enhance the overall economic and environmental performance of electricity infrastructure and enable smart grid functionalities.

11

Near-Zero EmissionsIntegrated environmental control systems that minimize or eliminate pollutant emissions will help existing coal plants meet tightening standards while enabling deployment of future fossil and biomass capacity. EPRI is advancing precombustion, combustion-based, and postcombustion technologies to maximize removal of NOx, SOx, fine particulates, mercury, and other air pollutants. In addition, strategies are being developed for integrating multiple control systems to optimize environmental and economic performance. Based in part on work under this program, full-scale demonstration of the on-site sorbent activation process for lower-cost mercury control is being pursued under the Breakthrough Technologies component of TI’s R&D portfolio (see page 15).

2010 HighlightsCoal cleaning. According to a comprehensive state-of-knowl-edge assessment, existing coal washing and grinding technologies could be advanced to reduce SOx emissions by at least 30% and mercury emissions by more than 75% before fuel is introduced to the boiler. In addition to decreasing the flue gas concentrations of these contaminants, precombustion technologies control the amount of ash entering the boiler, resulting in less deposition, slagging, and erosion as well as improved heat rate. Screening-level evaluations identified two enhanced washing methods and one advanced grinding technology meriting detailed investigation. Technical and experimental analyses address removal levels, capital and O&M costs, and fuel quality impacts. Modeling is under way to evaluate tradeoffs among cleaning, combustion-based, and postcombustion technologies and support design of integrated control systems offering near-zero emissions at lowest overall cost.

NOx control. In efforts to improve the control capabilities and reduce the adverse O&M impacts of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology, laboratory tests of an ammonia destruction catalyst were conducted. Results show that systems incorpo-rating both conventional and advanced catalysts could maintain or improve NOx control efficiency while reducing ammonia slip, air preheater fouling, and ash contamination. Ongoing experimental work includes parametric testing, evaluation of additional ammonia destruction catalysts, and exploration of the potential for

increased oxidation and control of mercury within advanced SCR systems. Comple-mentary projects are developing the knowledge base and sensor technologies required to optimize combustion, mixing, and other conditions to reduce NOx formation

while controlling the formation of large-particle ash and its effects on catalyst plugging and fireside deposition.

Particulate control. A comprehensive field-testing program has been designed for assessing the status of current electrostatic precipitator (ESP) technology and identifying the R&D needs required to achieve near-zero emissions. In 2011, data collection and computational fluid dynamics modeling will be initiated based on full-load operation of a state-of-the-art ESP system.

Strategic Drivers•Near-ZeroEmissions• Long-TermOperations

Innovation Network•StanfordUniversity•UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley•UniversityofIllinois

Environmental control innovations—such as advanced catalysts for increasing NOx removal efficiencies while reducing O&M impacts—make near-zero emissions both achievable and affordable.

12

Nondestructive EvaluationNDE technologies are critical for assessing condition, estimat-ing remaining lifetime, and avoiding failure of power plant components and for ensuring safe, reliable, long-term opera-tion of nuclear assets. EPRI is leading the development of advanced techniques for ultrasonic testing (UT) of buried piping, assessment of aging concrete structures, early detection of creep and cracking, inspection of cast stainless steel compo-nents, and examination of piping weldments during—rather than after—the welding process. Based in part on progress under this program, development of the acoustic mouse for handheld, 3-D ultrasonic imaging of components is being pursued under the Breakthrough Technologies component of TI’s R&D portfolio (see page 15).

2010 HighlightsConcrete. State-of-knowledge assessments characterized concrete aging challenges and identified R&D priorities relating to long-term operation of existing nuclear plants and to proactive management of problems like the concrete delamination recently discovered in a containment wall during a steam generator replacement outage. Ongoing experimental and modeling work is improving understanding of aging in post-tensioning systems in containment structures and of long-term reactions involving ordinary Portland cement and water containing boric acid. Commercial NDE techniques proven for dams, bridges, and other systems are being investigated on mockup and actual nuclear plant structures. Examples include MIRA shear wave tomography for imaging internal features, as well as on-line monitoring of aging-related steel tendon relaxation in pre-stressed concrete.

Cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS). Regulatory requirements mandate volumetric examination of CASS piping in primary coolant systems, but no reliable NDE methods exist due to the material’s complex and coarse-grain microstructure. Existing and emerging NDE technologies with potential for CASS applications have been tested on materials coupons. Based on findings to date, development of low-fre-

quency ultrasonic transducers is underway, with results from mockup components to be correlated with those from continuing grain-structure mapping experiments. Further evaluation of 2-D flexible phased-array ultrasonic testing, vibrothermogra-phy, and computer tomography methods also is planned.

Buried piping. Field tests on underground piping mockups have identified guided-wave (GW) ultrasonic testing as a promising approach for “minimal dig” NDE at nuclear plants. To accelerate development of the required analytics for practical GW

applications, finite element modeling (FEM) is being applied to build 3-D representations of piping mockups. FEM simulation of GW interactions with piping, elbows, and welds will guide design of ultrasonic probes and signal processing methods for enhanced flaw detection and sizing. By 2012, the technology is expected to be ready for field demonstration to minimize the need for costly excavation while preventing failures and lowering the risk of tritium leaks.

Strategic Drivers• Long-TermOperations

Innovation Network•ClemsonUniversity•GeorgiaTech• LehighUniversity•MaterialsAgingInstitute•OakRidgeNationalLaboratory• PennState

NDE innovations—included guided-wave ultrasonic imaging of underground piping—reduce O&M costs, improve safety and reliability, and support long-term operation of nuclear and fossil plants.

13

RenewablesReducing capital and O&M costs and improving productivity and reliability will increase deployment of renewable generation options and enhance compliance with renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements. EPRI is advancing biomass pretreatment methods, NDE techniques for wind turbine blades, and solar energy innovations.

2010 HighlightsBiomass pretreatment. The characteristics of raw biomass increase delivered fuel costs and create O&M challenges that limit cofiring rates in coal plants, while current pretreatment options are relatively expensive and have limitations. EPRI has demonstrated that the torrefaction process improves energy density, handling, and other properties to the extent that biomass cofiring fractions up to about 25% appear feasible. Also, leaching-wash-ing processes show promise for removing chlorine, alkali metal, and other biomass constituents with deleterious O&M impacts. In 2011, combustion and gasification tests will be conducted on fuel samples subjected to leaching-washing and then torrefaction, supporting design of a comprehensive pretreatment system.

Wind turbine blade inspection. Visual techniques for post-manufacturing and in-service blade inspections only allow detection of surface flaws. In laboratory testing on an experimental blade, laser shearography detected a subsurface fabrication defect that ultimately propagated under fatigue testing. The ability to identify structurally significant problems within the interior of blades positions this technique as a comprehensive and reliable alternative to visual inspection for detecting fabrica-tion defects and in-service degradation. Laboratory evaluation of laser shearography continues on samples provided by blade manufacturers, and field demonstration of an automated blade scanning system is planned for 2011. In addition, radiography, thermography, ultrasonic imaging, and other techniques are being explored for NDE of blades. Each avoided blade failure could lead to savings of $75,000 to $225,000.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies. With current PV deployment driven by RPS mandates and other government support mechanisms, significant capital cost reductions and productivity gains are needed. The High-Efficiency PV (HEPV)

Research Project targets efficiency breakthroughs because they offer the greatest leverage for improving competitiveness. Based on exploratory research progress, fabrication and testing of initial third-generation PV devices incorporating hot carrier and photon conversion concepts will begin in 2011. Though likely a decade from commercialization, these concepts could lead to technologies with more than double the efficiency of today’s PV systems. At the Solar Technology Acceleration Center in Colorado, field testing of concentrating PV systems and other advanced technologies with nearer-term potential also will begin in 2011.

Strategic Drivers•RenewableResources•Near-ZeroEmissions

Innovation Network•ÉlectricitédeFrance• InternationalHEPVConsortium:

France,Australia,Spain,UK•NationalRenewableEnergy

Laboratory•NorthCarolinaStateUniversity• SandiaNationalLaboratories•UniversityofNorthDakota

Renewable energy innovations—such as laser shearography for non-contact NDE of wind turbine blades—reduce costs to expand penetration while enhancing RPS compliance.

14

Sensors and OperationsAdvanced sensors will support condition-based maintenance, expand real-time monitoring, and enhance control of electricity infrastructure. EPRI is pursuing sensors for piping, stream turbine, environmental control, transformer, and cable applications, as well as technologies for data visualization and control system integration. Based on successful proof-of-con-cept study and pilot-scale demonstration, the transmission inspection line robot is now being pursued under the Break-through Technologies component of TI’s R&D portfolio (see page 16).

2010 HighlightsMicroelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors for steam turbine blades. Fatigue-induced failure of large blades in low-pressure turbine stages poses major cost and safety risks at fossil and nuclear plants, while barriers to real-time fatigue monitoring are formidable. Within an area of just over 1 square inch, EPRI’s MEMS design incorporates an accelerometer for vibration monitoring, an electromagnetic inductive energy harvester, a data transmitter, and other components. Detailed design analysis and initial experimental study validate the potential of attaching wireless, self-powered motes near the tip of individual blades to measure and transmit vibration data. In 2011, a prototype MEMS sensor will be fabricated and tested. Real-time fatigue monitoring is expected to help prevent cata-strophic turbine failures.

Metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) sensors for transformers and cables. On-line transformer monitoring generally is constrained to transmission-class equipment by the cost of current dissolved gas analysis (DGA) technologies. In addition to much lower costs, EPRI’s solid-state MIS microsensor promises selective, sensitive detection of hydrogen—an indicator of partial discharge—in transformer oil. Field demonstration is under way, while a prototype MIS microsensor for detecting acetylene—an indicator of arcing—is in laboratory testing. DGA applica-tions for high-pressure, fluid-filled, pipe-type underground cable also are being evaluated. MIS microsensors are expected to greatly expand on-line monitoring for transmission and distribution systems, helping decrease maintenance expenses while improving reliability.

Tunable diode laser (TDL) sensors for coal gasifiers. Reliability problems with refractory linings challenge the economics of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants. In pilot-scale tests, EPRI’s TDL sensing system delivered accurate

temperature readings as well as the first direct measurements of key chemical species within a high-pressure, high-temperature, particulate-laden gasifier environment. Evaluation in a larger gasifier is scheduled for 2011-12. TDL sensors are expected to provide real-time data for precise monitoring and control of the gasification process to avoid temperature excursions, increase maintenance intervals, and extend refractory lifetime. They also could help increase the efficiency of IGCC plants via real-time optimization of syngas heating values.

Strategic Drivers•SmartGrid• Long-TermOperations•Near-ZeroEmissions

Innovation Network•CarnegieMellonUniversity• SouthwestResearchInstitute• StanfordUniversity•UniversityofColorado•UniversityofUtah•ConEdison?• TVA?

Sensor innovations—such as laser-based systems for concentration and temperature measurement in coal gasifiers—allow real-time monitoring, control, and O&M optimization for power generation and delivery infrastructure.

15

Breakthrough Technologies

On-Site Sorbent Activation Process for Low-Cost Multi-Pollutant ControlChallenge & InnovationFlue gas injection of activated carbon sorbent appears to represent the most viable retrofit option for controlling mercury emissions at many coal-fired plants. Conventional sorbent manufacturing involves a seven-step, multi-hour process to transform raw coal into commercial product with an estimated delivered cost of about $0.75 to $2/lb. Sorbent procurement costs are estimated to exceed $1 billion annually across the U.S. coal fleet.

EPRI’s sorbent activation process (SAP) represents a simple and elegant solution. Sorbent is produced at the power plant site by pulverizing and injecting coal into a single-stage reactor—a long, refractory-lined pipe. After just a couple minutes, activated carbon at the reactor outlet is ready for direct introduction to the flue gas stream ahead of existing electrostatic precipitator or baghouse devices.

Progress & ValueSince 2007, EPRI has advanced SAP technology from laboratory-scale evaluation to full-scale field demonstration (in 2011) at Dynegy’s Hennepin Unit 2, a 220-MWe boiler firing Powder River Basin coal. After several months of field testing to evaluate and optimize sorbent characteristics and mercury absorption rates, the fully auto-mated SAP reactor will be relocated to a second plant site to test the process using a different fuel type. Parallel laboratory research is exploring on-site production of sorbents suitable for controlling other pollutants.

By 2013, SAP technology will be transferred to a commercial manufacturer as a lower-cost, lower-risk solution for meeting anticipated mercury limits. According to

preliminary analyses, SAP reactors will cost less than $10 million, and a 500-MW plant could save up to $2.5 million per year on sorbents. On-site production could reduce industry-wide procurement costs by up to $500 million annually. If multipollutant control applications prove feasible, then economic and environmental benefits would be even more significant.

Handheld, Real-Time, 3-D Imaging for Accurate, Low-Cost Component InspectionChallenge & InnovationCurrent manual ultrasonic testing (UT) methods are adequate for flaw detection but support only qualitative analysis, necessitat-ing conservative maintenance intervention. Automated UT systems provide highly accurate, computer-encoded 3-D images allowing quantitative flaw assessment to optimize inspection and repair scheduling. However, they cost an order of magnitude more than manual UT systems, cannot access many as-built configurations, and pose other application challenges.

EPRI’s manual UT system promises high-accuracy, real-time imaging with much lower cost and greater application than today’s

Development Partners• IllinoisStateGeologicalSurvey•UniversityofIllinois•Ameren•Dynegy• SouthernCompany

TRL-5

Reduce compliance costs by up to 50% by producing mercury sorbent at the power plant site.

16

robotic scanning devices. An “acoustic mouse”—a handheld ultrasonic transducer—is rolled over the component’s surface. Phased-array image processing techniques and ultrasound tomography algorithms acquire and reconstruct real-time position and scanning data into comprehensive, encoded, 3-D representations of its interior.

Progress & ValueProof-of-concept experiments demonstrated that acoustic noise generated within a material may be used to uniquely identify an ultrasonic transducer’s location. Current research focuses on integrating real-time 3-D reconstruction, phased-array, and beam-forming techniques to support accurate nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of power plant components. Field demon-stration of a complete acoustic mouse system is scheduled in 2013.

By 2014, the acoustic mouse system is expected to be ready for commercial introduc-tion, transforming encoded UT from a niche technology into a mainstream solution for quantitative NDE of a broad range of components and configurations. It will allow manual inspections to be performed with equivalent or better accuracy than today’s best automated ones at about 70% of the cost, corresponding to roughly $100,000 in savings per avoided robotic scanning setup. Optimizing maintenance to extend inspection intervals and avoid unnecessary repair and replacement will produce even greater economic benefits.

Robotic Inspection for Enhanced Condition-Based Maintenance of Transmission LinesChallenge & InnovationManaging overhead transmission assets—including towers, conductors, insulators, and other components, as well as the right-of-way (ROW) itself—is costly and sometimes dangerous. Many circuits are approaching the end of their design lifetime and are located in remote, rugged environments. Frequently, inspection workers conduct helicopter surveys or must climb towers. Some equipment cannot be inspected due to hazardous conditions or other restrictions.

EPRI’s transmis-sion line inspection robot traverses conductor shield wires autonomously, decreasing the cost of inspecting components and ROWs while reducing or eliminating risks to personnel. On-board camera, sensor, and other systems collect, analyze, and deliver time- and location-stamped data and images supporting condition-based maintenance and just-in-time intervention.

Development Partners•SouthwestResearchInstitute•AmericanElectricPower• SouthernCompany

TRL-4

Development Partners• FraunhoferInstitutefor

NondestructiveTesting

TRL-3

Optimize maintenance expenditures and increase reliability by expanding monitoring capabilities.

Revolutionize ultrasonic inspection by using manual techniques to collect computer-encoded images.

17

Progress & ValueAn early robot prototype is being exercised at EPRI’s power delivery testing facility in Lenox, MA. Developmental work focuses on integration and testing of mobility, energy management, inspection, data analysis, communications, and remote visualization capabilities. A more advanced prototype will be completed in 2012. Field demonstration of a fully functional robotic system is planned for 2014 on the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, a new 765-kV, 275-mile-long circuit.

The transmission line inspection robot will allow remote monitoring along an 80-mile-long corridor at least twice annually while reaching previously inaccessible areas and increasing worker safety. Electromagnetic interference detectors, high-definition cam¬eras, and other equipment will identify changes in component condition, vegetation management, and ROW encroachment, flagging potential problems. By expanding coverage and delivering actionable data, this system is expected to improve inspection capabilities relative to hovering helicopters at cost savings of at least 30%. Implementing condition-based maintenance will yield additional cost reductions while enhancing reliability.

Sequestration Resins for Accelerated Contaminant Removal from Nuclear Plant CoolantsChallenge & InnovationElemental cobalt (Co-59) and nickel (Ni-58) corrosion products found in light water reactor coolants may be activated by radiation energy to form Co-60 and Co-58 isotopes. During maintenance and refueling outages, current ion exchange resins may require several days to reduce corrosion product concentrations to safe levels. This influences outage schedules, while residual contamination contributes to site activity levels and occupational exposures.

EPRI’s sequestration resins are engineered for faster, higher-capacity uptake of corrosion products responsible for the majority of radiation dose in boiling and pressurized water reactors. They preferentially target activated and unactivated Co and Ni ions and lock them within their chemical structures, whereas conventional resins incorporate generic binding sites for transition-metal ions and rely on reversible reactions.

Progress & ValueIn 2009, small-scale experiments demonstrated substantial increases in Co uptake, as compared to traditional resins. In 2010, additional resin formulations were evaluated on simulated coolants in the laboratory and then on primary coolant and spent fuel pool samples at Exelon’s LaSalle County Generating Station. As optimization studies continue, parallel work addresses resin bed regeneration and waste disposal issues, development of bead-form resins, and radioactive waste treatment and feedwater filtration applications. Full-scale demonstration is expected in 2012.

Within three years, reactor-grade sequestration resins are projected to be ready for commercial application in reactor water cleanup systems. They are expected to provide at least a three-fold increase in removal rates for key transition-metal impurities, accelerating access to the reactor refueling floor during outages. Savings in replacement power costs alone are estimated at $500,000 to $1 million per day. In addition, higher overall removal efficiencies will reduce occupational exposures and waste management costs.

Development Partners•SanJoseStateUniversity• Exelon

TRL-4

Reduce critical-path downtime by accelerating uptake of activated corrosion products.

18

Polaris InitiativeSmart Phone Apps for Low-Cost Sensing and DiagnosticsConsumer electronics offer great promise as flexible, low-cost devices for smart grid and other applications, according to proof-of-concept studies. Linking an iPod Touch with an off-the-shelf microphone, EPRI’s Norm McCullough and Doug Dorr have demonstrated a prototype iPQ Analyzer with power quality monitoring capabilities similar to commercially available products but significant advantages: Data are collected wirelessly by the microphone sensor rather than requiring a physical connection to an electrical circuit, and estimated costs are an order of magnitude lower. Apps for detecting stray voltage, measuring magnetic fields, and locating electric vehicle charging stations also has been developed. Ongoing work is exploring industry apps for other types of sensors, as well as developing standards and protocols key to uses across varying smart phone, handheld, and tablet platforms.

Nanocrystalline Interlayer Coatings for Combustion Turbine BladesLaboratory tests have demonstrated a nanotechnology-based approach for increasing the durability and lifetime of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on combustion turbine blades. Conventional TBCs have a design lifetime of 48,000 hours but tend to fail much earlier due to the formation, breakdown, and delamination of a thermally grown oxide within the bond coat. In work at Southwest Research Institute managed by EPRI’s David Gandy, an advanced nanocrystalline interlayer is being introduced between the bond coat and TBC on turbine blade superalloy samples. The interlayer produced a four-fold decrease in the rate of thermal oxide growth during long-term

cycling tests. Next steps are to apply the interlayer to an actual blade, conduct thermal cycling tests, and transfer the technology to a vendor for licensing and demonstration. This innovation could extend maintenance intervals and reduce premature failures, yielding savings of more than $1 million over the lifetime of a single row of blades.

Single-Well Engineered Geothermal System (SWEGS)Single-well geothermal plant designs traditionally have been viewed as offering limited power generation potential, but EPRI’s Luis Cerezo has uncovered a novel approach to underground heat mining that appears to represent a significant advance. SWEGS technology integrates a down-hole heat exchanger with specialized grout to maximize coupling with the surrounding environment. Within the single well, a working fluid travels in a closed loop to convey heat to the surface, where it is converted into electricity using commercial binary cycle technology. Initial modeling studies by Dartmouth University and GTherm, Inc. indicate that a typical SWEGS could produce up to 1 MW in brine-containing geothermal fields, while appendages delivering more thermal fluid to the heat exchanger could multiply output. During 2011, TI is supporting three-dimensional modeling of fields incorporating multiple wells and appendages to inform front-end engineering, design, and economic analysis of a 10- to 50-MWe geothermal plant. Laboratory-scale and shallow-depth field tests also are planned.

19

Inhibiting Frost Formation on Heat Pump CoilsFrost forming on the outdoor heat exchanger coils of residential heat pumps decreases efficiency, while defrosting operations impose significant parasitic energy losses. In a project initiated by EPRI’s Ron Domitrovic, a novel approach that could improve the performance of residential heat pumps by at least 5% was discovered. University of Maryland and Advanced Thermal and Environmental Concepts, Inc. con-ducted laboratory experiments in which a small coil was operated to mimic winter operations. Subjecting the coil to high-velocity air showed the greatest potential to extend the interval between defrost cycles and thus reduce the overall number of cycles within a given period of time. In 2011, a commercial heat pump will be modified to incorporate a variable-speed fan, and operating strategies for forcing air over the coil to inhibit frost formation will be evaluated to maximize overall energy efficiency. This innovation not only could expand the geographic applicability of heat pumps, but also it could help shave peak loads and reduce overall demand in regions where heat pumps already have a significant market share.

On-Line Monitoring via Transient MethodsTraditional on-line monitoring systems—and their underlying analytical methods—employ steady-state data to look for indicators of performance degradation and incipient failure. Based on the knowledge that components are under the most stress during start-up, load change, and shutdown cycles, EPRI’s Ron Austin hypothesized that on-line transient analysis methods might be able to uncover data anomalies and trends

indicating the onset of aging or failure before traditional steady-state approaches. In a successful proof-of-concept study at University of Tennessee, aging-related changes in the performance of a high-speed motor not evident in steady-state data were clearly detected in start-up data. Follow-on work under TI’s Sensors & Operations Program is evaluating mathematical and statistical techniques for on-line monitoring of vibration and other data during transient operation of laboratory-scale compo-nents. The strategic objective is to develop generalized methods for improved anomaly detection and remaining life assessment applicable to diverse power generation and delivery system components.

Automated Wind Turbine Curtailment to Prevent Bat MortalityConcerns about bat mortality have put some wind projects on hold, while mitigation strategies such as seasonal curtailment threaten the economic viability of others. Integrating understanding of bat ecology with industry needs, EPRI’s John Goodrich-Mahoney conceptualized a system to automatically slow or stop blade rotation only when bat calls are detected within the swept area of the rotor. In initial field work by EDM International, microphones installed under operating turbines at the Cedar Creek Wind Resource Area in Colorado detected recorded echolocation calls. Proof-of-concept tests of a prototype nacelle-mounted bat detection system will be conducted in 2011. Next steps in the development plan are to work with turbine manufacturers to incorporate bat detection as a control system input supporting automated curtailment to help prevent high-mortality events while minimizing impacts on wind project productivity and profitability.

20

Product ListThis section lists all TI products completed from January 1 - December 31, 2010.

BiotechnologyNumber Title1021443 Biotechnological Approaches to Removing Boron from Electric Utility Wastewater1021424 Utility-Connected Algae Systems--Analysis and Decision Tools1017937 In Situ Bioremediation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Using Dehalococcoides Bacteria1020807 A Case Study of Seambiotic’s Research on Utility-Connected Algae Systems

Carbon Capture and Advanced CoalNumber Title 1021658 Development of an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Performance and Cost Modeling Tool1021640 Evaluation of Potential Improvements in IGCC Pre-Combustion CO2 Capture1020404 Tampa Electric Company Polk Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Plant Carbon Capture Retrofit Study1020364 Drying of Low-Rank Coal with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide in Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Plants1021333 Liquid CO2 Coal Slurry for Feeding Coal to Gasifiers1020296 Advanced Coal Power Plant Model version 1.1

ConcreteNumber Title 1022373 Assessment of Needs for Concrete Research in the Energy Industry1020932 Concrete Civil Infrastructure in United States Commercial Nuclear Power Plants

Emissions, Environment and HealthNumber Title E235738 Lung Inflammation From Exposure to Tire and Urban Particles1020442 An Alternate Framework for the Risk Assessment of Ambient Particulate Matter

Energy EfficiencyNumber Title 1021641 Heat Pump Frost Inhibition

Energy StorageNumber Title 1021654 Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems for Renewable Energy Integration

Grid TransformationNumber Title 1022397 Online Power System Stability Assessment Using Real-Time Measurements

Materials – Fossil and NuclearNumber Title 1021249 Wrought Advanced Creep-Resistant Austenitic Stainless Steel for High Temperature Fossil Plant Applications1021130 Environmentally Assisted Cracking in LWR Structural Materials--2009-10 PEACE-E Annual Report1020957 Scoping Study of Low Temperature Crack Propagation for 182 Weld Metal in BWR Environments and for Cast Austenitic Stainless Steel in PWR Environments (Revision 1)1020886 Mitigation of Flow-Accelerated Corrosion by Titanium Injection in PWR Secondary Systems1020877 Evaluation of Creep-Fatigue Behavior of Grade 92 Steel

Materials – Grid TransformationNumber Title1022313 Evaluation of Moisture Influence on Cross-Linked Polyethylene/Silica Nanodielectrics for Utility Cable Applications1022312 Reduction and Potential Elimination of Cross-Linked Polyethylene Cable Gassing

21

1020859 Nanotechnology for Transmission Line Fiberglass Applications1020603 Proceedings of 2009 KEPRI-EPRI Joint Superconductivity Conference

Near-Zero EmissionsNumber Title 1022389 Near Zero Emissions: Precombustion Cleaning Technologies Review1022349 Developing Technologies for the Direct Measurement of Particulate Mass Emissions from Flue Gases1022294 Bench-Scale Evaluation of an Ammonia Slip Destruction Catalyst1021438 Experimental Investigation of Ammonium Bisulfate Formation in a Model Single Air Preheater Channel1016223 Formation of Large Particle Ash in Coal-Fired Boilers

Nondestructive EvaluationNumber Title 1020637 3D Profilometry Acquisition Scanning System (3D PASS)

Nuclear Asset Management and Advanced Plant DesignsNumber Title 1021649 Crystal Habit Modifiers1021110 Innovative Graphite Removal Technology for Graphite Moderated Reactor Decommissioning1021105 Soil Vapor Extraction and Monitoring System Development1021084 Integration of Degradation Predictions on Generation Risk Assessment1021083 Computational Models for Optimal Project Prioritization

Power ElectronicsNumber Title 1020623 Fault Current Limiter Research

RenewablesNumber Title 1022303 Bat Detection and Shutdown System for Utility-Scale Wind Turbines1022209 Small Torrefaction Plants Front End Engineering and Design1021607 Geothermal Energy Harvesting from a Closed-Loop Single-Well Heat Exchanger Technology1021496 Addressing Solar Photovoltaic Operations and Maintenance Challenges1020784 Biopower Generation: Biomass Issues, Fuels, Technologies, and Opportunities1020783 Geothermal Power: Issues, Technologies, and Opportunities 1020677 Very High Efficiency Photovoltaics Research, 2009 Update1020508 Small-Scale Testing of Woody and Herbaceous Biomass Torrefaction and Pelleting

Sensors and OperationsNumber Title 1022304 Decision-Centered Guidelines for Human-System Interface (HSI) Design for Electric Power Industry Applications1022293 Wireless Vibration Measurement of Low-Pressure Steam Turbine Blades (Phase II)1020956 EPRI Nuclear Sensor Roadmap1020697 Wireless Vibration Measurement of Low-Pressure Steam Turbine Blades (Phase I)1020681 Instrumentation, Control, HSI, and Information Technology Requirements for Nuclear Plant Long-Term Operation1020620 Research Plan for Applying Visualization, Simulation, and Interactive HSI Technologies to Sensor Information

Water Use and AvailabilityNumber Title 1018861 Ohio River Water Quality Trading Pilot Program

Energy Technology Assessment CenterNumber Title 1022485 Generation Technology Reference Card 1022210 Review of Electricity Generation Technology Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions

XXXXXXX March2011

Electric Power Research Institute 3420HillviewAvenue,PaloAlto,California94304-1338•POBox10412,PaloAlto,California94303-0813USA800.313.3774•650.855.2121•askepri@epri.com•www.epri.com

©2011ElectricPowerResearchInstitute(EPRI),Inc. Allrightsreserved.ElectricPowerResearchInstitute,EPRI,andTOgETHER...SHAPIngTHEFUTUREOFElECTRICITyareregisteredservicemarksoftheElectricPowerResearchInstitute,Inc.

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.

(EPRI,www.epri.com)conductsresearchand

developmentrelatingtothegeneration,

deliveryanduseofelectricityforthebenefit

ofthepublic.Anindependent,nonprofit

organization,EPRIbringstogetheritsscien-

tistsandengineersaswellasexpertsfrom

academiaandindustrytohelpaddresschal-

lengesinelectricity,includingreliability,

efficiency,health,safetyandtheenviron-

ment.EPRIalsoprovidestechnology,policy

andeconomicanalysestodrivelong-range

researchanddevelopmentplanning,and

supportsresearchinemergingtechnologies.

EPRI’smembersrepresentmorethan90per-

centoftheelectricitygeneratedanddeliv-

eredintheUnitedStates,andinternational

participationextendsto40countries.EPRI’s

principalofficesandlaboratoriesare

locatedinPaloAlto,Calif.;Charlotte,n.C.;

Knoxville,Tenn.;andlenox,Mass.

Together...ShapingtheFutureofElectricity