August 2009
Industrial Technologies Program E-Bulletin: Your Online Connection
Welcome to this edition of the E-Bulletin — your connection to news and resources from DOE's Industrial Technologies Program (ITP). Each monthly edition brings you the latest industrial news highlights, and announcements about new tools and resources, training events, and project opportunities.
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Midwest Exchange Will Connect Industry with Financial and Technical Resources
Industry accounts for 35% of the Midwest's energy consumption and 16% of its carbon emissions. To help reduce these numbers, ITP, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, and the National Association of State Energy Officials are holding the Midwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Exchange on September 9-10, 2009, in Detroit, Michigan. The Exchange will highlight public and private financial resources available for technical support and implementation of energy efficiency projects, and will also feature welcoming remarks from U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dr. Stephen Chu (tentatively), and Governor Granholm identifying resources their organizations are willing to commit to industries in the region. A Webcast covering the morning portion of the Exchange will be offered to those unable to attend. Learn more and register.
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ITP-Supported Technologies Receive R&D 100 Awards
Two ITP-supported technologies that could reduce the energy use and processing costs for high-speed drying and heat treating have been recognized with 2009 R&D 100 Awards. Teams of various national laboratories, partners, and federal agencies worked on both projects.
PulseForge™ 3100 Improves Plastics and Paper Processing
This technology uses rapid pulses of light to dry, cure, sinter, and anneal high-temperature materials for plastic and paper, allowing for the creation of inexpensive and flexible electronics. In this high-speed process, high-intensity flashlamps briefly heat inks and films to controlled high temperatures. With the pulse thermal processing system, PulseForge systems provide a thousand-fold increase in energy flux available to the surface of a processed part—cutting process times to fractions of a second.
ThermoMagnetic Processing for Heat Treating
This technology enhances materials performance by using superconducting magnets to cut down on energy use in typical heat-treat processing. The high magnetic field processing reduces post-heat-treating stress and eliminates material phases, thereby eliminating the need for specialized thermal processing steps. Other benefits include increased magnetic permeability and tensile strength in low-carbon steel; 85% higher stretch capability strength allows for lighter weight designs.
Read more about these technologies and other 2009 R&D 100 winners at the R&D magazine Web site.
Specialist Qualification Training Sessions Abound This Autumn
Are you looking for a way to expand your knowledge of industrial energy-intensive systems and help industrial plants in your area identify ways to save energy and money? If you have successfully completed an ITP-sponsored end-user training on pumping, steam, fan, or process heating systems, you can attend one of the following training sessions. By successfully completing classroom and practical training, passing a rigorous exam, and demonstrating the ability to use the appropriate system software tool, you will receive the designation of ITP Qualified Specialist. You can perform energy assessments using the tool to identify potential system improvement opportunities in your plant or for your customers. The following Specialist Qualification training sessions will be held this fall:
15-17, Steam Systems, Spokane, Washington
22-24, Steam Systems, Amherst, Massachusetts
19-21, Fan Systems, Brookfield, Wisconsin
20-22, Process Heating Systems, Downey, California
27-29, Steam Systems, Downey, California
- November 2009
10-12, Pumping Systems, Brookfield, Wisconsin
- December 2009
1-3, Steam Systems, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
View the ITP events calendar to learn more about these training sessions and to register.
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Visit ITP at the World Energy Engineering Congress in November
The 32nd World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC) will be held November 4-6, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Register today to learn about the latest innovative technologies, on-site and distributed power generation options, and proven cost-management strategies. The conference will highlight topics such as sustainable development, carbon reduction, energy auditing, and green data centers. Several additional conferences will be held in conjunction with WEEC, including:
- FEMWorks 2009: A multi-track, comprehensive series of workshops for federal energy managers
- GreenStreet 2009: Expert presentations and a showcase of the very latest environmentally friendly, green energy products and services
- GeoExchange 2009: Exhibits and training sessions covering all aspects of geothermal heat pumps for use in commercial and institutional buildings and industrial facilities.
ITP-sponsored technologies help U.S. industry save energy, boost productivity, and reduce emissions. Below you will find new technologies to help increase energy efficiency at your company.
Cummins’ QSK60G advanced reciprocating engine combines ultra-low NOx emissions with 44% brake thermal efficiency. |
Max Power: Natural Gas Fueled Engine Combines High Efficiency, Low Emissions
Editor’s Note: This article is Part 2 in a three-part series on commercially available advanced reciprocating engines that have resulted from ITP sponsorship.Through ITP’s Advanced Reciprocating Engines (ARES) program, Cummins, Inc. is developing and commercializing advanced natural gas fueled engines for power generation that combine high efficiency, low emissions, fuel flexibility, and reduced cost of ownership. The QSK60G engine is a result of Cummins’ partnership efforts in Phase 1 of the ARES program (PDF 348 KB) with DOE, national laboratories, and universities. The ARES program ultimately aims to develop engines that operate at 50% brake thermal efficiency (BTE), along with ultra-low NOx emissions. The QSK60G engine is a big step in that direction, demonstrating 44% BTE. The engine combines lean-burn technology with Miller cycle combustion and an electronic engine management system. Additionally, the QSK60G boasts:
- A high-compression ratio piston
- Long-life spark plugs
- Low-loss exhaust valves
- High-efficiency turbo.
Attend these key events to learn about the latest energy-efficient technologies and practices, and network with industry peers.
August
GovEnergy will feature technical and financial resources and energy-saving technologies for federal government employees on August 9-12, 2009, in Providence, Rhode Island.
September
Experts from the electric utility industry will address the integration of renewable energy, technology solutions, and effective forecasts for utilities at the 2nd Annual Utility Integrated Long Range Resource Planning Conference, September 15-16, 2009, in Denver, Colorado.
Attendees of the 2009 International Conference on Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Science, September 16-18, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois, will have the opportunity to visit the Gas Technology Institute’s laboratories and facilities, and learn about gasification and pyrolysis technologies through 25 scientific papers and 50 posters.
Manufacturers can attend Design & Manufacturing Midwest, September 22-24, 2009, in Rosemont, Illinois, to learn about new systems and products for manufacturing processes, design, and distribution, as well as alternative materials.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s 5th National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource will be held September 27-29, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. Industry leaders will discuss the latest developments in the use of energy efficiency as a key resource for meeting customer and utility system needs.
October
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership will conduct its 2009 Partner’s Meeting on October 1-2, 2009, in New York, New York. Held in conjunction with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the event will feature a peer-to-peer discussion among administrators of state-run CHP grant programs.
The Gasification Technologies Conference 2009 will take place October 4-7, 2009, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and provide networking opportunities and the latest industry trends and analysis.
The 70th Conference on Glass Problems, October 13-14, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio, is the largest U.S. industrial glass meeting and features discussions on innovations and solutions for manufacturing and the future of the glass industry.
The International Food Distribution Conference & Expo, October 19-21, 2009, in Baltimore, Maryland, will showcase new products and service as well as facility tours and networking events.
November
Attend Alternative Energy & Building Efficiency West 2009, November 19-20, 2009, in Santa Clara, California, to visit with companies that sell alternative energy or energy-efficient building products, or provide a service related to alternative energy or energy-efficient building.
ITP offers technical publications, software tools, and other resources to help you address your company's industrial energy needs. Here are the latest products from ITP.
Summer 2009 Energy Matters Focuses on Superior Energy Performance
Read the summer 2009 issue of Energy Matters to learn about Superior Energy Performance, a new voluntary plant-level energy efficiency certification program for U.S. manufacturers. This issue highlights:
- The framework and benefits of the Superior Energy Performance program
- Energy management and system assessment standards in development to support this initiative, including a new international energy management standard
- A pilot project currently being conducted in five Texas manufacturing plants to test the elements of the program, and an interview with Owens Corning Plant Leader Glenn Haley about his company’s lessons learned in the process
- A new international motor efficiency standard that is promoting energy-efficient motor systems worldwide
- A leading enterprise software company that has boosted cooling capacity in its data center and is saving $262,000 in annual energy costs.
New ITP Web Site Provides One-Stop-Shop for Data Center Efficiency Resources
As the demand for information technology increases, so does the amount of energy used for power, storage, and cooling needs. To meet national goals of reducing data center energy consumption 10% by 2011, ITP is providing tools and resources to help companies benchmark data center energy use, identify opportunities to reduce energy, and adopt energy-efficient practices. Visit ITP's new Data Centers Web site to learn about partnerships with government and industry organizations to reach these goals, get information on the Data Center Certified Energy Practitioner Program, and download the DC Pro Software Tool Suite.
Sybase Data Center Meets Growing Energy Demands Head-On
The new data centers Web site also features case studies that reveal how companies are improving efficiency and reducing operating costs. Sybase, a rapidly growing enterprise software and services company, conducted an energy audit of their 16,000-sqaure-foot Sybase data center in Dublin, California, in 2005. To optimize existing power and cooling resources and free-up capacity in their N+1 cooling center, Sybase used incentives from their local utility, Pacific Gas and Electric, to achieve annual cost and energy savings of $262,000 and approximately 2.3 million kWh. Following the assessment, Sybase applied DOE’s DC Pro Software Tool Suite and determined that the potential energy savings estimates provided by the tools closely matched the company’s realized savings. Read the case study to learn more (PDF 1.66 MB).
Visit the ITP Web site for more BestPractices technical publications, software tools, and case studies to help you improve efficiency, productivity, and the bottom line.
ITP awards cost-shared funding for R&D and plant assessment projects through a competitive merit review process.
Easy Ways to Find Recovery Act Funding Opportunities
Below are some Web sites to check out to help you find, and start taking advantage of, Recovery Act opportunities today:
- Visit ITP’s Web site for more details about ITP Recovery Act funding as it becomes available
- Sign up to receive e-mail updates when ITP Recovery Act solicitations are announced
- Check out EERE's American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Web site and DOE’s Recovery and Reinvestment Web site
- View EERE's Financial Opportunities by Audience page and search for solicitations for businesses, industry, and universities; consumers; federal energy managers; inventors; states; or tribes
- Find solicitations and awards from federal agencies via FedConnect
- Search for federal government grants at Grants.gov
- Investigate opportunities from federal agencies, government buyers, and commercial vendors contracted to work with the government at FedBizOps
- View current DOE business opportunities at DOE’s e_Center.
To learn more about project opportunities, visit ITP's solicitation page.