< archive
	Paul Oakley Coalition for Affordable & Reliable Energy (CARE) 50 F Street, NW Suite 5300 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 639-2805 Fax: (202) 639-2803 poakley@careenergy.com

Venue Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 Room 2168 (Gold Room) Rayburn House Office Bldg. Washington, DC

Agenda 11:30 AM – Social Hour 12:30 PM – Lunch 1:00 PM – Presentation by John Cooper Adjourn by – 2:00 PM

Reservations RSVP Hotline: (202) 586-2907 anita.bedrosian@hq.doe.gov P.O. Box 44789 Washington, DC 20026

John F. Cooper, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
Energy Systems, Materials Science and Technology Division Chemistry
And Materials Science Directorate
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The Washington Coal Club is pleased to announce its January 14, 2004 meeting will feature Dr. John Cooper, Senior Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Dr. Cooper received his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley (1975) in the Chemical Engineering group of Prof. Charles Tobias, with special emphasis on electrochemical engineering. He has conducted research and development in diverse topics of electrochemical science and engineering for 25 years, including research on fuel cells and batteries using reactive metals (Zn, Li, Al) or elemental carbon together with air (oxygen) depolarized cathodes. Recently, he initiated projects at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that are developing practical carbon/oxygen cells of high efficiency for potential use in power generation and specialty carbon batteries and fuel cells. He is the author of 120+ papers, 12 patents and 50+ records of invention, primarily in the fields of electrochemical energy storage and conversion, electrochemical processes, nuclear and hazardous waste treatment, and laser materials. Currently, he is a Senior Scientist for Energy Technologies in the Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate.

Direct Conversion of Coal and Coal-Derived Carbon in Fuel Cells*
Abstract

One of the oldest dreams of energy technology is a fuel cell or battery that would convert raw coal (at least, a low-cost carbon derivative) to electrical energy – without combustion or Carnot cycle limitations. All historical attempts of “electricity direct from coal” failed because of low rates, electrolyte fouling, and daunting logistics of distributing a solid fuel into a fuel cell stack. Recent discoveries at Livermore and elsewhere have brought such a goal closer to technical feasibility – and make use of parallel advances in the molten-carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and in clean coal technologies of the last decade. Conversion efficiencies of 80% of the heat of combustion of carbon have been achieved, for thermally decomposed samples of both hydraulically de-ashed coal powders (University of Kentucky) and thermally decomposed pitch derived from solvent extraction (West Virginia University). Such high efficiencies do not depend on purity of the fuel, but rather on factors of microstructure and thermal treatment. There are still difficult challenges in sulfur-induced corrosion, pneumatic refueling of large systems, and the cost/benefit trades between coal pre-processing and energy yield. Still the benefits of direct carbon conversion are enticing when viewed from the perspective of a simple process that nearly doubles the amount of electrical energy generated from a ton of coal. There may be extraordinary implications as well from the standpoint of strategic energy independence and a possible technology to offset greenhouse gas emissions – without curtailing use of our most abundant energy resources.

* Invited Presentation to Washington Coal Club, January 14, 2004

This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48.

Paul Oakley
President (2004)