U.S. Department of Energy/AMES Laboratory
A unique attempt to alter the tiny particles of a magnetic material is underway at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Ames Laboratory that, if successful, would result in efficient power sources for deep-space probes as well as cars, electronics, computers and power tools. Bill McCallum, a senior scientist at Ames Lab, and Alan Russell, associate scientist, received a one-year, $165,000 contract from DOE in March to study a method of developing neodymium-iron-boron magnets that retain their magnetic properties at higher operating temperatures. The magnets would be part of the internal power source for probes launched into space to study other planets. Neodymium-iron-boron is a powerful magnetic material discovered in the 1980s. It works best at room temperature, but begins losing its magnetic properties at higher temperatures. At 312 degrees Celsius (about 590 Fahrenheit), it loses its power completely. NASA is investigating possible use of magnets in a Stirling engine to power deep-space probes. Stirling engines have a sealed cylinder in which hot gases move two pistons back and forth. By placing magnets on the ends of the pistons and surrounding the cylinder with wire coils, the magnets would induce a current flow in the wires as they moved back and forth. However, the magnets now available aren't effective at high temperatures.

McCallum and Russell say many attempts have been made to raise the operating temperatures of the neodymium-iron-boron magnets by adding different elements to the overall composition. However, the resulting materials often have low resistance to the forces of demagnetization, which would make them ineffective in a Stirling engine because the magnets would be exposed to reverse magnetic fields as they moved back and forth on the pistons. So, rather than have a material in which the composition is uniform, McCallum and Russell are attempting to produce particles that each have two different compositions--one at the outer edge to resist demagnetization and another at the core to retain magnetic power at higher temperatures.

Although the project's roots are in the space program, the development of magnets with higher operating temperatures would affect everyday life. Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are already used in computers, high-end power tools and electronics, but the low operating temperature limits their use in cars and other high-temperature applications. In addition to having a higher operating temperature, the new magnets would be smaller and more powerful than current magnets, making them attractive for a variety of uses.

Next March, McCallum and Russell will present the results of their research. If their findings are favorable, NASA will consider moving to a second phase of the project, which would involve attempts to produce the new magnets in sizes large enough for use in the Stirling engine.

Ames Laboratory is operated for DOE by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.

Contact: Bill McCallum, (515) 294-4736, Alan Russell, (515) 294-0973 and Susan Dieterle, (515) 294-1405

Arizona
Strategy Design and Technical Exchange Session for Promoting Solar Energy
Cosponsored with the DOE Seattle Regional Support Office, the Strategy Design and Technical Exchange Session for Promoting Solar Energy was held in Tucson on May 20. Representatives from DOE, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Utility Photovoltaic Group, Western Area Power Administration, and the Arizona Energy Office met with grant recipients-Tucson Coalition for Photovoltaics and Tucson Solar Alliance. The daylong session was dedicated to discussing photovoltaic grants received by the area from DOE and sharing information and technical resources to make Tucson a model solar community.

Contact: Amanda Ormond, (602) 280-1402

1998 Energy Management Conference Scheduled
The 1998 Energy Management Conference (EMC) has been scheduled for November 4–6 in Prescott, Arizona. For the past eighteen years, the conference has been in December, but this year it will be a month earlier. The EMC provides a forum for energy professionals to learn more about energy saving technologies that will help their organizations and institutions reduce energy use and utility costs.

Contact: Gloria Castro, (602) 280-1426

California
Energy Commission Maps Profile California's Power Plants
Because California's newly competitive electricity utility market is both newsworthy and complicated, the California Energy Commission is offering a new series of full-color maps to help explain the complex new system.

The 36-inch by 48-inch computer-generated maps show all the state's operational power plants of 100 kilowatts or more. Both general and highly specialized plant information is organized for users in the following formats:

• California Power Plant Maps: This highly detailed four-part map set identifies all operational power facilities of 100 kilowatts or more. The set includes maps of upper, middle, and lower California. A fourth map focuses on geographic areas of the state where power plants are concentrated–Los Angeles, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, Ventura and the Geysers area. A printed database is also provided which offers each plant's name, county and city location, capacity, type of generation technology, service area, owner, address, and phone number, as available. Cost: $200.00 for the four-part set.
  
• Individual Upper, Middle, Lower and Enlargement Maps: Instead of the entire set, the highly detailed regional maps of upper, middle and lower California and the enlargement map may be purchased separately. Cost $75.00 each map.
  
• California's Statewide Power Plant Map: A less-detailed map designating all operational power plants by fuel type and location, it shows county lines, major roads and includes pertinent water information. Power plants are not named, however, and the database printout is not included. Cost: $25.00 each.

• California Electric Transmission System-Statewide: This overview map features the overall transmission system for California from 500 to 60 kilovolts. Cost: $25.00.
  
• California Electric Transmission System Maps, Upper, Middle, Lower and Enlargement: A four-part series of full-color maps depicts substations and transmission lines color-coded by utility ownership. County lines, major roads, lakes, and railroad lines are also shown. Cost: $200.00 for four-part set or $75.00 if purchased separately.
  
• California's Electric Utility Service Area Map: A depiction of California's electric industry service areas. Cost $25.00.

California power plant maps be ordered by phoning Sharee Knight at (916) 654-4182. Orders may also be faxed to (916) 654-4304, or e-mailed to: Power Plant Maps

Contact: Claudia Chandler, (916) 654-4989

Commission Monitors Wholesale Electricity Prices
The California Energy Commission publishes a Wholesale Electricity Price Review (WEPR) of the state's newly deregulated electricity market. Started in April, the WEPR arranges and plots monthly Power Exchange (PX) prices in descending order to construct a price duration curve for the month. This curve shows the number of hours the PX price was sustained at or above a given level. On the same graph, the running average of the ordered prices is also plotted. With the two price plots and knowledge of the operating cost of a power plant, it is possible to determine how many hours the plant could have sold energy into the PX for the month and the average margin it would have received over operating cost. Average margin times hours run gives net operating income for the month. For operators of gas-fired plants, the price review can be applied to the potential net operating income per kilowatt of capacity through various combinations of fuel price and efficiency. More information on the WEPR can be obtained from the Commission's Web site at: California Energy Commission From The Energy File, California Energy Commission

Idaho
Energy Division Adds Windows to Loan Program
As part of the Energy Division's low-interest loan program, windows have been added to the list of energy conservation measures. As of May 1, Idaho citizens can apply for energy-efficient windows as long is it is in conjunction with another project in the same structure, such as insulation or space heating system replacements. The only windows that will be considered are those showing the ENERGY STAR seal. DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency have developed the ENERGY STAR designation for products meeting certain energy performance criteria. The ENERGY STAR seal ensures consumers they are purchasing an energy-efficient window that will provide years of comfort. Some of the technologies that make ENERGY STAR windows energy-efficient are low-emissivity, or low-e glass, and gas-filled multiple pane windows that reduce heat loss. The loan program is available within Idaho at four percent interest for five years in five sectors: residential; commercial/industrial; agricultural; governmental; and schools, hospitals, and health care facilities. For more information, call the Idaho Energy Hotline, 1-800-334-SAVE.

From Idaho Currents, Vol. 15, June 1998

Indiana
Company to Test Composition of Spent Sand
Indiana Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan recently announced that the first Foundry Sand Market Development Grant in the amount of $5,039 has been awarded to Bremen Castings, Inc., located in Marshall County. In business since 1938, Bremen Castings employs 152 people and currently disposes of 1,700 tons of foundry sand and baghouse dust per year. Supported by the Foundry Sand Market Development Grant, the company will begin testing the sand's chemical composition with the eventual goal of recycling it into concrete. Through recycling, the company could save over $19,000 per year in disposal costs.

Foundries manufacture metal products such as cars, plumbing fixtures, airplanes and many other products. The shape of the finished product is formed by pouring liquid metal into molds made from sand and binding material. These molds can be used only once. The disintegrated mold is what is called foundry sand. To reuse this sand, the foundry industry must run tests to determine the sand's chemical composition. The Foundry Sand Market Development Grant is designed to aid small businesses that might otherwise find testing of the sand to be too costly.

The Indiana Cast Metal Association estimates that nearly one million tons of spent foundry sand are disposed of in Indiana each year. The Foundry Sand Market Development Grants, administered by the Energy Policy Division of the Indiana Department of Commerce, are designed to remove economic barriers for testing for potential reuse or recycling of this sand. Indiana foundries that employ fewer than 250 people are eligible for the grants. The grant provides up to $6,000, or 50 percent, of the cost associated with the testing of foundry sand for its chemical composition.

Contact: Julie Rhodes, (317) 232-8944

Iowa
West Des Moines Valley High School Team Wins National Science Bowl
The National Science Bowl is an annual event sponsored by DOE. The event is a competition patterned after TV's Jeopardy game show. Questions cover the topics of general science, math, physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, earth science, and astronomy.

The West Des Moines team, including Paco Jain, Adrienne Clark, Chris Rotzine, Mikhail Seregrine, and Drew Volker, was one of the 48 teams that advanced to the nationals. Approximately 1600 high school teams competed at the regional level. The Iowa team beat Los Angeles' North Hollywood High School 172 to 112 to win the national title.

The prize is an all expense paid trip to Lindau, Germany this summer. One of the events the team will attend while in Germany is a symposium featuring Nobel Prize Winners.

Contact: Margaret Christiansen, (515) 226-2600

Kentucky
Division Awards Grants for 20th Cycle of ICP
The Kentucky Division of Energy recently completed reviewing and ranking applications for the 20th cycle of the Institutional Conservation Program (ICP). The staff is currently generating contracts to award $532,486 to schools and hospitals in Kentucky to install energy-saving measures in their buildings. The funds for these projects come from the Kentucky Energy Assistance Trust Fund (KEATF). The grants are 50/50 matching funds. This cycle is likely to be the last one funded in this program because Trust funds have been depleted.

The Division received 23 applications that included 68 buildings throughout Kentucky. Applicants applied for a total of $2.4 million in projects. After the ranking process, funding was approved for 22 applicants and thirty-six buildings. Funded projects totaled $1.2 million. The projects range from typical lighting projects to energy management systems. During the previous years of the ICP, an average of 25% savings was realized from the measures installed.

Contact: Eddie Riddle, (502) 564-7192

Utah
Southwire Turns Energy Efficiency into a Corporate Asset
Southwire Company's Utah Plant is a new partner in Climate Wise, a voluntary national pollution prevention program that helps companies improve their bottom line by reducing pollution and saving energy. Southwire's Climate Wise Action Plan outlines projects that save money, improve productivity, and protect the environment. The plan was submitted in May and includes retrofitting office lights with energy-efficient ballasts and lamps; reducing water use through cooling tower improvements; reducing paper use and recycling paper; converting forklifts to run on natural gas instead of propane; and upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

Southwire officials understand the connection between energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and reaching corporate goals. By the year 2000, the Climate Wise measures will help the company save more than $20,000 annually in energy costs, conserve six million gallons of water, reduce paper use by 43 tons, and prevent over 250,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the air.

Southwire joins more than 400 other Climate Wise Partners including AT&T, Boeing, British Petroleum, Dow Chemical, General Motors, Georgia-Pacific, and Samsonite. Participants, representing about twelve percent of the total U.S. industrial energy use, expect to save $300 million by the year 2000. The Climate Wise program is a key component of the U.S. Climate Change Action Plan developed to meet commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Climate Wise is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and managed by the Utah Office of Energy Services.

Contact: Linda Neilson, (801) 538-8659

CONSERVATION UPDATE is a free monthly publication prepared by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Division of Energy, with funding from the United States Department of Energy, to facilitate the transfer of current State Energy Program (SEP) and technical information among the states and territories. Please submit short articles that describe successful programs, solicit ideas, share reports, studies or evaluations, or announce new publications, personnel changes, office address changes, conferences, seminars and workshops. Submittals are due by the seventh of each month. Please send submittals, address corrections, or name changes to: CONSERVATION UPDATE, Division of Energy, 663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone (502) 564-7192, facsimile (502) 564-7484, email: landry@nrepc.nr.state.ky.us. Past issues are available upon request. For more information, contact Karen W. Landry, Editor, or John M. Stapleton, Director.

Visit the Division's Web site at www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

SearchWebmaster

U.S. Department of Energy