gTDETyc 4 f PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT Paul Scherrer Institut Tel. 056 310 21 11 CH-5232 Villigen PSI Telefax 056 310 21 99 Switzerland Telex 827 417 psi ch http://www.psi.ch Annual Report 1996 Annex V PSI General Energy Technology Newsletter 1996 MASTER op mi; oocumr « wuiwmm Department of General Energy Technology Editing: Ch. Daum, J. Leuenberger COVER PHOTOGRAPH Measurement site during the VOTALP field campaign of September 1996 in the Mesolcina Valley. Sensors for ozone and meteorological parameters are mounted on top of the 12-m tower. Components of the opti­ cal equipment to measure the ozone concentration and wind speed on a light path across the valley are visible on the ground to the left of the tower. DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 A. Wokaun Renewable Energies 3 Gasification of Wood in a Fluidized Bed Reactor 4 L. C. de Sousa, T. Marti, M. Frankenhaeuser The Influence of Chlorine on the Gasification of Wood 6 C. von Scala, R. Struis, S. Stuck! Combined Coal Gasification and Fe304-Reduction Using High-Temperature Solar Process Heat 8 Y. Tamaura (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan), K. Ehrensberger, A. Steinfeld Wustite - A Solar Energy Carrier 10 A. Weidenkaff, P. Nuesch, A. Wokaun, A. Reller (University of Hamburg, Germany) Production of Filamentous Carbon and H2 by Solarthermal Catalytic Cracking of CH4 12 V. Kirillov, G. Kuvshinov (Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Russia), A. Reller (University of Hamburg, Germany), A. Steinfeld Photochemistry at High Temperatures - Potential of ZnO as a High Temperature Photocatalyst 14 M. Schubnell, P. Beaud, I. Kamber Materials Development and Methods of Characterization for Energy Research 17 Recycling of Greenhouse Gases via Methanol 18 A. Bill, B. Eliasson (ABB Corporate Research Center, Baden-Dattwil, Switzerland), U. Kogelschatz (ABB Corporate Research Center, Baden-Dattwil, Switzerland) Thermal Stability of Nation Membranes under Mechanical Stress 20 M. Quintilii, R. Struis Solid State Diffusion and Reaction in ZnO/SIOg in Thin Films 22 A. Jakob, S. Stuck! , B. Schnyder, R. Kdtz Kinetics with Deactivation of Methylcyclohexane Dehydrogenation for Hydrogen Energy 24 Storage G. Maria, A. Marin, C. Wyss, S. Muller, E. Newson Time Resolved FTIR Study of the Catalytic CO Oxidation under Periodic Variation of the 27 Reactant Concentration J. Kritzenberger, A. Wokaun XPS Analysis of Boron Doped Heterofullerenes 29 B. Schnyder, H.-J. Muhr (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), R. Nesper (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), R. Kdtz Intermittent Contact Atomic Force Microscopy in Electrochemical Environment 31 P. Haring, R. Kdtz, H. Siegenthaler (University of Bern, Switzerland) In-Situ Investigation of the Calcination Process of Mixed Oxide Xerogels with Raman 33 Spectroscopy J.-C. Panitz Development and Characterization of a Rare Earth Emitter for a Thermophotovoltaic Power 35 Generator W. Durisch, J.-C. Panitz Azo Group Containing Compounds: Investigation of the Decay Mechanism 37 D. Franzke, J. Kritzenberger, Th. Kunz Microstructuring of Triazene Containing Copolyester Films 39 Ch. Hahn, Th. Kunz, A. Wokaun Photochemically Induced Oscillations of Aromatic Pentazadienes 41 Th. Kunz, Ch. Hahn, A. Wokaun Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion 43 Bipolar Zinc / Oxygen Battery Development 44 S. Muller, C. Schlatter (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland) Progress Towards a 20 Ah/12 V Zinc/Air - Battery 46 F. Holzer, S. Muller, O. Haas Porous Graphite Electrodes for Rechargeable Ion-Transfer Batteries 47 P. Novak, W. Scheifele, O. Haas Use of Ab Initio Quantum Chemical Methods in Battery Technology 49 E. Deiss Glassy Carbon Based Supercapacitor Stacks 51 M. Bartsch, A. Braun, R. Kotz, O. Haas Fuel Cell Membrane Preparation: Effects of Base Polymer 53 H.P. Brack, G.G. Scherer Cyclic Voltammetric Investigations of Microstructured and Platinum-Covered Glassy Carbon 55 Electrodes in Contact with a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane G. G. Scherer, Z. Veziridis, M. Staub, M. Freimuth (Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz IMM, Mainz, Germany) Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells : Flow Field for Efficient Air Operation 57 F. N. Buchi, A. Tsukada, O. Haas, G.G. Scherer Combustion Research 59 Catalyticaily Stabilized Combustion of Lean Methane-Air-Mixtures: A Numerical Model 60 U. Dogwiler, P. Benz, I. Mantzaras Numerical and Experimental Investigation of NOx Formation in Lean Premixed Combustion 62 of Methane K. Bengtsson, P. Benz, T. Marti, R. Scharen, A. Schlegel Formation of Nitric Oxide in an Industrial Burner Measured by 2-D Laser Induced Fluorescence 64 A. Arnold, R. Bombach, B. Kappeli Beam Steering Effects in Turbulent High Pressure Flames 66 B. Hemmerling, B. Kappeli A Study of Relaxation Mechanisms in the A2 Z+ State of Nitric Oxide by Time Resolved 68 Double Resonant Polarization Spectroscopy A. Stampanoni-Panariello, R. Bombach, B. Hemmerling, W. Hubschmid Laser-Induced Gratings in the Gas Phase Excited Via Raman-Active Transitions 70 D.N. Kozlov (General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia), R. Bombach, B. Hemmerling, W. Hubschmid Stimulated Emission Pumping of NH in Flames by Using Two-Color Resonant Four-Wave 72 Mixing P.P. Radi, H.-M. Frey, B. Mischler, A.P. Tzannis, P. Beaud, T. Gerber Rotational Energy Transfer of the A2Z’(V’=1) State of OH 74 P. Beaud, P. Radi, H.-M. Frey, B. Mischler, A.P. Tzannis, T. Gerber Phase-Conjugate Resonant Holographic Interferometry Applied to NH Concentration 75 Measurements in a 2D Diffusion Flame A.P. Tzannis, P. Beaud, H.-M. Frey, T. Gerber, B. Mischler, P.P. Radi Mass Spectrometric Characterization of a Pyrolytic Radical Source Using Femtosecond 76 Ionization H.M. Frey, P. Beaud, B. Mischler, P.P. Radi, A.P. Tzannis, T. Gerber Consequences of Energy Use for Atmosphere and Climate 77 Vertical Ozone Transport in the Alps (VOTALP): The Valley Experiment 1996 78 M. Furger, J. Dommen, W.K. Graber, A. Prevot, L. Poggio, S. Andreani, J. Keller, W. Portmann, D. Burki, R. Erne, R. Richter, M. Tinguely PSI Contribution to the EU Project ECOMONT 80 W. Portmann, R.T. Siegwolf, M. Saurer, Y. Scheidegger, P. Geissbuhler, M. Furger, L. Poggio, R. Erne, R. Richter, D. Burki, W.K. Graber COg-Recycling by Plants: How Reliable is the Carbon Isotope Estimation ? 82 R.T.W. Siegwolf, M. Saurer, Ch. Korner (University of Basel, Switzerland) 18 oro Determination in Organic Matter 84 M. Saurer, R. Siegwolf Classification of Windfields: A Diagnostic Tool for Real-Time Determination 85 of Local Air Pollution Dispersion W.K. Graber, D. Burki Decadal Changes of Weather Types in the Alpine Region 87 G. Stefanicki, P. Talkner, R.O. Weber Short-Range Dynamics and Prediction of Mesoscale Flow Patterns in the Mistral Field 89 Experiment R.O. Weber, P. Kaufmann, P. Talkner Climatology of Local Flow Patterns Around Basel 91 R.O. Weber Topological Entropy of Autonomous Flows 93 R. Badii Saddle Point Avoidance in Barrier Crossing Problems 95 P. Talkner, A.N. Drozdov (present address: Universidad de Sevilla, Spain) The Novel Phenomenon of Noise-Catalyzed Chaos-Order Transitions 97 F. Gassmann Swiss Taxation Policies to Curb CO2 Emissions 99 O. Bahn, E. Fragniere (HEC-Lausanne, Switzerland), S. Kypreos Modelling Regional Trade of CO2 Certificates 101 B. Bueler (IFOR-ETHZ & PSI), O. Bahn, S. Kypreos, H.-J. Luthi (IFOR-ETHZ) Appendix 103 1 INTRODUCTION A. Wokaun Surveying the results of General Energy Research in 1996, three major trends can be identified. First, in areas where research results have reached an advanced stage, decisive steps have been taken to pro­ mote a transfer towards industrial realization; examples include biomass gasification, advanced battery concepts, and combustion research. Second, in projects with longer term orientation, several options are being evaluated by exploratory studies, e.g. in solar chemistry and reaction analysis. Third, in line with the strategic planning of our institute, the development and characterization of materials for energy research has received increased attention. 1 RENEWABLE ENERGIES Understanding the occurring solid state chemical re­ actions turned out to be crucial in designing a process Besides the major share of hydroelectricity, biomass is for the evaporative removal of heavy metals from solid providing a significant contribution of renewables to residues of municipal waste incinerators. satisfy the Swiss energy demand. For a future sus­ tainable transportation system, we are promoting the Materials development is strongly dependent on the utilization of wood residues and scrap wood for advancement of characterization techniques. In 1996, methanol production. Important parameters influencing novel results have been obtained on the in situ moni­ the production of synthesis gas from biomass have toring of electrode materials by atomic force micros ­ been studied, and the influence of inorganic impurities copy, and the study of solid state chemical transfor­ (e.g. salts, heavy metals) on the gasification kinetics mations by Raman microscopy. has been quantified. For the use in microtechnology applications, pho­ The goal of the High Temperature Solar Technology topolymers with tailored absorption and decomposition group is the production of solar fuels by using con ­ properties have been developed based on studies of centrated solar radiation. On the route towards the the mechanism of photolytic decomposition, and the production of solar hydrogen, project