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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

SPC-70486 Rev 0 Stirling Engine Prototype Performance Specification

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is developing a small microreactor to produce electrical power utilizing a small nuclear core and Stirling engines under the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) program. The purpose of this performance specification is to define requirements to build and test the Stirling Engine prototype, including interfacing with Kinnetech in the development/test of the engines. This specification includes prototyping components only and are not for use in the reactor. Prototype testing is a preliminary test to be conducted with conceptual equipment from which a final design will be developed. The results of the testing defined herein will not be used as a qualification test. The Stirling Engines have an engine controller module (QEC). Currently, the QEC doesn’t have a means to stop the engine. An analog controlled engine braking system must be developed and tested with the engine prototype. Any conflict between this specification and any supplementary specifications in the procurement documents requires written clarification from the Contractor prior to proceeding with any work. Any deviation from the procurement documents requires approval by the Contractor with the change request process.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
DOE OSTI2025

SPC-70804 Rev 1 Zircar ZAL-45 Alumina Standoff Plates for Use in MARVEL

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is developing a microreactor to produce electrical power utilizing a small nuclear core and Stirling engines under the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) program. This procurement specification defines the requirements for fabrication of the MARVEL ZAL-45 standoff plates manufactured by Zircar. The design requires eight (8) ceramic standoff plates; however, the requested quantity shall be twelve to account for required testing after receipt of materials. Any conflict between this specification and referenced Codes and Standards, or any supplementary specifications in the procurement documents requires written clarification from the Contractor prior to proceeding with any work. Any deviation from the procurement documents requires approval by the Contractor with the change request process.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
DOE OSTI2024

SPC-70843 Rev 0 MARVEL Control Drum Actuator Fabrication Specification

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is developing a microreactor to produce electrical power utilizing a small nuclear core and Stirling engines under the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) program. This procurement specification defines the requirements for fabrication of components that make up the control drum (CD) actuators. This specification outlines the requirements for fabrication, acknowledging that specific elements will integrate into final assemblies, while others will be delivered as standalone components. The Subcontractor is not responsible for the CD actuator’s final assembly. Any conflict between this specification and referenced Codes and Standards, or any supplementary specifications in the procurement documents requires written clarification from the Contractor prior to proceeding with any work. Any deviation from the procurement documents requires approval by the Contractor with the change request process.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗
NASA NTRS1984

Effects of expiration of the Federal energy tax credit on the National Photovoltaics Program

Projected 1986 sales are significantly reduced as a direct result of system price increases following from expiration of the Federal energy tax credits. There would be greatly reduced emphasis on domestic electric utility applications. Indirect effects arising from unrealized economies of scale and reduced private investment in PV research and development (R&D) and in production facilities could have a very large cumulative adverse impact on the U.S. PV industry. The industry forecasts as much as fourfold reduction in 1990 sales if tax credits expire, compared with what sales would be with the credits. Because the National Photovoltaics Program is explicitly structured as a government partnership, large changes in the motivation or funding of either partner can affect Program success profoundly. Reduced industry participation implies that such industry tasks as industrialization and new product development would slow or halt. Those research areas receiving heavy R&D support from private PV manufacturers would be adversely affected.

Smith, J. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Review of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology in Power Line Inspection

The electric power industry is one of the heaviest adopters of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) technology, utilizing their versatility to enhance power line maintenance programs. For reliable power grids, routine maintenance operations and rapid repair operations are required across substantial geographical distances. Both maintenance and repair decisions are driven by assessment operations, such as inspections of mechanical structures with visible-band sensors, inspections for the presence of high voltage coronas and hot spots with multispectral sensors, and surveying of equipment and adjacent features (particularly vegetation) with photogrammetric and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors. Assessment was historically accomplished with manned helicopter flights or foot patrols. Recently, this critical economic segment harnessed advances in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)technology to accomplish assessment tasks with faster results, lower cost, and higher levels of safety than historical methods. Adoption of UAVs in high-voltage electric power transmission activities is well underway. Adoption of UAVs for low voltage distribution activities is still emerging, with the important exception of post-storm damage assessment following major hurricanes (Harvey and Maria in 2017 and Michael in 2018). This report reviews the broad UAS adoption in high-voltage electric power transmission operations and early attempts at adoption in distribution operations. The ability to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) may increase the advantages of UAV inspection over former options, and in the United States, regulators have approved two pilot projects to demonstrate BVLOS methods and their benefits in operating and maintaining the power grid.

UAV↗
DOE OSTI2025

Natural Hazard Forecast Alert Grid Risk System

Weather events cause most power outages. Often, we even get notifications on our phones to take cover or be prepared for an imminent event. If electric grid utilities had a similar warning that also included probable scenarios and the equipment involved, they could prepare and minimize the effects. Idaho National Laboratory had a project with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response program to develop a grid alert application that receives messages from the existing emergency alert system, filters and determines components possibly affected by the emergency event, calculates probable scenarios using MASTERRI (Modeling And Simulation for Targeted Reliability and Resilience Improvement). For high-risk events, the application can then send alert links to subscribed electric distribution utility operations staff to allow them to see and evaluate the scenarios and the impact in a web based interactive map tool. This proof of concept application used data from utilities and organizations, such as the international regulatory body North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which have complied historical failure data of elements that comprise the U.S. electric grid. Nominal failure rates are obtained from this data. To make this tool possible, estimated failure rates were calculated for different component types given the alert type, severity, and location. Historic weather-related grid element failures were correlated with historic weather events from the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System. These correlated events and failures are used along with Bayesian updates from the historical norms to provide a modified failure rate for grid elements in the alert areas and calculate probable scenarios. Working with an industry collaborator, actual grid models and data were used for demonstration cases. This report outlines the work performed for this project.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1974

Space benefits: The secondary application of aerospace technology in other sectors of the economy

Space Benefits is a publication that has been prepared for the NASA Technology Utilization Office by the Denver Research Institute's Program for Transfer Research and Impact Studies, to provide the Agency with accurate, convenient, and integrated resource information on the transfer of aerospace technology to other sectors of the U.S. economy. The technological innovations derived from NASA space programs and their current applications in the following areas are considered: (1) manufacturing consumer products, (2) manufacturing capital goods, (3) new consumer products and retailing, (4) electric utilities, (5) environmental quality, (6) food production and processing, (7) government, (8) petroleum and gas, (9) construction, (10) law enforcement, and (11) highway transportation.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2023

State Energy Offices’ Engagement in Electric Distribution Planning to Meet State Policy Goals

NASEO and Berkeley Lab released a new publication on State Energy Offices’ Engagement in Electric Distribution Planning to Meet State Policy Goals. State and Territory Energy Offices develop plans, programs, policies, and projects that have a substantial impact on electric distribution systems. They also can participate in distribution system planning (DSP) processes to help ensure that utilities – consumer- and investor-owned – meet the state’s future energy needs. This paper recognizes the wide spectrum of roles that State Energy Offices can play in DSP processes, including planning for distributed energy resources and grid modernization. It highlights various examples of non-regulatory activities by State Energy Offices including planning, conducting studies, convening stakeholder processes, and implementing programs that inform and contribute to distribution system planning. It also provides examples of State Energy Offices’ engagement in proceedings before their respective public utility commissions. As State Energy Offices face myriad challenges associated with meeting state policy goals, preparing for anticipated rates of distributed energy resource deployment, addressing concerns regarding grid reliability and resilience, and recommending and making long-term investment decisions, the examples provided through this guide can serve as a resource in navigating those challenges.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS2018

The SPACE Computer Code for Analyzing the International Space Station Electrical Power System: Past, Present, and Future

The System Power Analysis for Capability Evaluation (SPACE) computer code was initially developed by NASA in 1988 to assess the Space Station Freedom electric power system and later adapted to support contractor electrical power system capability analyses for the International Space Station (ISS). Over time, the code has supported many efforts such as ISS redesign activities in the early 1990s, assessment of time-phased loads against power system operating limits for future ISS assembly flights (including Certification of Flight Readiness reviews by the ISS program office), and determining the optimum solar array gimbal positions while respecting keep-out zones which minimize both solar array contamination and structural loads. The code has been validated by comparisons with ISS on-orbit data in multiple validation episodes. Recent updates to the code include the incorporation of a Lithium-Ion battery model in addition to the Nickel Hydrogen battery model and modifications to the solar array degradation model to better match on-orbit test results. SPACE has also been extended beyond the ISS to include modeling of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle electrical power system (SPACE-MPCV) and Mars Surface Electrical Power Systems (MSEPS). Portions of SPACE were integrated with a trajectory code to form a Solar Electric Propulsion Simulation (SEPSim), which can be used for analyzing solar electric propulsion missions. In addition, SPACE methods and subroutines have been adapted to a multitude of other projects. This paper summarizes the initial code development and subsequent code utilization in the context of the overall ISS program development and on-orbit operations. Recent updates and results from the code are discussed, including preliminary analyses for the Orion power system.

Electrical Power System↗
NASA NTRS2004

Methodolgy For Evaluation Of Technology Impacts In Space Electric Power Systems

The Analysis and Management branch of the Power and Propulsion Office at NASA Glenn Research Center is responsible for performing complex analyses of the space power and In-Space propulsion products developed by GRC. This work quantifies the benefits of the advanced technologies to support on-going advocacy efforts. The Power and Propulsion Office is committed to understanding how the advancement in space technologies could benefit future NASA missions. They support many diverse projects and missions throughout NASA as well as industry and academia. The area of work that we are concentrating on is space technology investment strategies. Our goal is to develop a Monte-Carlo based tool to investigate technology impacts in space electric power systems. The framework is being developed at this stage, which will be used to set up a computer simulation of a space electric power system (EPS). The outcome is expected to be a probabilistic assessment of critical technologies and potential development issues. We are developing methods for integrating existing spreadsheet-based tools into the simulation tool. Also, work is being done on defining interface protocols to enable rapid integration of future tools. Monte Carlo-based simulation programs for statistical modeling of the EPS Model. I decided to learn and evaluate Palisade's @Risk and Risk Optimizer software, and utilize it's capabilities for the Electric Power System (EPS) model. I also looked at similar software packages (JMP, SPSS, Crystal Ball, VenSim, Analytica) available from other suppliers and evaluated them. The second task was to develop the framework for the tool, in which we had to define technology characteristics using weighing factors and probability distributions. Also we had to define the simulation space and add hard and soft constraints to the model. The third task is to incorporate (preliminary) cost factors into the model. A final task is developing a cross-platform solution of this framework.

Holda, Julie↗
NASA NTRS1995

Variable speed generator application on the MOD-5A 7.3 mW wind turbine generator

This paper describes the application of a Scherbiustat type variable speed subsystem in the MOD-5A Wind Turbine Generator. As designed by General Electric Company, Advanced Energy Programs Department, under contract DEN3-153 with NASA Lewis Research Center and DOE, the MOD-5A utilizes the subsystem for both starting assistance in a motoring mode and generation in a controlled airgap torque mode. Reactive power control is also provided. The Scherbiustat type arrangement of a wound rotor machine with a cycloconverter in the rotor circuit was selected after an evaluation of variable speed technologies that followed a system evaluation of drivetrain cost and risk. The paper describes the evaluation factors considered, the results of the evaluations and summarizes operating strategy and performance simulations.

Barton, Robert S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Voices from Rural Electric Cooperatives: A Call for a DER Integration Playbook for Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy (RAISE)

Rural-serving electric utilities (RSEUs)—including electric cooperatives, municipal systems, and small investor-owned utilities—are essential players in the evolving energy landscape. These community-focused entities are increasingly being asked to consider distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop and ground-mounted solar, wind, battery storage, smart water heaters, and demand response programs (NRECA 2025; Lenhart et al. 2020). Yet the path to DER adoption is far from straightforward in the rural context. This report is based on in-depth interviews with managers of rural electric cooperatives across the United States. These conversations offer a grounded, unvarnished look at how DERs are perceived, what barriers exist, and what conditions might enable integration and adoption. While the utilities interviewed vary in geography, size, and DER experience, several clear and common themes emerged across electric cooperatives such that the report recommends the development of a DER Integration Runbook to help utilities assess readiness, define local use cases, engage stakeholders, pilot projects, and iterate, expanding over time.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Business Models for Scaling Demand Flexibility Volume III – Stakeholder ecosystem management challenges, and lessons learned from U.S. programs

Load growth at the grid edge is driving increased attention to the distribution system and its ability to enable customer technology adoption in an affordable and timely manner. Key industry stakeholders, including electric utilities and regulators, can benefit from strategies to manage and balance customer needs with infrastructure investments, such as demand flexibility. This report focuses on demand flexibility—the ability to reduce, shift, shed, generate, or modulate loads in response to building and grid needs—to reduce the need for costly grid upgrades by deferring investment needs and increase system reliability by shifting electricity usage during periods of high risk. Specifically, we focus on the emerging characteristics of business models for demand flexibility as a framework to understand how demand flexibility programs generate value. In this report, we focus on demand flexibility program stakeholder ecosystem management strategies, which provide information on value delivery and describe how program implementers leverage partner capabilities and collaborate to deliver customer and grid benefits. This report discusses the role of stakeholder ecosystem management in demand flexibility programs, identifies existing challenges to effective stakeholder management, and describes lessons learned. This report is part of a series that includes reports on value propositions, customer relationship management strategies, and program life cycle.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Business Models for Scaling Demand Flexibility Volume II – Customer relationship management strategies, challenges, and lessons learned from U.S. programs

Load growth at the grid edge is driving increased attention to the distribution system and its ability to enable customer technology adoption in an affordable and timely manner. Key industry stakeholders, including electric utilities and regulators, can benefit from strategies to manage and balance customer needs with infrastructure investments, such as demand flexibility. This report focuses on demand flexibility—the ability to reduce, shift, shed, generate, or modulate loads in response to building and grid needs—to reduce the need for costly grid upgrades by deferring investment needs and increase system reliability by shifting electricity usage during periods of high risk. Specifically, we focus on the emerging characteristics of business models for demand flexibility as a framework to understand how demand flexibility programs generate value. In this report, we focus on demand flexibility program customer relationship management strategies, which provide information on value creation and focus on ensuring customers can navigate programs smoothly. This report discusses the role of customer relationship management strategies in demand flexibility programs, characterizes customer relationship management strategies that can be considered during program design and implementation, identifies existing challenges to customer relationship management strategies, and describes lessons learned. This report is part of a series that includes reports on value propositions, stakeholder ecosystem management, and program life cycle.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Business Models for Scaling Demand Flexibility Volume I – Value proposition characteristics, challenges, and lessons learned from U.S. programs

Load growth at the grid edge is driving increased attention to the distribution system and its ability to enable customer technology adoption in an affordable and timely manner. Key industry stakeholders, including electric utilities and regulators, can benefit from strategies to manage and balance customer needs with infrastructure investments, such as demand flexibility. This report focuses on demand flexibility—the ability to reduce, shift, shed, generate, or modulate loads in response to building and grid needs—to reduce the need for costly grid upgrades by deferring investment needs and increase system reliability by shifting electricity usage during periods of high risk. Specifically, we focus on the emerging characteristics of business models for demand flexibility as a framework to understand how demand flexibility programs generate value. In this report, we focus on demand flexibility value propositions, which provide information on value creation and describe how programs deliver clear benefits that address customer and grid needs. This report discusses the role of value propositions in demand flexibility programs, provides an overview of value propositions for a range of demand flexibility stakeholders, identifies existing challenges to establishing an effective value proposition, and describes lessons learned. This report is part of a series that includes reports on customer relationship management strategies, stakeholder ecosystem management, and program life cycle.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Business Models for Scaling Demand Flexibility Volume IV – Program life cycle challenges and lessons learned from U.S. programs

Load growth at the grid edge is driving increased attention to the distribution system and its ability to enable customer technology adoption in an affordable and timely manner. Key industry stakeholders, including electric utilities and regulators, can benefit from strategies to manage and balance customer needs with infrastructure investments, such as demand flexibility. This report focuses on demand flexibility—the ability to reduce, shift, shed, generate, or modulate loads in response to building and grid needs—to reduce the need for costly grid upgrades by deferring investment needs and increase system reliability by shifting electricity usage during periods of high risk. Specifically, we focus on the emerging characteristics of business models for demand flexibility as a framework to understand how demand flexibility programs generate value. In this report, we focus on the life cycle of demand flexibility programs, which provides information on value creation and describes the various deployment phases program implementers navigate from initial program conceptualization through to program expansion and replication to new customer segments and regions. This report characterizes the key phases of the demand flexibility program life cycle, identifies existing challenges across the program deployment phases, and describes lessons learned. This report is part of a series that includes reports on customer relationship management strategies, stakeholder ecosystem management, and program life cycle.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1974

The MIST /MIUS Integration and Subsystems Test/ laboratory - A testbed for the MIUS /Modular Integrated Utility System/ program

The MIUS (Modular Integrated Utility System) concept is to be an energy-conserving, economically feasible, integrated community utility system to provide five necessary services: electricity generation, space heating and air conditioning, solid waste processing, liquid waste processing, and residential water purification. The MIST (MIUS Integration and Subsystem Test) integrated system testbed constructed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston includes subsystems for power generation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), wastewater management, solid waste management, and control and monitoring. The key design issues under study include thermal integration and distribution techniques, thermal storage, integration of subsystems controls and displays, incinerator performance, effluent characteristics, and odor control.

Beckham, W. S., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2020

INTERFUEL: FAST -- Fueling Center and EVSE Reporting Process Changes

This presentation presents an overview of coming changes to how federal agencies with motor vehicles will submit required information about fueling centers and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) inventory through the Federal Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST). Historically, information covering these two areas has been provide during two separate data submissions, but is now being consolidated and simplified into a single submission due by December 15 of each year. The presentation provides background on the process, a re-cap of how the information is currently submitted, and describes the new approach for organizations to submit the required information. This presentation is intended for delivery via WebEx/GoToMeeting at the July 8, 2020 meeting of the DOE-sponsored INTERFUEL working group. FAST is a web-based information management tool developed by INL and funded by GSA's Office of Government-wide Policy and DOE's Federal Energy Management Program.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗