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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Scalable Predictive Control and Optimization for Grid Integration of Large-Scale Distributed Energy Resources

Integrating a large number of distributed energy resources (DERs) into the power grid needs a scalable power balancing method. We formulate the power balancing problem as a look-ahead optimization problem to be solved sequentially by a power distribution system aggregator based on a model predictive control (MPC) framework. Solving large-scale look-ahead control problems requires proper configuration of the control steps. In this paper, to solve large-scale control problems, we propose a variable time granularity where control time steps nearby the current control step have finer resolutions. The aggregator objective includes maximization of power production revenue and minimization of power purchasing expense, renewable power curtailment, and mileage costs for energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations while satisfying system capacity and operational constraints. The control problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP) and solved using the XpressMP solver. We perform simulations considering a copper plate representation of a large distribution network consisting of 2507 devices (control-lable DERs), including curtailable photovoltaics (PVs), energy storage batteries, EV charging stations, and buildings with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units (HVACs). We show the effectiveness of the proposed approach in managing DERs interactively for maximum energy trading profit and local supply-demand power balancing. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other benchmark controllers regarding computation time without compromising operational performance.

DER↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimal Electric Vehicle Charging and Discharging Strategies Under DER Compensation Programs: Preprint

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming increasingly popular because of environmental concerns, the greater availability of models, and increased cost-competitiveness with gas vehicles. Because EVs have both charging and discharging capabilities, they provide great potential to help electric utilities with grid operation. When the grid demand is high, EVs can discharge to the grid to reduce the peak load, and vice versa; therefore, electric utilities have designed different policies to encourage EV charging station operators to charge or discharge at certain time periods. The New York State Public Service Commission established the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER), or the Value Stack, to compensate for energy created by distributed energy resources, including EVs. This paper presents an optimization-based approach to identify the "golden hours" and "golden spots," i.e., the effective time periods and geographic locations for EV charging station operators to charge or discharge under the VDER program that can provide them the highest benefit. The proposed methodology can be applied to other compensation mechanisms and distribution systems as well. By working with industry partner NineDot Energy, realistic charging station information is used in this study, and the proposed approach is tested on a distribution feeder. The results from this study can help electric utilities and EV charging station operators determine the ideal charging/discharging time and the ideal locations for the charging station(s) in their distribution systems to achieve maximized benefit.

electric vehicle↗
NASA NTRS1992

Energy loss analysis of an integrated space power distribution system

The results of studies related to conceptual topologies of an integrated utility-like space power system are described. The system topologies are comparatively analyzed by considering their transmission energy losses as functions of mainly distribution voltage level and load composition. The analysis is expedited by use of a Distribution System Analysis and Simulation (DSAS) software. This recently developed computer program by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) uses improved load models to solve the power flow within the system. However, present shortcomings of the software with regard to space applications, and incompletely defined characteristics of a space power system make the results applicable to only the fundamental trends of energy losses of the topologies studied. Accountability, such as included, for the effects of the various parameters on the system performance can constitute part of a planning tool for a space power distribution system.

Kankam, M. David↗
NASA NTRS1992

Energy loss analysis of an integrated space power distribution system

The results of studies related to conceptual topologies of an integrated utility-like space power system are described. The system topologies are comparatively analyzed by considering their transmission energy losses as functions of mainly distribution voltage level and load composition. The analysis is expedited by use of a Distribution System Analysis and Simulation (DSAS) software. This recently developed computer program by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) uses improved load models to solve the power flow within the system. However, present shortcomings of the software with regard to space applications, and incompletely defined characteristics of a space power system make the results applicable to only the fundamental trends of energy losses of the topologies studied. Accountability, such as included, for the effects of the various parameters on the system performance can constitute part of a planning tool for a space power distribution system.

Kankam, M. D.↗
DOE OSTI2024

lanl-ansi/MG-RAVENS

The MG-RAVENS project with the DOE Office of Electricity Microgrid R&D Program is a project to develop a completely free, open-source data exchange standard (API) for the Department of Energy, targeted at software tools related to infrastructure modeling, particularly the modeling of microgrids and electric power distribution systems that are created with funding from the Microgrid R&D Program. This software produces formal definitions of an API, documentation, contains supporting functions for parsing, validating, etc., and will contain examples of workflows enabled by the developed API.

Fobes, David M↗
DOE OSTI2018

National Hydropower Plant Dataset, Version 2 (FY18Q3)

The National Hydropower Plant Dataset, Version 2 (FY18Q3) is a geospatially comprehensive point-level dataset containing locations and key characteristics of U.S. hydropower plants that are currently either in the hydropower development pipeline (pre-operational), operational, withdrawn, or retired. These data are provided in GIS and tabular formats with corresponding metadata for each. In addition, we include access to download 2 versions of the National Hydropower Map, which was produced with these data (i.e. Map 1 displays the geospatial distribution and characteristics of all operational hydropower plants; Map 2 displays the geospatial distribution and characteristics of operational hydropower plants with pumped storage and mixed capabilities only). This dataset is a subset of ORNL's Existing Hydropower Assets data series, updated quarterly as part of ORNL's National Hydropower Asset Assessment Program.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Cascade energy optimization for waste heat recovery in distributed energy systems

The efficiency of distributed energy systems can be significantly increased through waste heat recovery from industry or power generation. The technologies used for this process are typically dependent on the quality and temperature grades of waste heat. To maximize the efficiency of cascade heat utilization, it is important to optimize the choice of waste heat recovery technologies and their operation. Here, a detailed mixed integer linear programming optimization model is proposed for waste heat recovery in a district-scale microgrid. The model can distinguish waste heat quality for planning and operation optimization of distributed energy systems. Heat utilization technologies are formulated in this developed model and categorized in different temperature grades. The developed model is validated using four typical cases under different settings of system operation and business models. It is found that the optimization model, by distinguishing waste heat temperature, can increase energy cost savings by around 5%, compared to models that do not consider waste heat temperature grades. Additionally, the results indicate that the developed model can provide more realistic configuration and technologies dispatch.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

ESPC ESA Webinar Series: ESPC ENABLE Contract Vehicle Overview

This webinar provides instructions and resources for financing distributed energy projects (e.g. on-site renewable energy, storage, and combined heat and power) using an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) energy sales agreement (ESA) through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) ESPC ENABLE contract vehicle. The ESPC ENABLE contract vehicle is a streamlined procurement process that uses a standard investment grade audit tool and standard contract templates. Topics covered in the webinar include: An overview of the ESPC ENABLE contract vehicle; ESA-specific considerations for ENABLE contracts; and Case studies. This webinar also provides an overview of the resources available on the Federal Energy Management Program website, such as ESPC ENABLE templates. This webinar is the fourth of a series that provides information, best practices, and resources for implementing an ESPC ESA project. ESPC ESAs are a great option for federal sites that are motivated to reduce site costs, have no capital investment funding, and cannot use the U.S. Department of Defense 10 USC 2922a authority for long-term contracting.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Co-design optimization of combined heat and power-based microgrids

With the emergent need for clean and reliable energy resources, hybrid energy systems, such as the microgrid, are widely adopted in the United States. A microgrid can consist of various distributed energy resources, for instance, combined heat and power (CHP) systems. Here, the CHP module is a distributed cogeneration technology that produces electricity and recaptures heat generated as a by-product. It is an energy-efficient technology converting heat that would otherwise be wasted to valuable thermal energy. For an optimal system configuration, this study develops a novel co-design optimization framework for CHP-based cogeneration microgrids. The framework provides the stakeholder with a method to optimize investments and attain resilient operations. The proposed co-design framework has a mixed integer programming (MIP) model that outputs decisions for both plant designs and operating controls. The microgrid considered in this study contains six components: the CHP, boiler, heat recovery unit, thermal storage system, power storage system, and photovoltaic plant. After solving the MIP model, the optimal design parameters of each component can be found to minimize the total installation cost of all components in the microgrid. Furthermore, the online costs from energy production, operation, maintenance, machine startup, and disruption-induced unsatisfied loads are minimized by solving the optimal control decisions for operations. Case studies based on designing a CHP-based microgrid with empirical data are conducted. Moreover, we consider both nominal and disruptive operational scenarios to validate the performance of the proposed co-design framework in terms of a cost-effective, resilient system.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Distribution Grid Impact Study in Highland Park, Michigan: Understanding Rooftop Solar, Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage, Electric Vehicle Charging, and Building Electrification [Slides]

Through the Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) Pilot, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) engaged the Highland Park Stakeholder Coalition to scope four technical assistance work areas to address their energy needs and goals. This slide deck addresses the highlighted tasks under work area "B" related to policy analysis, due diligence, and case studies for removing barriers and providing best practices for local clean energy development. Highland Park community members face frequent, long-duration power interruptions due largely to the aging distribution system serving the area and the legacy design standards used in its construction. While degrading physical infrastructure such as poles, crossarms, and transformers can result in this substandard reliability, another notable characteristic of this legacy system is the lower, 4.8 kV, voltage class. This is a legacy construction standard which many utilities, DTE included, are phasing out in favor of higher, 15 or 25 kV, voltage classes instead. The existing 4.8 kV distribution system serving Highland Park may limit significant adoptions of clean-energy technologies like high percentages of building electrification or electric vehicle adoption. The following analysis seeks to quantify these limitations under a variety of clean-energy technology adoption scenarios. It compares the overall system risks of the present system to those of a hypothetical, upgraded 13.2 kV system, using NREL-developed risk metrics and offers upgrade cost considerations. The legacy 4.8 kV voltage class serving Highland park is not, as we have modeled it, a major limitation to the widespread adoption of cost-optimal rooftop solar and/or behind-the-meter energy storage. Within our modeling framework, these technologies namely impact secondary, low-voltage assets, which may be remedied without the need for a system-wide upgrade to a 13.2 kV voltage class. Our model of the current 4.8kV system indicates it is not capable of supporting community-wide electrification efforts. Widespread building electrification, and the resulting large increase in wintertime load, dramatically increases the prevalence of voltage violations and thermal overloading on the current 4.8 kV distribution system. These impacts illustrate the need for system-wide upgrades to a 13.2 kV voltage class to accommodate these technologies. Low to Moderate DER adoption does not adversely impact the grid but does improve undervoltage and asset overloading issues. However, these benefits are insufficient to defer grid upgrades. Higher DER penetration is shown to increase overvoltage and asset overloading in future electrification scenarios.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Regulators’ Financial Toolbox: Behind-the-Meter (BTM) Energy Storage Summary

On October 10, 2023, NARUC’s Center for Partnerships & Innovation (CPI) hosted a Regulators’ Financial Toolbox Webinar on the topic of Behind-the-Meter (BTM) Energy Storage. The webinar featured opening remarks by the Honorable Katherine Peretick, Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission; and presentations by Ryan Chan, Principal Strategic Analyst, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E); Arushi Sharma Frank, Energy Market Design Lead and Senior Counsel for Energy Regulatory Matters and Greg Thurnher, Technical Program Manager, Tesla; and Mark LeBel, Senior Associate, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP).

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Optimal Coordination of Distributed Energy Resources Using Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient

Recent studies showed that reinforcement learning (RL) is a promising approach for coordination and control of distributed energy resources (DER) under uncertainties. Many existing RL approaches, including Q-learning and approximate dynamic programming, are based on lookup table methods, which become inefficient when the problem size is large and infeasible when continuous states and actions are involved. In addition, when modeling battery energy storage system (BESS), the loss of life is not reasonably considered into the decision-making process. This paper proposes an innovative deep RL method for DER coordination considering BESS degradation. The proposed deep RL is designed based on an adaptive actor-critic architecture and employs an off-policy deterministic policy gradient method for determining the dispatch operation that minimizes the operation cost and BESS life loss. Case studies were performed to validate the proposed method and demonstrate the effects of incorporating degradation models into control design.

Das, Avijit↗
DOE OSTI2018

Strategic Offering for Wind Power Producers Considering Energy and Flexible Ramping Products

The increasing deployments of renewable generation methods, such as wind, affects the flexibility of electric power system operating due to their inherent variability and uncertainty. To mitigate this, power systems need flexible resources. This paper investigates the potential for wind power to provide flexible ramping products in the real-time market, an additional value stream to the energy it provides. The proposed model for wind power’s strategic offering is formulated as a bi-level optimization problem with wind profit maximization at the upper level and the independent system operator’s economic dispatch—considering both the energy balance and the flexible ramping requirement to counter uncertainty—at the lower level. This bi-level model is converted to a mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC) by recasting the lower level problem with its Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions. Then, through strong duality theory and the big-M method, the MPEC model is converted to a mixed-integer linear programming model. The opportunity cost and the price for wind power-providing ramping products are analyzed. Numerical examples based on a 5-bus network are presented to verify the proposed model and concept.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1975

Costs and benefits

Two models of cost benefit analysis are illustrated and the application of these models to assessing the economic scope of space applications programs was discussed. Four major areas cited as improvable through space derived information - food supply and distribution, energy sources, mineral reserves, and communication and navigation were - discussed. Specific illustrations are given for agriculture and maritime traffic.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Boundary layer development on turbine airfoil suction surfaces

The results of a study supported by NASA under the Energy Efficient Engine Program, conducted to investigate the development of boundary layers under the influence of velocity distributions that simulate the suction sides of two state-of-the-art turbine airfoils, are presented. One velocity distribution represented a forward loaded airfoil ('squared-off' design), while the other represented an aft loaded airfoil ('aft loaded' design). These velocity distributions were simulated in a low-speed, high-aspect-ratio wind tunnel specifically designed for boundary layer investigations. It is intended that the detailed data presented in this paper be used to develop improved turbulence model suitable for application to turbine airfoil design.

Sharma, O. P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Preliminary designs for 25 kWe advanced Stirling conversion systems for dish electric applications

Under the Department of Energy's (DOE) Solar Thermal Technology Program, Sandia National Laboratories is evaluating heat engines for terrestrial Solar Distributed Heat Receivers. The Stirling engine has been identified by Sandia as one of the most promising engines for terrestrial applications. The Stirling engine also has the potential to meet DOE's performance and cost goals. The NASA Lewis Research Center is conducting Stirling engine technology development activities directed toward a dynamic power source for space applications. Space power systems requirements include high reliability, very long life, low vibration and high efficiency. The free-piston Stirling engine has the potential for future high power space conversion systems, either nuclear or solar powered. Although both applications appear to be quite different, their requirements complement each other. Preliminary designs feature a free-piston Stirling engine, a liquid metal heat transport system, and a means to provide nominally 25 kW electric power to a utility grid while meeting DOE's performance and long term cost goals. The Cummins design incorporates a linear alternator to provide the electrical output, while the STC design generates electrical power indirectly through a hydraulic pump/motor coupled to an induction generator. Both designs for the ASCS's will use technology which can reasonably be expected to be available in the early 1990's

Shaltens, Richard K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Preliminary designs for 25 kWe advanced Stirling conversion systems for dish electric applications

Under the Department of Energy's (DOE) Solar Thermal Technology Program, Sandia National Laboratories is evaluating heat engines for terrestrial Solar Distributed Heat Receivers. The Stirling engine has been identified by Sandia as one of the most promising engines for terrestrial applications. The Stirling engine also has the potential to meet DOE's performance and cost goals. The NASA Lewis Research Center is conducting Stirling engine technology development activities directed toward a dynamic power source for space applications. Space power systems requirements include high reliability, very long life, low vibration and high efficiency. The free-piston Stirling engine has the potential for future high power space conversion systems, either nuclear or solar powered. Although both applications appear to be quite different, their requirements complement each other. Preliminary designs feature a free-piston Stirling engine, a liquid metal heat transport system, and a means to provide nominally 25 kW electric power to a utility grid while meeting DOE's performance and long term cost goals. The Cummins design incorporates a linear alternator to provide the electrical output, while the STC design generates electrical power indirectly through a hydraulic pump/motor coupled to an induction generator. Both designs for the ASCS's will use technology which can reasonably be expected to be available in the early 1990's.

Shaltens, Richard K.↗
NASA NTRS2004

NASA Tech Briefs, November 2004

Topics include: Multifunction Imaging and Spectroscopic Instrument; Position-Finding Instrument Built Around a Magnetometer; Improved Measurement of Dispersion in an Optical Fiber; Probe for Sampling of Interstitial Fluid From Bone; Neuropsychological Testing of Astronauts; Method of Calibration for a Large Cathetometer System; Four-Channel PC/104 MIL-STD-1553 Circuit Board; Improved Method of Locating Defects in Wiring Insulation; Strobe Traffic Lights Warn of Approaching Emergency Vehicles; Improved Timing Scheme for Spaceborne Precipitation Radar; Concept for Multiple-Access Free-Space Laser Communications; Variable Shadow Screens for Imaging Optical Devices; Verifying Diagnostic Software; Initial Processing of Infrared Spectral Data; Activity-Centric Approach to Distributed Programming; Controlling Distributed Planning; New Material for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy; Treated Carbon Nanofibers for Storing Energy in Aqueous KOH; Advanced Infant Car Seat Would Increase Highway Safety; Development of Biomorphic Flyers; Second-Generation Six-Limbed Experimental Robot; Miniature Linear Actuator for Small Spacecraft; Process for Making Single-Domain Magnetite Crystals; A New Process for Fabricating Random Silicon Nanotips; Resin-Transfer-Molding of a Tool Face; Improved Phase-Mask Fabrication of Fiber Bragg Gratings; Tool for Insertion of a Fiber-Optic Terminus in a Connector; Nanofluidic Size-Exclusion Chromatograph; Lightweight, Low-CTE Tubes Made From Biaxially Oriented LCPs; Using Redundancy To Reduce Errors in Magnetometer Readings; Compact Instrument for Measuring Profile of a Light Beam; Multilayer Dielectric Transmissive Optical Phase Modulator; Second-Generation Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer; Real-Time Adaptive Color Segmentation by Neural Networks; Research and Development in Optical Communications; Tests of Multibeam Scintillation Mitigation on Laser Uplinks; and Spaceborne Infrared Atmospheric Sounder.

Source record↗