Results for “storage controls” — Page 11

NASA NTRS1981

Solar heating and cooling system installed at RKL Controls Company, Lumberton, New Jersey

The final results of the design and operation of a computer controlled solar heated and cooled 40,000 square foot manufacturing building, sales office, and computer control center/display room are summarized. The system description, test data, major problems and resolutions, performance, operation and maintenance manual, equipment manufacturers' literature, and as-built drawings are presented. The solar system is composed of 6,000 square feet of flat plate collectors, external above ground storage subsystem, controls, absorption chiller, heat recovery, and a cooling tower.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2026

An Educational Program on Concentrated Solar Power and Heliostats for Power Generation and Industrial Processes

The objective of this project was to design and implement a comprehensive educational and applied research program in Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSTP) and heliostat technologies at Northeastern University. In alignment with the U.S. Department of Energy's Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon) goals, the project aimed to expand student and public understanding of CSTP systems while simultaneously contributing to workforce development and the broader decarbonization strategy. A particular emphasis was placed on integrating hands-on student design projects and publicly disseminating educational content relevant to CSTP systems. The project addressed a critical gap in renewable energy education: CSTP and heliostats, despite their importance in utility-scale solar energy, are rarely included in standard mechanical engineering programs. This project established new pathways for students to engage with the topic through the creation of a 4-credit graduate/senior elective course, development of five industry-facing short courses, and the inclusion of CSTP-based capstone design projects. Over two academic years, 36 students across six senior design teams developed and tested technologies such as deformable heliostats, beacon-based tracking systems, and solar-powered pyrolizers for biomass-to-biochar conversion. Concurrently, 30 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled in the new academic course centered around CSTP principles. To ensure the relevance and accessibility of the short course content, the project team engaged with industry professionals, technical policy stakeholders, and potential course participants through structured surveys and informal consultations. Feedback from 28 respondents guided the structure, length, and delivery format of the courses - resulting in a modular design broken into five workshops. The feedback emphasized the need for flexible, asynchronous delivery and practical case studies, particularly in areas such as heliostat control, thermal storage, and solar fuel production. This engagement helped align the courses with the evolving knowledge demands of the renewable energy workforce and ensured that participants from both technical and policy backgrounds could meaningfully benefit from the material. The research and educational activities advanced the understanding of heliostat control systems, optical performance under misalignment, and thermal system integration in solar-driven pyrolysis applications. Methods and designs explored in this project proved to be both technically effective and economically feasible at the lab scale. Prototypes were constructed using commercially available components and custom-fabricated elements, demonstrating that meaningful performance improvements can be achieved with modest material and fabrication costs, supporting the feasibility of student-led research in this field. The public benefit of this project is twofold. First, it cultivates a pipeline of engineers trained to be familiar with CSTP principles, an essential workforce need identified by the Department of Energy for achieving its 2030 cost and deployment targets. Second, it contributes openly accessible educational materials, course content, and experimental frameworks to the broader community, enabling other institutions to adopt or adapt similar programming. Through outreach activities, curriculum integration, and technical exposure, this project contributes to a more informed and capable renewable energy workforce while supporting innovation in heliostat and CSTP system design. A new technical report is being prepared to document the development of the course and its outcomes, with plans to publish it in the ASME Open Access Journal of Engineering to ensure global accessibility, free of cost.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Electrochemical Capacitance Traces with Interlayer Spacing in Two‐dimensional Conductive Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract Electrically conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for electrochemical capacitors (EC) for fast energy storage due to their high specific surface areas and potential for redox activity. To maximize energy density, traditional inorganic pseudocapacitors have utilized faradaic processes in addition to double‐layer capacitance. Although conductive MOFs are usually comprised of redox active ligands which allow faradaic reactions upon electrochemical polarization, systematic studies providing deeper understanding of the charge storage processes and structure‐function relationships have been scarce. Here, we investigate the charge storage mechanisms of a series of triazatruxene‐based 2D layered conductive MOFs with variable alkyl functional groups, Ni 3 (HIR 3 ‐TAT) 2 (TAT=triazatruxene; R=H, Et, n ‐Bu, n ‐Pent). Functionalization of the triazatruxene core allows for systematic variation of structural parameters while maintaining in‐plane conjugation between ligands and metals. Specifically, R groups modulate interlayer spacing, which in turn shifts the charge storage mechanism from double‐layer capacitance towards pseudocapacitance, leading to an increase in molar specific capacitance from Ni 3 (HIH 3 ‐TAT) 2 to Ni 3 (HIBu 3 ‐TAT) 2 . Partial exfoliation of Ni 3 (HIBu 3 ‐TAT) 2 renders redox active ligand moieties more accessible, and thus increases the dominance of faradaic processes. Our strategy of controlling charge storage mechanism through tuning the accessibility of redox‐active sites may motivate further design and engineering of electrode materials for EC.

Su, Alice Y.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Electrochemical Capacitance Traces with Interlayer Spacing in Two‐dimensional Conductive Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract Electrically conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for electrochemical capacitors (EC) for fast energy storage due to their high specific surface areas and potential for redox activity. To maximize energy density, traditional inorganic pseudocapacitors have utilized faradaic processes in addition to double‐layer capacitance. Although conductive MOFs are usually comprised of redox active ligands which allow faradaic reactions upon electrochemical polarization, systematic studies providing deeper understanding of the charge storage processes and structure‐function relationships have been scarce. Here, we investigate the charge storage mechanisms of a series of triazatruxene‐based 2D layered conductive MOFs with variable alkyl functional groups, Ni 3 (HIR 3 ‐TAT) 2 (TAT=triazatruxene; R=H, Et, n ‐Bu, n ‐Pent). Functionalization of the triazatruxene core allows for systematic variation of structural parameters while maintaining in‐plane conjugation between ligands and metals. Specifically, R groups modulate interlayer spacing, which in turn shifts the charge storage mechanism from double‐layer capacitance towards pseudocapacitance, leading to an increase in molar specific capacitance from Ni 3 (HIH 3 ‐TAT) 2 to Ni 3 (HIBu 3 ‐TAT) 2 . Partial exfoliation of Ni 3 (HIBu 3 ‐TAT) 2 renders redox active ligand moieties more accessible, and thus increases the dominance of faradaic processes. Our strategy of controlling charge storage mechanism through tuning the accessibility of redox‐active sites may motivate further design and engineering of electrode materials for EC.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS2003

Motor Control and Regulation for a Flywheel Energy Storage System

This talk will focus on the motor control algorithms used to regulate the flywheel system at the NASA Glenn Research Center. First a discussion of the inner loop torque control technique will be given. It is based on the principle of field orientation and is implemented without a position or speed sensor (sensorless control). Then the outer loop charge and discharge algorithm will be presented. This algorithm controls the acceleration of the flywheel during charging and the deceleration while discharging. The algorithm also allows the flywheel system to regulate the DC bus voltage during the discharge cycle.

Kenny, Barbara↗

DOE OSTI2024

Control and Optimization of Energy Storage System in Power Distribution System

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and transportation electrification is encumbered by two chief barriers: i) the limited driving range of EVs in the market today and ii) inadequate fast-charging infrastructure for long-distance trips. Extreme fast charging (XFC) technology can recharge EVs in less than 10 minutes for 200 miles range. Firstly, a novel robust optimization-based mixed integer linear programming model is proposed to size a battery energy storage system (BESS) and PV system in an XFCS. In this part, it is assumed that the sizing and location of the XFCS are known. Secondly, the aforesaid assumption is relaxed, and a strategic multi-period coordinated planning model is proposed to optimally site and size BESS-assisted charging stations in a highway transportation network and PV systems in a power distribution network by considering the coupling between both networks. Optimal operation and control of BESS-assisted EV charging stations are vital to alleviate the adverse impact of extreme fast charging of EVs on the host power network. A joint solution is proposed to mitigate the steady state and transient impact of extremefast charging of EVs and ensure grid-friendly integration of XFCSs with the host grid. Lastly, to make the operation of the XFCS cost-effective, a multi-layered energy management framework is proposed for the XFCS by considering forecast uncertainties, monthly demand charges reduction, and BESS degradation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Designing Electrolytes With Controlled Solvation Structure for Fast‐Charging Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Recharging battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) in a similar timeframe as those used for refueling gas-powered internal combustion vehicles is highly desirable for rapid penetration of the EV market. It is well known that the electrolyte in a battery plays a critical role in fast-charging capability of the battery because it determines the rate of ion transport together with its derived electrode/electrolyte interphases on both cathode and anode of the battery. In this study, the effects of contents of salt, coordinating solvent, and noncoordinating diluent on salt dissociation degree and electrolyte ionic conductivity are investigated, and a controlled solvation structure electrolyte is developed to improve the lithium ion mobility and conductivity in the electrolyte and to enhance the kinetics and stability of the electrode/electrolyte interphases in the battery. This electrolyte enables fast-charging capability of high energy density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) at up to 5 C rate (12-min charging), which significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art electrolyte. The controlled solvation structure sheds light on the future electrolyte design for fast-charging LIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Power Hardware-In-the-Loop Hydropower and Ultracapacitor Hybrid Testbed

Widespread deployment of a proof-of-concept technological solution for power system performance improvement can be accelerated through onsite demonstration and pilot projects. Digital real-time simulation with power hardware-in-the-loop in controlled lab environment is the precursor to de-risk the timely and efficient execution of field demonstration and pilot projects. However, the detailed process of development, characterization, and calibration of such high fidelity simulation testbed needs to be documented in a reproducible and publicly accessible manner to leverage across broader research and development communities. This paper presents such a laboratory testbed to study black start capability of a run-of-river hydro + ultracapacitor hybrid system. Beside the high-fidelity model of the islanded grid with hydropower unit, the testbed includes the energy storage, grid following inverter, and grid emulator hardware. Several aspects such as storage characterization, control and various parameter settings necessary to capture frequency transients during load restoration are described in a comprehensive manner, which led to an effective and timely execution of black start field demonstration with an actual hydropower plant.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS2012

A Spacecraft Housekeeping System-on-Chip in a Radiation Hardened Structured ASIC

Housekeeping systems are essential to health monitoring of spacecraft and instruments. Typically, sensors are distributed across various sub-systems and data is collected using components such as analog-to-digital converters, analog multiplexers and amplifiers. In most cases programmable devices are used to implement the data acquisition control and storage, and the interface to higher level systems. Such discrete implementations require additional size, weight, power and interconnect complexity versus an integrated circuit solution, as well as the qualification of multiple parts. Although commercial devices are readily available, they are not suitable for space applications due the radiation tolerance and qualification requirements. The Housekeeping System-o n-A-Chip (HKSOC) is a low power, radiation hardened integrated solution suitable for spacecraft and instrument control and data collection. A prototype has been designed and includes a wide variety of functions including a 16-channel analog front-end for driving and reading sensors, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, on-chip temperature sensor, power supply current sense circuits, general purpose comparators and amplifiers, a 32-bit processor, digital I/O, pulse-width modulation (PWM) generators, timers and I2C master and slave serial interfaces. In addition, the device can operate in a bypass mode where the processor is disabled and external logic is used to control the analog and mixed signal functions. The device is suitable for stand-alone or distributed systems where multiple chips can be deployed across different sub-systems as intelligent nodes with computing and processing capabilities.

Suarez, George↗

NASA NTRS2019

Evaluation of Electrical System Requirements for Implementing Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM) is a concept concerned with the management of energy in an electrified propulsion system. The management of energy in the hybrid-electric architecture has potential to benefit the turbomachinery and the aircraft it powers. The concept is particularly useful for improving operability during transient operation and could be leveraged to design a better performing engine. The concept utilizes electric machines coupled to the engine shafts and an electric power distribution system that includes energy storage. A controller is used to decide when and how energy is moved around the electrified propulsion system, particularly when considering energy conversion between mechanical and electrical forms. Prior work has shown that the electric machines can be used to supply/or extract supplemental power to/from the engine shafts to improve their operability and achieve or enable propulsion efficiency and performance benefits. However, the previous studies did not consider the practical constraints of the electrical machines and energy storage devices that are required for implementing the TEEM system architecture concept. This paper presents an integrated engine and electrical system model that is used to evaluate the electrical system requirements. The model captures the physics of the conceptual, Advanced Geared Turbofan 30,000lbf (AGTF30) engine, which features advanced technologies such as a compact gas turbine and a variable area fan nozzle. For this work, the engine is augmented with electrical system components that allow for the implementation of the TEEM concept. The evaluation presented suggests the potential of the TEEM concept to provide performance benefits for a turbofan engine.

electrified↗

NASA NTRS2019

Evaluation of Electrical System Requirements for Implementing Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM) is a concept concerned with the management of energy in an electrified propulsion system. The management of energy in the hybrid-electric architecture has potential to benefit the turbomachinery and the aircraft it powers. The concept is particularly useful for improving operability during transient operation and could be leveraged to design a better performing engine. The concept utilizes electric machines coupled to the engine shafts and an electric power distribution system that includes energy storage. A controller is used to decide when and how energy is moved around the electrified propulsion system, particularly when considering energy conversion between mechanical and electrical forms. Prior work has shown that the electric machines can be used to supply/or extract supplemental power to/from the engine shafts to improve their operability and achieve or enable propulsion efficiency and performance benefits. However, the previous studies did not consider the practical constraints of the electrical machines and energy storage devices that are required for implementing the TEEM system architecture concept. This paper presents an integrated engine and electrical system model that is used to evaluate the electrical system requirements. The model captures the physics of the conceptual, Advanced Geared Turbofan 30,000lbf (AGTF30) engine, which features advanced technologies such as a compact gas turbine and a variable area fan nozzle. For this work, the engine is augmented with electrical system components that allow for the implementation of the TEEM concept. The evaluation presented suggests the potential of the TEEM concept to provide performance benefits for a turbofan engine.

hybrid electric propulsion↗

DOE OSTI2022

Tortuosity Engineering for Improved Charge Storage Kinetics in High-Areal-Capacity Battery Electrodes

The increasing demands of electronic devices and electric transportation necessitate lithium-ion batteries with simultaneous high energy and power capabilities. However, rate capabilities are often limited in high-loading electrodes due to the lengthy and tortuous ion transport paths with their electrochemical behaviors governed by complicated electrode architectures still elusive. Here, we report the electrode-level tortuosity engineering design enabling improved charge storage kinetics in high-energy electrodes. Both high areal capacity and high-rate capability can be achieved beyond the practical level of mass loadings in electrodes with vertically oriented architectures. The electrochemical properties in electrodes with various architectures were quantitatively investigated through correlating the characteristic time with tortuosity. The lithium-ion transport kinetics regulated by electrode architectures was further studied via combining the three-dimensional electrode architecture visualization and simulation. Finally, the tortuosity-controlled charge storage kinetics revealed in this study can be extended to general electrode systems and provide useful design consideration for next-generation high-energy/power batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Improving the Power Outage Resilience of Buildings with Solar PV through the Use of Battery Systems and EV Energy Storage

Buildings with solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and a stationary battery energy storage system (BESS) may self-sustain an uninterrupted full-level electricity supply during power outages. The duration of off-grid operation is dependent on the time of the power fault and the capabilities of the home energy management system (HEMS). In this paper, building resilience is quantified by analyzing the self-sustainment duration for all possible power outages throughout an entire year. An evaluation method is proposed and exercised on a reference house in California climate zone 9 for which the detailed electricity usage is simulated using the EnergyPlus software. The influence of factors such as energy use behavioral patterns, energy storage capacity from the BESS, and an electric vehicle (EV) battery on the building resilience is evaluated. Varying combinations of energy storage and controllable loads are studied for optimally improved resilience based on user preferences. It is shown that for the target home and region with a solar PV system of 7.2 kW, a BESS with a capacity of 11 kWh, and an EV with a battery of 80 kWh permanently connected to the home, off-grid self-sustained full operation is guaranteed for at least 72 h.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Stabilizing the Grid and Reducing Utility Bills Through Price-Responsive Controls for Heat Pump Water Heaters

The electricity grid is facing increasing challenges in cost-effectively balancing supply and demand. These challenges are exacerbated by increased penetration of photovoltaics, which causes mid-day overproduction, and electrification of gas appliances, which increases peak-period electricity demand. Decarbonization requires shifting building loads from fossil-intensive high-cost times to renewable-intensive low-cost times while maintaining quality of service to occupants. Utilities and ISO’s are investigating new ways of incentivizing this load shifting. One promising method is the use of Highly Dynamic Prices (HDPs). HDPs feature continuously changing prices that reflect real-time grid generation and distribution costs and capacity constraints, and thus incentivize consumers to shift their loads. California’s CPUC CalFUSE proposal and Hawaii’s recent changes demonstrate that electricity tariffs are moving towards this model. For this to work however, loads must have the capability to respond to these prices. Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are an ideal device for this purpose because their storage tanks decouple delivery of domestic hot water from electricity consumption. The storage enables control strategies that consume midday solar power to increase the energy stored in the tank, then provide evening peak domestic hot water services using the stored energy. Berkeley Lab's CalFlexHub project is pioneering price-driven load flexibility by developing and deploying cost-minimizing controls for many flexible loads - including HPWHs - in response to HDP. Control development is based on simulations using the Flexible Heat Pump Water Heater Performance Predictor which captures the control decisions of the on-board controller in a residential, integrated HPWH . The price-responsive controls a) shift load in ways that consume additional midday solar power to help stabilize the grid and reduce overall emissions, b) ensure that occupants receive equal or better hot water delivery service, and c) minimize the operating cost for each home in the fleet. On the grid level, the resulting shift will reduce utility operating costs and emissions, and can avoid expensive system capacity expansions. The control approach is customized to each home based on typical hot water consumption patterns. HPWH controllers, whether on the device or remotely, will receive a schedule of CTA-2045-B signals or set temperature adjustments customized to the current HDP price schedule and home. Simulation results for a fleet of 148 HPWHs on a summer day in Berkeley, California show cost savings of 29% and high price electricity consumption reductions of 80%, while maintaining full quality of service.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Performance assessment of active insulation systems in residential buildings for energy savings and peak demand reduction

Active insulation systems (AISs) in buildings are envelopes that integrate thermal insulation, thermal energy storage, and controls. Although different designs for AISs have been proposed in the literature, a comprehensive analysis of feasible AISs is lacking. This paper discusses the energy performance, peak demand reduction potential, and performance characteristics of an AIS that uses a concrete wall as thermal mass sandwiched between two solid-state thermal switches (STSs). These STSs change their thermal conductivity using an on/off metal switch to create or break a thermal bridge across the STS. This paper first describes the experimental setup, used to determine the ratio of thermal resistance during R-high (low thermal conductivity) and R-low (high thermal conductivity) states of the STSs. This ratio was then used in whole-building energy simulations to evaluate the performance of AIS walls across different climate zones with/without a freeze timer of 60 min. The timer was added to reduce the number of switches of STSs from one state to another, and hence the energy needed for these switches. Analysis of the switching frequency and interval of STSs, thermal conductivity of walls, impact of wall orientation, and heat transfer through the wall from the use of AIS at different climate zones/locations were performed. The simulation results show that the AIS can achieve energy savings ranging from ~980 to 2,290 kWh in a single-family home with a floor area of ~220 m 2 compared with an IECC 2018 baseline. We found the energy savings was higher in dry climate zones which represent 17% of residential buildings in the United States, compared to humid or marine climate.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2021

Light-induced switchable adsorption in azobenzene- and stilbene-based porous materials

Despite the long history of porous materials as adsorbates, fundamental limitations remain regarding the efficient capture and release of the gas molecules, with the working capacity of the material often overlooked. In microporous materials, the uptake is dominated by low-pressure adsorption, with much of this being at pressures below the minimum working threshold for many gas utilization processes. Thus, research has focused on several advances in porous materials, including photoresponsive organic units for light-induced switchable adsorption. This process utilizes light to trigger structural or electronic changes, alter the gas uptake, and change the working capacity. Additionally, while a relatively recent development, there is a significant body of research regarding the use of light to control gas storage performance.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

Stacking Sequences of Coherent EuAl 3 (BO 3 ) 4 Polymorphs Define Local Eu 3+ Symmetry and Control Access to Quantum Information Storage

Not provided.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2024

Central transcriptional regulator controls photosynthetic growth and carbon storage in response to high light

Carbon capture and biochemical storage are some of the primary drivers of photosynthetic yield and productivity. To elucidate the mechanisms governing carbon allocation, we designed a photosynthetic light response test system for genetic and metabolic carbon assimilation tracking, using microalgae as simplified plant models. The systems biology mapping of high light-responsive photophysiology and carbon utilization dynamics between two variants of the same Picochlorum celeri species, TG1 and TG2 elucidated metabolic bottlenecks and transport rates of intermediates using instationary 13 C-fluxomics. Simultaneous global gene expression dynamics showed 73% of the annotated genes responding within one hour, elucidating a singular, diel-responsive transcription factor, closely related to the CCA1/LHY clock genes in plants, with significantly altered expression in TG2. Transgenic P. celeri TG1 cells expressing the TG2 CCA1/LHY gene, showed 15% increase in growth rates and 25% increase in storage carbohydrate content, supporting a coordinating regulatory function for a single transcription factor.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗