Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “distribution system restoration”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14

Thermal Hysteresis and Ordering Behavior of Magnetic Skyrmion Lattices

The physics of phase transitions in two-dimensional (2D) systems underpins research in diverse fields including statistical mechanics, nanomagnetism, and soft condensed matter. However, many aspects of 2D phase transitions are still not well understood, including the effects of interparticle potential, polydispersity, and particle shape. Magnetic skyrmions are chiral spin-structure quasi-particles that form two-dimensional lattices. Here, in this study, we show, by real-space imaging using in situ cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy coupled with machine learning image analysis, the ordering behavior of Néel skyrmion lattices in van der Waals Fe 3 GeTe 2 . We demonstrate a distinct change in the skyrmion size distribution during field-cooling, which leads to a loss of lattice order and an evolution of the skyrmion liquid phase. Remarkably, the lattice order is restored during field heating and demonstrates a thermal hysteresis. This behavior is explained by the skyrmion energy landscape and demonstrates the potential to control the lattice order in 2D phase transitions.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Novel Real- Time EMT- TS Modeling Architecture for Feeder Blackstart Simulations

This paper presents the development and benchmarking of a novel real-time electromagnetic-transient and transient-stability (EMT-TS) modeling architecture for distribution feeder restoration studies. The work presents for the first time in the literature a real-time EMT-TS testbed in which the grid-forming unit is simulated in EMT domain, operating as the slack bus of the phasor domain while including unbalanced voltage conditions. To evaluate the performance and limitations of the proposed model, an equivalent EMT testbed is developed to serve as a benchmark. First, the co-simulation framework and the domain coupling methodology are introduced. Next, the steady state operation of the EMT-TS and EMT models are matched. Then, tests are conducted to analyze the transient performance of the proposed EMT-TS model when compared to its EMT benchmark. Results reveal that when utilizing a battery energy storage system (BESS) as the grid-forming unit, the EMT-TS testbed can maintain high accuracy for typical load steps.

Paduani, Victor↗

SHARP-Net: Platform for Self-Healing and Attack Resilient PMU Networks

Synchrophasor technology plays a pivotal role in developing the next generation of wide-area monitoring, protection, and control in the smart grid environment. As technology and communications infrastructures evolve, however, so do the attack surfaces in the synchrophasor network that can be exploited by advanced persistent threat (APT) actors to affect power system stability and reliability. In this paper, we propose a novel platform for developing a self-healing and attack-resilient PMU network (SHARP-Net) by instituting a state-of-the-art intrusion detection system (IDS) with an intrusion mitigation system (IMS) and an alert management system (AMS). In particular, the proposed platform detects anomalies during cyberattacks on phasor data concentrators (PDCs) based on the rules defined in the IDS, then the generated alerts are published to the IMS through the AMS. The proposed IMS proceeds to take automated corrective responses to mitigate cyberattacks by reconfiguring the synchrophasor network to isolate the compromised PDCs, and it orchestrates new PDCs to prevent the future propagation of attacks. Further, the IMS restores the system's observability by reconnecting the new PDCs to make the grid attack-resilient. In this work, the SHARP-Net platform is developed by using Python-based libraries, minimega's software-defined network, and virtual machine orchestration. We implement and validate the proposed SHARP-Net architecture by testing a PMU network in the smart grid environment. SHARP-Net showed promising performance in detecting cyberattacks and mitigating them through the network reconfiguration.

computer architecture↗

RLC4CLR (Reinforcement Learning Controller for Critical Load Restoration Problems)

RLC4CLR demonstrates using a reinforcement learning controller (RLC) to solve a critical load restoration (CLR) problem, which improves the grid resilience after a substation outage event. RLC4CLR consists of two parts. (1) RL environment: This environment encapsulates the CLR problem to be solved and provides interfacing functions to follow the standard OpenAI Gym format. A power system simulator, i.e., OpenDSS, is included to provide the power flow solution. Controller inputs and outputs (RL state and action) as well as the reward are defined in this environment as well. In summary, the RL environment is the problem formulation from which the RL agent can learn. (2) RL training script: The training script enables the RL agent to learn its control policy by interacting with the RL environment. For RL training, an open-sourced RL library, i.e., RLlib, is leveraged which is based on a distributed computing framework (Ray). The training script is designed to be able to be run on both local machine or the NREL HPC system. Other components of RLC4CLR include input data, e.g., grid model (standard IEEE test feeders), and other files used for results analysis.

Zhang, Xiangyu↗

Does practice make perfect? Lessons learned from full-scale power system incident response exercise

While threats to the energy sector occur daily, few utilities get the opportunity to fully test out their detection and response mechanisms to advanced threats in the real world. With the high demand for reliability, few grid operators would allow execution of simulated cyber-attacks on their live systems. The DOE-funded Liberty Eclipse project offers a unique opportunity for small and large utilities and coops to practice their combined IT/OT responses to a live red team executing attacks against an isolated power system on an island in New York. Both cyber teams and power operations teams must work together to detect and respond to attacks, even restoring the power system against extreme impacts. Lessons learned from these exercises reveal key takeaways for understanding what a real attack against the electric sector will look like, gaps in execution of the best-laid plans when the pressure of a real event is bearing down, and how organizations can better prepare for advanced attacks by optimizing participation in exercises. This presentation will discuss successes and opportunities for improvement both in how utilities can prepare for and respond to events, as well as how full-scale IT/OT exercises can be coordinated.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Microgrid Service Restoration Incorporating Unmonitored Automatic Voltage Controllers and Net Metered Loads

Islanded microgrids may experience voltage and frequency instability due to uncontrolled state changes of voltage regulation devices and inaccurate demand forecasts. Uncontrolled state changes can occur if optimal microgrid restoration and dispatch algorithms, used for generating control commands for distributed energy resources, do not incorporate the behavior of automatic controllers of voltage regulation devices. Inaccurate demand forecasts may be encountered since post-outage demand of behind-the-meter net metered (NM) loads can vary significantly from their historical NM profiles. Here, this paper proposes an optimization formulation which allows optimal control of voltage regulators and capacitor banks without remote control and communication capabilities. A generalized demand model for NM loads is proposed which incorporates the cold load pickup phenomenon and their time varying post-outage demand in accordance with the IEEE 1547 standard. The time dependent optimal control formulation and the NM demand model are integrated in a sequential microgrid restoration algorithm by linearization of the involved logic propositions. A detailed case study on the unbalanced IEEE 123-node test system in OpenDSS validates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Attack-resilient algorithms and testbed federation for wide-area protection and control in smart grid

Today’s energy infrastructure is undergoing a massive transformation across all generation, transmission, and distribution systems to provide reliability, efficiency, and sustainability to the power system network. During the past 10 years, there has been a remarkable enhancement in developing close-loop wide-area protection and control (WAPAC) applications, such as automatic generation control (AGC), wide-area protection scheme (WAPS), synchrophasor-based wide-area voltage control system (WAVCS), etc., in the energy management system (EMS) to provide an adequate situational awareness to control center operators during physical disturbances and natural events. The rapid digitalization, unencrypted communication, and numerous data-sharing devices have increased digital access points that have exposed the grid network to countless cyberattacks pertinent to the WAPAC cybersecurity. Given the amount of complex grid network coupled with legacy infrastructures, it is untrustworthy to completely rely on information technology (IT)-based conventional security measures to defend against evolving cyberattacks. Hence, there is a compelling need to go beyond the traditional paradigm of ‘security by obscurity’ and ‘bolt-on’ security measures, and develop a suite of innovative security solutions at multiple layers to transform the current “fault-resilient” grid into “fault and attack-resilient” grid of the future. This dissertation specifically focuses on developing application-specific attack-resilient solutions for critical WAPAC applications in the smart grid. The first part of the study, Attack-Resilient Wide-Area Protection Scheme, presents a cyber-physical attack-resilient system (CPARS) for WAPS, where two anomaly detection methods are proposed to detect multi-level cyberattacks followed by the rules-based intrusion mitigation system (RIMS) to initiate effective mitigation strategies, tailored to these attacks, to restore the normal grid operation after disturbances. The first anomaly detection component, Machine learning-based Anomaly Detection for Centralized WAPS, discusses a novel architecture and methodology for developing a machine-learning-based anomaly detection system (ADS) for the centralized wide-area protection system (CWAPS) by applying the variational mode decomposition (VMD) technique and decision tree (DT) algorithms using cyber logs and synchrophasor measurements. The second component, Multi-Agent-based Anomaly Detection for Decentralized WAPS, presents a two-level hierarchical multi-agent-based decentralized WAPS against the system-aware stealthy cyber-attacks. Finally, for the RIMS, the state transition diagram-based mitigation measures are defined based on the grid operation states and experimental testing and evaluation are presented in a cyber-physical testbed environment. The second part of the study, Attack-Resilient Wide-Area Voltage Control System, addresses the existing vulnerabilities in the wide-area voltage control system (WAVCS), presents the methodology for performing an impact analysis during data integrity attacks, and proposes a data-driven attackresilient system (DARS) by incorporating machine learning-based ADS and rules-based anomaly mitigation system (RAMS) to detect these attacks and provide necessary mitigation actions to maintain the transient voltage stability after disturbances. Finally, the third part, Networked Federation Testbed (NEFTSec) for Smart Grid Cybersecurity, focuses on developing an interconnected federated testbed through a common network like the internet, describes its conceptual architectures, and also presents its design components for experimental testing, validation, and evaluation. Further, it presents the co-simulation interface algorithm (CIA) to facilitate the geographically-dispersed real-time distributed simulation (GD-RTDS) during the cyber-physical federation. In general, this dissertation presents innovative attack-resilient solutions for WAPAC applications that are experimentally tested and evaluated using the PowerCyber testbed and NEFTSec platform to accelerate the transition of state-of-the-art research works to the real-field deployments.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Fiscal Year 2021 Filtration of Hanford Tank 241-AP-107 Supernatant Samples Obtained at Prototypic Tank Level and Filtered at 16 °C

Bench-scale filtration testing of 8.5 liters of supernatant from Hanford waste tank 241-AP-107, chilled to 16 °C, was conducted using a backpulse dead-end filter (BDEF) filtration system equipped with a feed vessel and a Mott inline filter Model 6610 (Media Grade 5) in the hot cells of the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. This was done to assess the impact of a lower sampling location within the tank as well the lowered filtration temperature on supernatant stability and fouling. The as-received samples were transferred to 1.5-liter poly bottles and held at 16 °C for approximately 1 week prior to filtration. The feed was filtered through the BDEF system at a targeted flux of 0.065 gpm/ft 2 to match the prototypic operation of the TSCR system. During the initial period of filtration, the differential pressure required to effect filtration at 0.065 gpm/ft 2 increased until it reached 2 psid [the Tank Side Cesium Removal (TSCR) action limit] at 26 hours. After this, the filter was backpulsed to dislodge accumulated solids and reduce this pressure differential. An additional eight backpulses were conducted during the initial filtration period; each time, the target pressure was reached sooner than during the previous interval. Volume filtered decreased from 0.9 to 0.03 m 3 /m 2 over the course of 14 processing hours. After the ninth backpulse, the backpulse frequency had become unsustainable, and it was decided to perform an extensive filter cleaning. The filter was cleaned by draining the chilled AP-107 feed into chilled holding containers, introducing 0.1 M NaOH into the feed vessel, and recirculating the NaOH through the system for 20 minutes before allowing the system to soak for 2 hours without temperature control. A measurable decrease in filter resistance during this recirculation indicated that the 0.1 M NaOH was likely dissolving some of the solids that had deposited on the filter. Post cleaning, the filter resistance was effectively restored to initial conditions as the initial transmembrane pressure was restored to original levels. However, resumed processing of the AP-107 feed at 16 °C continued to result in an increased rate of filter resistance. An additional five backpulses were conducted (four during feed processing, one during subsequent cleaning) before the conclusion of the test. Solids concentrated from the backpulse solutions displayed sodium oxalate-type phases, Al-oxides and sodium Al-oxides/carbonates, iron oxides, and Ca-bearing phases (calcite). The scanning electron microscopy analyses also revealed a large distribution of particles, with some particles, notably sodium phosphate dodecahydrate, having diameters close to 0.5 mm.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Validation of Multisystem Countermeasures Protocol for Spaceflight during Antarctica Winter-over at Palmer Station (Palmer Countermeasures)

Stressors associated with spaceflight induce persistent immune compromise in astronauts which increase subclinical latent virus reactivation. In select crews, adverse clinical events have been documented. Antarctica winter-over (AWO) mission most closely reproduces these mission stressors: prolonged deployment, extreme environment, circadian misalignment, isolation, station lifestyle, and personal risk. The US maintains three primary stations in Antarctica: South Pole Station, McMurdo, and Palmer. Previous studies suggest that stations located near the interior of Antarctica (South Pole, McMurdo) have confounding effects on the immune system due to persistent hypobaric hypoxia. We hypothesized that winter-over at a coastal station (Palmer) would be more akin to spaceflight due to its normoxic but still extreme environment. Therefore, AWO at Palmer Station was selected, and validated in a pilot study, as the platform for testing and validating the effectiveness of an immune-restorative countermeasure protocol designed for deep space missions. Specifics include diet modifications, nutritional supplementation (vitamin D, probiotic, etc.), prescribed aerobic and resistive exercise, and a protocol of stress relieving virtual reality exercises. A multitude of biological sample types, including blood, saliva, and hair will be collected in tandem with the countermeasures in order to examine the combined effectiveness of the countermeasures. Samples and logs from subjects will be transported from Palmer Station to Johnson Space Center for further processing and distribution to co-investigators at the end of each winter-over. Extracted samples will be analyzed by appropriate testing platforms (Multiplex, qPCR, ELISA, etc.) to monitor alterations in leukocyte distribution, T cell and NK function, cytokine profiles, reactivation of latent herpesviruses, and nutritional factors. The data collected will be compared to a control year in which no countermeasures were deployed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the analog and to validate the candidate immune countermeasure strategy. AWO 2023 concluded with the 4th in-mission timepoint conducted in September 2023. Samples for 16 subjects, including blood, saliva, hair, surveys, and PCR data, were all successfully returned from Antarctica to NASA/JSC mid-November 2023. Samples have since been distributed to co-investigators for further processing and analysis. With the completion of the first countermeasure year, preliminary data on the effectiveness of the deep-space protocol is being evaluated, however, no conclusions can be drawn yet until the completion of the second AWO countermeasure year, AWO 2024. AWO 2024 commenced in late-March 2024, with 13 subjects consenting and performing their baseline data collections (BDCs). Unique to the 2024 deployment, NSF lifted certain COVID restrictions and rallied the crewmembers in Punta Arenas, Chile. All NSF activities were transferred to this location and NASA was allowed, for the first time, to perform consent briefings, baseline samplings and training in person. This augment greatly increased the likelihood of success for the overwinter activities.

Cody L Gutierrez↗

Validation of Multisystem Countermeasures Protocol for Spaceflight during Antarctica Winter-over at Palmer Station (Palmer Countermeasures)

Stressors associated with spaceflight induce persistent immune compromise in astronauts which increase subclinical latent virus reactivation. In select crews, adverse clinical events have been documented. Antarctica winter-over (AWO) mission most closely reproduces these mission stressors: prolonged deployment, extreme environment, circadian misalignment, isolation, station lifestyle, and personal risk. The US maintains three primary stations in Antarctica: South Pole Station, McMurdo, and Palmer. Previous studies suggest that stations located near the interior of Antarctica (South Pole, McMurdo) have confounding effects on the immune system due to persistent hypobaric hypoxia. We hypothesized that winter-over at a coastal station (Palmer) would be more akin to spaceflight due to its normoxic but still extreme environment. Therefore, AWO at Palmer Station was selected, and validated in a pilot study [2], as the platform for testing and validating the effectiveness of an immune-restorative countermeasure protocol designed for deep space missions. Specifics include diet modifications, nutritional supplementation (vitamin D, probiotic, etc.), prescribed aerobic and resistive exercise, and a protocol of stress relieving virtual reality exercises. A multitude of biological sample types, including blood, saliva, and hair will be collected in tandem with the countermeasures in order to examine the combined effectiveness of the countermeasures. Samples and logs from subjects will be transported from Palmer Station to Johnson Space Center for further processing and distribution to co-investigators at the end of each winter-over. Extracted samples will be analyzed by appropriate testing platforms (Multiplex, qPCR, ELISA, etc.) to monitor alterations in leukocyte distribution, T cell and NK function, cytokine profiles, reactivation of latent herpesviruses, and nutritional factors. The data collected will be compared to a control year in which no countermeasures were deployed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the analog and to validate the candidate immune countermeasure strategy. AWO 2023 concluded with the 4th in-mission timepoint conducted in September 2023. Samples for 16 subjects, including blood, saliva, hair, surveys, and PCR data, were all successfully returned from Antarctica to NASA/JSC mid-November 2023. Samples have since been distributed to co-investigators for further processing and analysis. With the completion of the first countermeasure year, preliminary data on the effectiveness of the deep-space protocol is being evaluated, however, no conclusions can be drawn yet until the completion of the second AWO countermeasure year, AWO 2024. AWO 2024 commenced in late-March 2024, with 13 subjects consenting and performing their baseline data collections (BDCs). Unique to the 2024 deployment, NSF lifted certain COVID restrictions and rallied the crewmembers in Punta Arenas, Chile. All NSF activities were transferred to this location and NASA was allowed, for the first time, to perform consent briefings, baseline samplings and training in person. This augment greatly increased the likelihood of success for the overwinter activities.

Cody L Gutierrez↗

A VSC-HVDC-Assisted Black-Start Strategy in Bulk Power Systems a Case Study in San Diego

With the worldwide growth in deploying high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems, their ability to facilitate black-start (BS) restoration has been a research topic of interest. In this context, voltage source converter (VSC)-HVDC is regarded as a BS resource, and this paper proposes a VSC-HVDC-assisted parallel BS restoration strategy in bulk power systems. The proposed strategy consists of two stages: 1) determination of the VSC and generator startup sequence and 2) load restoration simulation. In the first stage, the entire blackout system is sectionalized into multiple subsystems. Each subsystem includes a VSC-HVDC station or traditional BS unit, it independently determines its generator startup timeline and the energization timelines for buses and lines. The second stage involves load restoration, conceptualized as a modified unit commitment problem, with the timelines established in the first stage work as critical inputs. The proposed BS restoration strategy is tested on the San Diego power system to simulate the 2011 Southwest blackout. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of using VSC-HVDC links as a BS resource which not only speeds up the restoration process but also reduces both energy and economic losses.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Small Hydro Power Plants with Integrated BESS for Enhance Resiliency

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are an important asset for power systems with high integration levels of renewable energy, and they can be controlled to provide various services to the grid. This paper presents the hardware demonstration and characterization of using a utility-scale BESS with grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) controls and a run-of-river (ROR) hydropower plant to perform a bottom-up power system black start that enhances power systems' resiliency. ROR hydropower plants are generally not used for power system restoration due to their frequency instability during islanded operation; however, BESS with droop control can provide critical damping to convert a ROR hydropower generator into a black start- capable unit. To demonstrate this, we carry out hardware experiments at the megawatt-scale integrating a synchronous generator driven by a dynamometer, an actual GFL/GFM BESS, a medium-voltage impedance network, and a load bank. The demonstration shows the different roles of BESS with GFL and GFM control in power system restoration. GFL BESS can suffer from high-frequency oscillations, even instability, depending on the droop control gain and loading condition. The results provide further insights for system operators on how GFL- or GFM controlled BESS can enhance grid stability and how hydro-BESS hybrids can operate as a black-start-capable unit. The presented experimental results are also a valuable resource to understand the different stability characteristics of real-world BESS with different control modes.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Utilizing grid–supportive load response to shape resilient frequency control of the power grid

The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources and the retirement of conventional generation units have decreased system inertia, making power systems more vulnerable to resilience and stability issues. To address this problem, this paper proposes a novel approach using grid-supportive loads (GSLs) to provide a fast and concise primary frequency response and a deep deterministic policy gradient agent-based secondary controller to restore the system frequency to the nominal value. The proposed method is evaluated on the single-area and multi-area test systems. The simulation results demonstrate that using GSLs enhances the power system's stability and resilience. Compared to conventional controllers, the frequency nadir is improved with GSLs. Additionally, the proposed method effectively enhances resilience even with high penetration. These findings indicate that the proposed approach can improve the resilience and stability of power systems and provide a promising solution for future power systems. The results of this study underscore the importance of utilizing innovative approaches to enhance the stability and resilience of power systems in the context of high penetration of renewable energy sources and the retirement of conventional generation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

While legume-based rotation influences the chemical composition of mineral-associated organic matter, tillage has little effect on its persistence

Legume-based rotations are key to enhancing soil carbon (C) storage in stable forms such as mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), improving soil health, and helping maintain long-term C stock. This study investigates how plant inputs and tillage practices influence the distribution, composition, and persistence of MAOM in wheat cropping systems when legumes are incorporated into the rotation. Soil samples were collected from Walla Walla silty loam of northeast Oregon, including conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT) treatments in a long-term dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) rotation experiment, with an adjacent grass pasture (GP) plot serving as the baseline. Bulk soil, particulate organic matter (POM), and MAOM fractions were scanned using mid-infrared (Mid-IR) spectroscopy and analyzed for total C and nitrogen (N) as well as radiocarbon age, aggregate stability, and mineralizable C. In WP systems, NT promoted greater C accumulation and stabilization in MAOM than CT, reaching levels similar to those under native GP conditions. Furthermore, our findings indicate that decades of continuous legume-based rotation were insufficient to restore total bulk C content to levels observed in the undisturbed reference site (GP) in the 0–30 cm layer, with increases limited to the surface layer. The Mid-IR data provided insights into how cultivation may alter the chemical composition of MAOM. An increase in amide bands was observed in GP, while legume-based rotation systems favored an abundance of aliphatic (C-H) components in the MAOM fraction. In cultivated soils, C in MAOM exhibited longer residence times under arable conditions than in grassland, while POM remained an actively cycled pool across all treatments. Despite variations in the chemical composition of MAOM across treatments, mineralizable C emissions from MAOM fractions remained statistically unchanged during the 96-hour incubation period. Our findings suggest that soil physical protection, enhanced by reduced tillage, is the primary factor influencing MAOM cycling.

Carbon stabilization↗

Detection efficiency of adult Pacific lamprey passage counts at Leaburg Dam and upstream distribution in the McKenzie River (Oregon, USA)

Abstract Adult Pacific lamprey ( Entosphenus tridentatus ) were counted using consistent methodology since 2005 with a video monitoring system as they passed Leaburg Dam (McKenzie River, Oregon, USA) en route to upstream spawning areas. In this study we evaluated the detection efficiency of the video system and upstream distribution of Pacific lamprey using the video counts of lamprey passage (herein, “dam counts”), passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and radio telemetry. In 2019–2020 we collected, tagged and tracked 32 adult lamprey (4 from the McKenzie River and 28 that were translocated from Willamette Falls). All fish were tagged and released into the tailrace of Leaburg Dam in June 2019. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife employees and volunteers from the local community conducted mobile radiotracking above and below the dam in drift boats (114 mainstem river kilometers) and on foot (several tributaries). The estimated detection efficiency for dam counts was 92% (95% confidence interval: 67%–99%). Fifty percent (16 of 32) of the tagged lamprey passed the dam, including 13 of 28 that were translocated. Thirty‐seven percent (6 of 16) of lamprey that passed Leaburg Dam were detected in a restored reach of the South Fork McKenzie, 32.6 river kilometers upstream of the dam.

Romer, Jeremy D.↗

System identification for modeling for control of flexible structures

The major components of a design and operational flight strategy for flexible structure control systems are presented. In this strategy an initial distributed parameter control design is developed and implemented from available ground test data and on-orbit identification using sophisticated modeling and synthesis techniques. The reliability of this high performance controller is directly linked to the accuracy of the parameters on which the design is based. Because uncertainties inevitably grow without system monitoring, maintaining the control system requires an active on-line system identification function to supply parameter updates and covariance information. Control laws can then be modified to improve performance when the error envelopes are decreased. In terms of system safety and stability the covariance information is of equal importance as the parameter values themselves. If the on-line system ID function detects an increase in parameter error covariances, then corresponding adjustments must be made in the control laws to increase robustness. If the error covariances exceed some threshold, an autonomous calibration sequence could be initiated to restore the error enveloped to an acceptable level.

Mettler, Edward↗

STS-113/11A: Assessment of Air Quality in the International Space Station (ISS) and Space Shuttle Based on Samples Returned in December 2002 and in May 2003 aboard Soyuz 5

The toxicological assessments of grab sample canisters (GSCs) returned aboard STS-l13 and Soyuz 5 are reported. Analytical methods have not changed from earlier reports. Surrogate standard recoveries from the GSCs were 79-120% except as noted in the table. One sample was returned with the valve opened. The two general criteria used to assess air quality are the total-non-methane-volatile organic hydrocarbons (NMVOCs) and the total T-value (minus the CO2 and formaldehyde contributions). Control of atmospheric alcohols is important to the water recovery system engineers, hence total alcohols (including acetone) are also shown for each sample. Octafluoropropane (OFP) has leaked from heat-exchange units in large quantities, so its concentration is tracked separately. Because formaldehyde is quantified from sorbent badges, its concentration is also listed separately. The table shows that the air quality in general was acceptable for crew respiration through the middle of December 2002. No conclusions can be made about the air quality after that date due to NASA's inability to return air samples from the ISS . Alcohols are not being controlled to the recently lowered guideline of 5 mg/m3, which was recommended to protect the water recovery systems. The airlock sample was taken during the regeneration of Met ox canisters in the adjacent Node. The trace pollutants were not increased above background; however, inspection of table 1 in the appendix shows a CO2 concentration of 17,000 mg/cu m, which is a relatively high concentration, but still below the 24-hour SMAC of23,000 mg/cu m. The control of OFP continues to be adequate at least through December 2002. Formaldehyde concentrations suggest that the high levels that were being found in the Lab atmosphere have subsided. This is probably attributable to the restoration of IMV in early February 2003 . Before the obstructing material was removed from ducts the Lab formaldehyde concentrations approached 0.06 mg/cu m, whereas after the repair the levels were near 0.04 mg/m3 . This does not mean that local sources in the Lab have been reduced, only that the excess of formaldehyde produced in the Lab is distributed into the whole volume of the ISS.

James, John T.↗

Extensive Global Wetland Loss Over the Past Three Centuries

Wetlands have long been drained for human use, thereby strongly affecting greenhouse gas fluxes, flood control, nutrient cycling and biodiversity. Nevertheless, the global extent of natural wetland loss remains remarkably uncertain. Here, we reconstruct the spatial distribution and timing of wetland loss through conversion to seven human land uses between 1700 and 2020, by combining national and subnational records of drainage and conversion with land-use maps and simulated wetland extents. We estimate that 3.4 million km 2 (confidence interval 2.9–3.8) of inland wetlands have been lost since 1700, primarily for conversion to croplands. This net loss of 21% (confidence interval 16–23%) of global wetland area is lower than that suggested previously by extrapolations of data disproportionately from high-loss regions. Wetland loss has been concentrated in Europe, the United States and China, and rapidly expanded during the mid-twentieth century. Our reconstruction elucidates the timing and land-use drivers of global wetland losses, providing an improved historical baseline to guide assessment of wetland loss impact on Earth system processes, conservation planning to protect remaining wetlands and prioritization of sites for wetland restoration.

Etienne Fluet-Chouinard↗