Results for “electrical safety” — Page 14

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Systems Health Management and Decision Making

In order to tackle and solve the prediction problem, it is essential to have awareness of the current state and health of the system, especially since it is necessary to perform condition-based predictions. To be able to accurately predict the future state of any system, it is required to possess knowledge of its current and future operations. Given models of the current and future system behavior, the general approach of model-based prognostics can be employed as a solution to the prior stated prediction problem. In case of electric aircrafts, computing remaining flying time is safety-critical, since an aircraft that runs out of power (battery charge) while in the air will eventually lose control leading to catastrophe. In order to tackle and solve the prediction problem, it is essential to have awareness of the current state and health of the system, especially since it is necessary to perform condition-based predictions. To be able to predict the future state of the system, it is also required to possess knowledge of the current and future operations of the vehicle. Discuss research approach to develop a system level health monitoring safety indicator which runs estimation and prediction algorithms to estimate remaining useful life predictions at system as well as subsystem levels. Given models of the current and future system behavior, a general approach of model-based prognostics can be employed as a solution to the prediction problem and further for decision making. In addition a digital twin concept is being implemented in the framework to demonstrate verification and validation of developed algorithms. Note - This presentation is for the short workshop conducted at the same conference and contains all previously approved and published information.

Systems Health Managent↗

DOE OSTI2020

Long-Term Vehicle Speed Prediction via Historical Traffic Data Analysis for Improved Energy Efficiency of Connected Electric Vehicles

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are expected to provide enhanced safety, mobility, and energy efficiency. While abundant evidence has been accumulated showing substantial energy saving potentials of CAVs through eco-driving, traffic condition prediction has remained to be the main challenge in capitalizing the gains. The coupled power and thermal subsystems of CAVs necessitate the use of different speed preview windows for effective and integrated power and thermal management. Real-time vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications can provide an accurate speed prediction over a short prediction horizon (e.g., 30 s to 60 s), but not for a long range (e.g., over 180 s). Therefore, advanced approaches are required to develop detailed speed prediction for robust optimization-based energy management of CAVs. This paper presents an integrated speed prediction framework based on historical traffic data classification and real-time V2I communications for efficient energy management of electrified CAVs. The proposed framework provides multi-range speed predictions with different fidelity over short and long horizons. The proposed multi-range speed prediction is integrated with an economic model predictive control (MPC) strategy for the battery thermal management (BTM) of connected and automated electric vehicles (EVs). The simulation results over real-world urban driving cycles confirm the enhanced prediction performance of the proposed data classification strategy over a long prediction horizon. Despite the uncertainty in long-range CAVs’ speed predictions, the vehicle-level simulation results show that 14% and 19% energy savings can be accumulated sequentially through eco-driving and BTM optimization (eco-cooling), respectively, when compared with normal driving (i.e., human driver) and conventional BTM strategy.

Engineering↗

DOE OSTI2025

Leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced food processing techniques for enhanced food safety, quality, and security: a comprehensive review

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force in addressing the multifaceted challenges of food safety, food quality, and food security. This review synthesizes advancements in AI-driven technologies, such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and their applications across the food supply chain, based on a comprehensive analysis of literature published from 1990 to 2024. AI enhances food safety through real-time contamination detection, predictive risk modeling, and compliance monitoring, reducing public health risks. It improves food quality by automating defect detection, optimizing shelf-life predictions, and ensuring consistency in taste, texture, and appearance. Furthermore, AI addresses food security by enabling resource-efficient agriculture, yield forecasting, and supply chain optimization to ensure the availability and accessibility of nutritious food resources. This review also highlights the integration of AI with advanced food processing techniques such as high-pressure processing, ultraviolet treatment, pulsed electric fields, cold plasma, and irradiation, which ensure microbial safety, extend shelf life, and enhance product quality. Additionally, the integration of AI with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, and AI-powered sensors enables proactive risk management, predictive analytics, and automated quality control. By examining these innovations' potential to enhance transparency, efficiency, and decision-making within food systems, this review identifies current research gaps and proposes strategies to address barriers such as data limitations, model generalizability, and ethical concerns. These insights underscore the critical role of AI in advancing safer, higher-quality, and more secure food systems, guiding future research and fostering sustainable food systems that benefit public health and consumer trust.

AI↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Current Status and Future Plans for Electric Motors and Drives at NASA

Current Status and Future Plans for Electric Motors and Drives at NASA: Our work advances propulsion for aircraft while reducing energy consumption, noise, emissions and the cost of air travel. We are committed to investigating the use of alternative energy sources and improving the safety and expediency of flight. Electrified Aircraft Propulsion (EAP) is the use of propulsors (propellers or fans) driven by electric motors to propel aircraft ranging from air taxis to subsonic transports. NASA is developing technology, aircraft concepts, test aircraft, and ground test facilities to turn this idea from science fiction to reality. Specifically, motors and/or generators (Electric machines) are needed on all electrified aircraft. And NASA is sponsoring or performing work to achieve power densities 2-3 times the state of the art for machines in the MW or larger class. Three major machine types are being developed: permanent magnet, induction, and wound field. Power converters are also an essential component in most EAP aircraft concepts, as they are used to convert from ac to dc power, or vice versa. Silicon carbide and gallium nitride convertors are being developed with conventional cooling as well as a cryogenically cooled converter. Future plans include demonstrating integrated flight-ready systems in both ground and flight tests; collaborating with and leveraging ARPA-E EAP programs; and supporting FAA standards development for market acceptance and safety.

Powertrain↗

DOE OSTI2020

Solar/Photovoltaic DC Systems: Information for Electrical Workers and Firefighters

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are common and continue to gain popularity. This article helps electrical workers and firefighters understand basic operating principles and hazards of PV dc arrays. The effects of solar radiation and temperature on power output are discussed including; PV-module testing standards; methods for calculating the number of modules in a PV string; some National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines that are aimed toward improving array safety; dc-array commissioning, periodic maintenance, and testing; arc-flash-hazard potential ways firefighters can work safely around PV arrays; potential risks posed by moonlight and other light sources; some unique dc-system hazards. We also present statistics on PV dc-array electrical incidents and injuries.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Microstructure Quantification and Random Forest Regression Models for Li4Ti5O12–Ni Property Prediction

All-solid-state structural lithium-ion batteries are sought to enable all-electric propulsion in next generation aerospace concepts through improved safety and systems level weight savings. In this work, the influence of processing conditions on microstructural evolution was evaluated for anode composites of strain-free Li4Ti5O12 and metallic nickel current collector. Beyond size distributions, this study explored methods of quantifying microstructural features that describe changes in the spatial distribution and coalescence of nickel particles as a function of sample composition and sintering conditions. Processing-microstructure-property relationships were described by microstructure quantifiers including nickel particle count per area, nearest neighbor distance distribution, and edge-to-edge distance distribution. Machine learning methods were applied to compare the relative influence of processing conditions and microstructural features on electrical conductivity and mechanical strength to optimize for simultaneous energy storage and load bearing performance. Insights gained from this work inform future evaluation of alternative energy storage materials and microstructures for multifunctional performance, and generation of microstructural descriptors strengthens modeling across length scales.

anode↗

NASA NTRS2018

Health Monitoring and Prognostics for More Electric Aircrafts

As more and more electric vehicles emerge in our daily operation progressively, a very critical challenge lies in the prediction of remaining flying time/distance (for aircraft). This information is important, particularly in the case of unmanned vehicles, because such vehicles can become self-aware, autonomously compute its own capabilities, and identify how to best plan and successfully complete vehicular missions safely. In case of electric aircrafts, computing remaining flying time is also safety-critical, since an aircraft that runs out of battery charge while in the air will eventually lose control leading to catastrophe. In order to tackle and solve the prediction problem, it is essential to have awareness of the current state and health of the system, especially since it is necessary to perform condition-based predictions. To be able to predict the future state of the system, it is also required to possess knowledge of the current and future operations of the vehicle. Given models of the current and future system behavior, the general approach of model-based prognostics can be employed as a solution to the prior stated prediction problem.For electric aircraft, propulsion is based on power generated from batteries. Thus, it is critical to monitor battery state charge and to estimate the ability of the battery to support mission activities as it is being discharged during flight operation. The ability of the vehicle to complete its given mission very much depends on the charge left in the batteries based on its operational route, maneuvering, weather conditions along with aging health of the batteries. Hence, for the purpose this discussion, consider the scenario of an unmanned electric aircraft that has some planned sequence of waypoints to reach throughout its mission. In such a scenario, for this particular aircraft, and within the region it is flown, at most two minutes are required to safely land the aircraft. Thus, it is desired to predict at which point in time the aircraft must begin to head to the runway and land.

Goebel, Kai↗

DOE OSTI2023

Energy Storage in Local Zoning Ordinances

Increasing policy support and declining prices for battery energy storage systems (BESS) are driving rapid growth in the installation of these systems in the United States and around the world. Because a BESS is modular in nature and has limited infrastructure requirements, it can be built in close proximity to existing uses, which creates the potential for conflict. As the use of BESS grows, local planning and zoning staff are increasingly being asked to determine where the systems can be built and how their impacts on surrounding uses can be mitigated. While a large-scale BESS offers significant electric grid and societal benefits, it can also pose safety, visual, auditory, and environmental impacts on the community in which it is located. While these are material impacts, current safety codes for energy storage systems and land use frameworks provide planners with the necessary tools and processes to mitigate those impacts and ensure that their communities safely receive the benefits of energy storage systems. This report provides an overview of BESS from a land use perspective and describes their implications for zoning and project permitting. It concludes with an analysis of current energy storage zoning standards adopted by local jurisdictions in the U.S. Its intent is to objectively inform land use decisions for energy storage projects by equipping planning officials with relevant information about these technologies and knowledge of what questions to ask during review processes, so that energy storage projects can move forward in ways that will benefit electric systems while not unduly affecting host communities.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Whether at Home or the Office -- Keep in Mind Power Strip Safety (LL-2020-002)

Purpose: To remind personnel of potential power strip electrical hazards at the office and home Before you reach for that power strip, read this! This Lessons Learned Snapshot highlights the very real potential for electrical contact with power strip usage. It happens more often than you might think! But there are ways to reduce this potential.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

NASA NTRS2019

Prognostics and Health Monitoring: Application to Electric Vehicles

As more and more electric vehicles emerge in our daily operation progressively, a very critical challenge lies in the prediction of remaining driving-time distance (for cars) or flying time-distance (for aircraft). This information is important, particularly in the case of unmanned vehicles, because such vehicles can become self-aware, autonomously compute its own capabilities, and identify how to best plan and successfully complete vehicular missions safely. In case of electric aircrafts, computing remaining flying time is also safety-critical, since an aircraft that runs out of power (battery charge) while in the air will eventually lose control leading to catastrophe. In order to tackle and solve the prediction problem, it is essential to have awareness of the current state and health of the system, especially since it is necessary to perform condition-based predictions. To be able to predict the future state of the system, it is also required to possess knowledge of the current and future operations of the vehicle.

Electric Vehicles↗

DOE OSTI2021

High Value Opportunities to Advance Automation in Electric Grid Control Rooms

Grid operators and electric utilities are increasingly driven to develop automated processes and introduce decision support tools to reduce cognitive demand on System Operations staff and aid in the operational decision-making process. However, System Operation staff are traditionally hesitant to implement and accept new solutions, automation processes, and tools within the control room. This paper explores high-value opportunities to advance automation in electric grid control rooms for the purpose of improving grid safety, reliability, and resiliency during normal and emergency operating conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Energy and Power Evolution Over the Lifetime of a Battery

Li-ion batteries currently are dominant energy storage devices for electric vehicles. Rechargeable batteries with lower cost, longer lifetime, and higher safety are desired in support of building of a green grid infrastructure. The continued investment in new battery materials, novel battery structures, advanced manufacturing processes, and accelerated testing/validation of battery performance has led to significant progress in battery development and deployment. Battery safety/reliability, which is essential to the success of a battery technology in the real world, naturally becomes the next big topic in battery research. Recently, the increasing interest in long-duration storage, fast charging, battery secondary use, and material recycling to build a circular industry and sustainable material supply chain has compelled further attention to understand the energy/power evolution and safety over the lifetime of a battery. Here, in this short Viewpoint, we discuss some high-level analyses on the energy/power evolution of rechargeable batteries over their life cycles aiming to inspire more discussion on the safety and sustainability of some representative and emerging battery technologies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Battery Cell-to-Pack Scaling Laws for Electric Aircraft

Battery pack gravimetric energy density is one of the most important, yet often miss-estimated design parameters for sizing all-electric aircraft. Proper accounting for thermal, structural, and operational safety margins are frequently lost when extrapolating performance from the cell level to the aircraft level. This paper summarizes the relevant engineering and certification details needed to better account for the penalties associated when assembling battery packs. The relationship between the cell and pack energy density is not linear, as is often assumed. Furthermore, the relationship varies depending on pack requirements, cell chemistry, and architecture. Parametric, high-fidelity models are used to determine optimal battery pack sizes over a range of conditions to better quantify technology scaling effects.

Battery Electric Aircraft↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Battery Cell-to-Pack Scaling Trends for Electric Aircraft

Battery pack gravimetric energy density is one of the most important, yet often miss- estimated design parameters for sizing all-electric aircraft. Proper accounting for thermal, structural, and operational safety margins are frequently lost when extrapolating performance from the cell level to the aircraft level. This paper summarizes the relevant engineering and certification details needed to better account for the penalties associated when assembling battery packs. The relationship between the cell and pack energy density is not linear, as is often assumed. Furthermore, the relationship varies depending on pack requirements, cell chemistry, and architecture. Parametric, high-fidelity models are used to determine optimal battery pack sizes over a range of conditions to better quantify technology scaling effects.

Battery Electric Aircraft↗

DOE OSTI2024

From Chills to Thrills: Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency and Load Flexibility in Supermarket Refrigeration

Open-vertical medium-temperature refrigerated display cases comprise nearly 50% of total case lineups in a typical supermarket, with more than 80% of their cooling load attributed to infiltration of warm and moist air from the surrounding space. The infiltration takes place across the air curtain system of the display case. While the air curtain acts as a thermal shield and as a cooling mechanism to maintain product temperature, it also entrains large amounts of heat and moisture from the adjacent space. Additionally, from food safety and quality standpoints, these fixtures are vulnerable to electric outages and traditionally cannot participate in load flexibility events. This paper describes key features of an innovative design of a self-contained, water-cooled, medium-temperature, open-vertical display case. The novel concept will eliminate the inefficient air curtain system and incorporate a hybrid radiant and low-airflow convective cooling design with a thermal-energy-storage-coupled heat exchanger integrated into the refrigeration circuit. The focus of this paper is on evaluating the thermal performance of the novel hybrid design in maintaining target product temperature. It presents thermal performance findings from thermo-fluid system modeling and robust state-of-the-art laboratory experiments used to validate those models. Load flexibility attributes from thermal energy storage are not discussed. A controlled-environment chamber at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was leveraged to validate the thermal performance of the novel technology. Final results from bench-scale experiments indicate the proposed design maintained mean product temperatures within food safety guidelines.

commercial refrigeration↗

DOE OSTI2024

From Chills to Thrills: Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency and Load Flexibility in Supermarket Refrigeration: Preprint

Open-vertical medium-temperature refrigerated display cases comprise nearly 50% of total case lineups in a typical supermarket, with more than 80% of their cooling load attributed to infiltration of warm and moist air from the surrounding space. The infiltration takes place across the air curtain system of the display case. While the air curtain acts as a thermal shield and as a cooling mechanism to maintain product temperature, it also entrains large amounts of heat and moisture from the adjacent space. Additionally, from food safety and quality standpoints, these fixtures are vulnerable to electric outages and traditionally cannot participate in load flexibility events. This paper describes key features of an innovative design of a self-contained, water-cooled, medium-temperature, open-vertical display case. The novel concept will eliminate the inefficient air curtain system and incorporate a hybrid radiant and low-airflow convective cooling design with a thermal-energy-storage-coupled heat exchanger integrated into the refrigeration circuit. The focus of this paper is on evaluating the thermal performance of the novel hybrid design in maintaining target product temperature. It presents thermal performance findings from thermo-fluid system modeling and robust state-of-the-art laboratory experiments used to validate those models. Load flexibility attributes from thermal energy storage are not discussed. A controlled-environment chamber at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was leveraged to validate the thermal performance of the novel technology. Final results from bench-scale experiments indicate the proposed design maintained mean product temperatures within food safety guidelines.

commercial refrigeration↗

DOE OSTI2024

Grid Interactive Micro-Distributed Refrigerated Display Case

Open-vertical medium-temperature refrigerated display cases comprise nearly 50% of total case lineups in a typical supermarket, with more than 80% of their cooling load attributed to infiltration of warm and moist air from the surrounding space. The infiltration takes place across the air curtain system of the display case. While the air curtain acts as a thermal shield and as a cooling mechanism to maintain product temperature, it also entrains large amounts of heat and moisture from the adjacent space. Additionally, from food safety and quality standpoints, these fixtures are vulnerable to electric outages and traditionally cannot participate in load flexibility events. This paper describes key features of an innovative design of a self-contained, water-cooled, medium-temperature, open-vertical display case. The novel concept will eliminate the inefficient air curtain system and incorporate a hybrid radiant and low-airflow convective cooling design with a thermal-energy-storage-coupled heat exchanger integrated into the refrigeration circuit. The focus of this paper is on evaluating the thermal performance of the novel hybrid design in maintaining target product temperature. It presents thermal performance findings from thermo-fluid system modeling and robust state-of-the-art laboratory experiments used to validate those models. Load flexibility attributes from thermal energy storage are not discussed. A controlled-environment chamber at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was leveraged to validate the thermal performance of the novel technology. Final results from bench-scale experiments indicate the proposed design maintained mean product temperatures within food safety guidelines.

commercial refrigeration↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Integrated Handling Qualities Safety Analysis For Conceptual Design of Urban Air Mobility Vehicles

The recent emergence of distributed electric propulsion Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft has created a rapid introduction of new design concepts with unique stability and control characteristics. A challenge to realizing the full potential of these vehicles for urban transportation is to gain public acceptance which is largely driven by flight safety. This paper describes ongoing research to address the feasibility of integrating flying qualities safety metrics into conceptual design of VTOL Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles. The discussion is composed of the approach and progress toward a toolbox that integrates with existing NASA rotorcraft design software and processes. Several key challenges are highlighted including modeling requirements for failures, identification of critical failures, and capturing critical failures, with robustness to model uncertainty. A discussion of requirements for safety metrics, specific to UAM vehicles, as well as the effects of the control system design is also included. Results to date have demonstrated the degradation in flying qualities metrics due to propulsion failures.

George Altamirano↗