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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

A study of subsonic transport aircraft configurations using hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) as fuel

The acceptability of alternate fuels for future commercial transport aircraft are discussed. Using both liquid hydrogen and methane, several aircraft configurations are developed and energy consumption, aircraft weights, range and payload are determined and compared to a conventional Boeing 747-100 aircraft. The results show that liquid hydrogen can be used to reduce aircraft energy consumption and that methane offers no advantage over JP or hydrogen fuel.

Snow, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Fuels research: Fuel thermal stability overview

Alternative fuels or crude supplies are examined with respect to satisfying aviation fuel needs for the next 50 years. The thermal stability of potential future fuels is discussed and the effects of these characteristics on aircraft fuel systems are examined. Advanced fuel system technology and design guidelines for future fuels with lower thermal stability are reported.

Cohen, S. M.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Credits for Commercially Available Light-Duty Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

This document explains the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) position under the Standard Compliance method of DOE's Alternative Fuel Transportation Program (the Program; 10 C.F.R. Part 490) regarding alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) credit for covered fleet acquisitions of light-duty plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2017

FleetDASH

FleetDASH helps federal fleet managers maximize their use of alternative fuel. This presentation explains how the dashboard works and demonstrates the newest capabilities added to the tool. It also reviews complementary online tools available to fleet managers on the Alternative Fuel Data Center.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Clean Cities Coalitions (2018 Activity Report)

Clean Cities coalition activities resulted in an energy use impact (EUI) of over 1 billion gasoline-gallons equivalent (GGE), comprised of net alternative fuels used and energy savings from efficiency projects, in 2018. Participation in vehicle and infrastructure development projects remained strong, as did alternative fuel use and resulting overall EUI. Clean Cities coalition activities reduce emissions as they impact energy use. Coalition-reported activities prevented 5 million carbon dioxide-equivalent tons of emissions (only greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions are reported here; criteria pollutants and other emissions are not included in this report). Coalitions were successful in securing project grant awards from numerous (non-DOE) outside sources. For other Federal, State, and local agencies and private sector foundations, see funding section on page 25. The 84 project grant awards in 2018 generated $251 million in funds from coalition members and project partners along with $1.9 million in DOE grant funds. Coalitions also collected $1.1 million in stakeholder dues and $2.9 million in operational funds from host organizations. In macro terms, this supplemental funding represents nearly a 7:1 leveraging of the $37.8 million that was included in the VTO Technology Integration budget in Fiscal Year 2018. Clean Cities coordinators spent nearly 121,000 hours pursuing their coalitions' goals in 2018. The average coordinator is quite experienced and has held his or her position for at least eight years. Coordinators logged more than 3,805 outreach, education, and training activities in 2018, which reached an estimated 35 million people.

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DOE OSTI2025

Dual-Fuel Ammonia Equivalence Ratio Sweep Data

Ammonia (NH3) has garnered significant interest as an alternative fuel for meeting international emissions reduction mandates in sectors with high weight and distance requirements, such as shipping. Technical barriers and unanswered questions remain on the combustion strategies that can maximize ammonia utilization and minimize emissions. Prior research studies at the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have shown strong performance with NH3 under dual-fuel mode using conventional diesel combustion (CDC) manifold air pressure settings. Diesel airflow was initially used to simplify retrofitting (no turbocharger modification), which resulted in air-fuel equivalence ratios (λ) greater than 1.5. To characterize potential improvements in dual-fuel NH3 combustion performance at richer in-cylinder conditions, a global λ sweep compared the use of early (E-pilot) and late (L-pilot) single diesel injections. The experiments were conducted at 1200 RPM and 12.8 ± 0.2 bar (75 % load), and λ was varied by decreasing the commanded air flow to the engine at greater than 90 % ammonia energy substitution level. A diesel injection timing sweep was conducted for both the injection strategies at fixed λ, and the timing with the lowest engine-out N2O emissions was identified. The results indicated an optimal balance between CO2,eq and thermal efficiency benefits both E-pilot and L-pilot injection strategy cases compared with CDC at a λ of 1.4. The indicated nitrogen-based emissions exhibited a strong correlation to the ratio of CA5–50 and ignition delay for L-pilot, but no apparent trend emerged for the E-pilot injection strategy at the tested boundary conditions. This dataset includes the raw experimental data and documentation of the experiment conditions and methods.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Research, Development and Demonstration of Advanced Vehicle Technologies in Clean Motor Fuels (CRADA Final Report)

NREL/DOE has been funding research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects to facilitate the deployment of alternative fuels into the marketplace in order to achieve three objectives: 1) enhance the reduction of mobile source emissions in California and the U.S.; 2) increase U.S. competitiveness and economic prosperity; and 3) preserve the environment through the reduction of emissions and toxins from the motor vehicle population. The Lewis-Presley Air Quality Management Act requires the South Coast Air Quality Management District to establish a program to encourage participation in projects to increase the utilization of clean-burning fuels. The parties seek to collaborate on a joint RD&D project to perform a field test on a small vehicle fleet operating on Fischer-Tropsch synthetic diesel fuel. Recently the 106th U.S. Congress designated "gas-to-liquid" (GTL) transportation fuels that are produced from domestic products as alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT). Niche markets could develop quickly for these fuel products, perhaps especially for the use of Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuels in centrally fueled vehicle fleets in California. NREL and its project partners from the U.S. Department of Energy and West Virginia University have recently conducted what we believe to be the first-ever controlled tests of Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuels in heavy vehicles. These tests have shown that Fischer-Tropsch fuels can be substituted in unmodified trucks and buses without any detectable loss in drivability and performance. Compared to a California diesel fuel baseline, neat Shell Fischer-Tropsch fuel emitted about 12% lower NOx and 24% lower particulate matter over a five-mile driving route while maintaining the same fuel economy on an energy equivalent basis. Whereas these exhaust emissions reductions from these previous studies have been impressive, far greater exhaust emissions reductions can be achieved if the vehicles are retrofitted with emissions control technologies that are enabled by Fischer-Tropsch fuels. For this program, a test fleet would be selected and retrofitted with continuously regenerating traps (CRT’s) or diesel particulate filters (DPF's). The University of West Virginia, under a separate subcontract to SCAQMD will have the responsibility to test and measure the emissions from the test fleet of vehicles.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Fleet Compliance Results for MY 2011/FY 2012

This annual report summarizes the compliance results of state and alternative fuel provider fleets covered by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) for model year 2011/fiscal year 2012.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2011

U.S. Department of Energy clean cities five-year strategic plan.

Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program, which is part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Working with its network of about 100 local coalitions and more than 6,500 stakeholders across the country, Clean Cities delivers on its mission to reduce petroleum consumption in on-road transportation. In its work to reduce petroleum use, Clean Cities focuses on a portfolio of technologies that includes electric drive, propane, natural gas, renewable natural gas/biomethane, ethanol/E85, biodiesel/B20 and higher-level blends, fuel economy, and idle reduction. Over the past 17 years, Clean Cities coalitions have displaced more than 2.4 billion gallons of petroleum; they are on track to displace 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline per year by 2020. This Clean Cities Strategic Plan lays out an aggressive five-year agenda to help DOE Clean Cities and its network of coalitions and stakeholders accelerate the deployment of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, while also expanding the supporting infrastructure to reduce petroleum use. Today, Clean Cities has a far larger opportunity to make an impact than at any time in its history because of its unprecedented $300 million allocation for community-based deployment projects from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (see box below). Moreover, the Clean Cities annual budget has risen to $25 million for FY2010 and $35 million has been requested for FY2011. Designed as a living document, this strategic plan is grounded in the understanding that priorities will change annually as evolving technical, political, economic, business, and social considerations are woven into project decisions and funding allocations. The plan does not intend to lock Clean Cities into pathways that cannot change. Instead, with technology deployment at its core, the plan serves as a guide for decision-making at both the national and local levels of Clean Cities over the next five years. The plan recognizes the need for flexibility and sets out a strategic direction that will build on the progress of current technologies and new opportunities presented in emerging fuels and technologies, such as hydrogen and fuel cells, as well as new niche markets such as off-road applications that build additional throughput at existing alternative fuel stations.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2011

HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL EDUCATION AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES

California State University, Los Angeles, has partnered with the Department of Energy in addressing the workforce preparation and public education needs of the fuel cell industry and the US economy through a comprehensive set of curriculum development and training activities: * Developing and offering several courses in fuel cell technologies, hydrogen and alternative fuels production, alternative and renewable energy technologies as means of zero emissions hydrogen economy, and sustainable environment. * Establishing a zero emissions PEM fuel cell and hydrogen laboratory supporting curriculum and graduate students teaching and research experiences. * Providing engaging capstone projects for multi-disciplinary teams of senior undergraduate students. * Fostering partnerships with automotive OEMs and energy providers. * Organizing and participating in synergistic projects and activities that grow the program and assure its sustainability.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2018

Chicago Climate Action Plan Advanced Transportation Technologies Initiative: Final Project Report

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and our partners, I-GO Carshare and the Chicago Department of Fleet and Facility Management teamed up in support of our mutual goal of advancing the local electric vehicle market and demonstrating electrification of fleet vehicles. By increasing the use of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles this project provides a public benefit by reducing harmful emissions and the transportation sector’s dependence on petroleum in Chicago. The Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) is the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy adopted by the City of Chicago (City). CCAP calls for improved fleet efficiency, reduced fossil fuel use, and encourages vehicle electrification to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. Alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies play a critical role in helping the City achieve CCAP’s goals. In fact, CCAP calls for a 10 percent increase in the use of alternative fuel vehicles in Chicago by 2020.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Win-win transportation strategies for India: Linking air pollution and climate mitigation

Here, this article analyzes road transport in India to explore linkages between air pollution and climate change policies in the transportation sector. Five teams modeled five policy scenarios – fuel efficiency, electrification, alternative fuels, modal shifts, and moderation in transport demand – to explore which policy brings the largest synergetic effects in reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) emissions. The teams also modeled the comprehensive scenario which included policy measures from individual scenarios. The paper concludes that all of the measures provide strong co-benefits in reducing air pollutant and CO 2 emissions. The modeling results show that increased energy efficiency of passenger and freight vehicles has the largest protentional for reducing both CO 2 and PM 2.5 emissions. It is possible to reach even a larger reduction of air pollutants and CO 2 emissions by combining several policy measures in the comprehensive scenario.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Radiation induced athermal diffusivity in uranium mononitride

Uranium mononitride (UN) is one of the ceramic nuclear fuel alternatives to oxide fuel considered for light water reactors and advanced reactor designs. Properties like self- and fission gas diffusivity need to be better understood, given that they influence key fuel performance phenomena such as fission gas swelling and release. In particular, the radiation induced athermal (D 3 ) diffusivity remains challenging to accurately predict and has only been sparsely characterized in UN, despite its importance as it likely governs diffusion at the low temperatures this high-thermal-conductivity fuel form may operate. Molecular Dynamics simulations are used to estimate the mean square displacement induced by a primary knock-on atom (PKA) with a given kinetic energy. These results are combined with the PKA energy distributions obtained from binary collision approximation calculations to obtain the displacement due to a particular fission fragment. Finally, this is combined with experimental fission fragment yields to determine the displacement due to an average fission event and, thus, express the athermal diffusivity as a function of the fission rate density. These results are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. In conclusion, a particular importance is given to the understanding and the quantification of the variability of these results.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ab-initio informed cluster dynamics simulation of self- and Xe diffusivity in uranium mononitride under irradiation

Uranium mononitride (UN) is one of the ceramic nuclear fuel alternatives to oxide fuels considered for light water reactor and advanced reactor designs, as it presents significant advantages such as high uranium density (better economics) and high thermal conductivity and melting point (increased safety). Self- and fission gas diffusivities need to be better understood, given that they influence key fuel performance phenomena like swelling and fission gas release. Recently, radiation enhanced diffusivity was investigated in UN by means of cluster dynamics simulations relying on empirical potential-based parameterizations, the reliability of which highly depends on the interatomic potential accuracy. Here, in this work, we refine this approach by determining, using ab-initio calculations, the properties of defect clusters containing vacancies, self-interstitials and Xe impurities. We also consider larger clusters than previous studies. The obtained dataset (formation enthalpies, entropies, and migration barriers) is used to parameterize a cluster dynamics model of mobile clusters, and to calculate the defect cluster concentrations under irradiation. This gives us access to the radiation enhanced self- and fission gas diffusivities. Although the resulting diffusivities are close to the values reported in the literature, we find important qualitative differences in the diffusion mechanisms. Capturing the correct mechanisms is crucial to properly describe the chemistry and fission rate dependence of the model.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Investigations of the Impact of Biodiesel Metal Contaminants on Emissions Control Devices

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel with the potential to displace a portion of petroleum use. However, as with any alternative fuel, in order to be a viable choice it must be compatible with the emissions control devices. The finished biodiesel product can contain up to 5 ppm Na+K and 5 ppm Ca+Mg, and these metal impurities can lead to durability issues with the devices used to control emissions in diesel vehicles. Significant work has been performed to understand how the presence of these metals impacts each individual component of diesel emissions control systems, and this chapter summarizes the findings of these research efforts.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hydrogen generation via ammonia decomposition on highly efficient and stable Ru-free catalysts: approaching complete conversion at 450 °C

We report Hydrogen (H 2 ) is a prospective zero-carbon and high-energy-density fuel alternative to fossil fuels for generating power and clean energy. Ammonia (NH 3 ) is a promising H 2 (17.7%) carrier, which can easily overcome the challenges associated with H 2 storage and transportation. Thermocatalytic ammonia decomposition reaction (ADR) is an effective way to produce clean H 2 but it relies on the use of expensive and rare ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts at elevated temperatures (>500 °C), hence is not sustainable and economically feasible. Herein, we report a synergistic strategy to design a heterostructured Ru-free catalyst, consisting of CoNi alloy nanoparticles well-dispersed on a MgO–CeO 2 –SrO mixed oxide support with potassium promotion. The resulting K–CoNi alloy –MgO–CeO 2 –SrO catalyst presents 97.7% and 87.5% NH 3 conversion efficiency at 450 °C at gas hourly space velocities (GHSVs) of 6000- and 12 000-mL h -1 g cat -1 , respectively. At 500 °C, the H 2 production rate (57.75 mmol g cat -1 min -1 ) becomes comparable to that of most of the reported Ru-based catalysts. The catalyst stability has been successfully demonstrated in both a fixed-bed reactor under high pressure (120 h at 5.0 bar) and a membrane reactor prototype (600 h at 1.5 bar) at 500 °C. High-temperature in situ XPS analysis, temperature-programmed desorption/reduction, and density functional theory calculations have been carried out to elucidate the possible active sites and performance enhancement mechanisms. This work highlights the importance of constructing optimal interfaces between active metal nanoparticles and oxide support for boosting the NH 3 to H 2 conversion efficiency and long-term stability.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Preface - JES Focus Issue on Advances in Modern Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells in Honor of Shimshon Gottesfeld

The advances in polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) technologies over the past few decades and particularly over the past few years, have been very impressive. The promise of PEFC-based fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) as long range EVs of zero emissions, high conversion efficiency, and fit for use of fuels from renewable sources, was recognized by pioneers of this technology some 40 years ago, facing at the time significant skepticism. The eventual commercial introduction of FCEVs in 2015 was enabled by the impressive accomplishments of scientists, engineers, and policymakers over that period of time. Among those responsible for the fuel cell community's success, few, if any, have had more impact than Dr. Shimshon Gottesfeld. He is a distinguished fuel cell educator, a passionate fuel cell and alternative fuel advocate, and a pioneering fuel cell innovator, responsible for several critical contributions that helped demonstrate the commercial viability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. His impact on the field is seen through specific technical accomplishments, the scientists he has mentored, the teams he has led in different topical areas, and his activities as organizer and speaker in technical fuel cell meetings. We are honored to dedicate this focus issue of the Journal of The Electrochemical Society, entitled 'Advances in Modern Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells in Honor of Shimshon Gottesfeld,' to Dr. Gottesfeld for his accomplishments in the area of PEFC science and technology.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2016

2015 Vehicle Technologies Market Report

This is the seventh edition of the Vehicle Technologies Market Report, which details the major trends in U.S. light-duty vehicle and medium/heavy truck markets as well as the underlying trends that caused them. This report is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), and, in accord with its mission, pays special attention to the progress of high-efficiency and alternative-fuel technologies. After opening with a discussion of energy and economics, this report features a section each on the light-duty vehicle and heavy/medium truck markets, and concluding with a section each on technology and policy. The first section on Energy and Economics discusses the role of transportation energy and vehicle markets on a national (and even international) scale. For example, Figures 12 through 14 discuss the connections between global oil prices and U.S. GDP, and Figures 22 and 23 show U.S. employment in the automotive sector. The following section examines Light-Duty Vehicle use, markets, manufacture, and supply chains. Figures 27 through 63 offer snapshots of major light-duty vehicle brands in the United States and Figures 70 through 81 examine the performance and efficiency characteristics of vehicles sold. The discussion of Medium and Heavy Trucks offers information on truck sales (Figures 90 through 94) and fuel use (Figures 97 through 100). The Technology section offers information on alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure (Figures 105 through 118), and the Policy section concludes with information on recent, current, and near-future Federal policies like the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard (Figures 130 through 137). In total, the information contained in this report is intended to communicate a fairly complete understanding of U.S. highway transportation energy through a series of easily digestible nuggets. Suggestions for future expansion, additional information, or other improvements are most welcome.

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