Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “RESIDENTIAL”

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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Decarbonization pathways for the residential sector in the United States

We report residential GHG emissions in the United States are driven in part by a housing stock where onsite fossil combustion is common, home sizes are large by international standards, energy efficiency potential is large and electricity generation in many regions is GHG intensive. In this analysis, we assess decarbonization pathways for the US residential sector to 2060, through 108 scenarios describing housing stock evolution, new housing characteristics, renovation levels and clean electricity. The lowest emission pathways involve very rapid decarbonization of electricity supply alongside extensive renovations to existing homes, including improving thermal envelopes and heat pump electrification of heating. Reducing the size and increasing the electrification of new homes provide further emission cuts and combining all strategies enables reductions of 91% between 2020 and 2050. The potential of individual mitigation strategies shows great regional variation. Reaching zero emissions will require simultaneous deployment of multiple strategies and greater reduction of embodied emissions.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2013

Development and evaluation of a prototype concentrating solar collector with thermocline based thermal energy storage for residential thermal usage

A prototype of a concentrating solar collector (CSC) receiver was designed, built, and evaluated on-sun at the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX. This prototype receiver consists of two parabolic trough-reflectors but, in principle, the design can be efficiently extended to multiple units for achieving a higher temperature throughput. Each reflector has a vacuum tube collector at the focal point of the trough. The solar collector system was combined with a single-tank thermocline thermal energy storage (TES) for off-solar thermal usage. The main goal of this study is to develop an advanced solar hot water system for most residential applications. The focus of this study is to investigate the feasibility and performance of the solar thermal system by employing the recent advancement in the TES—a thermocline based TES—system for the concentrating solar power technologies developed by the Sandia National Laboratories and National Renewable Energy Laboratories for electricity production. A CSC when combined with TES has potential to provide uninterrupted thermal energy for most residential usages. This paper presents a detailed description of prototype design and materials required. The thermal energy storage tank utilizes an insulated 170 l (45 gal) galvanized steel tank. In order to maintain thermocline in the TES tank, with hot water on top and cold water at the bottom, two plate distributors are installed in the tank. The data showed a significant enhancement in thermal energy generation. This thermocline based single tank presented a thermal energy storage potential for at least three days (with diminishing storage capacity) that test were performed. The whole prototype was made for approximately USD 355 (excludes any labor costs) and hence also has strong potential for supplying clean thermal energy in most developing countries. As a result, tests of the prototype were conducted in November 2011.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Evaluation of alternative filter media for particulate matter emission testing of residential wood heating devices

The performance of Teflon-coated glass fiber filter media (Pallflex Emfab TX40) is evaluated for particulate matter (PM) sampling of residential wood heating devices in a dilution tunnel. Thirty samples of varying duration and PM loading and concentration were collected from an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 28 dilution tunnel using dual Method 5G sample trains with untreated glass fiber and Emfab filters. Filters were weighed soon after the end of sampling and again the next day after equilibration at 35% relative humidity (RH). PM concentrations from both types of filters agreed very well with 1-day equilibration, demonstrating that Emfab filters are appropriate for use in measuring PM from residential wood burning appliances in a dilution tunnel and have performance equal to or better than the glass fiber filter media. Agreement between filter media without equilibration was erratic, with PM from glass fiber filter samples varying from slightly less than the Emfab samples to as much as 2.8 times higher. Some of the glass fiber filters lost substantial mass with equilibration, with the highest percent loss at lower filter mass loadings. Mass loss for Emfab samples was a small percentage of the mass and very consistent across the range of mass loadings. Taken together, these results may indicate water uptake on the glass fiber media that is readily removed with 1-day equilibration at moderate RH conditions. Implications: EPA regulations now allow the use of either glass fiber or Teflon filter media for wood appliance PM emission testing. Teflon filter media minimizes the potential for acid-gas PM artifacts on glass fiber filters; this is important as EPA moves toward the use of locally sourced cordwood for testing that may have higher sulfur content. This work demonstrates that the use of Teflon-coated glass fiber filters can give similar PM measurement results to glass fiber filters after 1 day of equilibration. With no equilibration, measured PM from glass fiber filters was usually higher than from Teflon-coated glass fiber filters.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Realistic operation of two residential cordwood-fired outdoor hydronic heater appliances—Part 3: Optical properties of black and brown carbon emissions

Residential biomass combustion is a source of carbonaceous aerosol. Inefficient combustion, particularly of solid fuels produces large quantities of black and brown carbon (BC and BrC). These particle types are important as they have noted effects on climate forcing and human health. One method of measuring these quantities is by measurement of aerosol light-absorption and scattering, which can be performed using an aethalometer and nephelometer, respectively. These instruments are widely deployed in the study of ambient air and are frequently used in air quality modeling and source apportionment studies. In this study, we will describe (1) a method for measuring primary BC and BrC emissions from two residential log-fired wood hydronic heaters and (2) the BC and BrC emission from these devices over a wide range of operating conditions, such as cold-starts, warm-starts, four different levels of output ranging from 15% to 100% maximum rated output, and periods of repeated cycling. The range in flue-gas BC concentrations, measured using an aethalometer at the 880 nanometer (nm) wavelength, were between 5.09 × 10 2 and 2.24 × 10 4 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m 3 ) while the scattering coefficient of the flue-gas, measured by a nephelometer at 880 nm, ranged between 2.20 × 10 3 and 8.56 × 10 5 inverse megameters (Mm –1 ). The BrC concentrations, measured using the 370 nm wavelength of an aethalometer, were between 9.10 × 10 1 and 3.56 × 10 4 µg/m 3 . The calculated Angstrom Absorption Exponent (AAE) of the flue-gas aerosol ranged between 1.54 and 3.63. Performing a comparison between the measured BC concentration and an external particulate matter (PM) concentration showed that overall BC makes up roughly a quarter of the PM emitted by either of the two appliances. Further for both appliances, the cold-start and the test phase immediately following it had the highest BC and BrC concentrations, the highest measured scattering coefficient, as well as a low AAE.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2019

Shift in seasonal climate patterns likely to impact residential energy consumption in the United States

Abstract We develop a highly-resolved ensemble of climate simulations and empirical relationships between weather and household energy consumption to provide one of the most detailed estimates to date for potential climate-driven changes in the United States residential energy demand under the highest greenhouse gas emissions pathway. Our results indicate that more intense and prolonged warm conditions will drive an increase in electricity demand while a shorter and milder cold season will reduce natural gas demand by the mid 21st century. The environmental conditions that favor more cooling degree days in summer and reduced heating degree days in winter are driven by changes in daily maximum temperatures and daily minimum temperatures in the respective seasons. Our results also indicate that climate-driven change can potentially reverse impacts of a projected decrease in rural population on residential energy demand. These projected changes in climate-driven energy demand have implications for future energy planning and management.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Residential energy demand, emissions, and expenditures at regional and income-decile level for alternative futures

Income and its distribution profile are important determinants of residential energy demand and carry direct implications for human well-being and climate. We explore the sensitivity of residential energy systems to income growth and distribution across shared socioeconomic pathway-representative concentration pathways scenarios using a global, integrated, multisector dynamics model, Global Change Analysis Model, which tracks national/regional household energy services and fuel choice by income decile. Nation/region energy use patterns across deciles tend to converge over time with aggregate income growth, as higher-income consumers approach satiation levels in floorspace and energy services. However, in some regions, existing within-region inequalities in energy consumption persist over time due to slow income growth in lower income groups. Due to continued differences in fuel types, lower income groups will have higher exposure to household air pollution, despite lower contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. We also find that the share of income dedicated to energy is higher for lower deciles, with strong regional differences.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Control and Management of Multiple Converters in a Residential Smart Grid

Power electronic systems are becoming a staple building block for electric grid networks. However, these systems have been largely designed to grid integrate in ad hoc configurations with little or no coordination of control. This work proposes a central controller and power electronic system hardware and software design for a residential system (photovoltaic, energy storage and residential building). This system supports auto-integration, plug and play capabilities, and optimal energy management to meet different use cases. Modelling and multi-day testing of the system have been conducted in a controller hardware-in-the-loop (C-HIL) testbed. Multiple use cases and pricing options have been considered as part of the simulation and testing. Results are presented of these systems as a proof of principle.

Starke, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2021

Architecture of a Residential Solid State Power Substation (SSPS) Node

High integration rates of new loads and distributed generation at the edge of the grid are posing new challenges. However, existing smart power electronic systems are not designed to coordinate and maximize grid support or provide multiple grid services simultaneously. This work presents the application of a solid-state power substation (SSPS) to residential systems to increase this coordination and reduce future challenges. The proposed residential SSPS is validated in simulation including power electronic converter models, feeder models, and optimization.

Krishna Moorthy, Radha↗
DOE OSTI2023

Performance and Implementation Requirements for Residential EV Smart Charge Management Strategies

As the electrification of transportation expands, electric vehicle (EV) charging as residential loads will continue to grow. Residential EV charging has the potential to increase feeder peak loads and decrease voltage quality. As a result of this growing energy demand driven by EV, utilities may employ the use of smart charge management (SCM) controls to modify charging load profiles and mitigate these grid impacts. It is important that utilities understand both the potential benefits-as well as possible implementation challenges-before considering this technology as a solution to managing growing EV loads. In order for an SCM strategy to be an effective solution, the potential benefits must outweigh the implementation challenges. This study establishes and tests a novel framework to assess the implementation requirements of different SCM controls. It identifies a range of requirements specific to various SCM controls and implementation approaches to compare the relative challenges associated with the deployment of each. When paired with analysis on the effectiveness of the ability of each control to mitigate grid impacts from EV charging, this assessment is critical in comparing the value potential of different SCM controls.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Multiobjective Model of Time-of-Use and Stepwise Power Tariff for Residential Consumers in Regulated Power Markets

Here, time-of-use (TOU) rates and stepwise power tariff (SPT) are important economic levers to motivate residents to shift their electricity usage in response to electricity price. In this paper, a new multiobjective optimal tariff-making model of time-of-use and stepwise power tariff (TOUSPT) is proposed, which combines the complementary characteristics of two power tariffs, for residential energy conservation and peak load shaving. In the proposed approach, the residential demand response with price elasticity in regulated power market is considered to determine the optimum peak-valley TOU tariffs for each stepwise electricity partition. Furthermore, a practical case study is implemented to test the effectiveness of the proposed TOUSPT, and the results demonstrate that TOUSPT can achieve efficient end-use energy saving and also shift load from peak to off-peak periods.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Peak Reduction in a Residential Community Through Bayesian Optimization of Transactive Control Signals

Daily residential power consumption in aggregate tends to have a large peak that places stress on the distribution system and induces high operational costs. This work shows that coordinated transactive control of noncritical loads within a residential community or microgrid can help to alleviate peak-time stress on the distribution system by flattening the aggregate load curve. Treating the load forecaster as a high-fidelity, expensive black-box function, a new algorithm utilizing Bayesian optimization (BO) is proposed to achieve the best solution under uncertainty with minimal computing effort. The proposed BO algorithm manipulates the shape of the load based on transactive signals sent to each home. The thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) act out of self-interest in response to the given price while maintaining comfort, and the optimizer exploits the thermal energy retention of the homes for the benefit of the community. Simulations confirm consistent neighborhood-level peak power reduction and energy cost savings.

Schomer, Ian↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of the Value Proposition of High-Efficiency, Multijunction Solar Modules for Residential Rooftop Installations

Utilizing detailed bottom-up models, we analyze the potential markets for high-efficiency photovoltaic modules in the United States. We first estimate the fraction of area-constrained residential rooftops that could benefit from increasing the availability of high-efficiency systems. We then model the impact of efficiency on installed system costs in these area-constrained scenarios. Finally, we explore the value proposition of high-efficiency, fixed-tilt micro-concentrator photovoltaic modules in a series of case studies of residential customers, modeling the levelized cost of energy, payback period, and annual bill savings. We find that efficiency can provide significant savings in installed system cost and improve value to the solar system owner. The improvement in value depends on location and the size of the rooftop, as well as the ability of a given technology to collect diffuse light and achieve low module costs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Thermal Profiling of Residential Energy Use

This work describes a methodology for informing targeted demand-response (DR) and marketing programs that focus on the temperature-sensitive part of residential electricity demand. Our methodology uses data that is becoming readily available at utility companies-hourly energy consumption readings collected from "smart" electricity meters, as well as hourly temperature readings. To decompose individual consumption into a thermal-sensitive part and a base load (non-thermally-sensitive), we propose a model of temperature response that is based on thermal regimes, i.e., unobserved decisions of consumers to use their heating or cooling appliances. We use this model to extract useful benchmarks that compose thermal profiles of individual users, i.e., terse characterizations of the statistics of these users' temperature-sensitive consumption. We present example profiles generated using our model on real consumers, and show its performance on a large sample of residential users. This knowledge may, in turn, inform the DR program by allowing scarce operational and marketing budgets to be spent on the right users-those whose influencing will yield highest energy reductions-at the right time. We show that such segmentation and targeting of users may offer savings exceeding 100% of a random strategy.

Albert, A↗
DOE OSTI2019

Data-Driven Load Modeling and Forecasting of Residential Appliances

The expansion of residential demand side management programs and increased deployment of controllable loads require accurate appliance-level load modeling and forecasting. This paper proposes a conditional hidden semi-Markov model to describe the probabilistic nature of residential appliance demand. Model parameters are estimated directly from power consumption data using scalable statistical learning methods. We also propose an algorithm for short-term load forecasting as a key application for appliance-level load models. Case studies performed using granular sub-metered power measurements from various types of appliances demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed load model for short-term prediction.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2018

Day-Ahead Optimal Operation for Multi-Energy Residential Systems with Renewables

The intermittency and stochasticity nature of distributed renewable energy sources has introduced great challenges to the efficiency and security of energy distribution system operations. To address the negative impacts of intermittent renewable energy sources, this paper proposes here a day-ahead optimal operation strategy utilizing distributed energy resources based on the framework of the interconnected multi-energy system. First, a framework and mathematical models of multi-energy residential systems (MERS) are proposed. Based on the characteristics of residential energy distribution networks, the complex MERS models are reformulated to relieve the computational burden. Furthermore, the uncertainty factors such as renewable energy generation fluctuations and demand variations are handled by a reformulated chance con-strained programming technique. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated through a combined electric power and natural gas test system. Compared to similar models and methods in the existing literature, the proposed method performs better in terms of solution time, model scalability, and robustness in handling uncertainties.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Response of consumer and research grade indoor air quality monitors to residential sources of fine particles

The ability to inexpensively monitor PM2.5 to identify sources and enable controls would advance residential indoor air quality (IAQ) management. Consumer IAQ monitors incorporating low-cost optical particle sensors and connections with smart home platforms could provide this service if they reliably detect PM 2.5 in homes. In this study, particles from typical residential sources were generated in a 120 m 3 laboratory and time-concentration profiles were measured with 7 consumer monitors (2-3 units each), 2 research monitors (Thermo pDR-1500, MetOne BT-645), a Grimm Mini Wide-Range Aerosol Spectrometer (GRM), and a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance with Filter Dynamic Measurement System (FDMS), a Federal Equivalent Method for PM2.5. Sources included recreational combustion (candles, cigarettes, incense), cooking activities, an unfiltered ultrasonic humidifier, and dust. FDMS measurements, filter samples, and known densities were used to adjust the GRM to obtain time-resolved mass concentrations. Data from the research monitors and 4 of the consumer monitors—AirBeam, AirVisual, Foobot, Purple Air—were time correlated and within a factor of 2 of the estimated mass concentrations for most sources. In conclusion, all 7 of the consumer and both research monitors substantially under-reported or missed events for which the emitted mass was comprised of particles smaller than 0.3 μm diameter.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2015

HEMS: Home Energy Management System [SWR-15-12] - Stochastic Optimal Scheduling of Residential Appliances with Renewable Energy Sources

The HEMS algorithm schedules residential appliance operation to minimize the weighted sum of occupant discomfort, total energy cost, peak electricity consumption and carbon footprint, weighted according to occupant preferences. A centralized mixed integer linear programming (MILP) based optimization approach is taken, with the HEMS managing all appliances directly, following a Model Predictive Control (MPC) methodology which determines the optimal schedule over the user-specified scheduling horizon and repeats the optimization at configurable time intervals. The HEMS is developed on the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) using the MILP solver. This system is able to effectively deal with the stochasticity in the distributed system by utilizing Monte Carlo simulation where uncertainties in future electricity price, outdoor temperature, water usage, solar and wind generation can be accounted for. The HEMS controls the operation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, water heater, refrigerator, residential batteries, electric vehicles, standalone micro combined heat and power (CHP) generator, dishwasher, washer/dryer, pool pumps, and lighting.

Pratt, Annabelle↗
DOE OSTI2018

Predictive Control of Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters [SWR-13-35]

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) in the United States typically feature both a heat pump and at least one electric resistance element for heating. The heat pump is much more efficient than the element but cannot heat the water as quickly. The combination of these two heat sources makes HPWH a perfect candidate for implementing advanced control algorithms to achieve additional energy savings. NREL's Predictive Control of Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters introduces a novel predictive control method that provides optimal setpoint profile for both heat sources based on the patterns discovered from users' hot water use data. A simulation study indicates the Predictive Control of Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters is able to achieve significant energy savings without impacting users' thermal comfort.

Christensen, Dane↗