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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

EVSE Characterization, A Next-Gen Profiles Project Report

As part of the U.S. DOE EVs@Scale consortium Next-Generation Profiles project, results and analysis from the characterization of high-power conductive and wireless charging infrastructure are presented. This characterization was conducted over a wide range of DC output current and DC voltage charging for nominal test conditions and off-nominal test conditions. Test plans and procedures were developed to define the test configurations and requirements, measurement parameters, and test procedures used throughout testing. Results from a 2023 study conducted on electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) characterization by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) include one 350 kW capable EVSE using a liquid-cooled combined charging system-1 (CCS-1, North American version) cable and connector and an ORNL-developed 100-kW polyphase wireless charger. Characterization results during nominal operation show the AC-to-DC power transfer efficiency for the 350kW conductive EVSE is 95.1% peak and is >92% when the AC power is at least 50 kW. The power quality of the 350 kW conductive EVSE is also measured during nominal conditions. The power factor is >0.91 for power transfer above 50 kW AC input during nominal conditions with a maximum power factor of 0.975. The AC current harmonics produced by the EVSE as measured at the AC input connection to the EVSE is <25% harmonics for power transfer greater than 50 kW and <10% harmonics for power transfer greater than 180 kW.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Severe Temperature Impact Study on Ferrite Electromagnetic Shielding for Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging

Wireless charging of an electric vehicle (EV) is an emerging technology that enables noncontact charging, which has advantages in terms of convenience and flexibility. However, the embedded charging pads under and on the ground expose the charging coils, ferrite shielding, and related components to a potentially severe external environment. To study the electromagnetic shielding performance under such extreme temperature conditions, ferrite shielding material's permeability characteristics are tested under temperatures as low as -50°C to as high as 240°C. Referring to the official recorded lowest and highest temperature of the United States, in this paper, it is assumed that the operation temperature ranges from -50°C to 57°C as the coldest winter and hottest summer environment for WPT application. Electromagnetic performance, shielding, and associated stray magnetic emissions are simulated by using three-dimensional (3D) transient simulations to study the impact of low and high temperature on electromagnetic shielding performance. Based on ferrite testing data, from -50°C low temperature to 57°C high temperature, the ferrite's relative permeability ranges from 2550 to 3727. The simulation study indicates that there won't be significant impact on the EM shielding performance for WPT operated under those severe environment temperature conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Thick Electrode Design for Facile Electron and Ion Transport: Architectures, Advanced Characterization, and Modeling

The demand for lithium ion batteries continues to expand for powering applications such as portable electronics, grid-scale energy storage, and electric vehicles. As the application requirements advance, the innovation of lithium ion batteries toward higher energy density and power output is required. Along with the investigation of new materials, an important strategy for increasing battery energy content is to design electrodes with high areal loading to minimize the fraction of nonactive materials such as current collectors, separators, and packaging components, resulting in significant gains in energy content and the reduction of the system-level cost. However, the adoption of thick high areal loading electrodes has been impeded by sluggish charge transport and mechanical instability. With conventional slurry cast electrodes, battery function significantly deteriorates with increases in electrode thickness due to high cell polarization and the incomplete utilization of active materials. Thus, a consideration of approaches that facilitate an understanding and eventual adoption of high-loading electrodes is warranted to enable the deliberate advancement of next-generation batteries. Herein, this Account considers three aspects critical to the science and technology of thick high-loading electrodes. The first discussion covers recent approaches to the design and fabrication of high-loading electrodes. Ensuring electrical contact throughout the electrode is accomplished through the manipulation of conductive additives or using a conductive scaffold within the electrode. Ion transport can be facilitated through electrode design and fabrication approaches that deliberately control the electrode porosity and tortuosity. Second, advanced characterization methodologies are presented as the ability to determine the origins of transport limitations provide the insight needed to deliberately approach future designs. Spectroscopic and diffraction methods have been used to characterize the 2D and 3D pore structure and composition of the electrodes. Furthermore, operando methods that yield spatially and temporally resolved information regarding the progression of the electrochemical reaction are highlighted. The third aspect considered is the utilization of modeling. Physically based continuum models linked with the results of experimental characterization have been demonstrated and then allow the rapid simulation of a variety of deliberate electrode designs and their impacts on functional electrochemistry. Variables relevant to the designs can be tested by the model under a series of use conditions to identify those of most promise for a specific application. Finally, an outlook on future opportunities for high-loading battery electrode research is provided to inform and entice practitioners in the field to pursue these important directions of inquiry.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Stable, high-performing bifunctional electrodes for anion exchange membrane-based unitized regenerative fuel cells

Anion exchange membrane unitized regenerative fuel cells (AEM-URFCs) are a promising technology for energy storage and electricity production; however, their efficiency is limited by the kinetics of the bifunctional oxygen electrode (BOE) where the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occur. A particular concern when designing the BOE is that the OER and ORR have differing catalytic requirements, which make it challenging to develop effective bifunctional electrocatalysts with single active sites. In this study, we focus on advancing the BOE performance using Pt-IrO x and Pt-NiCoO x electrocatalysts. Here, single-layer and dual-layer Pt-IrO x BOEs were made, with the dual-layer electrode leading to improved performance due to efficient catalyst utilization in both modes. Using the dual-layer oxygen electrode paired with a PtRu/C hydrogen electrode, a round trip efficiency (RTE) as high as 50% (62 %iR-free) was achieved at 500 mA/cm 2 and operation for more than 24 h, which included five one-hour-long H 2 generation and consumption cycles followed by one eight-hour-long cycle. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest performance for AEM-URFCs reported to date. Lastly, the approach is extended to electrodes with a Pt loading of 0.5 mg/cm 2 and the IrO x substituted by NiCoO x .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Projecting Recent Advancements in Battery Technology to Next–Generation Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) have seen rapid growth in adoption over the last several years. Advancements to increase battery life and performance, policy shifts, and high charging rate are expected to further accelerate the development of next generation of EVs. Battery improvements continue to emerge, enabling increased driving range, total distance driven over the life of vehicles, and ability to charge at high rates. Herein, an analysis framework to provide insights into inclusive design metrics, such as specific energy of batteries, energy consumption of vehicles, and charging power infrastructure development, is developed. Various cell-level fast charge protocols to realistic battery designs to understand the infrastructure needs associated with achieving range replacement of 32.25 km min -1 (20 mi min -1 ) are also scaled. Additionally, by calculating scaled power and peak to average power ratio, it is found that there needs to be more distinct alignment between the research efforts focused at the cell level and what is being developed for EV charging infrastructure needs. Finally, impact of high direct current voltage architecture in next-generation EVs is discussed. The findings in this work provide an insight into recent advancements in battery technology to next-generation EVs.

20 mi/min↗

Use of Systems Engineering in Repurposing Coal-Fired Power Plants with Malta Pumped Thermal Energy Storage System

he electric sector across North America is facing a transition. Both economics and policy decisions have pointed towards a broad retirement of fossil assets across markets. Owners are facing the problem of how to evolve the base of the electric sector from fossil asset to greener alternative. Coal-fired power plants built the modern electricity grid. Their rotating machinery are the beating heart of the grid, providing essential resiliency and reliability services. Power plant retirements are disruptive to plant workforces and cause outsized impacts on surrounding communities. The transition from thermal power plants that use rotating machinery to generate electricity (e.g., coal- and gas-fired plants) to variable, inverter-based generation (e.g., solar and wind) is affecting the reliability of the electric grid. Grid operators and national regulators have issued warnings about known and anticipated risk. In 2021, Malta Inc. was awarded a Department of Energy (DOE) grant to study how to integrate a Malta 100MW Pumped Heat Energy Storage (PHES) system with a retiring coal-fired power plant to meet emissions requirements, retain plant workforces, preserve communities, and maintain grid reliability. This presentation provides a summary of this study, focusing on how systems engineering approach was used to arrive at a proposed design concept that met multiple objectives and requirements. There will be three main parts for this presentation. The first part of the presentation will focus on how different systems engineering was applied for this work. In particular, the following areas: stakeholder engagement, site selection process, developing requirements and use cases for the integrated system, defining the system and its boundary, coming up with different system architecture/option, performing a techno-economic analysis to compare the different options and down selection of the preferred option, will be discusses. For these areas, discussion on the decisions on how much breadth and depth to go into each area will be provided. These discussions provide good insights into how to apply systems engineering. The second part of the presentation will provide a deeper dive into the two recommended integration options that repurpose coal-fired power plants with Malta PHES system. The comparison of the two options and general guidance of how to choose an option will be provided. This is particularly useful for utilities who are facing coal-plant retirements. The two options will be compared based on its performance (such as power output, efficiency), complexity, and cost. The social impact on local communities of the two options will also be discussed. The final part of the presentation will discuss the impact that this work has had, including Malta Inc. being invited to the White House to discuss progress and outcomes of this work with the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization. In summary, this presentation aims to provide a showcase of how sy

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Challenges and Opportunities for Electric Utility Modeling and Asset Valuation Frameworks: Case Study on Valuing New Pumped Storage Hydropower

Asset valuation by electric utilities is becoming increasingly difficult in the rapidly changing electric sector. Rapid deployment of variable generation and inverter-based storage systems along with uncertain demand growth, climate, policies, and other factors create a challenging environment for understanding the value proposition of a new potential asset. This report describes an effort between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and three U.S. Department of Energy laboratories to perform a detailed review of utility modeling and analysis practices for asset valuation and identify challenges and opportunities for advancing its methods into the future. It focuses on a case study of new potential pumped storage hydropower (PSH) because of growing interest in new PSH capacity to provide energy balancing, firm capacity, and a range of ancillary services. Staff from the DOE labs conducted systematic interviews about current practices in capacity expansion modeling, production-cost modeling, hydrological modeling, and transmission stability modeling while also discussing how scenario analysis is conducted and how models and data are integrated. The effort resulted in a set of model, integration, and scenario recommendations that could be valuable to TVA, other utilities, system operators, and other stakeholders conducting integrated grid analysis. Individual model recommendations suggest exploring computational tradeoffs with detail and resolution across spatiotemporal structure, supply- and demand-side details, transmission overlays, market interactions, and ancillary services. Automated processes to pass data between models and conduct larger scenario suites could also enhance valuation practices by enabling a more consistent study of asset value across a broader range of uncertain future grid conditions where PSH could be particularly valuable. TVA and other industry stakeholders can learn from and adapt applied research-grade methods developed by DOE laboratories and other research institutions to improve decision making and accelerate progress towards a reliable, economic, sustainable energy system.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Design and Performance of lithium-Ion Batteries for Achieving Electric Vehicle Takeoff, Flight, and Landing

Today, the burgeoning drive towards global urbanization with over half the earth’s population living in cities, has created major challenges with regards to intracity and intercity transit and mobility. This problem is compounded due to the fact that almost always urbanization and increase in standard of living drives individual automobile ownerships. Over 95% of automobiles are presently powered by some form of fossil fuel and as an unintended consequence, urban centers have also been centers for peak greenhouse gas emissions, a major contributor to global climate change. A revolutionary solution to this conundrum is flight capable electric automobiles or electric aerial vehicles that can tackle both urban mobility and climate change challenges. For such advanced electric platforms, energy storage and delivery component is the vital component towards achieving takeoff, flight, cruise, and landing. The requirements and duty cycle demands on the energy storage system is drastically different when compared to the performance metrics required for terrestrial electric vehicles. As the widely deployed lithium ion-based battery systems are often the primary go-to energy storage choice in electric vehicle related applications, it is imperative that performance metrics and specifications for such batteries towards areal electric vehicles need to be established. In this nascent field, there exists ample opportunities for battery material innovations, understanding degradation mechanism, battery design, development and deployment of battery control and management systems. Thus, this chapter comprehensively discusses battery requirements and identifies battery material chemistries suitable for handling aerial electric automobile duty cycles. The chapter also discusses the battery cell-level metrics pertaining to electrochemical, chemical, mechanical, and structural parameters. Furthermore, specific models for battery degradation, state of health (SOH), capacity and models for full cell performance and degradation are also discussed here. Finally, the chapter also discusses battery safety and future directions of batteries that would power these next generation urban electric aircrafts.

Amin, Ruhul↗

Fully Exploited Oxygen Redox Reaction by the Inter-Diffused Cations in Co-Free Li-Rich Materials for High Performance Li-Ion Batteries

To meet the growing demand for global electrical energy storage, high-energy-density electrode materials are required for Li-ion batteries. To overcome the limit of the theoretical energy density in conventional electrode materials based solely on the transition metal redox reaction, the oxygen redox reaction in electrode materials has become an essential component because it can further increase the energy density by providing additional available electrons. However, the increase in the contribution of the oxygen redox reaction in a material is still limited due to the lack of understanding its controlled parameters. Here, it is first proposed that Li-transition metals (TMs) inter-diffusion between the phases in Li-rich materials can be a key parameter for controlling the oxygen redox reaction in Li-rich materials. The resulting Li-rich materials can achieve fully exploited oxygen redox reaction and thereby can deliver the highest reversible capacity leading to the highest energy density, ≈1100 Wh kg -1 among Co-free Li-rich materials. The strategy of controlling Li/transition metals (TMs) inter-diffusion between the phases in Li-rich materials will provide feasible way for further achieving high-energy-density electrode materials via enhancing the oxygen redox reaction for high-performance Li-ion batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Accelerating Battery Simulations by Using High Performance Computing and Opportunities with Machine Learning

The US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that the battery pack cost of $60 per kilowatt-hour while increasing the driving range to over 300 miles and vehicle charging under 15 min or less would enable mass penetration of electric vehicles in the USA by 2030. These projections are based on the currently available high-density cell chemistry combined with a system level design and optimized electrodes. Electrodes for current state-of-the-art lithium-ion cell technology are fabricated from electrode slurry comprising of active material, polymeric binder, and conductive diluent such as carbon black that are coated on metal current collectors such as copper and aluminum. Given these challenging requirements for development of electrical energy storage devices for future transportation needs, a predictive simulation capability which can accelerate design by considering performance and safety implications of different geometry, materials, and chemistry choices is required. In this chapter, we discuss our state-of-the-art three-dimensional modeling framework, providing examples on battery performance and safety simulations. We also present approaches to use machine learning in the context of large datasets that are becoming available.

Allu, Srikanth↗

Customer trust in their utility company and interest in household-level battery storage

Here we seek to contribute to understanding household interest in battery storage, particularly the role of customer trust in their utility company. Using data from a survey of California households, we examine whether customers’ trust in their utility company is associated with their interest in battery storage. We find that customer trust that their utility company acts in their best interest is associated with lower levels of interest. Trust that the utility company is competent has some effect. Perceptions that battery storage has financial and environmental benefits and low nonmonetary costs are also associated with higher levels of interest.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

The impact of energy-efficiency upgrades and other distributed energy resources on a residential neighborhood-scale electrification retrofit

We report ambitious targets for carbon emissions reductions are highlighting new challenges for electrification strategies, leading to an increased focus on building load flexibility and energy management to complement the variability inherent in renewable energy generation. Over the next decade millions of existing homes could undergo electrification retrofits, and there is an urgent need to understand the potential impacts of electrifying major residential loads such as water and space heating on community load characteristics, resident energy bills, and the utility's distribution system. Behind-the-meter distributed energy resources (DERs), including efficiency measures, photovoltaics (PV), battery storage, managed electric vehicle (EV) charging, and controls such as home energy management systems (HEMS), can significantly alter a neighborhood's load profile and provide benefits to both the residents and the grid. We present a novel approach to characterizing the impact of a hypothetical neighborhood-scale residential retrofit program on individual homes' energy use profiles, associated utility bills, and the local distribution system. We modeled a mixed-fuel community of 30 single-family homes in Denver, Colorado, and compared the effects of retrofit scenarios ranging from conventional energy-efficiency upgrades to full electrification with and without more advanced DER technologies. We analyzed which packages of DERs most reliably enable demand flexibility in response to a time-of-use (TOU) rate for this and similar neighborhoods. Our buildings-to-grid co-simulation framework includes a generic secondary distribution feeder model to capture voltage profiles, transformer loading, and other grid impacts in each case. We also calculated the carbon emissions associated with energy use in the community. The methodology developed here can be broadly applied to community-scale beneficial electrification studies in other regions, climates, utility infrastructures, and building typologies to make specific, targeted recommendations based on quantified projections of energy demand in any given community. Our findings indicate that residential electrification can be achieved without negatively impacting the monthly utility bill, and that a combination of conventional energy-efficiency measures, PV, battery, controls, and managed EV charging to maximize a community's demand flexibility is a promising strategy. Adding DERs (especially PV) as part of efficient electrification produces much bigger savings than efficient electrification without DERs. A key barrier is that upgrades require upfront costs, and modest utility bill savings result in long payback periods.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Mechanically induced thermal runaway severity analysis of Li-ion batteries and continuous energy release monitoring

The large-scale deployment of Li-ion batteries in stationary energy storage and electrical vehicle applications demands a strong focus on safety, particularly on the thermal runaway risk and severity evaluation. A standardized single-side mechanical indentation test protocol was developed to induce an internal short-circuit (ISC) and evaluate cells' thermal runaway severity at different state of charge (SOC). The observed hazard severity (OHS in five categories) and evaluated scores in this work have a comprehensive consideration of each cell's capacity, initial voltage, SOC, temperature and voltage change, allowing a better evaluation of the cells' thermal runaway potential. This method was applied to about 200 Li-ion batteries in order to build an extensive thermal runaway database covering various SOCs, capacities and chemistries. In this study, we monitored the transitions of stored electrochemical energy and applied mechanical energy into both thermal energy and acoustic emissions (AE). The surface temperature and mechanical failures were monitored by infrared imaging and AE to capture critical events within battery cells throughout the mechanical indentation tests. Furthermore, the initial temperature maps can predict two types of follow-up events: thermal runaway or gradual heat release via conduction. Analyzing each cell's severity, AEs, and leveraging the evolving database offer insights into predicting occurrences of thermal runaway. The test method, thermal runaway severity evaluation and prediction, and the corresponding database provide battery designers, manufacturers, and end-users a clear overview of Li-ion batteries' thermal runaway potential under mechanical abuse, advancing the safety design of Li-ion batteries.

Acoustic emission↗

Manufacturing scalability implications of materials choice in inorganic solid-state batteries

The pursuit of scalable and manufacturable all-solid-state batteries continues to intensify, motivated by the rapidly increasing demand for safe, dense electrical energy storage. Here, we describe the numerous, often conflicting implications of materials choices that have been made in the search for effective mitigations to the interfacial instabilities plaguing solid-state batteries. Specifically, we show that the manufacturing scalability of solid-state batteries can be governed by at least three principal consequences of materials selection: (1) the availability, scaling capacity, and price volatility of the chosen materials’ constituents, (2) the manufacturing processes needed to integrate the chosen materials into full cells, and (3) the cell performance that may be practically achieved with the chosen materials and processes. While each of these factors is, in isolation, a pivotal determinant of manufacturing scalability, we show that consideration and optimization of their collective effects and trade-offs is necessary to more completely chart a scalable pathway to manufacturing.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

A low-cost sulfate-based all iron redox flow battery

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising choices for stationary electric energy storage. Nevertheless, commercialization is impeded by high-cost electrolyte and membrane materials. Here, we report a low-cost all-iron RFB that features inexpensive FeSO 4 electrolytes, microporous membrane along with a glass fiber separator. The addition of 0.1 м 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIC) overcomes the low solubility of FeSO 4 in water which is raised to 2.2 м. DFT calculations demonstrate that EMI + can strengthen the interaction between sulfate anions and water molecules. This electrolyte composition also allows both anode and cathode reactions to operate without actively maintaining a pH gradient between them, thus eliminating the need for expensive ion exchange membranes. The all-iron RFB demonstrates stable operation at a current density of 20 mA cm –2 for more than 800 cycles via a simple, periodic regeneration process. Furthermore, the system cost of FeSO 4 /EMIC RFBs is projected to be $ 50 per kWh due to its low-cost active materials and the inexpensive microporous membrane. Finally, this low-cost, high-concentration all-iron RFB is a promising stationary energy–storage system for storing renewable energy.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Promises and Challenges of Next-Generation “Beyond Li-ion” Batteries for Electric Vehicles and Grid Decarbonization

The tremendous improvement in performance and cost of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have made them the technology of choice for electrical energy storage. While established battery chemistries and cell architectures for Li-ion batteries achieve good power and energy density, LIBs are unlikely to meet all the performance, cost, and scaling targets required for energy storage, in particular, in large-scale applications such as electrified transportation and grids. The demand to further reduce cost and/or increase energy density, as well as the growing concern related to natural resource needs for Li-ion have accelerated the investigation of so-called "beyond Li-ion" technologies. In this review, we will discuss the recent achievements, challenges, and opportunities of four important "beyond Li-ion" technologies: Na-ion batteries, K-ion batteries, all-solid-state batteries, and multivalent batteries. Here, the fundamental science behind the challenges, and potential solutions toward the goals of a low-cost and/or high-energy-density future, are discussed in detail for each technology. While it is unlikely that any given new technology will fully replace Li-ion in the near future, "beyond Li-ion" technologies should be thought of as opportunities for energy storage to grow into mid/large-scale applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Unraveling the Effects of Hierarchical Bimodal Microscale Porosity on Thick Electrodes

The thick electrode design is preferential in high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) systems. However, the sluggish ionic transport in homogeneous porous thick electrodes severely limits the areal capacity at high charging/discharging rates. The hierarchical porous design is a promising approach to mitigate kinetic limitations because it can distribute mass effectively in natural systems. In this study, the effects of bimodal microscale pores are fully investigated in thick electrodes from both architectural and electrochemical perspectives. Notably, by introduction of the bimodal microscale porous structure, the rate capability improves remarkably in thick electrodes with a low porosity (39%). Herein, by combining experimental results with simulations, this work presents a rational design guideline for preparing thick electrodes with a porosity at the commercial level, as well as simultaneous high energy and power densities, which brings new insights into the advanced electrode architecture design in scalable high-energy and high-power energy storage systems for practical applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Highly Selective Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO 2 into Methane on Cu–Bi Nanoalloys

Methane (CH 4 ), the main component of natural gas, is one of the most valuable products facilitating energy storage via electricity conversion. However, the poor selectivity and high overpotential for CH 4 formation with metallic Cu catalysts prevent realistic applications. Introducing a second element to tune the electronic state of Cu has been widely used as an effective method to improve catalytic performance, but achieving high selectivity and activity toward CH 4 remains challenging. Here, we successfully synthesized Cu–Bi NPs, which exhibit a CH 4 Faradaic efficiency (FE) as high as 70.6% at -1.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The FE of Cu–Bi NPs has increased by approximately 25-fold compared with that of Cu NPs. DFT calculations showed that alloying Cu with Bi significantly decreases the formation energy of *COH formation, the rate-determining step, which explains the improved performance. Further analysis showed that Cu that has been partially oxidized because of electron withdrawal by Bi is the most possible active site.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗