SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
This annual report of the Alternative Fuel Transportation Program, which ensures compliance with U.S. Department of Energy regulations covering state government and alternative fuel provider fleets pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), as amended, provides fleet compliance results for manufacturing year 2022/fiscal year 2023.
Gas chromatography (GC) is undoubtedly the analytical technique of choice for analyzing the composition of petroleum-based fuels. Over the past twenty years, as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) has evolved, fuel analysis has often been highlighted in scientific reports, as their complexity allows for illustration of the impressive peak capacity gains afforded by GC×GC. Indeed, several research groups in recent years have applied GC×GC and chemometrics to demonstrate the potential of these analytical tools to address important compliance (tax evasion, tax credits, physical quality standards) and forensic (arson investigations, oil spills) applications involving fuels. None the less, routine use of GC×GC in forensic laboratories has been limited largely by (1) legal and regulatory guidelines, (2) lack of chemometrics training, and (3) concerns about the reproducibility of GC×GC. The goal of this review is to highlight recent advances in one-dimensional GC (1D-GC) and GC×GC analyses of fuels for compliance and forensic applications, in an effort to assist scientists in overcoming the aforementioned hindrances. An introduction to 1D-GC principles, GC×GC technology (column stationary phases and modulators) and several chemometric techniques will be provided. More specifically, chemometric techniques will be broken down into (1) signal pre-processing, (2) peak decomposition, identification and quantification, and (3) classification and pattern recognition. Examples of compliance and forensic applications will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the demonstrated success of the employed chemometric techniques. Overall, this review will hopefully make 1D-GC and GC×GC coupled with chemometric data analysis tools more accessible to the larger scientific community, and aid in eventual widespread standardization.
The Ecological Monitoring and Compliance Program (EMAC), funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO), monitors the ecosystem of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and ensures compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to NNSS biota. This report summarizes the program’s activities conducted by Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS), during calendar year 2019. Program activities included (a) biological surveys at proposed activity sites, (b) desert tortoise compliance, (c) ecosystem monitoring, (d) sensitive and protected/regulated plant monitoring, (e) sensitive and protected/regulated animal monitoring, and (f) habitat restoration monitoring. During 2019, all applicable laws, regulations, and permit requirements were met, enabling EMAC to achieve its intended goals and objectives.
What percent of newly constructed commercial buildings comply with the energy code? How much energy and cost could be saved if the compliance increased? Which code requirements have both low compliance rates and high savings potential? These are the questions U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is trying to answer through its Commercial Energy Code Field Study. Previous commercial studies have been very limited and did not result in a widely accepted and tested methodology. DOE’s goal is to create a standardized methodology that can produce actionable results at a reasonable study cost, that can be used by state and local governments and utilities and provides valuable information to policy makers. This paper builds on the methodology presented at the 2016 Summer Study and provides a first glimpse of the results as seen in the field. The field study team has implemented the pilot methodology, compiling a data set of over 200 office and retail buildings in climate zones 2A and 5A. The approach is based on identifying lost savings on a total energy cost basis rather than simply counting the quantity of measures that do not meet code. This paper will review the findings of that analysis, discuss critical aspects of the methodology, such as sampling and recruitment strategies, and identify areas where the greatest return—bang for the buck—exists in improving compliance with codes in commercial buildings. In addition, the team will make specific recommendations for jurisdictions looking to use the methodology to maximize energy code savings achieved in the field.
The Ecological Monitoring and Compliance Program (EMAC), funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO), monitors the ecosystem of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and ensures compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to NNSS biota. This report summarizes the program’s activities conducted by Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS), during calendar year 2020. Program activities included (a) biological surveys at proposed activity sites, (b) desert tortoise compliance, (c) ecosystem monitoring, (d) sensitive and protected/regulated plant monitoring, (e) sensitive and protected/regulated animal monitoring, and (f) habitat restoration monitoring. During 2020, all applicable laws, regulations, and permit requirements were met, enabling EMAC to achieve its intended goals and objectives.
In 2019 a large-scale national effort was launched with support from U.S. Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). The project aimed to develop a long-term vision and a roadmap for achieving a practical application of whole building performance-based code and above code program compliance in commercial buildings. The work was aided by engaging over 70 stakeholders across the country representing jurisdictions, above-code programs such as LEED and ENERGY STAR Multifamily Program, members of the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and other Standard committees, IBPSA and software developers. The performance path requires whole building energy modeling and is gaining momentum. Many see it as the future of the commercial energy codes and the main pathway for achieving zero energy buildings. The paper describes the findings from a stakeholder survey funded by NEEA on the current state of performance-based path, its market penetration, trends, implementation practices and adoption challenges. It discusses the patterns revealed by experience of the states with decades-long history of performance-based compliance such as Florida and California and opportunities for taking advantage of the synergies between code and above-code programs. In addition, the paper provides an overview of the tools and resources developed as part of the effort including the compliance form for ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Section 11 and Appendix G, modeling submittal review manual, and modeler and reviewer qualification requirements. The tools and resources would help remove market barriers, deliver immediate benefits to jurisdictions and rating authorities, and achieve energy efficiency through whole-building performance path.
Costs to permit Marine Energy projects are poorly understood. In this paper we examine environmental compliance and permitting costs for 19 projects in the U.S., covering the last 2 decades. Guided discussions were conducted with developers over a 3-year period to obtain historical and ongoing project cost data relative to environmental studies (e.g., baseline or pre-project site characterization as well as post-installation effects monitoring), stakeholder outreach, and mitigation, as well as qualitative experience of the permitting process. Data are organized in categories of technology type, permitted capacity, pre- and post-installation, geographic location, and funding types. We also compare our findings with earlier logic models created for the Department of Energy (i.e., Reference Models). Environmental studies most commonly performed were for Fish and Fisheries, Noise, Marine Habitat/Benthic Studies and Marine Mammals. Studies for tidal projects were more expensive than those performed for wave projects and the range of reported project costs tended to be wider than ranges predicted by logic models. For eight projects reporting full project costs, from project start to FERC or USACE permit, the average amount for environmental permitting compliance was 14.6%.
The U.S. Department of Energy developed an electronic reporting spreadsheet to facilitate fleets' preparation of a complete Alternative Compliance (AC) annual report. All fleets that participate in AC are encouraged to use the spreadsheet. The following examples include one AC annual report that uses the spreadsheet and one AC annual report that does not use the spreadsheet. Both examples include all components that must be included in a fleet's AC annual report. For further instructions on how to use the reporting spreadsheet, review the Alternative Compliance Guidance Document.
In today's rapidly advancing world, electronic devices and systems are fundamental to a wide range of industries, including renewable energy and global telecommunications infrastructure. However, as these devices become more complex and widespread, the risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) also increases, underscoring the importance of stringent Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements for maintaining system integrity. This paper addresses the specific challenges associated with grid-connected power converters (GCPCs), which are critical in integrating renewable energy into existing power grids. It explores the complexities of EMI in the context of GCPCs, particularly given the recent emergence of tailored EMC standards for these systems. The paper also highlights the shortcomings of applying generic or unrelated standards to GCPCs, often leading to inadequate compliance and testing protocols. Through a detailed analysis of existing standards and recent advancements in product-specific EMC requirements, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, offering guidance to stakeholders on navigating the intricate EMC compliance landscape, with a focus on methodologies, testing procedures, and the evolving regulatory environment for GCPCs.
US Department of Energy national laboratories can play an integral role in not only the advancement of science but also in the treatment of various medical conditions through research and development activities conducted at radioisotope production facilities. Here, a project has been underway at Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2016 whose mission is to produce and supply the radioisotope 227 Ac, which is used in a radiopharmaceutical developed to treat certain types of prostate cancer and bone metastases. Production activities result in the environmental release of airborne radioactive emissions, which are governed by Clean Air Act regulations described in 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart H. Stack 3039, the source that emits radioactive effluents from 227 Ac production, is subject to additional requirements outlined in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) N13.1-1969 due to its grandfathered status. Radioactive emissions are limited to levels below those that would cause annual compliance dose standards for members of the public to be exceeded and stack 3039 to lose its grandfathered status. To allow for maximum production of 227 Ac without exceeding relevant dose limits, monthly tracking of project emissions and resulting CAP88-PC modeled effective doses to a maximally exposed individual have been implemented. Four years of tracking data were compiled and analyzed to identify additional methods that could be used to estimate project doses more frequently, potentially further optimizing 227 Ac production while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.
With the increased observability and controllability of distribution systems, the share of behind-the-meter systems is trending upwards rapidly. As a consequence, the impact of human behaviors on system performance can no longer be ignored and should be reflected in the energy management system models. In this paper, we discuss the problem of distribution system voltage control by active power curtailment where the agent compliance of the load curtailment signal is probabilistic. We discuss the modeling of the optimal voltage control problem with probabilistic agent compliance as a chance-constrained optimization problem, its tractable safe approximation using convex restriction, and a scenario-based mixed-integer reformulation as well as the associated solution method based on augmented Lagrangian method. The numerical simulation on IEEE test system validates the effectiveness of the proposed approach in obtaining high-quality feasible load curtailment signal with low computational cost, which makes it a viable tool for real time decision making.
This presentation presents an overview of the extent to which the Federal government's fleet of motor vehicles is shown as compliant with a requirement in the Energy Policy Acts of 1992 and 2005 that the Federal government acquire alternative fuel vehicles for fleet use, causes behind the recent decrease in compliance, and a proposed change to how the fleet data collected through the Federal Automotive Statistical Tool might be used by the US Department of Energy to arrive at a more correct characterization of compliance. The presentation is intended for delivery at the February 12, 2020 meeting of the DOE-sponsored INTERFUEL working group.
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL’s) compliance with Radionuclide NESHAP 1 regulations is managed by the Radionuclide Air Emissions Management (RAEM) team, part of LANL’s Compliance Programs group (EPC-CP). One area of the Radionuclide NESHAP addresses requirements for siting a stack sample system. This memo documents the most recent performance tests of the sulfur hexafluoride detectors for use in stack gas mixing tests, as well as the functional trending test on a pair of optical particle counters, comparing results from a non-calibrated instrument to a calibrated instrument.
This document describes the end-user requirements for the Waste Compliance and Tracking System (WCATS) project in accordance with the WCATS Software Quality Management Plan, EPC-WMP-WCATSPLAN-001. The WCATS application shall support the generation, characterization, processing, and shipment of LANL radioactive, hazardous, and industrial waste. Regulatory drivers include RCRA hazardous waste, DOT shipping, NNSA nuclear material control and accountability, DOE nuclear safety, TSDF permit, and transuranic waste certification requirements. The system will utilize a task-based architecture that supports the spectrum of treatment, storage, disposal, administrative, and characterization based unit operations necessary to manage waste from cradle to grave. The application design shall readily accommodate new facilities, processes, workflow, signature requirements, and so forth, via end-user established metadata. WCATS will provide support for representing waste storage and disposal facilities, buildings, rooms, and grid layouts (x, y, z) to support waste and radioactive material inventory management. Nuclear material at risk (MAR), DOE hazard rating (e.g., Category II facility) compliance per DOE-STD-1027, and permit inventory requirements will be configurable for any storage or disposal facility, or waste operation, and the system will automatically evaluate and enforce those requirements. In addition, the application will support the characterization and management of the entire range of hazardous and radioactive wastes (TRU, MTRU, LLW, MLLW, hazardous waste, etc.) that might be colocated or processed at a permitted facility. Some capabilities not found in traditional systems include user-defined tank systems for liquid waste, user-defined work paths (i.e., sequence of operations), and an equipment subsystem for tracking the calibration, maintenance, and inspection of tools used to process waste, such as torque wrenches, scales, pH probes, etc. The application incorporates a desktop and mobile user interface as shown in Figure 1. The mobile interface supports field operations, such as waste item characterization, intra-facility transfers, internal and external audits, and shipment preparation and receipt.
Prefabrication in a controlled, factory setting may improve the energy code compliance and energy performance of modular buildings compared to traditional site-built buildings. To test this premise, the work detailed in this DOE-funded commercial field study (EE0009082) compares the energy code compliance of 25 modular and 30 site-built multifamily buildings under construction in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Seattle representing climate zones 3B, 3C, 4A and 4C respectively. This dataset includes full data on 20 modular and site-built buildings and partial data on 35 modular and site-built buildings that had started prior to or were completed after the 18-month data collection period. This study also compares the post-occupancy energy performance or energy use intensity (EUI) of an additional 23 modular multifamily buildings and 128 site-built multifamily buildings.
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL’s) compliance with Radionuclide NESHAP0F 1 regulations is managed by the Radioactive Air Emissions Management (RAEM) team, part of LANL’s Compliance Programs group (EPC-CP). One area of the Radionuclide NESHAP addresses requirements for siting a stack sample system. Prior to commissioning a new stack sampling system, the ANSI Standard for stack sampling requires that the stack sample location must meet several criteria, including uniform mixing of tracer gas (sulfur hexafluoride, SF 6 ) and tracer aerosol (liquid oil droplets) in the air stream. This memorandum will specifically focus on the tracer gas portion of the ANSI Standard. For these mix tests, tracer gas is injected into the stack air stream and the resulting air concentrations are measured across the plane of the stack at the proposed sampling location. The coefficient of variation of the media concentration must be under 20% when evaluated over the central 2/3 area of the stack or duct.
Model selection for water quality forecasting depends on many factors including analyst expertise and cost, stakeholder involvement and expected performance. Water quality forecasting in arid river basins is especially challenging given the importance of protecting beneficial uses in these environments and the livelihood of agricultural communities. In the agriculture-dominated San Joaquin River Basin of California, real-time salinity management (RTSM) is a state-sanctioned program that helps to maximize allowable salt export while protecting existing basin beneficial uses of water supply. The RTSM strategy supplants the federal total maximum daily load (TMDL) approach that could impose fines associated with exceedances of monthly and annual salt load allocations of up to $1 million per year based on average year hydrology and salt load export limits. The essential components of the current program include the establishment of telemetered sensor networks, a web-based information system for sharing data, a basin-scale salt load assimilative capacity forecasting model and institutional entities tasked with performing weekly forecasts of river salt assimilative capacity and scheduling west-side drainage export of salt loads. Web-based information portals have been developed to share model input data and salt assimilative capacity forecasts together with increasing stakeholder awareness and involvement in water quality resource management activities in the river basin. Two modeling approaches have been developed simultaneously. The first relies on a statistical analysis of the relationship between flow and salt concentration at three compliance monitoring sites and the use of these regression relationships for forecasting. The second salt load forecasting approach is a customized application of the Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF), a watershed water quality simulation model that has been configured to estimate daily river salt assimilative capacity and to provide decision support for real-time salinity management at the watershed level. Analysis of the results from both model-based forecasting approaches over a period of five years shows that the regression-based forecasting model, run daily Monday to Friday each week, provided marginally better performance. However, the regression-based forecasting model assumes the same general relationship between flow and salinity which breaks down during extreme weather events such as droughts when water allocation cutbacks among stakeholders are not evenly distributed across the basin. A recent test case shows the utility of both models in dealing with an exceedance event at one compliance monitoring site recently introduced in 2020.
This panel focused on challenges and lessons learned in radioactive waste packaging, transportation, compliance, and receipt for fabricators of radioactive waste packaging. World-wide companies are urged to participate. Participants provided their perspectives and suggestions on how to increase efficiencies through eliminating inconsistencies between specifications and other requirements to provide products at a reasonable cost and enhance communication to enable better service. Panelists with presentations: PACTEC (Bill Smart); Waste Packaging Strategy and Challenges at Whiteshell (Miles Smith); Challenges and Lessons Learned in Radwaste Packaging, Transportation, Compliance and Receipt (Dan Payne)