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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Monolithically interconnected GaAs solar cells: A new interconnection technology for high voltage solar cell output

Photovoltaic linear concentrator arrays can benefit from high performance solar cell technologies being developed at AstroPower. Specifically, these are the integration of thin GaAs solar cell and epitaxial lateral overgrowth technologies with the application of monolithically interconnected solar cell (MISC) techniques. This MISC array has several advantages which make it ideal for space concentrator systems. These are high system voltage, reliable low cost monolithically formed interconnections, design flexibility, costs that are independent of array voltage, and low power loss from shorts, opens, and impact damage. This concentrator solar cell will incorporate the benefits of light trapping by growing the device active layers over a low-cost, simple, PECVD deposited silicon/silicon dioxide Bragg reflector. The high voltage-low current output results in minimal 12R losses while properly designing the device allows for minimal shading and resistance losses. It is possible to obtain open circuit voltages as high as 67 volts/cm of solar cell length with existing technology. The projected power density for the high performance device is 5 kW/m for an AMO efficiency of 26% at 1 5X. Concentrator solar cell arrays are necessary to meet the power requirements of specific mission platforms and can supply high voltage power for electric propulsion systems. It is anticipated that the high efficiency, GaAs monolithically interconnected linear concentrator solar cell array will enjoy widespread application for space based solar power needs. Additional applications include remote man-portable or ultra-light unmanned air vehicle (UAV) power supplies where high power per area, high radiation hardness and a high bus voltage or low bus current are important. The monolithic approach has a number of inherent advantages, including reduced cost per interconnect and increased reliability of array connections. There is also a high potential for a large number of consumer products. Dual-use applications can include battery chargers and remote power supplies for consumer electronics products such as portable telephones/beepers, portable radios, CD players, dashboard radar detectors, remote walkway lighting, etc.

Dinetta, L. C.↗
DOE OSTI2017

Anisotropic and Interconnected Nanoporous Materials from Randomly End-Linked Copolymer Networks

Microphase separation within randomly end-linked copolymer networks (RECNs) provides access to disordered bicontinuous morphologies over a wide composition range of the constituent network strands. Here, we rely on end-linking of telechelic hydroxyl-terminated polystyrene (PS) and poly(D,Llactide) (PLA) chains of equal molecular weight, with a tetrafunctional isocyanate cross-linker in a good solvent for both strands, followed by solvent removal to induce microphase separation, and finally etching of the PLA phase to yield nanoporous materials. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tomographic reconstructed 3D images along with gravimetric measurements and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicate the formation of highly interconnected structures over a range of ~40-70 vol % of PLA, while N2 adsorption measurements indicate narrowly distributed pore sizes that can be tuned by varying the strand molecular weights. Stretching of the PS/PLA copolymer networks above the glass transition temperatures of both components prior to etching the PLA phase provides a straightforward means to introduce controlled anisotropy into the 3D interconnected porous materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Machine Learning of Factors Influencing Damping and Frequency of Dominant Inter-area Modes in the WECC Interconnect

The stability of inter-area electromechanical oscillations are critical to power system reliability. Due to the complexities of power systems, relationships between system conditions and oscillation characteristics, such as damping and frequency, tend to be expressed only in generalities. In this study, a list of influential factors on Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) interconnect modal characteristics are identified and evaluated with advanced machine learning techniques including principal component analysis, analysis of variance, random forest feature selection, support vector machine, and artificial neural network approaches.

Hou, Zhangshuan↗
DOE OSTI2019

Stretchable Mould Interconnect Optimization: Peeling Automation and Carrierless Techniques

The primary bottleneck of the stretchable mold interconnect (SMI) technology is its reliance on carrier boards. These are necessary to handle the meandered circuit during production and to ensure dimensional stability of the flexible circuit board before encapsulation. However, for all the problems it solves, it also introduces a new major problem by requiring a peeling step – which is difficult to automate. This manuscript aims to present some of the work that went into eliminating this problem, discussing both unsuccessful and functioning methods to tackle this conundrum and some of the experimental work that went into verifying these techniques. First, alterations to the design to simplify peeling are considered, followed by adhesivebased peeling processes and mechanical pin-based systems. Next, masking and structuring of the carrier board adhesive are considered. Finally, two carrierless methods which circumvent the problems are discussed, a two-step process – which cuts temporary support structures after partial encapsulation – and a technique whereby the frame is designed to fail in a controlled manner during the first use of the circuit, creating a carrierless process feasible for high-volume production.

Plovie, Bart↗
DOE OSTI2013

Integrated Energy-Water Planning in the Western and Texas Interconnections

While long-term regional electricity transmission planning has traditionally focused on cost, infrastructure utilization, and reliability, issues concerning the availability of water represent an emerging issue. Thermoelectric expansion must be considered in the context of competing demands from other water use sectors balanced with fresh and non-fresh water supplies subject to climate variability. An integrated Energy-Water Decision Support System (DSS) is being developed that will enable planners in the Western and Texas Interconnections to analyze the potential implications of water availability and cost for long-range transmission planning. The project brings together electric transmission planners (Western Electricity Coordinating Council and Electric Reliability Council of Texas) with western water planners (Western Governors’ Association and the Western States Water Council). This paper lays out the basic framework for this integrated Energy-Water DSS.

electricity↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Grassroots Network and Community Roadmap for Interconnected Autonomous Science Laboratories for Accelerated Discovery

Scientific discovery is being revolutionized by AI and autonomous systems, yet current autonomous laboratories remain isolated islands unable to collaborate across institutions. We present the Autonomous Interconnected Science Lab Ecosystem (AISLE), a grassroots network transforming fragmented capabilities into a unified system that shorten the path from ideation to innovation to impact and accelerates discovery from decades to months. AISLE addresses five critical dimensions: (1) cross-institutional equipment orchestration, (2) intelligent data management with FAIR compliance, (3) AI-agent driven orchestration grounded in scientific principles, (4) interoperable agent communication interfaces, and (5) AI/ML-integrated scientific education. By connecting autonomous agents across institutional boundaries, autonomous science can unlock research spaces inaccessible to traditional approaches while democratizing cutting-edge technologies. This paradigm shift toward collaborative autonomous science promises breakthroughs in sustainable energy, materials development, and public health.

Ferreira da Silva, Rafael [Oak Ridge National Labo↗
DOE OSTI2025

Policy and Cost Allocation Considerations for Large Electric Load Interconnections: Emerging Policy Trends in Rate Structures, Interconnection, and Cost Impacts on Other System Users

Load growth in the United States is rapidly increasing: load from data centers alone has tripled over the past decade, and this growth is forecasted to continue accelerating. These and other large electric loads (LELs) promise economic benefits at the state and local level, but their deployment has also led to increasing concerns about grid impacts and potential cost shifts onto other ratepayers. Legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders are increasingly proposing and enacting policies in effort to balance these and other considerations. This white paper reviews state-level legislation, selected utility rate cases, and relevant federal orders in an effort to describe and categorize relevant trends in policies related to LEL cost allocation, interconnection, and deployment. Policy categories identified through this review include tax incentives, rate actions, and requirements related to interconnection, permitting, and reporting. By offering a taxonomy of policies, this white paper aims to offer a resource to policymakers and other stakeholders navigating this transformative moment for the grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Communication—Reactive Sintering of a CoFe 2 O 4 Coating on Ferritic Stainless Steels for SOFC Interconnect Application

A mixed Fe+CoO precursor was successfully utilized to synthesize a dense CoFe 2 O 4 spinel coating on the Crofer 22 APU interconnect via reactive sintering at 900°C for 2 h in air without the use of any reduction treatment. Both the uncoated and coated samples were subject to thermal oxidation at 850°C for 500 h in air. Phase constituents, microstructure, and area specific resistance (ASR) of the uncoated and coated samples before and after the oxidation testing were evaluated. The CoFe 2 O 4 layer effectively reduced the Cr 2 O 3 scale growth and lowered the scale ASR.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Large-scale optimal control of interconnected natural gas and electrical transmission systems

We present a detailed optimal control model that captures spatiotemporal interactions between gas and electric transmission networks. We use the model to study flexibility and economic opportunities provided by coordination. A large-scale case study in the Illinois system reveals that coordination can enable the delivery of significantly larger amounts of natural gas to the power grid. In particular, under a coordinated setting, gas-fired generators act as distributed demand response resources that can be controlled by the gas pipeline operator. This enables more efficient control of pressures and flows in space and time and overcomes delivery bottlenecks. We demonstrate that the additional flexibility not only can benefit the gas operator but can also lead to more efficient power grid operations and results in increased revenue for gas-fired power plants. We also use the optimal control model to analyze computational issues arising in these complex models. We demonstrate that the interconnected Illinois system with full physical resolution gives rise to a highly nonlinear optimal control problem with 4400 differential and algebraic equations and 1040 controls that can be solved with a state-of-the-art sparse optimization solver. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chiang, Nai-Yuan↗
DOE OSTI2016

Mitigating Interconnection Challenges of the High Penetration Utility-Interconnected Photovoltaic (PV) in the Electrical Distribution Systems: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-14-563

Various interconnection challenges exist when connecting distributed PV into the electrical distribution grid in terms of safety, reliability, and stability of the electric power systems. Some of the urgent areas for research, as identified by inverter manufacturers, installers and utilities, are potential for transient overvoltage from PV inverters, multi-inverter anti-islanding, impact of smart inverters on volt-VAR support, impact of bidirectional power flow, and potential for distributed generation curtailment solutions to mitigate grid stability challenges. Under this project, NREL worked with SolarCity to address these challenges through research, testing and analysis at the Energy System Integration Facility (ESIF). Inverters from different manufacturers were tested at ESIF and NREL's unique power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) capability was utilized to evaluate various system-level impacts. Through the modeling, simulation, and testing, this project eliminated critical barriers on high PV penetration and directly supported the Department of Energy's SunShot goal of increasing the solar PV on the electrical grid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗