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At least 361 records · Page 20

Aerospace Systems Design in NASA's Collaborative Engineering Environment

Past designs of complex aerospace systems involved an environment consisting of collocated design teams with project managers, technical discipline experts, and other experts (e.g. manufacturing and systems operations). These experts were generally qualified only on the basis of past design experience and typically had access to a limited set of integrated analysis tools. These environments provided less than desirable design fidelity, often lead to the inability of assessing critical programmatic and technical issues (e.g., cost risk, technical impacts), and generally derived a design that was not necessarily optimized across the entire system. The continually changing, modern aerospace industry demands systems design processes that involve the best talent available (no matter where it resides) and access to the best design and analysis tools. A solution to these demands involves a design environment referred to as collaborative engineering. The collaborative engineering environment evolving within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a capability that enables the Agency's engineering infrastructure to interact and use the best state-of-the-art tools and data across organizational boundaries. Using collaborative engineering, the collocated team is replaced with an interactive team structure where the team members are geographically distributed and the best engineering talent can be applied to the design effort regardless of physical location. In addition, a more efficient, higher quality design product is delivered by bringing together the best engineering talent with more up-to-date design and analysis tools. These tools are focused on interactive, multidisciplinary design and analysis with emphasis on the complete life cycle of the system, and they include nontraditional, integrated tools for life cycle cost estimation and risk assessment. NASA has made substantial progress during the last two years in developing a collaborative engineering environment. NASA is planning to use this collaborative engineering infrastructure to provide better aerospace systems life cycle design and analysis, which includes analytical assessment of the technical and programmatic aspects of a system from "cradle to grave." This paper describes the recent NASA developments in the area of collaborative engineering, the benefits (realized and anticipated) of using the developed capability, and the long-term plans for implementing this capability across the Agency.

Monell, Donald W.↗

Aerospace Systems Design in NASA's Collaborative Engineering Environment

Past designs of complex aerospace systems involved an environment consisting of collocated design teams with project managers, technical discipline experts, and other experts (e.g., manufacturing and systems operation). These experts were generally qualified only on the basis of past design experience and typically had access to a limited set of integrated analysis tools. These environments provided less than desirable design fidelity, often lead to the inability of assessing critical programmatic and technical issues (e.g., cost, risk, technical impacts), and generally derived a design that was not necessarily optimized across the entire system. The continually changing, modern aerospace industry demands systems design processes that involve the best talent available (no matter where it resides) and access to the the best design and analysis tools. A solution to these demands involves a design environment referred to as collaborative engineering. The collaborative engineering environment evolving within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a capability that enables the Agency's engineering infrastructure to interact and use the best state-of-the-art tools and data across organizational boundaries. Using collaborative engineering, the collocated team is replaced with an interactive team structure where the team members are geographical distributed and the best engineering talent can be applied to the design effort regardless of physical location. In addition, a more efficient, higher quality design product is delivered by bringing together the best engineering talent with more up-to-date design and analysis tools. These tools are focused on interactive, multidisciplinary design and analysis with emphasis on the complete life cycle of the system, and they include nontraditional, integrated tools for life cycle cost estimation and risk assessment. NASA has made substantial progress during the last two years in developing a collaborative engineering environment. NASA is planning to use this collaborative engineering engineering infrastructure to provide better aerospace systems life cycle design and analysis, which includes analytical assessment of the technical and programmatic aspects of a system from "cradle to grave." This paper describes the recent NASA developments in the area of collaborative engineering, the benefits (realized and anticipated) of using the developed capability, and the long-term plans for implementing this capability across Agency.

Monell, Donald W.↗

Audits and Energy Efficiency in Support of Resilience

Presentation provides an overview of how facility energy and water efficiency audits can provide resilience benefits, how NREL's REopt Lite web tool optimizes the economic and resilience benefits of distributed energy resources, and how FEMP's Technical Resilience Navigator assesses risk to a site's critical functions and prioritizes solutions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Equipment List Comparing Balance of Plant Containing a Heat Pump against a Reference Electricity Generating Plant

Approximately two-thirds of U.S. energy consumption in the industrial and transportation sectors relies on fossil fuels. These sectors require high-quality heat, i.e., thermal energy at very high temperatures, for molecular transformation processes. The Integrated Energy Systems (IES) program aims to assess the economic potential of utilizing nuclear-grade heat from Advanced Reactors (ARs) to meet the high-quality heat demands. By having industrial processes (IPs) supplied with nuclear-generated heat, manufacturers could benefit from more stable and potentially lower energy costs, reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets. The main outcome of the FY24 research was the thermodynamic assessment and gap analysis of steam generation for IP applications. The study completed in June 2024 demonstrated that the required steam temperatures could be achieved by integrating a heat pump into an AR power plant. After identifying the thermal demands of target IPs, multiple balance of plant configurations for the Xe-100 reactor by X-energy, incorporating a heat pump, were analyzed. Their technical feasibilities were assessed, including the design of suitable axial compressors for these applications. Comparative performance analysis showed that thermal efficiency alone is insufficient to evaluate system suitability. To address this, a new indicator (heat factor) was introduced in the report released in September 2024 to quantify the low-quality thermal power needed to produce one unit of high-quality heat for the IP. Results showed that integrating heat pumps into Rankine cycles enables higher steam temperatures, though at the expense of increased thermal energy input. This report builds upon and completes the foundational work previously undertaken. It focuses on the design of two Balance of Plant (BOP) configurations, both based on Rankine energy conversion cycles: “Case 1”, which involves electricity generation only, and “Case 2”, which combines electricity and high-temperature heat generation for industrial use. For each configuration, a comprehensive equipment list was developed, detailing all major components such as turbines, compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, and control systems. These lists will serve as the basis for future comparative cost analyses, with the goal of assessing the number and type of components required to integrate a heat pump into the Rankine cycle and to establish a heat transport system capable of delivering thermal energy from the nuclear plant to an industrial facility. Using the constitutive equations presented in the June 2024 milestone, the operating conditions of all BOP components for both “Case 1” and “Case 2” were evaluated. These parameters—such as temperature, pressure, mass flow rate, and steam quality—served as the basis for calculating the associated thermal and mechanical power flows. The net power required from the heat pump to raise the steam temperature to the target level was also determined. The thermodynamic performance of the configuration was then assessed using the heat factor metric. The key outcome of this analysis is a comparative table that presents the equipment that was used in the “Case 1” and “Case 2” configurations. This study offers a preliminary comparison of the two designs, providing insight into the impact of integrating a heat pump in terms of component requirements and thermal efficiency. This equipment list, together with the evaluated operating conditions, also serves as a foundation for the economic analyses scheduled for the current fiscal year.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

The Renewable Energy Potential (reV) Model: A Geospatial Platform for Technical Potential and Supply Curve Modeling

The Renewable Energy Potential (reV) model is a platform for detailed assessment of renewable energy (RE) resources and their geospatial intersection with grid infrastructure and land use characteristics. The reV model currently supports photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP) and land-based wind turbine technologies. Modules in the reV framework function at different spatial and temporal resolutions, allowing for assessment of resource potential, technical potential and supply curves at varying levels of detail. The platform runs on NREL's High Performance Computing system, providing scalable and efficient performance from a single location all the way up to continental scales, for a single year or decades of time series resource data. Coupled with NREL's System Advisor Model (SAM), reV supports resource assessment from 5-minute to hourly temporal resolution and provides for analysis of long-term (i.e., year-on-year) variability of RE generation (e.g., interannual variability and exceedance probabilities). Technical potential is measured as a function of resource potential and limitations put on developable land area defined by the user. For example, the user can limit development by land ownership, terrain, land use/cover, and urban areas, as well as custom inputs. Technology, grid interconnection and operation costs, based on the latest market data and future projections, are also embedded in the model. The supply curve module is a spatial sorting algorithm based on plant siting, grid interconnection cost, and regional competition, which provides a geographically discrete estimate of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and supply (i.e., capacity) for specific renewable technologies. The reV model currently provides broad coverage across North America, South and Central Asia, South America and South Africa to inform national- and international-scale analyses as well as regional infrastructure and deployment planning.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Lac du Flambeau - Climate Change Resilience Initiative (Final Report)

The goals of this project were to create a comprehensive Environmental Resiliency Plan and to increase the capacity of all Lac du Flambeau Tribal Program Managers to incorporate environmental impact thinking into the everyday management of their departments. Environmental Resiliency Planning utilized current Tribal documents, which include the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP), the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Emergency Management Plan (EMP), and the Lac du Flambeau Strategic Energy Plan, as guidance throughout the process. A vulnerability assessment initiated our technical process and allowed us to identify, quantify, and prioritize (or rank) the vulnerabilities in our system. This set the stage for a reduction and resilience plan as well as providing insight for revisions of existing management plans such as the Energy and Integrated Resources Management Plans

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A Rapid Sequential Separation Method for Determination of Actinides and TENORM in Fracking Wastes - 20223

With recent advances in unconventional drilling technology in the US and around the world, the risks of environmental contamination and exposure due to technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) from fracking wastes have also surfaced. Although the Permian Basin (southeastern New Mexico, western Texas) has long been a modest producer of oil, the advent of fracking technology a decade ago turned it into hot property for producers. A 2018 assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous oil and gas resources by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates an average 46.3 billion barrels of oil and 281 trillion cubic feet of gas. This is likely to increase the use of unconventional drilling and TENORM generation. TENORM concentrations in oil and gas exploration and production waste can be several hundred to several thousand times higher than background TENORM concentrations. Both the thorium and uranium decay chains contribute to airborne radionuclides arising from the radon gas escaping the ground and subsequently decaying as airborne particulates. Additionally, radon decay products {sup 210}Pb and {sup 210}Po can build up in scale on the internal surfaces of oil and gas handling pipes and in sludge in refineries, becoming potential inhalation and ingestion hazards for workers. Furthermore, southeastern NM is also home to world's only licensed and operating transuranic nuclear waste repository, the DoE's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Plutonium isotopes ({sup 239+240}Pu) and {sup 241}Am, are expected to account for more than 99% of the total radioactivity scheduled for disposal in the WIPP repository. Thus, an improved understanding of the environmental fate and transport of TENORM, liberated by unconventional drilling, is essential to assess how best to protect individuals and the environment. In this context, accurate measurement of TENORM and actinides in environmental and biological samples is essential. In this presentation, a new sequential method for the separation and pre-concentration of actinides (Pu, Am, Np) and TENORM (Po, U and Th) derived from oil and gas exploration is proposed. The TEVA method involves a rapid co-precipitation step to remove matrix interferences from the samples, followed by plutonium oxidation state adjustment to Pu (IV) and an incubation period of ∼ 1 hour at 50-60 deg. C to allow the resultant Po (II) to oxidize into Po(IV). The polonium, neptunium, thorium and plutonium are then separated on a TEVA column, while americium and uranium are separated on a TRU column. After separation, the alpha counting source was prepared by micro-precipitation with copper sulfide (CuS) for polonium and neodymium fluoride (NdF{sub 3}) for actinides. The efficiency and reliability of the procedures were tested by analyzing filter, drinking water and frack sand samples. The method is simple, robust and can be performed quickly with excellent removal of interferences, high chemical recovery and very good alpha peak resolution. (authors)

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

SAF: a promising approach to meet growing jet fuel demand

SAF provides a promising approach to aid the rising jet fuel demand from increased travel around the world and reduce the lifecycle emissions from the aviation sector. Although the feasibility of SAF pathways has been demonstrated through economic and environmental metrics quantification, the models used to quantify these variables have a high degree of variability in terms of accuracy and thereby reliability. To understand how to adopt and commercialize SAF, we need to harmonize these process models and assess metrics and technical limitations related to their production technologies. We find the production cost of SAF using hydro processed fatty acids and esters (HEFA), Fischer-Tropsch (FT), and alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) to be $\$$3-$\$$6/gallon gasoline equivalent (gge) and life cycle emissions to be lower than Jet A, except for ATJ using corn grain (≤25%). HEFA utilizing oil feedstocks has the lowest production cost (~$\$$2.9/gge) and highest jet yield (>150 gge/dry ton), while FT has the largest emission reduction (94%) compared to fossil jet. A unique contribution of this study is a comparative analysis of metrics related to SAF processes across technical, economic, and sustainability aspects. A cross-comparison of these metrics shows HEFA using fats, oils, and grease have the most favorable ratings, while HEFA using algae and ATJ using corn stover have more neutral and unfavorable ratings, respectively. These ratings can be improved by implementing the right combination of practical and technological advancements.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Performance and durability of electrically conductive tape for shingled Si heterojunction technology cells

We report electrically conductive tape (ECT) was characterized and used to assemble shingled cell strings at low temperature to achieve high reliability Pb- and Ag-free interconnections. The volume resistivity for two considered ECTs are 0.13 ± 0.06 mΩ·cm and 0.47 ± 0.20 mΩ·cm and specific contact resistances, 6.85± 2.00 mΩ·cm 2 and 6.30 ± 0.37 mΩ·cm 2 using the emerging IEC 62788-8-1 Technical Specification for assessment of electrically conductive adhesives (ECA). Durability and performance of the technology in glass–glass mini modules were evaluated with temperature cycling, damp heat testing, and combined-accelerated stress testing (CAST). Through temperature cycling (-40°C to 85°C) applying five times the mini module short-circuit current in forward bias and in the multi climate CAST protocol, there was negligible degradation of fill factor after replacing connectors at the modules' cable leads; however, CAST resulted in short circuit current loss attributed to degradation in light collection by the cells, not the ECT. The IEC 61215-2 85°C, 85% relative humidity damp heat testing showed susceptibility of the HJT cells to effects of humidity in the electroluminescence intensity around the module perimeter that degraded power performance by 4% (relative). Contrasting the IEC 61215-2 qualification testing-based damp heat testing with CAST, factors such as the optical stress of CAST may precipitate the degradation of the modules whereas the humidity levels and duration of IEC 61215-2 damp heat testing may lead to excessive levels of humidity diffused into the modules, potentially resulting in degradation that is unrepresentative of the field.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Detecting missing struts in metallic micro-lattices using high speed melt pool thermal monitoring

Metal lattices are an important class of cellular materials that offer great advantages by providing high-strength and lightweight structures as compared to bulk materials. Progress in additive manufacturing techniques has led to increased complexity in design and shape of produced objects and is greatly beneficial for the development of metallic lattice structures. However additive manufacturing of lattices suffers from unpredictable defect creation that can compromise its mechanical integrity. Although post-build inspection techniques can provide quality assurance of the process, accurate assessment can be technically challenging, time consuming and costly. In this work, we investigate the use of high-speed measurements of thermal emission from the melt pool to identify defective individual struts formed with a missing bottom half in an otherwise fully built lattice structure produced with laser powder bed fusion. Surprisingly, results indicate lower photodiode signal, suggesting colder melt pool surface temperature, when printing struts with missing bottom half as compared to nominal struts. Additional thermographic imaging and multi-physics simulations reveal that the low photodiode signal is accompanied by presence of hot spatters carrying heat away from detection and continuous avalanche of powder on the melt pool. Based on these observations, a method was developed to identify defective individual struts with missing bottom half in full built lattices. This prediction approach provides valuable insights about part quality which are important for process qualification and illustrates the utility of melt pool thermal emission monitoring for identifying specific defects introduced by laser powder bed fusion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Community Geothermal: Energy, Cost, and Carbon Modeling for District Design - Ann Arbor, MI

This data includes results on an analysis of existing and projected energy, cost, and carbon for the City of Ann Arbor - District Geothermal Design and Deployment to Equitably Decarbonize Low Income Neighborhoods in Ann Arbor project. The scope of the project includes designing and implementing a geothermal district heating and cooling system that reduces thermal heating and cooling load by 75% and greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in the project area (262 households, 6 commercial buildings). The existing neighborhood was modeled using Design Builder, an EnergyPlus software, to understand the current energy load. The energy model was then flipped to reflect the designed district geothermal heating and cooling system to project the effect on energy, carbon, and cost. This dataset includes the analysis files utilized and created for this study. There are 3 categories of data: 1) existing/benchmarking, 2) energy modeling, and 3) post processed calculations. This follows the methodology and process of the project team, which is fully explained in file 00_Technical Economic Environmental Assessment. All uses of data are referenced throughout this assessment to their respective files included below.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

High Performing and Durable Pyrophosphate Based Composite Membranes for Intermediate Temperature Fuel Cells [Slides]

Objective: Develop a novel proton conducting electrolyte operating at >200°C with conductivity σ ≥ 100 mScm –1 and RH < 1%. Fabrication of membranes of less than 40μm thickness while retaining high conductivity will result in ASR <0.04 Ωcm 2 . Evaluate membrane durability in terms of crossover, shorting resistance, and open circuit voltage, as well as against temperature cycling. Relevance: Operating FCs in the intermediate temperature range has the potential to greatly reduce cost and simplify water and thermal management. This effort requires novel materials and approaches to meet DOE membrane performance and durability targets. MPP/Polymer composite membranes show promise in early development for application in IT-FCs for transportation applications. Approach: We have demonstrated that both cation dopants and phosphate precursor influence MPP conductivity and identified the most promising MPP compositions for membrane fabrication. The ceramic MPP materials are fabricated as a composite membrane in a 90:10 wt% ratio with Nafion. We have modified our membrane fabrication procedure to improve the density of our membranes. Accomplishments: We demonstrated through-plane membrane conductivity of 95mScm -1 at T > 200°C and RH<0.04bar with a thickness 50μm. We demonstrated FC performance up to 94hrs at 220°C and <1% RH with a 50μm thick membrane exhibiting an OCV of 0.98V and ASR of 0.08 Wcm 2 . Future work: Further decrease in ASR is expected by decreasing the membrane thickness to <40μm. ITPP with higher P:M ratio will be used to increase the conductivity of the starting material. Long term durability will be assessed against DOE technical targets

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Opportunities for Solar Industrial Process Heat in the United States

Energy used in the production and processing of materials and products represents a significant fraction of the overall energy footprint of the industrial sector. Solar technologies may provide suitable alternative to existing combustion technologies, but their relevance for industries in the United States has been largely unexplored at the necessary levels of spatial, temporal, and operational detail. To provide the first assessment of the technical opportunities for solar technologies to meet the demand for process heat in the United States, we first develop estimates of energy use by process temperature at the county and hourly resolutions for all manufacturing industries. We then estimate the opportunities for seven solar technology packages—comprised of solar thermal and photovoltaic-connected electrotechnologies—to meet process heat demand given solar resources and available land area by county.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Duke Energy Carbon-Free Resource Integration Study

Duke Energy has partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate pathways to achieving their carbon-free targets and to assess the operational impacts of the resulting system. This report details findings from Phase II of the Duke Low Carbon Resource Integration study, which consisted of three separate but interrelated analyses: (1) a resource assessment exploring the technical and economic potential and characteristics of wind and solar resources in the Carolinas; (2) capacity expansion modeling identifying the least-cost investment pathways for achieving 70% CO 2 emissions reductions in North Carolina by 2030 and a net-zero electricity system by 2050; and (3) detailed production cost modeling of power system operations at the higher shares of low- and zero-carbon emitting generation sources, informed by the capacity expansion modeling portion of the analysis. The analysis finds that Duke Energy can approach the 2030 and 2050 emissions target in North Carolina through investment in a combination of solar, wind, and storage along with maintaining its existing nuclear fleet. The average cost of CO 2 abatement in the Carolinas through 2021-2050 is on the order of $\$27-33$ per metric ton (range of $\$9-34$ per metric ton across key sensitivities).Duke Energy can expected increased interchange with neighbors to help balance higher levels of solar, although the ability to do this will depend on whether neighboring regions also move to integrate more carbon-free resources. As Duke Energy moves toward both the 2030 and 2050 targets, addressing energy needs during the winter peak period becomes particularly important, and the system relies on the availability of resources such as renewable or hydrogen combustion turbines, seasonal storage, or other similar technologies that are dispatchable but able to operate at low capacity factors.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Low Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C) Neutron Detection for Space Missions

This document examines several scalable, low Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C), neutron sensing technologies and provides an assessment of their technical readiness level (TRL) for space missions. The identification and maturation of low SWaP-C neutron sensing technologies for use in space would make neutron sensing accessible to a variety of missions currently unable to meet the payload demands.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Production of Germanium and Gallium Concentrates for Industrial Processes

A conceptual design of a process to produce germanium and gallium metal from mixed rare earth concentrates (consisting of oxides or carbonates) (MREC) produced from lignite carbon-ore was developed. The design was based on past work associated with the recovery of Ge from carbon-ore ash, modeling of the behavior of Ge and Ga in pyrometallurgical processes, and laboratory testing of the potential recovery of Ge and Ga from MREC. A teaming plan was developed that encompasses the entire supply chain that consisted of the Ge and Ga-rich carbon-ore resource, MREC pilot scale concentrate producer, MREC processing facility to produce Ge/Ga concentrates, refining of Ge and Ga concentrates to produce high purity metals (99.999+ purity), and Ge/Ga end users. A research plan was developed to transition the Ge and Ga separation from MREC, concentrating, and refining technology from a conceptual design to commercial scale. A technical and economic assessment of the conceptual design indicated that MREC derived from the UND process can produce 90 to 99% pure Ge and Ga concentrates at >20% lower costs.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Technoeconomic Analysis of Kraft Pulp Mill Integration with an Advanced Nuclear Reactor

This study focuses on post-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion for the boilers at the mill, as well as steam integration with the nuclear power plant. The primary goal of the research outlined in this report is to design, analyze, and document the integration of industrial-scale HTGR with a reference Kraft Pulp Mill. The purpose is to deliver reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable clean energy alternatives while reducing CO2 emissions. Specifically, this study focuses on 6 different scenarios that include carbon capture equipment and some of them use nuclear power to meet the heat and electricity needs of the reference plant. Also, 2 of these scenarios are created while also producing clean hydrogen through integrated High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis (HTSE). This report offers a detailed techno-economic assessment of different scenarios for a Kraft Pulp Mill, including an analysis of tax credits (section 45V, 45Q, and 48E) provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. The evaluation explores the potential economic benefits and challenges of incorporating different configurations, including nuclear energy, into Kraft Pulp Mill operations, with particular attention to energy efficiency, economic implications, and environmental impact. By assessing both the technical feasibility and economic viability, this analysis aims to identify existing gaps and propose solutions for the successful implementation of nuclear integration. The findings are intended to provide valuable insights for stakeholders considering the adoption of advanced nuclear reactors in the pulp and paper industries.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Smart Energy Storage Integration and Management Platform for Buildings (SESIMP-B)

This project involved the design, development, and testing of a commercial smart service panel. It includes an innovative AI-driven control method to manage smart functions of the panel and a technical-economic feasibility assessment for enhancing building energy resilience and grid-edge technology integration.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗