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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 379 records · Page 21

High-Resolution Regional Wave Hindcast for U.S. Pacific Island Territories

This report summarizes modeling efforts for hindcasting of wave climate within the Exclusive Economic Zone around American Samoa, Baker Island and Howland Island, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef, and Wake Island. The report describes the mesh development and data sources used in the process. In addition, it provides the results of a sensitivity analysis performed to determine the optimal model configuration, details the data used for model forcing, shows a detailed skill assessment, and depicts the output.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Machine Learning Guided Operational Intelligence from Synchrophasors (Final Report)

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) and Oregon State University (OSU) received over 27 terabytes of electrical power system phasor measurement unit (PMU) data for the Eastern, Western, and ERCOT interconnections. The dataset includes measurements spread across 446 PMUs from early 2016 to mid 2018 depending on the interconnect. The full dataset was split into a training and test (holdout) dataset by PNNL. All data was received in the Apache Parquet format. The overarching goal of this project is to develop and execute a strategy to mitigate data anomalies, perform analysis on the dataset, and detect anomalous events in the data.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Outflow from Post-Black Hole-Neutron Star Merger Disks [Poster]

Histograms of mass of a given ratio of electron to baryon number in winds from a post-merger disk for four disks of different masses. This ratio determines how many elements heavier than iron, if any, are produced by a black hole-neutron star merger event. Analysis performed by PhD student Sanjana Curtis (NCSU, now graduated) on Capulin in collaboration with her advisor, Carla Frohlich, and LANL staff Jonah Miller.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Scalable, Dual-Mode Occupancy Sensing for Commercial Venues

The ability to establish accurate occupancy is a key enabler for improved energy efficiency in human-occupied indoor spaces. The accurate counts can be used to adjust, in real-time, air exchange, heating, and cooling, to closely match the environmental needs of the occupants rather than to use a single setting based on maximum room occupancy. This project focuses on the use of overhead fisheye cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms as the technology to realize accurate people counting in large commercial spaces. We developed Computational Occupancy Sensing SYstem ("COSSY''), which supports large-scale deployment (thousands of square feet) and straightforward installation (using conventional power over ethernet), while providing high accuracy and low cost. COSSY has been validated at Boston University and by a third party, demonstrating people-counting accuracy of at least 89.5% in large spaces (2,000 sqft). A cost/benefit analysis performed for Boston commercial market indicates that a full payback of COSSY deployment costs due to energy savings would occur within 3-6 months from installation. Applications of COSSY reach far beyond saving energy. The precise people counting in real time could also be useful for emergency response (e.g., fire), in spatial analytics (e.g., office space management) and in some health applications (e.g., social distance assessment during pandemics).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Improved Value of the Gasoline and Fuel Oil Co-Product Fractions Generated by the PNNL/LanzaTech Alcohol-to-Jet Process (Final Report)

The BETO-funded PNNL collaboration with LanzaTech, Inc. utilizes patented technology to address the need for low aromatic jet fuel blendstocks. The PNNL/LanzaTech alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) process converts ethanol from LanzaTech’s syngas fermentation process to jet-range isoparaffins. The aim of this Cooperative Research Development Agreement (CRADA) project was to improve the commercial viability of the LanzaTech/ PNNL ATJ process by developing two new co-product options. Two Focus Areas (FA) were explored: FA1) Increasing the RON of the lighter-than-jet gasoline fraction above 98; and FA2) Creating a synthetic lubricant base oil from the heavier-than-jet fraction. For FA 1, multiple processing approaches were evaluated, and RONs ranging from 96-100 were obtained, each comprising different processing costs. The most cost effective approach identified was a single-step process and yielded a liquid product of 97. Thus, additional development is required to obtain a RON > 98. We will continue work on this focus area with separate Direct Funding Opportunity (DFO) funding within the DOE-BETO Co-Optima Consortium (expected to begin Q2-FY21). Experimental work will focus on i) increasing single pass conversion to > 50%, and ii) obtaining a > 98 RON product. Technoeconomic analysis performed in this project suggests cost competitiveness provided these technical targets can be met. For FA2, multiple approaches were evaluated for increasing the viscosity index (VI) of the heavier-than-jet fraction to at least 120 in order to meet ASTM specifications for a Group III Base Oil (ASTM D6074). All other ASTM specifications are already met. A viscosity index of 115 was obtained, and with minimal undesirable cracking products. We believe a VI of 115 is about the highest possible from a catalytic approach, per review of the patent literature. In order to further increase the VI to > 120 we believe additives and/or liquid-liquid extraction is required. TEA performed earlier in the project suggests cost competitiveness with market prices assuming cracking byproducts are kept < 10 wt.%. If TEA updated with this additional processing still projects economic feasibility next steps could be taken in a subsequent effort.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Design Engineer Qualification Standard

This document describes the training and qualification requirements for the Design Engineer (DE) position at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). A Design Engineer translates design inputs into design output documents using design analysis and calculations, national codes and standards, DOE orders and standards, maintenance considerations, LANL best practices, and complex-wide lessons learned. Analysis performed by a DE requires sufficient detail in the purpose, method, assumptions, design input, references, and units such that a qualified engineer is able to review and understand the content and verify the adequacy of the results without recourse to the originator. A DE is assigned to a project by Engineering Management.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Equipment Qualification Report Environmental Qualification of GNB Absolyte Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) 1600 Ah100G33 Battery Rack Assembly (24590-QL-POA-EDB0-00001-11-00002_00A)

Greenberry Environmental Qualification Report 550001.001-35.0.5 provides basis for assignment of qualified life for: GNB Absolyte Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) 1600 Ah 100G33 Battery Rack Assembly in accordance with the requirements specified 24590-WTP-3PS-G000-T0015 (Rev 2) and Environmental Qualification Plan 550001.001-35.0.1 (Rev. 3). The equipment qualification basis represents the most conservative capability of the equipment. The analysis performed for the qualification is not less conservative than the bounding environmental conditions detailed in contract documents issued to Greenberry in contract 24509-QL-POA-EDB0-00001 Rev.0. The qualified life of 10 years has been established based upon an end-condition objective of the equipment condition indicators that correlate to the ability of equipment to perform its safety function. The VRLA Battery Cell Assembly was aged by 10 years (minimum) in accordance with conditions specified by Bechtel Equipment Qualification Datasheet 24590-LAW-EUQ-UPE 00003 Rev. 3 and the process conditions specified by the Instrument Data Sheet 24590-LAW EUD-UPE-00009 Rev. 2. Greenberry Industrial has contracted with GNB Industrial Battery Co located at 4115 S Zero St, Fort Smith, AR 72908 to perform age conditioning, monitoring, and capacity testing in accordance with Environmental Qualification Plan 550001.001-35.0.1 Rev. 1. The required process at the stated conditions set by the parameters established by the plan were completed satisfactorily. The details of the of the test process observed by Greenberry is detailed in the attached Seismic Test Log 550001.001-7.0.3, including examples of the objective evidence collected during the qualification process.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Data-Driven Smoothers for Extreme-Scale Computing

Patch-based relaxation refers to a family of methods for solving linear systems which partitions the matrix into smaller pieces often corresponding to groups of adjacent degrees of freedom residing within patches of the computational domain. The two most common families of patch-based methods are block-Jacobi and Schwarz methods, where the former typically corresponds to non-overlapping domains and the later implies some overlap. We focus on cases where each patch consists of the degrees of freedom on a finite element method mesh cell. Patch methods often capture complex local physics much more effectively than simpler point-smoothers such as Jacobi; however, forming, inverting, and applying each patch can be prohibitively expensive in terms of both storage and computation time. To this end, we propose several approaches for performing analysis on these patches and constructing a reduced representation. The compression techniques rely on either matrix norm comparisons or unsupervised learning via a clustering approach. We illustrate how it is frequently possible to retain/factor less than 5% of all patches and still develop a method that converges only a little slower than when all patches are stored/factored.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Transmission Operator Workflows for Real-Time Reliability Studies: A Review of Control Room Practices and Naturalistic Decision Making

This report provides an overview of real-time reliability study tools and their use by power system operators in the control room environment. After introducing some of the nuances of the control room environment and the differences in perspectives between power system engineers and operators, the roles and responsibilities of key entities involved in RTCA workflows are introduced. These are specifically the transmission system operator (TOP) and reliability coordinator (RC), which are required to run tools such as real-time contingency analysis (RTCA) as part of a real-time reliability assessment every 30 minutes, as dictated by a series of standards issued by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The process by which power systems operators operate the grid is discussed in terms of naturalistic decision making (NDM) and the recognition-primed decision-making (RPD) model. This cognitive model describe how experts working in high-risk, high-stress environments make safety-critical decisions under uncertainty and time pressure. For power system operators, the mental simulations involved in the traditional RPD model are supplemented by physics-based simulations using numerical tools, such as RTCA, to improve situational awareness and effectiveness of control actions. Next, a generic workflow is introduced to describe operator decision making for running RTCA tools and responding to system violations on a pre-contingent basis. The types of analysis performed and control actions chosen by power system operators are described in detail. The overall high-level workflow is then expanded in subsequent sections, with special attention given to high-voltage violations, low-voltage violations, and thermal overloads. Each type of violation is described in detail, with explanations of common causes, impacts on equipment and customers, and mitigation strategies. An additional workflow diagram is provided for each type of violation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Toward Solar Photovoltaic Storm Resilience: Learning from Hurricane Loss and Rebuilding Better

The General Service Administration (GSA) suffered extensive damage to its solar arrays located throughout the Caribbean from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. While the damage that occurred was unfortunate, there are excellent lessons learned that can be gained and utilized on new systems. A site on St. Croix provides a particularly high-value opportunity for lessons learned due to the innovative rebuilding process utilized by GSA managers and the in-depth analysis performed by the project engineers. This case study focuses on the rebuild of a 469-kW ground array located at the Almeric L. Christian Federal Building in Christiansted, St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This array was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. The entire process of planning and subsequent rebuilding that the GSA managers undertook was highly successful. Notably, GSA managers conducting the rebuild effort obtained an independent assessment of failure modes from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national labs and then retained a consulting engineering firm to develop design and construction guidance for the rebuild effort. This design and construction guidance was then provided to the engineering, procurement, and constructing firm to implement while rebuilding the site.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

MV Sea Change: Fuel Cell, Emissions, and Hydrogen Fueling Performance

The Sea Change Project, managed and financed by SWITCH Maritime, produced the first zero-emission 100% hydrogen fuel-cell powered commercial ferry in the world. The MV Sea Change is a 70-foot catamaran equipped with a 360-kW fuel cell powertrain and a 250-bar 246 kg capacity hydrogen storage system. The 75-passenger vessel began public passenger service in July 2024 as part of the San Francisco Bay Ferry system. Summarized here are aspects of the design of the vessel, its construction, and vessel bunkering with high-pressure hydrogen. Results from a fuel cell performance analysis are also presented, along with estimates of the greenhouse gas (GHG) and criterial pollutant emissions assuming different sourcings of hydrogen. Lessons learned from the project will be briefly reviewed.

08 HYDROGEN↗

The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska: Advancing Clean, Resilient, and Sovereign Energy (Summary Report of Communities LEAP Activities)

The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) is a federally recognized Native American Tribe located along the Missouri River on the border of northeast Kansas and southeastern Nebraska. There are over 800 residents (Tribal citizens and non-Tribal) who live on the reservation, as well as more than 500 people who visit or work on the reservation on a daily basis. The ITKN faces many energy challenges, including rising service costs and dozens of power outages annually that impact resident well-being and business activities on Tribal lands. Power service issues are made more challenging by the remoteness of the reservation, which is 20 miles from the nearest town. Despite this, the ITKN has a long history of cultural and economic resilience: Local self-reliance, environmental stewardship, respecting the carrying capacity of the land, and strengthening the community are Tribal communities' traditional strengths. Long-term energy goals for the ITKN are centered around achieving energy sovereignty. Priority actions include: (1) Establishing a Tribal Utility Authority (TUA) to promote social welfare and community development.; (2) Deploying renewable community microgrids with ground-mount solar arrays and sustainable energy storage systems to advance energy sovereignty, resilience, and reliability. To advance these goals, the ITKN partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) pilot. From August 2022 to March 2024, the ITKN community coalition collaborated with technical assistance providers at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National Laboratories to evaluate TUA planning needs and microgrid deployment scenarios. This final report details the Communities LEAP technical assistance process, models and analysis performed, and results.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Toward Solar Photovoltaic Storm Resilience: Learning from Hurricane Loss and Rebuilding Better

This case study report focuses on the rebuild of a 469 kW ground array located at the Almeric L. Christian Federal Building in Christiansted, St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The General Service Administration (GSA) suffered extensive damage to its solar arrays located throughout the Caribbean from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. While the damage that occurred was unfortunate, there are excellent lessons learned that can be gained and utilized on new systems. The St. Croix site provides a particularly high-value opportunity for lessons learned due to the innovative rebuilding process utilized by GSA managers and the in-depth analysis performed by the project engineers.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Concrete Compositions Used in Neutronics Analyses for Design of the Second Target Station Project

The purpose of this letter is to document the concrete compositions used by the Second Target Station (STS) Project Neutronics Group. Members of the Neutronics Group all have access to these compositions in our MCNP Master Model, which is stored on the ORNL GitLab server. It is expected that all STS Neutronics staff members will use these compositions in their analyses, unless all stakeholders agree to an exception. It is impossible to know the detailed composition of concrete before its constituents have been purchased, mixed, and a chemical analysis performed. Therefore, the STS Neutronics Group decided to use the same concrete compositions used by the Neutronics Group at the First Target Station (FTS). Furthermore, this leads to consistency between the analyses performed by the FTS and STS Neutronics Groups. The most important parameter to match between design simulations and construction regarding these concrete compositions is the density. Next in importance is the fraction of iron and hydrogen in the mixture.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Elastic Stochastic Full Waveform Inversion (eSFWI)

This collaboration between Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) as manager and operator of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Chevron USA Inc., acting through its Chevron Technical Center division, aimed at developing next-generation computational methods for the Elastic Stochastic Full Waveform Inversion (eSFWI). Seismic imaging is heavily used in the oil and gas industry for identifying and operating subsurface reservoirs. Improved seismic imaging methods can improve productivity, lower costs, and improve operational and environmental safety. This CRADA demonstrated that new high-performance computing (HPC) architectures being rolled out over the next five years can enable unprecedented seismic imaging resolution when using eSFWI techniques to process active seismic data. An open-source computational mini-application was developed, capable of demonstrating near-peak performance for eSFWI algorithms on CPU and GPU enabled HPC platforms. Performance was demonstrated on LLNL HPC systems such as Lassen, as well as on Chevron systems. This project benefited Chevron USA Inc. by demonstrating the potential computational efficiency of their full waveform inversion capabilities used to characterize oil/gas reservoirs, which in turn benefits the public through potential increases in capabilities to perform analysis of leasing sites.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗

Tough Errors are no Match (TEAM): Optimizing the Quantum Compiler for Noise Resilience

This project builds toward a comprehensive error-mitigating toolkit that makes quantum programming more robust and adaptive to the noisy, resource-limited nature of today’s quantum hardware. To that end, it integrates established error-mitigation methods — such as zero-noise extrapolation and dynamical decoupling — directly into compiler infrastructures. These techniques will be packaged as modules that can automatically adjust and combine based on performance analysis, enabling compilers to explore large design spaces and produce optimized, low-noise quantum programs with minimal manual intervention. In parallel, this project also explores new approaches to analog quantum programming or quantum simulation, and has developed the programming language SimuQ which treats quantum Hamiltonian evolution as the central object.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

FINESSE As-Run Neutronics Analysis for Cycle 171A

This Engineering Calculations and Analysis Report (ECAR) is a summary of the detailed Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) physics analysis performed for the Purdue JW 16297/Fracture of Irradiated Neutron Embrittled Structural Steel and Examination (FINESSE) experiment irradiated in the B-10 position in Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), Cycle 171A.

171A↗