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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Herbaceous Feedstock 2018 State of Technology Report

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) promotes the production of advanced liquid transportation fuels from lignocellulosic biomass by funding fundamental and applied research that advances the state of technology (SOT). As part of its involvement with this mission, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) completes an annual SOT report for biomass feedstock logistics. This report summarizes supply system impacts of Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)-funded research and development efforts at INL and elsewhere (such as the High-Tonnage Feedstock Logistics projects (Webb et al. 2013a, Webb et al. 2013b, Webb et al. 2013c, Webb and Sokhansanj 2014, Sokhansanj et al. 2014) that lead to improvements in feedstock supply systems. These include improvements to and observed performance of innovative harvest and collection methods, storage technologies, transportation and handling approaches, and advanced preprocessing technologies. Biomass quality and variability, and the interface between feedstock quality and conversion performance are key drivers in addition to delivered feedstock cost. In this report, we estimate the benefits of R&D improvements to individual supply system unit operations, and present the status of feedstock logistics technology development for converting biomass into biofuels. These analyses are supported by experimental data where possible, and help to align the SOT relative to the cost goals defined in the Multi-Year Program Plan. The 2018 Herbaceous SOT aligned feedstock logistic design with current biorefinery’s design capacity utilized by biochemical conversion platform. Currently biochemical conversion platform utilizes a 725,000 dry ton/year biorefiney design for the techno economic analysis. Hence, feedstock delivered cost in the 2018 Herbaceous SOT is calculated based on biorefinery’s 725,000 dry ton design capacity instead of 800, 000 dry ton capacity utilized in the 2017 Herbaceous SOT. Biomass availabilities in this SOT were updated to year 2018 data from the 2016 Billion-Ton Report (BT16) (DOE 2016a), with the exception of switchgrass, for which the 2018 Herbaceous SOT utilized the 2019 switchgrass availability data from BT16. The BT16 report (DOE 2016a) does not project switchgrass availability in 2018; the soonest switchgrass is available in the BT16 report is 2019. Therefore, availability of switchgrass for this analysis was that projected for 2019. The 2018 Herbaceous SOT incorporates same technologies utilized in the 2017 Herbaceous SOT. However, a sensitivity analysis is performed to understand the impact of variation of process parameters on those technologies on feedstock logistic cost. New R&D data that shows the variations of process parameters affecting process performance is incorporated in the 2018 SOT to measure the variations in delivered feedstock cost. The 2018 Herbaceous SOT has also provided projected delivered feedstock of 2022 design case based on near term technical target under BETO funded R&D project. Finally, updated biorefinery size of 725,000 dry ton/year was incorporated within least-cost formulation model to select optimal siting and depot scales during optimization of the least cost blend. This modification to the optimization algorithm allows the trade-off between the cost of increased supply radius and the savings from selecting biomass from higher producing counties to be assessed. Such optimization has also showed the economic benefit of decentralized depots in comparison to centralized preprocessing co-located with the biorefinery by decoupling the biorefinery and feedstock locations. The 2018 Herbaceous SOT report documents the current modeled cost of a herbaceous feedstock supply system (from harvest to the pretreatment reactor throat, including grower payment) for hydrocarbon fuel production via biochemical conversion, based on equipment and processes now available or potentially available in the near term. The modeled cost also considers both the required quality and the availability of the biomass resources. The 2018 Herbaceous SOT predicts a modeled delivered feedstock cost of $83.67/dry ton (2016$); this is a $0.23/dry ton (2016$) decrease from the 2017 Herbaceous SOT. The modification of biorefinery’s designed capacity and increased projected biomass availability in the same supply shed contributed to this modeled cost reduction. The least-cost formulation model to optimally site and scale local distributed preprocessing depots also contributed to the cost reduction by considering county-level grower payment and distance from the biorefinery as variables in the optimization algorithm. Sensitivity analysis on various process parameters that affect delivered feedstock cost in the 2018 Herbaceous SOT shows that the delivered cost could varies from $80.45-$88.83/dry ton. The top factors that causes such variations are: effective baling rate, bale density, hammer mill throughput, interest rate and storage dry matter loss.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS1995

Dynamic sensitivity analysis of frictional contact/impact response of axisymmetric composite structures

A computational procedure is presented for evaluating the sensitivity coefficients of the dynamic frictional contact/impact response of axisymmetric composite structures. The structures are assumed to consist of an arbitrary number of perfectly bonded homogeneous anisotropic layers. The material of each layer is assumed to be hyperelastic, and the effect of geometric nonlinearity is included. The sensitivity coefficients measure the sensitivity of the response to variations in different material, lamination and geometric parameters of the structure. A displacement finite element model is used for the discretization. The normal contact conditions are incorporated into the formulation by using a perturbed Lagrangian approach with the fundamental unknowns consisting of the nodal displacements, and the Lagrange multipliers associated with the contact conditions. The Lagrange multipliers are allowed to be discontinuous at interelement boundaries. Tangential contact conditions are incorporated by using a penalty method in conjunction with the classical Coulomb's friction model. Temporal integration is performed by using Newmark method. The Newton-Raphson iterative scheme is used for the solution of the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations, and for the determination of the contact region, contact conditions (sliding or sticking), and the contact pressures. The sensitivity coefficients are evaluated by using a direct differentiation approach. Numerical results are presented from the frictional contact/impact response of a composite spherical cap impacting on a rigid plate.

Karaoglan, Levent↗
NASA NTRS2002

Site Distribution and Aliasing Effects in the Inversion for Load Coefficients and Geocenter Motion from GPS Data

Precise GPS measurements of elastic relative site displacements due to surface mass loading offer important constraints on global surface mass transport. We investigate effects of site distribution and aliasing by higher-degree (n greater than or equal 2) loading terms on inversion of GPS data for n = 1 load coefficients and geocenter motion. Covariance and simulation analyses are conducted to assess the sensitivity of the inversion to aliasing and mismodeling errors and possible uncertainties in the n = 1 load coefficient determination. We found that the use of center-of-figure approximation in the inverse formulation could cause 10- 15% errors in the inverted load coefficients. n = 1 load estimates may be contaminated significantly by unknown higher-degree terms, depending on the load scenario and the GPS site distribution. The uncertainty in n = 1 zonal load estimate is at the level of 80 - 95% for two load scenarios.

global positioning system↗
NASA NTRS1990

True covariance simulation of the EUVE (extreme ultra violet explorer) update filter

This paper presents a covariance analysis of the performance and sensitivity of the attitude determination Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) used by the onboard computer (OBC) of the Extreme Ultra Violet Explorer (EUVE) spacecraft. The linearized dynamics and measurement equations of the error states are used in formulating the 'truth model' describing the order of the systems involved. The 'design model' used by the OBC EKF is then obtained by reducing the order of the truth model. The covariance matrix of the EKF which uses the reduced order model is not the correct covariance of the EKF estimation error. A 'true covariance analysis' has to be carried out in order to evaluate the correct accuracy of the OBC generated estimates. The results of such analysis are presented which indicate both the performance and the sensitivity of the OBC EKF.

Bar-Itzhack, I. Y.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evaluation and Optimization of Snow Albedo Scheme in Noah-MP Land Surface Model Using In Situ Spectral Observations in the Colorado Rockies

The Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS) ground snow albedo algorithm is commonly used in land-surface models (LSM), weather forecasting and research applications. This study addresses key uncertainties in BATS simulated ground snow albedo within the Noah-MP LSM framework through evaluation and optimization of the Noah-MP BATS ground snow albedo formulation using 2-band (visible and near-infrared (NIR)) in situ albedo observations at Rocky Mountain field stations. The Noah-MP BATS ground snow albedo scheme is extremely sensitive to its input parameters. Namely, an ensemble generated by varying BATS input parameters within potentially plausible ranges provides an average daily range (maximum ensemble member minus minimum ensemble member) of ground snow albedo exceeding 0.45 in visible and NIR bands. Parameter optimization improves agreement between simulated and in situ observed ground snow albedo in visible, NIR and broadband spectrums. Importantly, optimized parameters result in reduced biases relative to observed fresh-snow albedo and better agreement with observed albedo decay. Our analysis across different sites supports that the optimized BATS ground snow albedo parameters are appropriate to transfer in space and time, at least within the region studied (the central-southern Rocky Mountains). The primary error source remaining after parameter optimization is that observed fresh-snow albedo is highly variable, particularly in the NIR spectrum, whereas BATS fresh-snow albedo is constant, an issue which requires further investigation. This study shows significant correlations between observed fresh-snow albedo and surface meteorological conditions (e.g., downward shortwave radiation and temperature) which can support future model development that attempts to include a time-varying formulation for fresh-snow albedo.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Thermal-Mechanical Elastic-Plastic and Ductile Failure Model Calibrations for 304L Stainless Steel Alloy

Numerical simulations of metallic structures undergoing rapid loading into the plastic range require material models that accurately represent the response. In general, the material response can be seen as having four interrelated parts: the baseline response under slow loading, the effect of strain rate, the conversion of plastic work into heat and the effect of temperature. In essence, the material behaves in a thermal-mechanical manner if the loading is fast enough so when heat is generated by plastic deformation it raises the temperature and therefore influences the mechanical response. In these cases, appropriate models that can capture the aspects listed above are necessary. The material of interest here is 304L stainless steel, and the objective of this work is to calibrate thermal-mechanical models: one for the constitutive behavior and another for failure. The work was accomplished by first designing and conducting a material test program to provide data for the calibration of the models. The test program included uniaxial tension tests conducted at room temperature, 150 and 300 C and at strain rates between 10 –4 and 10 3 1/s. It also included notched tension and shear-dominated compression hat tests specifically designed to calibrate the failure model. All test specimens were extracted from a single piece of plate to maintain consistency. The constitutive model adopted was a modular $J_2$ plasticity model with isotropic hardening that included rate and temperature dependence. A criterion for failure initiation based on a critical value of equivalent plastic strain fitted the failure data appropriately and was adopted. Possible ranges of the values of the parameters of the models were determined partially on historical data from calibrations of the same alloy from other lots and are given here. The calibration of the parameters of the models were based on finite element simulations of the various material tests using relatively ne meshes and hexahedral elements. When using the model in structural finite element calculations, however, element formulations and sizes different from those in the calibration are likely to be used. A brief investigation demonstrated that the failure initiation predictions can be particularly sensitive to the element selection and provided an initial guide to compensate for the effect of element size in a specific example.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1974

Space shuttle entry and landing navigation analysis

A navigation system for the entry phase of a Space Shuttle mission which is an aided-inertial system which uses a Kalman filter to mix IMU data with data derived from external navigation aids is evaluated. A drag pseudo-measurement used during radio blackout is treated as an additional external aid. A comprehensive truth model with 101 states is formulated and used to generate detailed error budgets at several significant time points -- end-of-blackout, start of final approach, over runway threshold, and touchdown. Sensitivity curves illustrating the effect of variations in the size of individual error sources on navigation accuracy are presented. The sensitivity of the navigation system performance to filter modifications is analyzed. The projected overall performance is shown in the form of time histories of position and velocity error components. The detailed results are summarized and interpreted, and suggestions are made concerning possible software improvements.

Jones, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Information efficiency of line-scan imaging mechanisms

Information theory is used to formulate a single figure of merit for assessing the performance of line-scan imaging systems as a function of their spatial response (PSF or MTF), sensitivity, and sampling and quantization intervals and of the statistical properties of a random radiance field. Information density and efficiency (i.e., the ratio of information density to data density) tend to be optimum when the MTF and sampling passband of the imaging system are matched to the Wiener spectrum of the radiance field. Computational results for the statistical properties of natural radiance fields and the responses of common line-scan imaging mechanisms indicate that information density and efficiency are not strongly sensitive to variations in typical statistical properties of the radiance field and that the best practically realizable performance is approached when the sampling intervals are approximately 0.5-0.7 times the equivalent diameter of the PSF.

Huck, F. O.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Interactive aircraft flight control and aeroelastic stabilization

An analytical model of a 3-D airfoil was used to study an optimization procedure formulated to enhance stability of an airfoil through integrated structural and control synthesis. This procedure is discussed together with preliminary results. These results show that a sensitivity derivative approach utilizing structural parameters, weighting matrix parameters and optimal control parameters (in this case, the design airspeed) is effective in determining the best structural/control design.

Weisshaar, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Contamination control program for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer instruments

A contamination-control program has been instituted for the optical components of the EUV Explorer satellite, whose 80-900 A range performance is easily degraded by particulate and molecular contamination. Cleanliness requirements have been formulated for the design, fabrication, and test phases of these instruments; in addition, contamination-control steps have been taken which prominently include the isolation of sensitive components in a sealed optics cavity. Prelaunch monitoring systems encompass the use of quartz crystal microbalances, particle witness plates, direct flight hardware sampling, and optical witness sampling of EUV scattering and reflectivity.

Ray, David C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Hierarchic models for laminated plates

Structural plates and shells are three-dimensional bodies, one dimension of which happens to be much smaller than the other two. Thus, the quality of a plate or shell model must be judged on the basis of how well its exact solution approximates the corresponding three-dimensional problem. Of course, the exact solution depends not only on the choice of the model but also on the topology, material properties, loading and constraints. The desired degree of approximation depends on the analyst's goals in performing the analysis. For these reasons models have to be chosen adaptively. Hierarchic sequences of models make adaptive selection of the model which is best suited for the purposes of a particular analysis possible. The principles governing the formulation of hierarchic models for laminated plates are presented. The essential features of the hierarchic models described models are: (1) the exact solutions corresponding to the hierarchic sequence of models converge to the exact solution of the corresponding problem of elasticity for a fixed laminate thickness; and (2) the exact solution of each model converges to the same limit as the exact solution of the corresponding problem of elasticity with respect to the laminate thickness approaching zero. The formulation is based on one parameter (beta) which characterizes the hierarchic sequence of models, and a set of constants whose influence was assessed by a numerical sensitivity study. The recommended selection of these constants results in the number of fields increasing by three for each increment in the power of beta. Numerical examples analyzed with the proposed sequence of models are included and good correlation with the reference solutions was found. Results were obtained for laminated strips (plates in cylindrical bending) and for square and rectangular plates with uniform loading and with homogeneous boundary conditions. Cross-ply and angle-ply laminates were evaluated and the results compared with those of MSC/PROBE. Hierarchic models make the computation of any engineering data possible to an arbitrary level of precision within the framework of the theory of elasticity.

Actis, Ricardo Luis↗
NASA NTRS1992

Self-sensing piezoelectric actuation - Analysis and application to controlled structures

Issues related to modeling and implementation of a self-sensing piezoelectric actuator are investigated. The necessary formulation for modeling the simultaneous sensing and actuation phenomenon is provided. Open and closed loop experiments performed on a cantilevered beam test specimen are described. The sensitivity of the results to representative errors introduced in the implementation of the transducer is demonstrated analytically and experimentally. The self-sensing actuator is also implemented using an active piezoelectric strut in a truss structure.

Anderson, Eric H.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Ablative Thermal Response and Thermostructural Design of Thermal Protection Systems

A finite element ablation and thermal response program is presented for simulation of three-dimensional transient thermostructural analysis. The three-dimensional governing differential equations and finite element formulation are summarized. A novel probabilistic design methodology for thermal protection systems is presented. The design methodology is an eight step process beginning with a parameter sensitivity study and is followed by a deterministic analysis whereby an optimum design can determined. The design process concludes with a Monte Carlo simulation where the probabilities of exceeding design specifications are estimated. The design methodology is demonstrated by applying the methodology to the carbon phenolic compression pads of the Crew Exploration Vehicle. The maximum allowed values of bondline temperature and tensile stress are used as the design specifications in this study.

Dec, John A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

True covariance simulation of the EUVE update filter

This paper presents a covariance analysis of the performance and sensitivity of the attitude determination Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) used by the On Board Computer (OBC) of the Extreme Ultra Violet Explorer (EUVE) spacecraft. The linearized dynamics and measurement equations of the error states are used in formulating the 'truth model' describing the real behavior of the systems involved. The 'design model' used by the OBC EKF is then obtained by reducing the order of the truth model. The covariance matrix of the EKF which uses the reduced order model is not the correct covariance of the EKF estimation error. A 'true covariance analysis' has to be carried out in order to evaluate the correct accuracy of the OBC generated estimates. The results of such analysis are presented which indicate both the performance and the sensitivity of the OBC EKF.

Bar-Itzhack, I. Y.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Valuation of Distributed Wind Turbines Providing Multiple Market Services

The role of wind turbines has traditionally been limited to providing energy capacity to the grid, but the availability of smart inverters and recent regulatory changes provide the technical and policy capability for wind turbines to also provide ancillary services. However, in contrast to the technical and policy aspects, the valuation of distributed wind turbines providing such services has not been thoroughly studied. This paper presents an optimal market-participation method for distributed wind turbines and valuates different strategies in California Independent System Operator’s balancing area. The services include energy capacity, regulation up and down, and reserves. An optimization problem is formulated to determine optimal power output for each service and demonstrated using historical data for one complete year. The revenues from multiple services are quantified, and a sensitivity analysis is performed to relate market prices with revenues. It is found that the optimal strategy generates 6% more revenue compared to the revenue from participating in the energy market only. Also, the reduced energy prices in future scenarios increase the relative importance of market participation in ancillary services.

Bhatti, Bilal Ahmad↗
NASA NTRS1983

Investigation of the applicability of using the triple redundant hydrogen sensor for methane sensing

Application specifications for the methane sensor were assembled and design guidelines, development goals and evaluation criteria were formulated. This was done to provide a framework to evaluate sensor performance and any design adjustments to the preprototype sensor that could be required to provide methane sensitivity. Good response to hydrogen was experimentally established for four hydrogen sensor elements to be later evaluated for methane response. Prior results were assembled and analyzed for other prototype hydrogen sensor performance parameters to form a comparison base. The four sensor elements previously shown to have good hydrogen response were experimentally evaluated for methane response in 2.5% methane-in-air. No response was obtained for any of the elements, despite the high methane concentration used (50% of the Lower Flammability Limit). It was concluded that the preprototype sensing elements were insensitive to methane and were hydrogen specific. Alternative sensor operating conditions and hardware design changes were considered to provide methane sensitivity to the preprototype sensor, including a variety of different methane sensing techniques. Minor changes to the existing sensor elements, sensor geometry and operating conditions will not make the preprototype hydrogen sensor respond to methane. New sensor elements that will provide methane and hydrogen sensitivity require replacement of the existing thermistor type elements. Some hydrogen sensing characteristics of the modified sensor will be compromised (larger in situ calibration gas volume and H2 nonspecificity). The preprototype hydrogen sensor should be retained for hydrogen monitoring and a separate methane sensor should be developed.

Lantz, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Nondestructive construction error detection in large space structures

Continuum modeling of large space structures is extended to the problem of detecting construction errors in large space structures such as the proposed space station. First-order dynamic sensitivity equations for structures involving eigenfrequencies, modal masses, modal stiffnesses, and modal damping are presented. Matrix equations relating changes in element parameters to dynamic sensitivities are summarized. The sensitivity equations for the entire dynamical system are rearranged as a system of algebraic equations with unknowns of stiffness losses at selected locations. The feasibility of the formulation is numerically demonstrated on a simply-supported Euler-Bernouilli beam with simulated construction defects. The method is next extended to large space structures modelled as equivalent continua with simulated construction defects.

Stubbs, Norris↗
NASA NTRS1991

Boundary-element shape sensitivity analysis for thermal problems with nonlinear boundary conditions

Implicit differentiation of the discretized boundary integral equations governing the conduction of heat in solid objects subjected to nonlinear boundary conditions is shown to generate an accurate and economical approach for the computation of shape sensitivities for this class of problems. This approach involves the employment of analytical derivatives of boundary-element kernel functions with respect to shape design variables. A formulation is presented that can consistently account for both temperature-dependent convection and radiation boundary conditions. Several iterative strategies are presented for the solution of the resulting sets of nonlinear equations and the computational performances examined in detail. Multizone analysis and zone condensation strategies are demonstrated to provide substantive computational economies in this process for models with either localized nonlinear boundary conditions or regions of geometric insensitivity to design variables. A series of nonlinear example problems are presented that have closed-form solutions.

Kane, James H.↗