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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Turbine-based Power System Tool

Advanced research tools are essential to illustrate the effects of turbine-based power system operations on the electric grid network. This paper presents the development of an open-source tool to visualize the operation of turbine-based electricity generation. The tool exposes power system models, control parameters, and corresponding values of the turbine model and its electrical system, allowing them to customize the simulation according to their needs. The developed tool enables users to simulate power profiles for different turbinebased energy generation such as wind, tidal, and gas turbines. It allows users to investigate the details of the generated profiles of various types of turbine systems at various scales. It can provide valuable insights into model development and facilitate the analysis of integrated power systems. By enabling access to turbine-based operations visualization, the tool aims to bridge the gap between advanced research tools and users, facilitating broader adoption of renewable energy technologies and aiding in developing sustainable power systems.

Kini, Roshan L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Improvement of SCALE-XSPROC Multigroup Cross Section Processing Based on the CENTRM Pointwise Slowing Down Calculation

The SCALE-XSProc multigroup (MG) cross section processing procedure based on the CENTRM pointwise slowing down calculation is the primary procedure to process problem-dependent self-shielded MG cross sections and scattering matrices for neutron transport calculations.This procedure supports various cell-based geometries including slab, 1-D cylindrical, 1-D spherical and 2-D rectangular configurations and doubly heterogeneous particulate fuels. Recently, this procedure has been significantly improved to be applied to any advanced reactor analysis covering thermal and fast reactor systems, and to be comparable to continuous energy (CE) Monte Carlo calculations. Some reactivity bias and reaction rate differences have been observed compared with CE Monte Carlo calculations, and several areas for improvement have been identified in the SCALE-XSProc MG cross section processing: (1) resonance self-shielding calculations within the unresolved resonance range, (2) 10 eV thermal cut-off energy for the free gas model, (3) on-the-fly adjustments to the thermal scattering matrix, (4) normalization of the pointwise neutron flux, and (5) fine MG energy structure. This procedure ensures very accurate MG cross section processing for high-fidelity deterministic reactor physics analysis for various advanced reactor systems.

Kim, Kang Seog↗
DOE OSTI2023

Parametric analysis on optimized design of hybrid solar power plants

There is increasing interest in utility-scale solar power plants with storage which can flexibly dispatch renewable energy to the grid. However, plant design possesses many degrees of freedom and non-obvious trade-offs in performance. Software tools can estimate or optimize the performance of a specific plant configuration under market and weather conditions of interest; the associated cost parameters and operating assumptions strongly influence estimates of plant performance and decisions regarding optimal sizing. We employ the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Hybrid Optimization and Performance Platform, which incorporates optimal dispatch when evaluating plant performance, and investigate the sensitivity to weather and market conditions, operating limitations, and the presence of a capacity-based incentive. We demonstrate changes in plant performance and optimal sizing with respect to these inputs and discuss implications. Here results show that PV-with-battery designs are more profitable under our assumptions, but that designs including a concentrated solar power (CSP) system produce significantly greater annual energy; and that CSP-with-thermal energy storage designs maximizing the benefit-to-cost ratio have an input-dependent linear relationship between the CSP field solar multiple and the hours of storage as the project budget varies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Transforming Energy Through Computational Excellence: High-Performance Computing for Energy Innovation

The challenges associated with energy efficiency of manufacturing and advanced materials often cannot be addressed through experimentation alone, whether because of scale, complexity, or practicality. High-performance computing (HPC) enables fast tackling of these challenges in the manufacturing sector - vital to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and industry partners leverage HPC to apply advanced modeling, simulation, and data analysis to improve manufacturing efficiency, explore new materials for energy applications, and develop technologies to manage carbon across the life cycle. From improving additive manufacturing processes to increasing the energy efficiency of jet-engine components, advanced computing can help manage emissions produced by manufacturing in a wide variety of ways.

advanced materials↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enlarged Nonclosure of Surface Energy Balance With Increasing Atmospheric Instabilities Linked to Changes in Coherent Structures

The nonclosure of surface energy balance remains an outstanding problem in eddy covariance (EC) measurements of land-surface fluxes of heat, water vapor, and CO 2 . Our data collected from an EC tower over a semiarid sagebrush ecosystem indicate that under unstable atmospheric conditions, the nonclosure becomes increased with increasing instability, consistent with many other studies. It is demonstrated that the increased nonclosure is not caused by the inadequate sampling of large-scale turbulent motions using a 30-min averaging interval, though the scales of turbulent motions dominating sensible and latent heat fluxes become enlarged with increasing instability. Quadrant analysis is then used to reveal that the flux contributions from ejections remain nearly constant with increasing instability, whereas the flux contributions from sweeps are reduced and their time fractions increase. Our results imply that the increased nonclosure of surface energy balance is associated with changes in turbulent structures including their dominant time scales and flux contributions of ejections and sweeps as the atmospheric instability increases, which require further studies using vertically distributed observations and/or large eddy simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Algae-Based Beneficial Re-use of Carbon Emissions Using a Novel Photobioreactor: a Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Analysis

Despite the many advantages of microalgae, the feasibility of large-scale cultivation requires significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to enable high growth rates. A synergistic union typically proposed for the supply of CO 2 is the coupling of algal cultivation with emissions from power plants. This study investigates the sustainability of a novel microalgae platform coupled with coal-based flue gas. The proposed system consists of a novel photobioreactor (PBR) for the production of biomass followed by a two-stage dewatering process. Here, a systems model, which quantifies the CO 2 and energy consumption of the proposed system, was developed and the minimum biomass selling price (MBSP) was determined by a techno-economic analysis (TEA). TEA results indicate that a facility with the capacity to capture 30% of the emissions from a 1 MW power plant requires a biomass production of 1280 metric tonnes per year, which when scaled to a nth of kind facility, can produce biomass at a MBSP of $2322 per tonne. The environmental impact of the proposed facility was determined by a life cycle assessment methodology and results indicate a carbon capture potential of 1.16 x 10 4 metric tons of CO 2 equivalent. In addition, an energy analysis indicates a desirable net energy ratio of 0.1, which is lower than conventional PBRs. Discussion focuses on the requirements to reduce biomass production cost, including research investment areas for increasing productivity while decreasing energy requirements.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between National Energy Technology Laboratory and Korea Institute of Energy Research [Abstract]

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intend to collaborate under a CRADA to advance the development of oxy-combustion technology, with an emphasis on process modeling, optimization, and techno-economic analysis. This collaboration will result in the development of a full-scale process model of a commercial oxy-fueled circulating fluid bed combustion (oxy-CFBC) plant, informed from pilot-scale data and built using the Institute for the Design of Advanced Energy Systems (IDAES) process systems engineering framework. It will also generate cost comparisons of the optimized oxyCFBC process with an air-CFBC process with and without carbon capture and sequestration.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy-enhanced dimension eight SMEFT effects in VBF Higgs production

We study Higgs boson production via vector boson fusion at the LHC, focusing on the process pp → H + jj and capturing the leading energy-enhanced contributions within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) up to order 1/Λ$^{4}$. Employing energy-scaling arguments, we predict the magnitude of each higher-dimensional operator’s contribution. Utilizing the geometric formulation of SMEFT, our analysis incorporates dimension-eight operators not previously considered. We find that the kinematics of vector boson fusion — characterized by two highly forward jets — tend to suppress contributions from higher-dimensional operators, requiring a lower scale Λ for SMEFT effects to become observable. This suggests that the SMEFT remains valid for lower Λ than expected. Combined with the fact that LEP constrains the dimension-six operators with the most considerable impact on vector boson fusion, a regime exists where dimension-eight operators can have significant effects. In many cases, these dimension-eight operators also influence associated production processes like pp → HV(jj), though differences in analysis cuts and kinematics mean this is not always the case. Our findings provide insights that could refine the search for SMEFT signals in collider experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Multi-year analysis of physical interactions between solar PV arrays and underlying soil-plant complex in vegetated utility-scale systems

Concerns over the land use changes impacts of solar photovoltaic (PV) development are increasing as PV energy development expands. Co-locating utility-scale solar energy with vegetation may maintain or rehabilitate the land's ability to provide ecosystem services. Previous studies have shown that vegetation under and around the panels may improve the performance of the co-located PV and that PV may create a favorable environment for the growth of vegetation. While there have been some pilot-scale experiments, the existence and magnitude of these benefits of vegetation has not been confirmed in a utility-scale PV facility over multiple years. In this study we use power output data coupled with microclimatic measurements in temperate climates to assess these potential benefits. Here this study combines multi-year microclimatic measurements to analyze the physical interactions between PV arrays and the underlying soil-vegetation system in three utility-scale PV facilities in Minnesota, USA. No significant cooling of PV panels or increased power production was observed in PV arrays with underlying vegetation. Fine soil particle fraction was the highest in soils within PV arrays with the vegetation which was attributable to the lowest wind speeds from the compounding suppression of wind by vegetation and PV arrays. Soil moisture and soil nutrient response to re-vegetation varied between PV facilities, which could be attributed to differing soil texture. No statistically significant vegetation-driven panel cooling was observed in this climate. This finding prompts a need for site-specific studies to identify contributing factors for environmental co-benefits in co-located systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exact hopfion vortices in a 3D Heisenberg ferromagnet

Here, we find exact static soliton solutions for the unit spin vector field of an inhomogeneous, anisotropic three-dimensional Heisenberg ferromagnet. Each soliton is labeled by two integers n and m. It is a (modified) skyrmion in the z = 0 plane with winding number n, which twists out of the plane m times in the z-direction to become a 3D soliton. Here m arises due to the periodic boundary condition at the z-boundaries. We use Whitehead’s integral expression to find that the Hopf invariant of the soliton is an integer H = nm. It represents a hopfion vortex. Plots of the preimages of this topological soliton show that they are either unknots or nontrivial knots, depending on n and m. Any pair of preimage curves links H times, corroborating the interpretation of H as a linking number. We also calculate the exact energy of the hopfion vortex, and show that its topological lower bound has a sublinear dependence on H. Using Derrick’s scaling analysis, we demonstrate that the presence of a spatial inhomogeneity in the anisotropic interaction, which in turn introduces a characteristic length scale in the system, leads to the stability of the hopfion vortex.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Transition of Large-Scale Environmental Conditions and Characteristics of Four Rainfall Types Observed by S-PolKa During the MJO-1 Active Phase of DYNAMO/CINDY/AMIE

Analyses of National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) S-PolKa dual-polarization radar data and ERA5 reanalysis fields indicate gradual changes in convection characteristics and large-scale environmental conditions during a central Indian Ocean Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) event observed by the DYNAMO/CINDY/AMIE field campaigns in late October 2011 (MJO-1). Examination of four rainfall types (isolated convective cores, convective, mixed, and stratiform) reveals a transition of convection characteristics (i.e., areal coverage and depth) between distinct 5-day environmental periods at the beginning and end of this ~2-week MJO active phase. A shift toward less frequent rainfall covering less of the radar domain for all four rainfall types occurs when large-scale lower-tropospheric dry air advects into the region with the westerly wind burst (WWB). Drier and warmer lower-free-tropospheric conditions associated with the WWB contribute to increased large-scale surface-based convective inhibition (CIN), surface-based convective available potential energy (CAPE), and cloud base heights. A thermodynamic budget analysis indicates reduced surface heat fluxes contribute to the increased surface-based CAPE. Greater CAPE at the end of MJO-1 coincides with deeper 50-dBZ convective echoes, while decreased 10-dBZ depth for all rainfall types corresponds in time with WWB-related dry-air advection. Increased (decreased) reflectivity values in the lower-level vertical reflectivity distribution of convective (stratiform) precipitation indicate increased (decreased) convective (stratiform) intensities when the WWB is present. The opposite depth changes for convective echoes and opposite shifts in convective and stratiform precipitation intensities underscore how the WWB can have differing impacts at different reflectivity thresholds and stages of the deep convection lifecycle.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Experimental Shock Propagation through a Diverse Set of Geometric Cavities Embedded in Lab-Scale Polymer Cubes

Experiments were designed and conducted to investigate the impact that geometric cavities have on the transfer of energy from an embedded explosion to the surface of the physical domain. The experimental domains were fabricated as 3-inch polymer cubes, with varying cavity geometries centered in the cubes. The energy transfer, represented as a shock wave, was generated by the detonation of an exploding bridgewire at the center of the cavity. The shock propagation was tracked by schlieren imaging through the optically accessible polymer. The magnitude of energy transferred to the surface was recorded by an array of pressure sensors. A minimum of five experimental runs were conducted for each cavity geometry and statistical results were developed and compared. Results demonstrated the decoupling effect that geometric cavities produce on the energy field at the surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Impact of multiplicity fluctuations on entropy scaling across system size

The initial state is one of the greatest uncertainties in heavy-ion collisions. A model-agnostic approach is taken in the phenomenological Trento framework which constrains parameters using Bayesian analysis. However, the color-glass condensate (CGC) effective theory predicts initial energy densities that lie outside the recent Bayesian analyses due, in part, to the assumption in Trento of event-by-event multiplicity fluctuations following a Γ distribution. We compare the Trento-preferred √T A T B scaling to CGC-like T A T B scaling coupled with log-normal fluctuations in AuAu and dAu collisions and find there is a significant impact on the multiplicity distributions and on the eccentricities, which may affect the extraction of viscosity in small systems.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electrically Powered High-Salinity Brine Separation Using Dimethyl Ether

Dewatering highly saline aqueous streams, from mining and geothermal leachates to industrial wastewater, is essential for effective resource recovery and safe disposal. Membraneless water extraction (MWE) uses a low-polarity solvent to separate water from concentrated aqueous solutions. In this study, we design a new MWE that uses dimethyl ether (DME) to selectively extract water from high-salinity brines, leveraging the volatility of DME to achieve rapid solvent recovery. By separating water and dissolved salts at a liquid–liquid interface, MWE minimizes the deleterious effects of scaling on vulnerable membrane and heat exchanger surfaces, reducing the need for extensive pretreatment and expensive materials. We begin by developing a computational framework for a multistage counterflow liquid–liquid contactor, which extracts water into DME, coupled with a multistage solvent regenerator that uses vapor compression to efficiently separate the desalinated water from the DME extractant. Excess Gibbs free energy and equation of state frameworks are used to model fluid phase equilibria in water–DME–sodium chloride (NaCl) mixtures, with interaction parameters estimated from experimental data. Incorporating equilibrium calculations into a system-scale computational model, we examine the performance of MWE using DME for the first time. Our analysis demonstrates that MWE can concentrate seawater desalination brine (>1.0 mol NaCl kg –1 ) to zero-liquid discharge salinities, with an energy consumption of under 50 kW h per m 3 of water extracted with a solvent recovery ratio greater than 99.9%. We highlight the importance of staging the vapor compression process to simultaneously minimize energy consumption while enabling brine concentration and product water solvent contamination. Finally, the thermodynamic framework developed here allows for the robust evaluation of new MWE solvents and systems for critical brine concentration and fractional precipitation applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Model: Year-Long Reforecast, Forecast 02, Domain 01

The primary purpose of WFIP2 Model Development Team is to improve existing numerical weather prediction models in a manner that leads to improved wind forecasts in regions of complex terrain. Improvements in the models will come through better understanding of the physics associated with the wind flow in and around the wind plant across a range of temporal and spatial scales, which will be gained through WFIP2’s observational field study and analysis.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

wfip2.model/realtime.hrrr_esrl.graphics.01 (Model: Real Time)

The primary purpose of WFIP2 Model Development Team is to improve existing numerical weather prediction models in a manner that leads to improved wind forecasts in regions of complex terrain. Improvements in the models will come through better understanding of the physics associated with the wind flow in and around the wind plant across a range of temporal and spatial scales, which will be gained through WFIP2’s observational field study and analysis.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

wfip2.model/realtime.hrrr_wfip2.graphics.02 (Model: Real Time)

The primary purpose of WFIP2 Model Development Team is to improve existing numerical weather prediction models in a manner that leads to improved wind forecasts in regions of complex terrain. Improvements in the models will come through better understanding of the physics associated with the wind flow in and around the wind plant across a range of temporal and spatial scales, which will be gained through WFIP2’s observational field study and analysis.

17 WIND ENERGY↗