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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 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

ARIES: NREL Off-Road Decarbonization and Energy Systems Integration Workshop - Challenges and Opportunities

This presentation about ARIES was given at the NREL Off-Road Decarbonization and Energy Systems Integration Workshop - Challenges and Opportunities. ARIES was designed to fill a significant gap: there is no research platform that can support the nation's transition to a decarbonized energy system. ARIES will demonstrate and de-risk a future energy system with more than 50% renewable generation by 2030, that is just, affordable, flexible, clean, secure, resilient, and reliable, even in the off-road transportation sector.

ARIES↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Path to 100 Percent Renewable Energy: Grid-Forming Inverters will Give Us the Grid We Need Now

This is a more urgent problem than it might sound. The westernmost Hawaiian island of significant size, Kauai is home to around 70,000 residents and 30,000 tourists at any given time. Renewable energy accounts for 70 percent of the energy produced in a typical year - a proportion that's among the highest in the world and that can be hard to sustain for such a small and isolated grid. During the day, the local system operator, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, sometimes reaches levels of 90 percent from solar alone. But on 2 April, the 26-MW generator was running near its peak output, to compensate for the drop in solar output as the sun set. At the moment when it failed, that single generator had been supplying 60 percent of the load for the entire island, with the rest being met by a mix of smaller generators and several utility-scale solar-and-battery systems.

battery management systems↗
DOE OSTI2024

Current Practices in Distribution Utility Resilience Planning for Winter Storms

This report is part of a series of hazard-focused case studies examining common practices in electric utility resilience planning. We use standard terminology defining resilience as the ability to anticipate, withstand, absorb, and recover from hazards that cause long duration outages. We distinguish between reliability and resilience using Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1366-2022, which defines major events as an event that exceeds reasonable design and/or operational limits of the electric power system. Resilience planning is focused on major event days and reliability planning is focused on nonmajor event days. Utility resilience plans are assessed according to common resilience components identified in existing resilience frameworks. The focus of this report is on winter storms in which the primary hazards are heavy snowfall, freezing rain, ice, extreme cold, severe wind, and flooding. These hazards can also contribute to generation shortages, resulting in bulk power system impacts that have consequences for the distribution system, such as load shedding. Stand-alone reports focusing on wildfires and nonwinter storms have been published in parallel with this report. This report can be used as a starting point for understanding potential investment prioritization processes and investment options. This report is intended to improve utility resilience planning by supporting constructive dialogue among utilities, regulators, and other stakeholders.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimizing Distributed Energy Storage Sizing in Puerto Rico: Leveraging Increased Distributed Generation for Enhanced Resilience

Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) adoption has increased rapidly in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria in 2017 as customers seek local resilient energy solutions. To investigate how to best leverage these many distributed PV and BESS systems, in this paper, we introduce a modeling framework that can be used by entities planning resilience investments to provide insights about the sizing and operational needs to achieve desired resilience benefits.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

ASEAN Technical Exchange Workshop for System Operators, Regulators, and Policymakers

This presentation provides an in-depth exploration of power system planning, cross-border electricity trading, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), offering actionable insights for system operators, regulators, and policymakers. The first section delves into power system planning and analysis, focusing on capacity expansion models and resource adequacy studies, including their role in optimizing system efficiency, managing emissions, and addressing system reliability risks. Key considerations, such as integration of transmission into generation planning and the forecasting versus optimization of customer distributed energy resources (DER) technologies, are explored. The session highlights critical trade-offs in spatial granularity and model runtimes, as well as the feasibility of aligning distribution investments with capacity expansion efforts. The second section examines cross-border electricity trading, with an emphasis on resource adequacy concepts such as reliability targets, loss of load expectation (LOLE), and planning reserve margins (PRM). Case studies on reserve market design and coordination across US regions provide insights into improving reserve deliverability and managing interregional power balance and congestion. This section also addresses market-to-market congestion management, including advanced strategies for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) optimization and ancillary service delivery. Finally, the presentation covers the rapid evolution of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), highlighting their operational growth, regulatory frameworks, and use cases in grid flexibility, energy storage, and reliability. The discussion focuses on the benefits of BESS for system stability, resilience, and integration of renewable energy, offering insights into its role as a vital component in the transition toward a more sustainable and flexible grid. Key performance parameters, such as throughput, round-trip efficiency, and state of charge, are also examined.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Enhancing Local Grid Resilience with Small Hydropower Hybrids: Proving the concept through demonstration, simulation, and analysis with Idaho Falls Power

Large hydropower, connected to the transmission system and typically possessing significant ability to balance grid frequency, has long been central to black start plans in regions where it is present. Small hydropower possesses most of the attributes required for black start but is often connected to distribution or sub-transmission systems and has less ability to balance grid frequency. Integrating energy storage such as batteries or ultracapacitors increases the combined asset’s ability to balance frequency. This asset integration enables a bottom-up grid restoration paradigm in which critical electric loads on the local distribution system can be powered even when the regional transmission system is down. This report presents a field demonstration conducted with Idaho Falls Power that proved this concept. The contribution of energy storage in restoring the small hydro-dominated distribution grid and its operational sensitivity across different control settings are further analyzed using high-fidelity simulations. Readers will learn about technical details on the field demonstration setup, energy storage contribution to black start, detailed simulation steps of islanded distribution grid restoration, and usage of field demonstration measurements for transient model refinements. Collectively this report points to a great opportunity for small hydropower to enhance resilience of local electric grids.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2019

NASA Platform for Autonomous Systems (NPAS)

NASA Platform for Autonomous Systems (NPAS) is a disruptive software platform and processes being developed by the NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) Autonomous Systems Laboratory (ASL). Autonomous operations are critical for the success, safety and crew survival of NASA deep space missions beyond low Earth orbit, including the Gateway, and for the future of cost-effective ground mission operations. NPAS represents the embodiment of an innovative paradigm for “thinking” autonomy in contrast to brute-force autonomy. NPAS uniquely addresses the requirements and integrates the primary functionalities for autonomous operations, in one platform that includes: (1) Integrated System Health Management (ISHM); (2) autonomy strategies, guided by system health and concepts of operations; (3) domain objects (system elements) and infrastructure to create complete application domain knowledge models (4) infrastructure to create, schedule, and execute mission plans; (5) infrastructure to develop user interfaces for comprehensive awareness; and (6) infrastructure to integrate distributed autonomous applications across networks. NPAS is a single platform that can be used to make any system operate with any desirable degree of autonomy, as well as provide comprehensive system awareness to operators and users.

Figueroa, Fernando↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transmission Interface Limits for High-Spatial Resolution Capacity Expansion Modeling

Large-scale capacity expansion models typically rely on estimates of the power transfer limits between modeled zones. Accurate estimation of these interface transfer limits (ITLs) requires modeling the underlying transmission network. Here we expand on a maximum flow optimization method that uses linearized power flow to estimate transfer limits. We apply this method to a data set of the U.S. transmission network to estimate ITLs between U.S. counties. By calculating ITLs using different subsets of the network, we evaluate how the size of the network used in the estimation affects the results. The results show diminishing returns to ITL accuracy after six hops, suggesting that a network subset can reasonably be used to approximate ITLs. The county-level estimates produced in this study will support more spatially resolved capacity expansion modeling and will help inform policy making at local and national levels.

capacity planning↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimal Managed Fast-Charging Model for Electric Vehicle Fleets with High Utilization and Multiple Charge-Acceptance Curves

A predictive control/scheduling optimization model is proposed for managed charging of an electric vehicle (EV) fleet - under time-of-use energy and demand prices, high vehicle utilization frequency (short dwell times), multiple charge- acceptance curves (configurable charging rates), and flexible vehicle demand. This context is particularly relevant for flight schools (small electric aircraft) or other commercial facilities where an EV fleet performs multiple operating and fast-charging sessions on the same day. The proposed model performs both the operational and charging scheduling of the vehicles, which is not typically done for residential managed charging and significantly increases problem complexity. The problem is formulated as a MILP model and a case study of a small fast-charging station is presented. Results demonstrate a significant reduction in operating cost, mainly from peak shaving during high demand price periods, achieved by coordinating the operation of different vehicles, chargers and charging rates.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY PLANNING, POLIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Determining and Unlocking Untapped Demand-Side Management Potential in South Africa: Demand Response at the Grid Edge

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), funded through the Climate Technology and Change Network (CTCN), has provided technical assistance to key energy sector entities in South Africa to examine untapped demand-side management potential. NREL partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and included key South Africa stakeholders: Eskom, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), and the Department of Mineral and Resources and Energy (DMRE), including the CTCN National Designated Entity (NDE), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). South Africa is currently experiencing an energy crisis with extensive load shedding. While the load shedding crisis in South Africa is a supply side problem, demand-side management provides opportunities to achieve energy efficiency and to reduce peak demand. DSM also has huge potential to help alleviate load shedding, which is a last resort form of DSM.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1991

Blazing the trailway - Nuclear electric propulsion and its technology program plans

An overview is given of the plans for a program in nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) technology for outer space applications being considered by NASA, DOE, and DOD. Possible missions using NEP are examined, and NEP technology plans are addressed regarding concept development, systems engineering, nuclear fuels, power conversion, thermal management, power management and distribution, electric thrusters, facilities, and issues related to safety and environment. The programmatic characteristics are considered.

Doherty, Michael P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Blazing the trailway: Nuclear electric propulsion and its technology program plans

An overview is given of the plans for a program in nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) technology for space applications being considered by NASA, DOE, and DOD. Possible missions using NEP are examined, and NEP technology plans are addressed regarding concept development, systems engineering, nuclear fuels, power conversion, thermal management, power management and distribution, electric thrusters, facilities, and issues related to safety and environment. The programmatic characteristics are considered.

Doherty, Michael P.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The MAP Autonomous Mission Control System

The Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) mission is the second mission in NASA's Office of Space Science low-cost, Medium-class Explorers (MIDEX) program. The Explorers Program is designed to accomplish frequent, low cost, high quality space science investigations utilizing innovative, streamlined, efficient management, design and operations approaches. The MAP spacecraft will produce an accurate full-sky map of the cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations with high sensitivity and angular resolution. The MAP spacecraft is planned for launch in early 2001, and will be staffed by only single-shift operations. During the rest of the time the spacecraft must be operated autonomously, with personnel available only on an on-call basis. Four (4) innovations will work cooperatively to enable a significant reduction in operations costs for the MAP spacecraft. First, the use of a common ground system for Spacecraft Integration and Test (I&T) as well as Operations. Second, the use of Finite State Modeling for intelligent autonomy. Third, the integration of a graphical planning engine to drive the autonomous systems without an intermediate manual step. And fourth, the ability for distributed operations via Web and pager access.

Breed, Juile↗
DOE OSTI2022

Industry Assessment and Initial Adaptive Protection System Design

This report presents the success merits, logic design details, and test plans for adaptive protection schemes for microgrids, secondary distribution networks, and radial distribution feeders. Success merits are presented in terms of challenges and issues which should be mitigated. The challenges and issues were identified during site-specific simulations and analysis presented in a prior report. The adaptive protection logic designs are presented in a vendor-neutral manner to make them readily adaptable to site--specific protection relays and controllers which support custom logic design. Vendor-specific implementations of the logic for the adaptive protection laboratory tests are also presented. The final section of the report presents details of the testing methodology, plans, and documentation for each of the three adaptive protection schemes.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thermal Integration of DETAIL Systems

A thermal connection between the Microreactor AGile Non-nuclear Experimental Testbed (MAGNET) and the thermal energy distribution system (TEDS) has been a key part of the Dynamic Energy Transport and Integration Laboratory (DETAIL) plan since the development of the Integrated Energy Systems Roadmap in 2020. This connection provides an expanding demonstration capability for integrated system operations. The thermal connection between MAGNET and TEDS required the selection of a heat exchanger and valves to isolate flow. Research staff within the NEET Crosscutting Technology Development program selected equipment after receiving proposals from multiple vendors. A helical coil heat exchanger from Graham Corporation was selected for its small volume relative to its heat transfer surface area to fit in the limited space available. Triple offset butterfly valves with pneumatic actuators from Flowserve were selected to isolate and/or control flow of the hot gas through the heat exchanger. Staff from Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Facilities and Site Services Engineering department designed the piping and structural support. A mechanical construction firm was contracted to install the system. This report documents the design and construction of this thermal connection.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Distribution Transformer Demand: Understanding Demand Segmentation, Drivers, and Management Through 2050

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been working closely with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity (OE) to understand the critical drivers and potential means of managing distribution transformer demand through 2050. This effort has consulted with utility representative organizations and transformer manufacturers to understand the problem, characterized the in-service assets, and modeled future demand. Distribution transformers, or service transformers, range from 10 to 5,000 kilovolt-amperes (kVA), have a high-side voltage of less than 34.5 kilovolts, and have step-down power delivery for customer end use. This research will help the manufacturing sector understand production requirements and better inform utility strategies for managing their demand.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

PVWatts Calculator [Slides]

This slide deck is an introduction to PV Watts and how users can employ it. NREL's PVWatts® Calculator estimates the energy production of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1989

Data system interprobability

Software was developed and tested which allows an end-user to build a book data object in an interactive fashion. The electronic book model was developed for the Library front-end of the DAVID (Distributed Access View Integrated Database) system. It is a complex data object which is capable of holding data of different types and formats. After the task, the plan was to assess the Book model and investigate the possibility of it serving as a knowledge base for a expert system front-end to the DAVID system. For the rest of the fellowship period, data system interoperability was examined. Specifically, a plan was prepared titled Implementations of the Land Analysis System (LAS) to Meet UNEP/GRID Requirements. This plan is aimed at reaching the goal of building one virtual global change information system which will link existing and future data systems allowing earth and space scientists to learn about, locate, access, and correlate data of interest regardless of its physical location. The plan proposed the construction of a master directory (MD) for the European data systems that is equivalent in structure to NASA's MD. The MD is to contain brief, high-level information about existing Earth and space science data sets sufficient for a user to know where data of interest reside and how to go about getting additional information. The plan also outlined the tasks that would be involved to electronically connect the MD system to the various discipline data systems (e.g., LAS) in order to achieve general interroperabilty, that is, the abilty to perform cross-systems searches and exchange of and access to distributed information.

Wakim, Nagi T.↗