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At least 415 records · Page 23

Multilevel Techniques for Compression and Reduction of Scientific Data---The Unstructured Case

Previous work on multilevel techniques for compression and reduction of scientific data is extended to the case of data given on unstructured meshes in two and three dimensions. The centerpiece of the work is a decomposition algorithm which is shown to be optimal, in terms of both storage and operational complexity, applicable to unstructured grids in both two and three dimensions, and which implicitly gives a Riesz basis that can be exploited to reduce the data while maintaining rigorous bounds on the loss incurred. The flexibility of the approach is illustrated by applications to potential flow around an airfoil and the effect of compression on quantities of interest relevant to airfoil design; compression of computational simulation of a nonlinear reaction-diffusion system with special attention given to the problem of time series reduction; and, data from a simulation of magnetically confined plasma in a fusion reactor reduced so as to preserve the electric field computed from the data.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A Real-Time Implementation and Validation of Federated Learning for Grid Services

Grid-edge devices are becoming increasingly important in the energy transition. Preserving privacy was not previously considered an important aspect for power grid operations, but with the increased proliferation of customer-owned assets, it is now an essential consideration. Several mechanisms have been proposed to provide privacy for non-utility owned assets in the power grid. Federated learning (FL) is one method gaining prominence in this area. Although FL has been used for other applications, such as auto-complete in phones, there has not been much investigation into whether these approaches are feasible for grid applications. In this work, we use a research platform with real-time simulators and hardware-in-the-loop capabilities to investigate how FL can be applied to grid-edge devices, and we present the potential grid services that can be derived for these devices. We discuss the computational challenges with deploying complex FL approaches, and we explore several grid services, including participation in retail electricity markets, voltage control, and resilience-driven reconfiguration.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Generative AI for Power Grid Operations

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captured into the mainstream, demonstrating capabilities that once belonged solely to the realm of human cognition. From defeating world champions in complex games to generating human-quality text and images, Generative AI has proven its potential to revolutionize countless industries. The electric power grid is no exception. Generative AI's ability to process vast amounts of data rapidly, assist decision support and identify patterns could significantly enhance power grid operations. For example, Generative AI could improve state estimation where measurements are not available or integrate renewable energy sources more efficiently with probabilistic forecasting. The key contributions of this whitepaper are outlined below: (1) Comprehensive overview of Generative AI's applications in power grid operations: It highlights the opportunities in areas such as forecasting, state estimation, and demonstrating the potential for enhancing efficiency, reliability, and resilience. (2) Expanding Generative AI's impact through synergies with emerging technologies: The paper introduce NREL developed eGridGPT and explores how AI orchestration, multi-agent systems, and Digital Twins can collaborate to optimize grid operations, addressing the complexities of a decarbonized and electrified future. (3) In-depth analysis of challenges in implementing Generative AI: This includes considerations like data availability and quality, model validation, certification, and ethical concerns, ensuring responsible AI deployment. (4) Emphasizing human-AI collaboration: The whitepaper underscores the importance of trustworthy, transparency, and explainability in AI systems to promote seamless interaction between human operators and AI, ultimately improving decision-making. (5) Exploring future research and development: It identifies critical areas for further advancement to fully realize Generative AI's potential in power grid operations. This whitepaper serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers looking to harness Generative AI for a more reliable, stable, and cost-effective power grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Application of a Scalable, Parallel, Unstructured-Grid-Based Navier-Stokes Solver

A parallel version of an unstructured-grid based Navier-Stokes solver, USM3Dns, previously developed for efficient operation on a variety of parallel computers, has been enhanced to incorporate upgrades made to the serial version. The resultant parallel code has been extensively tested on a variety of problems of aerospace interest and on two sets of parallel computers to understand and document its characteristics. An innovative grid renumbering construct and use of non-blocking communication are shown to produce superlinear computing performance. Preliminary results from parallelization of a recently introduced "porous surface" boundary condition are also presented.

Parikh, Paresh↗

Applicability of Markets to Global Scheduling in Grids: Critical Examination of General Equilibrium Theory and Market Folklore

Markets are often considered superior to other global scheduling mechanisms for distributed computing systems. This claim is supported by: a casual observation from our every-day life that markets successfully equilibrate supply and demand, and the features of markets which originate in the general equilibrium theory, e.g., efficiency and the lack of necessity of 2 central controller. This paper describes why such beliefs in markets are not warranted. It does so by examining the general equilibrium theory, in terms of scope, abstraction, and interpretation. Not only does the general equilibrium theory fail to provide a satisfactory explanation of actual economies, including a computing-resource economy, it also falls short of supplying theoretical foundations for commonly held views of market desirability. This paper also points out that the argument for the desirability of markets involves circular reasoning and that the desirability can be established only vis-a-vis a scheduling goal. Finally, recasting the conclusion of Arrow's Impossibility Theorem as that for global scheduling, we conclude that there exists no market-based scheduler that is rational (in the sense defined in microeconomic theory), takes into account utility of more than one user, and yet yields a Pareto-optimal outcome for arbitrary user utility functions.

Nakai, Junko↗

Unstructured grid generation using the distance function

A new class of methods for obtaining level sets to generate unstructured grids is presented. The consecutive grid levels are computed using the distance functions, which corresponds to solving the Hamilton-Jacobi equations representing the equations of motion of fronts propagating with curvature-dependent speed. The relationship between the distance function and the governing equations will be discussed as well as its application to generating grids. Multi-ply connected domains and complex geometries are handled naturally, with a straightforward generalization to several space dimensions. The grid points for the unstructured grid are obtained simultaneously with the grid levels. The search involved in checking for overlapping triangles is minimized by triangulating the entire domain one level at a time.

Bihari, Barna L.↗

Challenges and Prospects of Sodium‐Ion and Potassium‐Ion Batteries for Mass Production

The exponential growth of the lithium‐ion (LIB) market is causing a significant disparity between the supply chain and demand for its resources. In this regard, sodium‐ion and potassium‐ion batteries are promising alternatives to LIBs due to their low cost. However, the larger sizes of Na + and K + ions create challenges that prevent them from achieving energy densities comparable to LIBs while maintaining an acceptable cycle life. Here, in this perspective, the aim is to evaluate the status of Na‐ion and K‐ion batteries and the challenges associated with them on both fundamental and commercial levels. The focus is on the structural instability arising from phase transitions during cycling, intricate chemical degradation processes, and potential avenues for enhancing their performance with a specific goal of improving their viability for grid‐scale energy storage. Materials production and abundance limitations for the chemistries of the state‐of‐the‐art materials and account for critical parameters from both the perspective of researchers and investors are analyzed. This analysis aims to provide insights into the strategic trade‐offs required to effectively implement the technology in real‐world applications, such as grid‐scale storage and other areas. Furthermore, the utilization of metals with low or no supply‐chain problems as an important aspect of these trade‐offs is considered.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Gaussian integral method for void fraction

Here, a novel method, the Gaussian Integral Method (GIM), is presented for calculating void fractions in Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) simulations. GIM is versatile and applicable to various grid types, including structured and unstructured polyhedral meshes, without requiring special boundary treatments. An optimization technique is introduced to make GIM independent of grid resolution and type. The method is validated against experimental data from a fluidized bed, demonstrating that GIM produces realistic simulations closely resembling experimental observations. Additionally, unstructured polyhedral grids using GIM outperform structured grids of equivalent resolution, yielding results more aligned with experimental data. The gradient of the void fraction is computed in the CFD solver and utilized in the DEM solver for precise estimation at particle locations. Overall, GIM provides an effective solution for void fraction calculations in particulate media simulations with complex geometries, enhancing the accuracy and applicability of CFD-DEM simulations for industrial processes.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Frequency Resilience Enhancement for Power Systems with High Penetration of Grid-Forming Inverters

Abstract—Grid following inverter-based renewable generation has replaced conventional generation in recent years, resulting in lower system inertia. The frequency resilience in such a lower inertia system is critical for emergency mitigation. In this paper, we propose a resilience metric based on frequency recovery to quantitatively represent system resilience in terms of the rate of change of frequency. Application of grid-forming converters provides a means to improve system resilience by providing virtual inertia. An under-frequency load shedding strategy is applied to further support frequency recovery in cases with high penetration of grid-forming inverters. Case studies are designed and performed in a modified IEEE 9-bus test system using the PSCAD/EMTDC platform. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed resilience metric and the effectiveness of the strategy for reducing frequency excursion in inverter-based power systems. citation: J. Gui, H. Lei, T. R. McJunkin and B. K. Johnson, "Frequency Resilience Enhancement for Power Systems with High Penetration of Grid-Forming Inverters," 2023 IEEE Power & Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference (ISGT), Washington, DC, USA, 2023, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/ISGT51731.2023.10066357.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Test methodology for validation of multi-frequency models of renewable energy generators using small-signal perturbations

Providing trustworthy and accurate multi-frequency (or harmonic) models for renewable energy generators (REG) is an ongoing challenge for harmonic studies. There have been effective attempts to propose and design a test device to validate the harmonic models, mainly based on shunt current perturbations. However, using additional devices for perturbations is costly for converter-based test sites. This paper provides the test specifications to extend the application of the grid emulators for voltage perturbations and appropriate harmonic model validation. Besides, the effects of the sequence couplings, initial emissions, and power set-points on the test results have been overlooked in the literature. Considering these effects, this paper proposes a generic test methodology to obtain more accurate models in the sequence domain. The experimental verification of the proposed methodology is demonstrated using a 7 MVA grid emulator for testing of a 2 MVA photo-voltaic converter and a 2 MVA Type 3 wind turbine. This way, the test challenges, specifications, and recommendations are presented using the MW-scale experiments on different REGs. Furthermore, the effects of sequence couplings and initial emissions on the calculation results are investigated and compared. The proposed methodology is applicable for harmonic model validation as well as empirical modelling.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Aerodynamics of engine-airframe interaction

The development of the variational approach for the solution of inviscid aerodynamic problems using solution adaptive grids is discussed. The formulation of a new, directional weighting, functional has been shown to have desirable properties. The scheme has been applied to compute the transonic flow past two-dimensional airfoils using the Euler equations of inviscid, compressible flow. Transonic flows in quasi-one-dimensional nozzles and over the two dimensional airfoils are solved on the various solution-adaptive-grids to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed directional-concentration functional and the grid adaptation process from the stand point of improving the solution accuracy and demonstrating the overall convergence.

Caughey, David A.↗

Computational fluid dynamics application to hypersonic flow over a Martian entry vehicle (MEV) - A correlation with experiment

A class of vehicles for a mission to Mars are analyzed for aerodynamic characteristics using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The general configuration is a modified cone-conical-frustum geometry where the nose radius has a large influence on the flowfield. Inviscid-compressible flow using the Euler equations and viscous-compressible flow using the thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations is applied to the configuration. The surface modeling, grid generation and application of state-of-the-art CFD software are described. The effects of nose radius, angle of attack, and hypersonic velocity on the flight characteristics of the vehicle are discussed. The numerical simulations demonstrate the merits of the inviscid and viscous software. Results are compared with wind tunnel experiments.

Stewart, John E.↗

Numerical grid generation; Proceedings of the Symposium on Numerical Generation of Curvilinear Coordinate Systems and Their Use in the Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations, Nashville, TN, April 13-16, 1982

General curvilinear coordinate systems are considered along with the error induced by coordinate systems, basic differential models for coordinate generation, elliptic grid generation, conformal grid generation, algebraic grid generation, orthogonal grid generation, patched coordinate systems, and solid mechanics applications of boundary fitted coordinate systems. Attention is given to coordinate system control and adaptive meshes, the application of body conforming curvilinear grids for finite difference solution of external flow, the use of solution adaptive grids in solving partial differential equations, adaptive gridding for finite difference solutions to heat and mass transfer problems, and the application of curvilinear coordinate generation techniques to the computation of internal flows. Other topics explored are related to the solution of nonlinear water wave problems using boundary-fitted coordinate systems, the numerical modeling of estuarine hydrodynamics on a boundary-fitted coordinate system, and conformal grid generation for multielement airfoils.

Thompson, J. F.↗