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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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Normal incidence X-ray telescope power spectra of X-ray emission from solar active regions. I - Observations. II - Theory

Fourier analysis is applied to very high resolution image of coronal active regions obtained by the Normal Incidence X-Ray Telescope is used to find a broad isotropic power-law spectrum of the spatial distribution of soft X-ray intensities. Magnetic structures of all sizes are present down to the resolution limit of the instrument. Power spectra for the X-ray intensities of a sample of topologically different active regions are found which fall off with increasing wavenumber as 1/k-cubed. A model is presented that relates the basic features of coronal magnetic fluctuations to the subphotospheric hydrodynamic turbulence that generates them. The model is used to find a theoretical power spectrum for the X-ray intensity which falls off with increasing wavenumber as 1/k-cubed. The implications of a turbulent regime in active regions are discussed.

Gomez, Daniel O.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Power Converter Topologies for Electrolyzer Applications to Enable Electric Grid Services

Hydrogen electrolyzers, with their operational flexibility, can be configured as smart dynamic loads which can provide grid services and facilitate the integration of more renewable energy sources into the electrical grid. However, to enable this ability, the electrolyzer system should be able to control both active and reactive power in coordination with the low-level controller of the electrolyzer via the power electronics system interface between the utility grid and electrolyzer. This paper discusses power converter topologies and the control scheme of this power electronics interface for electrolyzer applications to enable electricity grid services. For the sake of unity, in this paper, we consider the power converter system interfacing the utility grid at the line-to-line root mean square (RMS) value of 480 VAC-60 Hz and supplying to the 3500 A-750 kW PEM electrolyzer stack.

electrolyzer↗
NASA NTRS2009

Enceladus: An Active Cryovolcanic Satellite

Enceladus is one of the most remarkable satellites in the solar system, as revealed by Cassini's detection of active plumes erupting from warm fractures near its south pole. This discovery makes Enceladus the only icy satellite known to exhibit ongoing internally driven geological activity. The activity is presumably powered by tidal heating maintained by Enceladus 2:1 mean-motion resonance with Dione, but many questions remain. For instance, it appears difficult or impossible to maintain the currently observed radiated power (probably at least 6 GW) in steady state. It is also not clear how Enceladus first entered its current self-maintaining warm and dissipative state initial heating from non-tidal sources is probably required. There are also many unanswered questions about Enceladus interior. The silicate fraction inferred from its density of 1.68 g per cubic centimeter is probably differentiated into a core, though we have only indirect evidence for differentiation. Above the core there is probably a global or regional water layer, inferred from several models of tidal heating, and an ice shell thick enough to support the ~1 kilometer amplitude topography seen on Enceladus. It is possible that dissipation is largely localized beneath the south polar region. Enceladus surface geology, ranging from moderately cratered terrain to the virtually crater-free active south polar region, is highly diverse, tectonically complex, and remarkably symmetrical about the rotation axis and the direction to Saturn. South polar activity is concentrated along the four tiger stripe fractures, which radiate heat at temperatures up to at least 167 K and are the source of multiple plumes ejecting ~200 kilograms per second of H2O vapor along with significant N2 (or C2H4), CO2, CH4, NH3, and higher-mass hydrocarbons. The escaping gas maintains Saturn's neutral gas torus, and the plumes also eject a large number of micron-sized H2O ice grains that populate Saturn's E-ring. The mechanism that powers the plumes is not well understood, and whether liquid water is involved is a subject of active debate (but likely nonetheless). Enceladus provides a promising potential habitat for life in the outer solar system, and the active plumes allow the unique opportunity for direct sampling of that zone. Enceladus is thus a prime target for Cassini's continued exploration of the Saturn system, and will be a tempting target for future missions.

Spencer, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Statistical analysis of power-size-redshift distributions of extragalactic jets

This paper investigates whether a hot, sparse, yet cosmologically significant intergalactic medium is consistent with data collected from extragalactic radio sources. This is done by use of Monte Carlo simulations which employ previously run pseudohydrodynamical simulations to cover an observational parameter space. These observational parameters include the scale height, central density, and temperature of a (isothermal) galactic halo, and the power of the central engine which drives the jet. The Monte Carlo simulations generate distribution of sizes in bins of (received) power and redshift, which have been compared with observational data using Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. Results of this analysis are consistent with the existence of an IGM with temperature and density mentioned above. In addition, this analysis suggests that the active lifetime of powerful extragalactic radio sources decreases with increasing power.

Rosen, Alexander↗
DOE OSTI2024

Canada's Actions for Rapid Decarbonization of Power Sector

A collaborative report from the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) on Lessons Learned for Rapid Decarbonization of Power Sectors was delivered to energy ministers and presented at the 13th CEM (CEM13) in the United States in September 2022. In light of these lessons learned and discussed at CEM13, several jurisdictions signaled intent to develop Action Plans for power sector decarbonization. The first cohort of Action Plans was released at CEM14 in India in July 2023. Canada is pleased to release this Action Plan as a contribution to the second cohort of Action Plans released at CEM15 in Brazil in October 2024. The Action Plans, supported by the 21st Century Power Partnership, and other CEM workstreams via direct technical assistance and capacity building, are intended to focus on select implementation actions, given each country's existing power sector goals and activities, and are an opportunity for countries to display leadership in power sector decarbonization. The Action Plans are organized in a framework for Planning, Building and Operating, as well as Stakeholder Engagement where appropriate based on country priorities. These Action Plans are voluntary, developed by each country individually, not comprehensive of all activities within the jurisdiction, and are living documents that are subject to change.

21st Century Power Partnership↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Two-Stage Approach for PV Inverter Engagement in Power Factor Correction and Voltage Regulation

The rapid integration of distributed energy resources, like solar photovoltaics (PVs), can lead to overvolt-age challenges due to reverse power flow and a noticeable decrease in power factor at the substation interface. While existing literature extensively explores utilizing smart inverter capabilities for reactive power flexibility using a volt-var curve (VVC), obtaining time-varying operating points of such curves in real-time is challenging due to computational demands and communication requirements. Similarly, employing optimization-based approaches for reactive power control and active voltage regulation in large-scale distribution feeders is difficult due to the complexity of the problem and the challenges in effectively engaging customer-owned resources. This paper proposes a two-stage strategy to harness smart inverters for reactive power support. The first stage formulates short-term planning by optimally designing VVCs (on a daily or hourly basis) for large-scale solar PVs based on projected system needs and communicating optimal curves to smart inverters in advance. Subsequently, the second stage employs a transactive-based method to involve customer-owned PVs for reactive power support, effectively enhancing overall system performance and addressing real-time demands. In conclusion, the efficacy of this approach will be demonstrated using real-world distribution circuits provided by Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) and Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC).

Poudel, Shiva [Pacific Northwest National Laborato↗
NASA NTRS1980

Sandia Laboratories in-house activities in support of solar thermal large power applications

The development of thermal energy storage subsystems for solar thermal large power applications is described. The emphasis is on characterizing the behavior of molten nitrate salts with regard to thermal decomposition, environmental interactions, and corrosion. Electrochemical techniques to determine the ionic species in the melt and for use in real time studies of corrosion are also briefly discussed.

Mar, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1996

On the Theory of High-Power Ultrashort Pulse Propagation in Raman-Active Media

The propagation of an intense femtosecond pulse in a Raman-active medium is analyzed. An analytic solution which describes in explicit form the evolution of the light pulse is derived. The field of an intense light wave undergoes a substantial transformation as the wave propagates through the medium. The nature of this transformation can change over time scales comparable to the period of the optical oscillations. As a result, the pulse of sufficiently high energy divides into stretched and compressed domains where the field decreases and increases respectively.

Belenov, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS2014

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei in the Southern Survey

We present a catalogue of 191 extragalactic sources detected by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) at 148 and/or 218 GHz in the 2008 Southern survey. Flux densities span 14 -1700 mJy, and we use source spectral indices derived using ACT-only data to divide our sources into two subpopulations: 167 radio galaxies powered by central active galactic nuclei (AGN) and 24 dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs). We cross-identify 97 per cent of our sources (166 of the AGN and 19 of the DSFGs) with those in currently available catalogues. When combined with flux densities from the Australia Telescope 20 GHz survey and follow-up observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the synchrotron-dominated population is seen to exhibit a steepening of the slope of the spectral energy distribution from 20 to 148 GHz, with the trend continuing to 218 GHz. The ACT dust-dominated source population has a median spectral index, A(sub 148-218), of 3.7 (+0.62 or −0.86), and includes both local galaxies and sources with redshift around 6. Dusty sources with no counterpart in existing catalogues likely belong to a recently discovered subpopulation of DSFGs lensed by foreground galaxies or galaxy groups.

dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs)↗
NASA NTRS2014

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei in the Southern Survey

We present a catalogue of 191 extragalactic sources detected by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) at 148 and/or 218 GHz in the 2008 Southern survey. Flux densities span 14 - 1700 mJy, and we use source spectral indices derived using ACT-only data to divide our sources into two subpopulations: 167 radio galaxies powered by central active galactic nuclei (AGN) and 24 dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs). We cross-identify 97 per cent of our sources (166 of the AGN and 19 of the DSFGs) with those in currently available catalogues. When combined with flux densities from the Australia Telescope 20 GHz survey and follow-up observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the synchrotron-dominated population is seen to exhibit a steepening of the slope of the spectral energy distribution from 20 to 148 GHz, with the trend continuing to 218 GHz. The ACT dust-dominated source population has a median spectral index, alpha(sub 148−218), of 3.7 +0.62/-0.86), and includes both local galaxies and sources with redshift around 6. Dusty sources with no counterpart in existing catalogues likely belong to a recently discovered subpopulation of DSFGs lensed by foreground galaxies or galaxy groups.

Telescope↗
DOE OSTI2020

Active Damping With Energy Storage to Improve Power System Frequency Stability

As renewable resources displace traditional generation, there may be times when there is relatively less rotational inertia (H, MW-s) to stabilize power system frequency following a power system disturbance. This article outlines a method for the control of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to mitigate power system frequency disturbances. The control scheme discussed in the article leverages latest ‘smart grid’ technologies including PMU’s and advanced grid-supportive inverters. The authors’ screening-level analysis of this novel BESS control concept indicates the potential to increase the speed of recovery of disturbed power systems, i.e. return power system frequency to nominal value (60 Hz in N. America), following a system disturbance. Increasing power system stability by adding inertial-support from appropriately controlled BESS will help power systems accommodate more renewable generation before hitting stability limits.

Energy Storage↗
DOE OSTI2024

The United States' (DOE) Action Plan for Power Sector Decarbonization

A collaborative report from the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) on Lessons Learned for Rapid Decarbonization of Power Sectors was delivered to energy ministers and presented at the 13th CEM (CEM13) in the United States in September 2022. In light of these lessons learned and discussed at CEM13, several jurisdictions signaled intent to develop Action Plans for power sector decarbonization. The first cohort of Action Plans was released at CEM14 in India in July 2023. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is pleased to release this Action Plan as a contribution to the second cohort of Action Plans released at CEM15 in Brazil in October 2024. The Action Plans, supported by the 21st Century Power Partnership, and other CEM workstreams via direct technical assistance and capacity building, are intended to focus on select implementation actions, given each country's existing power sector goals and activities, and are an opportunity for countries to display leadership in power sector decarbonization. The Action Plans are organized in a framework for Planning, Building and Operating, as well as Stakeholder Engagement where appropriate based on country priorities. These Action Plans are voluntary, developed by each country individually, not comprehensive of all activities within the jurisdiction, and are living documents that are subject to change. This Action Plan, developed by DOE, is focused on federal actions for power sector decarbonization primarily led by DOE. There are many other actions being led by other U.S. government agencies, or at the state and local level, that are not featured in this Action Plan.

21st Century Power Partnership↗
NASA NTRS2013

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei in the Southern Survey

We present a catalog of 191 extragalactic sources detected by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) at 148 GHz and/or 218GHz in the 2008 Southern survey. Flux densities span 14-1700mJy, and we use source spectral indices derived using ACT-only data to divide our sources into two sub-populations: 167 radio galaxies powered by central active galactic nuclei (AGN), and 24 dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs). We cross-identify 97% of our sources (166 of the AGN and 19 of the DSFGs) with those in currently available catalogs. When combined with flux densities from the Australian Telescope 20 GHz survey and follow-up observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, the synchrotron-dominated population is seen to exhibit a steepening of the slope of the spectral energy distribution from 20 to 148GHz, with the trend continuing to 218GHz. The ACT dust-dominated source population has a median spectral index, alpha(sub 148−218), of 3.7+0.62 or −0.86, and includes both local galaxies and sources with redshifts as great as 5.6. Dusty sources with no counterpart in existing catalogs likely belong to a recently discovered subpopulation of DSFGs lensed by foreground galaxies or galaxy groups.

millimeter: galaxies↗
DOE OSTI2024

Direct Power Control of Back to Back Modular Multilevel Converter with Advanced Grid Support Functions for Grid Forming Application

Possibility of using back-to-back modular multilevel converter system with a direct power control architecture has been investigated in this paper. The rectifier side is controlled to be in grid following mode whereas the inverter side is controlled in grid forming mode. Both the sides’ local controllers use Lyapunov energy function based architecture to accomplish the objective of active and reactive power control as well as maintaining a fixed user defined voltage over the dc bus on the rectifier side. Therefore, the proposed direct power control architecture has embedded dc bus control architecture to maintain fixed user defined value of the capacitors. Similar architecture is implemented on the inverter side to accomplish either voltage control during grid forming or power control during grid following. Advanced grid support functionalities based on IEEE-1547-2018 is implemented and utilized to generate the reference values for either the rectifier or the inverter sides. The overall system is modeled based on MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS domain and various important case studies to verify the efficacy of the overall system has been presented.

direct power control (DPC)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Seamless Transition of Critical Infrastructures using Droop Controlled Grid-forming Inverters

Seamless recovery of power to critical infrastructures, after grid failure, is a crucial need arising in scenarios that are increasingly becoming more frequent. Here, this article proposes a seamless transition strategy using a single and unified mode-dependent droop controlled grid-forming inverters. The control strategy achieves the following objectives: 1) regulates the output active and reactive power by the droop-controlled inverters to a desired value while operating in on-grid mode; 2) seamless transition and recovery of power injections into the load after grid failure by inverters that operates in grid-forming mode all the time; 3) requires only a single bit of information on the grid/network status for the mode transition. A framework for assessing the stability of the system and to guide the choice of parameters for controllers is developed using control-oriented modeling. A controller hardware-in-the-loop-based real-time simulation study on a test system based on the realistic electrical network of a commercial-scale medical center is conducted for initial prototyping of the control strategy. A hardware experiment is conducted with two 3 - $\phi$, 480 -V, 125 -kVA grid-forming inverters, a 3 - $\phi$, 480 -V, 270 -kVA grid simulator, a physical grid switch, and a physical load bank. The experimental data establishes the effectiveness of the always grid-forming operation and control of inverters in meeting power delivery objectives when on-grid and off-grid under various kinds of loads and scenarios while minimizing transients during transitions. Furthermore, performance comparison with existing strategies showcases the advantage of the proposed strategy.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS2005

Making the Most of Waste Energy

The Thermo-Mechanical Systems Branch at NASA s Glenn Research Center is responsible for planning and conducting research efforts to advance thermal systems for space, aerospace, and non-aerospace applications. Technological areas pertain to solar and thermal energy conversion. For example, thermo-mechanical systems researchers work with gas (Stirling) and liquid/vapor (Rankine) systems that convert thermal energy to electrical power, as well as solar dynamic power systems that concentrate sunlight to electrical power. The branch s development of new solar and thermal energy technologies is propelling NASA s missions deep into unfamiliar territories of space. Solar dynamic power systems are actively improving the health of orbiting satellites, giving them longer life and a stronger radiation tolerance, thus, creating less need for on-orbit maintenance. For future missions, NASA may probe even deeper into the mysterious cosmos, with the adoption of highly efficient thermal energy converters that have the potential to serve as the source of onboard electrical power for satellites and spacecraft. Research indicates that these thermal converters can deliver up to 5 times as much power as radioisotope thermoelectric generators in use today, for the same amount of radioisotope. On Earth, energy-converting technologies associated with NASA s Thermo-Mechanical Systems Branch are being used to recover and transform low-temperature waste heat into usable electric power, with a helping hand from NASA.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2011

Effects of Active Sting Damping on Common Research Model Data Quality

Recent tests using the Common Research Model (CRM) at the Langley National Transonic Facility (NTF) and the Ames 11-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel (11' TWT) produced large sets of data that have been used to examine the effects of active damping on transonic tunnel aerodynamic data quality. In particular, large statistically significant sets of repeat data demonstrate that the active damping system had no apparent effect on drag, lift and pitching moment repeatability during warm testing conditions, while simultaneously enabling aerodynamic data to be obtained post stall. A small set of cryogenic (high Reynolds number) repeat data was obtained at the NTF and again showed a negligible effect on data repeatability. However, due to a degradation of control power in the active damping system cryogenically, the ability to obtain test data post-stall was not achieved during cryogenic testing. Additionally, comparisons of data repeatability between NTF and 11-ft TWT CRM data led to further (warm) testing at the NTF which demonstrated that for a modest increase in data sampling time, a 2-3 factor improvement in drag, and pitching moment repeatability was readily achieved not related with the active damping system.

Acheson, Michael J.↗