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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 541 records · Page 30

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2023

Towards elastic in situ analysis for high-performance computing simulations

In situ analysis and visualization have grown increasingly popular for enabling direct access to data from high-performance computing (HPC) simulations. As a simulation progresses and interesting physical phenomena emerge, however, the data produced may become increasingly complex, and users may need to dynamically change the type and scale of in situ analysis tasks being carried out and consequently adapt the amount of resources allocated to such tasks. To date, none of the production in situ analysis frameworks offer such an elasticity feature, and for good reason: the assumption that the number of processes could vary during run time would force developers to rethink software and algorithms at every level of the in situ analysis stack. In this paper we present Colza, a data staging service with elastic in situ visualization capabilities. We demonstrate the use of Colza with the Deep Water Impact and the AMR-Wind simulations, coupling them with the ParaView Catalyst and Ascent in situ libraries, and show that Colza enables dynamic rescaling of these widely-used frameworks with no interruption to the simulation or staging service. Here, we highlight the challenges of enabling such elasticity, which requires overcoming these frameworks' reliance on MPI, using distinct engineering approaches, namely dependency injection and dependency overload. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to enable elastic in situ visualization capabilities for HPC applications on top of existing production analysis tools.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2024

Predictions of rhizosphere microbiome dynamics with a genome-informed and trait-based energy budget model

Abstract Soil microbiomes are highly diverse, and to improve their representation in biogeochemical models, microbial genome data can be leveraged to infer key functional traits. By integrating genome-inferred traits into a theory-based hierarchical framework, emergent behaviour arising from interactions of individual traits can be predicted. Here we combine theory-driven predictions of substrate uptake kinetics with a genome-informed trait-based dynamic energy budget model to predict emergent life-history traits and trade-offs in soil bacteria. When applied to a plant microbiome system, the model accurately predicted distinct substrate-acquisition strategies that aligned with observations, uncovering resource-dependent trade-offs between microbial growth rate and efficiency. For instance, inherently slower-growing microorganisms, favoured by organic acid exudation at later plant growth stages, exhibited enhanced carbon use efficiency (yield) without sacrificing growth rate (power). This insight has implications for retaining plant root-derived carbon in soils and highlights the power of data-driven, trait-based approaches for improving microbial representation in biogeochemical models.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Editorial: Hydrology, ecology, and nutrient biogeochemistry at the terrestrial-aquatic interface

Terrestrial-aquatic interfaces (TAI) play important roles in mediating the exchange of water and chemicals between land, surface and subsurface water systems, which is tightly coupled with biogeochemical transformations that influence water quality and ecosystem health (Harvey and Gooseff, 2015; Harvey et al., 2019). Understanding and predicting the interactions between the hydrologic, ecologic, and biogeochemical processes at those interfaces is crucial for the sustainable management of water resources and promotion of healthy ecosystems under different environmental stresses and disturbances, including climate change, human activities, and more frequent occurrence of extreme events. Both process-based and data-driven approaches have emerged to address critical challenges at TAIs as integral parts of the Earth system (e.g., Ward and Packman, 2019; Chen et al., 2021; Dwivedi et al., 2022). In this Research Topic, we sought research that advances the understanding of coupled hydrologic, ecologic, and biogeochemical processes along various TAIs from the summit to sea, e.g., river corridors and coastal TAI systems. We invited observational, experimental, theoretical, analytical, numerical, and data-driven research that aims to understand hydro-biogeochemical processes such as the redox dynamics and biogeochemical transformations of carbon, nutrients, and metals occurring at the TAIs and address their heterogeneity and scaling challenges.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2003

Native Peoples-Native Homelands Climate Change Workshop: Lessons Learned

The Native Peoples-Native Homelands Climate Change Workshop was held on October 28 through November 01,1998, as part of a series of workshops being held around the U.S. to improve the understanding of the potential consequences of climate variability and change for the Nation. This workshop was specifically designed by Native Peoples to examine the impacts of climate change and extreme weather variability on Native Peoples and Native Homelands from an indigenous cultural and spiritual perspective and to develop recommendations as well as identify potential response actions. The workshop brought together interested Native Peoples, representatives of Tribal governments, traditional elders, Tribal leaders, natural resource managers, Tribal College faculty and students, and climate scientists fiom government agencies and universities. It is clear that Tribal colleges and universities play a unique and critical role in the success of these emerging partnerships for decision-making in addition to the important education function for both Native and non-Native communities such as serving as a culturally-appropriate vehicle for access, analysis, control, and protection of indigenous cultural and intellectual property. During the discussions between scientists and policy-makers from both Native and non-Native communities, a number of important lessons emerged which are key to building more effective partnerships between Native and non-Native communities for collaboration and decision-making for a more sustainable future. This talk summarizes the key issues, recommendations, and lessons learned during this workshop.

Maynard, Nancy G.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Launch Vehicle Demonstrator Using Shuttle Assets

The Marshall Space Flight Center Advanced Concepts Office (ACO) has the leading role for NASA s preliminary conceptual launch vehicle design and performance analysis. Over the past several years the ACO Earth-to-Orbit Team has evaluated thousands of launch vehicle concept variations for a multitude of studies including agency-wide efforts such as the Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS), Constellation, Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV), Heavy Lift Propulsion Technology (HLPT), Human Exploration Framework Team (HEFT), and Space Launch System (SLS). NASA plans to continue human space exploration and space station utilization. Launch vehicles used for heavy lift cargo and crew will be needed. One of the current leading concepts for future heavy lift capability is an inline one and a half stage concept using solid rocket boosters (SRB) and based on current Shuttle technology and elements. Potentially, the quickest and most cost-effective path towards an operational vehicle of this configuration is to make use of a demonstrator vehicle fabricated from existing shuttle assets and relying upon the existing STS launch infrastructure. Such a demonstrator would yield valuable proof-of-concept data and would provide a working test platform allowing for validated systems integration. Using shuttle hardware such as existing RS-25D engines and partial MPS, propellant tanks derived from the External Tank (ET) design and tooling, and four-segment SRB s could reduce the associated upfront development costs and schedule when compared to a concept that would rely on new propulsion technology and engine designs. There are potentially several other additional benefits to this demonstrator concept. Since a concept of this type would be based on man-rated flight proven hardware components, this demonstrator has the potential to evolve into the first iteration of heavy lift crew or cargo and serve as a baseline for block upgrades. This vehicle could also serve as a demonstration and test platform for the Orion Program. Critical spacecraft systems, re-entry and recovery systems, and launch abort systems of Orion could also be demonstrated in early test flights of the launch vehicle demo. Furthermore, an early demonstrator of this type would provide a stop-gap for retaining critical human capital and infrastructure while affording the current emerging generation of young engineers opportunity to work with and capture lessons learned from existing STS program offices and personnel, who were integral in the design and development of the Space Shuttle before these resources are no longer available. The objective of this study is to define candidate launch vehicle demonstration concepts that are based on Space Shuttle assets and determine their performance capabilities and how these demonstration vehicles could evolve to a heavy lift capability to low earth orbit.

Threet, Grady E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Spinoff 1979

Technology is knowledge, the technical "know-how" employed by a society to produce things that improve the quality of human life. Like other forms of knowledge, it is transferable; once developed, technology can be applied to uses different-and often remote-from the original application. Thus, the technology that NASA has developed in more than two decades of space and aeronautical research constitutes a valuable national resource, a bank of knowledge available for secondary utilization, or "spinoff." NASA mainline programs, by their challenging nature, are particularly demanding of technological advance; meeting their goals has forced extraordinary advancements in virtually every scientific and technological discipline. For that reason, the wealth of aerospace-generated knowledge available for transfer is exceptionally diverse, and much of it is readily applicable to secondary use over a broad spectrum of public needs and conveniences. Through its Congressionally mandated Technology Utilization Program, NASA seeks to promote wider use of this technological resource. The program provides a link between the technology bank and those in either the private or public sectors who might be able to re-use the technology productively. Its aim is to accelerate the transfer process, to bring to the marketplace sooner those spinoffs which might eventually occur in the normal course of events, and to gain thereby more immediate economic benefit in terms of new products and new jobs. The program has been remarkably successful. Since its inception 17 years ago, thousands of spinoff products and processes have emerged. Some of these innovations bring only moderate increments of economic gain or lifestyle improvement, but many others amount to significant public benefits, with economic values often running to millions of dollars. Collectively, spinoffs provide a substantial bonus return on the funds invested in aerospace research. This publication is intended to increase public awareness of the resource that is NASA's technology bank and its potential for further public benefit. It is devoted primarily to the NASA technology transfer process, but in the interests of perspective it also describes related areas of NASA endeavor. Section 1 consists of a resume of NASA's current mainline programs. These programs are producing direct public benefit through direct application of technology; at the same time, they are contributing to indirect benefit-spinoff-by generating new technology which may find secondary application in the future. Section 2 is the focal point of this volume. It contains a representative sampling of spinoff products and processes employed in various avenues of everyday life, and it describes briefly the NASA technology from which these transfers derived. Section 3 details the mechanisms of the technology transfer process, including the means by which NASA seeks to stimulate technology utilization. Also described are NASA's activities in a related area of technology transfer: provision of assistance to agencies interested in exploiting the benefit potential of satellite remote sensing technology.

Haggerty, James J.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower Hybrid: Site Suitability Assessment

In 2024, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) initiated a technical-assistance project to support Cat Creek Energy, LLC, (CCE) in evaluating site suitability for the proposed Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) project in south-central Idaho near Mackay Reservoir. The Corral Summit facility incorporates battery storage and photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays in a Trybrid configuration to deliver large-volume long-duration (LVLD) storage solutions for rural electric cooperatives in eastern Idaho. The evaluation process focused on determining the most-suitable location for the upper reservoir of the PSH system, guided by a comprehensive assessment framework spanning multiple categories, including physical characteristics, environmental constraints, building infrastructure, regulatory constraints, cultural resources and sensitivity, social factors, and power market and grid integration. Each site was analyzed based on a ranking scale (0–1), which scores ranging from “severely disfavored” to “highly favored,” allowing detailed comparisons of site-specific conditions. Categories such as hydraulic head, utilities corridor, land ownership, and transmission-grid limitations emerged as key contributors to the overall assessment. Site 2 (Idaho Trust) demonstrated a slight advantage over Site 1 (Bureau of Land Management) primarily due to favorable outcomes in regulatory constraints, building infrastructure, and power-market integration. However, Site 1 outperformed Site 2 in factors related to physical characteristics and social factors. The report emphasizes the need for further evaluation of both sites before clear determination of which site is preferred, due to the limited information available on either site at the time of this report. Key areas of evaluation to clearly define the preferred site are ecological impacts, cultural-resource surveys, and economic-feasibility assessments. For successful project execution, recommended follow-up actions include seismic and geotechnical surveys, groundwater and habitat monitoring, regulatory reviews of water rights and right-of-way agreements, cultural engagement with local tribal governments, and enhanced stakeholder strategies. These efforts will ensure the Corral Summit Trybrid facility meets local energy needs while balancing environmental, social, and regulatory responsibilities.

13 - HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Corral Summit Pumped Storage Hydropower Hybrid Site Suitability Assessment (Rev.1)

13 - HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

3D printing of packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composites: Environmental sustainability analysis

In this study, a comprehensive Life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted on molded packaging inserts from expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, molded packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite, and 3D-printed packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite under the low mix / high volume (LMHV) scenario and molded and machined packaging inserts from EPS foam, molded and machined packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite, and 3D-printed packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite under the high mix / low volume (HMLV) scenario. Six environmental impact categories—climate change, acidification, eutrophication, fossil resource scarcity, land use, and water consumption—are analyzed to evaluate the environmental trade-offs associated with each type of packaging inserts. Under the LMHV scenario, molded packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite emerge as the best option due to their lower impact on climate change, acidification and water consumption compared to other types of packaging inserts. Conversely, molded packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite face challenges in land use and eutrophication, primarily due to raw material production. LCA also reveals that 3D-printed packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite are the most environmentally favorable option under the HMLV scenario, due to significantly lower contributions to climate change, eutrophication, and water consumption compared to other types of packaging inserts. Conversely, 3D-printed packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite face challenges in acidification and land use, primarily due to raw material production. As part of the LCA, sensitivity analyses show that sourcing energy from 100% renewable sources substantially lowers climate change impacts across all packaging types, while varying transportation distances results in only minor changes, indicating the dominant role of upstream material and manufacturing processes. Additional sensitivity analysis is conducted under the HMLV scenario to assess the impact of material removal during machining on the environment. The amount of material removal is varied from 10 to 70% for the sensitivity analysis and it highlights that the amount of material removed during machining has no significant impact on climate change for packaging inserts from EPS foam. However, molded and machined packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite show an increasing trend in climate change with higher amount of material removal, while 3D-printed packaging inserts from biomass-fungi composite exhibit a decreasing trend, driven by reduced raw material usage and energy consumption.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Market Brief: Customer-sited Distributed Energy Resources

This market brief summarizes key takeaways from interviews with vendors and service providers in one or more areas of the DER market: DER controls, battery storage, solar photovoltaic, thermal energy storage, combined heat and power, flexible building loads, and electric vehicle charging. Back-up generators used only in emergencies are not in the scope of this market brief.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2020

2020 State of the Science Report, Chapter 1: Marine Renewable Energy and Ocean Energy System

Research, development, and deployment of marine renewable energy (MRE) conversion technologies that harvest all forms of ocean renewable resources are being advanced around the world. The potential benefits derived from capturing the abundant energy of tides, waves, ocean currents, as well as thermal and salinity gradients, continue to drive the development of the emerging MRE industry. Stakeholder understanding of the potential benefits of MRE as a renewable energy source is informed by increased science-based understanding of the potential effects of MRE installations worldwide. The international Ocean Energy Systems (OES)-Environmental collaboration continues to promote global technology cooperation and information exchange to accelerate environmentally acceptable development of viable ocean energy systems. https://tethys.pnnl.gov/publications/state-of-the-science-2020-chapter-1-MRE-OES

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Model-Form Epistemic Uncertainty Quantification for Modeling with Differential Equations: Application to Epidemiology

Modeling real-world phenomena to any degree of accuracy is a challenge that the scientific research community has navigated since its foundation. Lack of information and limited computational and observational resources necessitate modeling assumptions which, when invalid, lead to model-form error (MFE). The work reported herein explored a novel method to represent model-form uncertainty (MFU) that combines Bayesian statistics with the emerging field of universal differential equations (UDEs). The fundamental principle behind UDEs is simple: use known equational forms that govern a dynamical system when you have them; then incorporate data-driven approaches – in this case neural networks (NNs) – embedded within the governing equations to learn the interacting terms that were underrepresented. Utilizing epidemiology as our motivating exemplar, this report will highlight the challenges of modeling novel infectious diseases while introducing ways to incorporate NN approximations to MFE. Prior to embarking on a Bayesian calibration, we first explored methods to augment the standard (non-Bayesian) UDE training procedure to account for uncertainty and increase robustness of training. In addition, it is often the case that uncertainty in observations is significant; this may be due to randomness or lack of precision in the measurement process. This uncertainty typically manifests as “noisy” observations which deviate from a true underlying signal. To account for such variability, the NN approximation to MFE is endowed with a probabilistic representation and is updated using available observational data in a Bayesian framework. By representing the MFU explicitly and deploying an embedded, data-driven model, this approach enables an agile, expressive, and interpretable method for representing MFU. In this report we will provide evidence that Bayesian UDEs show promise as a novel framework for any science-based, data-driven MFU representation; while emphasizing that significant advances must be made in the calibration of Bayesian NNs to ensure a robust calibration procedure.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2024

The circular bioeconomy: a driver for system integration

Background: Human and earth system modeling, traditionally centered on the interplay between the energy system and the atmosphere, are facing a paradigm shift. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s mandate for comprehensive, cross-sectoral climate action emphasizes avoiding the vulnerabilities of narrow sectoral approaches. Our study explores the circular bioeconomy, highlighting the intricate interconnections among agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, technological advancements, and ecological recycling. Collectively, these sectors play a pivotal role in supplying essential resources to meet the food, material, and energy needs of a growing global population. We pose the pertinent question of what it takes to integrate these multifaceted sectors into a new era of holistic systems thinking and planning. Results: The foundation for discussion is provided by a novel graphical representation encompassing statistical data on food, materials, energy flows, and circularity. This representation aids in constructing an inventory of technological advancements and climate actions that have the potential to significantly reshape the structure and scale of the economic metabolism in the coming decades. In this context, the three dominant mega-trends—population dynamics, economic developments, and the climate crisis—compel us to address the potential consequences of the identified actions, all of which fall under the four categories of substitution, efficiency, sufficiency, and reliability measures. Substitution and efficiency measures currently dominate systems modeling. Including novel bio-based processes and circularity aspects might require only expanded system boundaries. Conversely, paradigm shifts in systems engineering are expected to center on sufficiency and reliability actions. Effectively assessing the impact of sufficiency measures will necessitate substantial progress in inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration, primarily due to their non-technological nature. In addition, placing emphasis on modeling the reliability and resilience of transformation pathways represents a distinct and emerging frontier that highlights the significance of an integrated network of networks. Conclusions: Existing and emerging circular bioeconomy practices can serve as prime examples of system integration. These practices facilitate the interconnection of complex biomass supply chain networks with other networks encompassing feedstock-independent renewable power, hydrogen, CO 2 , water, and other biotic, abiotic, and intangible resources. Elevating the prominence of these connectors will empower policymakers to steer the amplification of synergies and mitigation of tradeoffs among systems, sectors, and goals.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

NASA NTRS1972

Emerging needs for mobile nuclear powerplants

Incentives for broadening the present role of civilian nuclear power to include mobile nuclear power plants that are compact, lightweight, and safe are examined. Specifically discussed is the growing importance of: (1) a new international cargo transportation capability, and (2) the capability for development of resources in previously remote regions of the earth including the oceans and the Arctic. This report surveys present and potential systems (vehicles, remote stations, and machines) that would both provide these capabilities and require enough power to justify using mobile nuclear reactor power plants.

Anderson, J. L.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Advances and perspectives of hard carbon anode modulated by defect/hetero elemental engineering for sodium ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) serve as a promising complement to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage, leveraging the abundance of sodium resources and notable safety advantages. The key advancement in SIB industrialization hinges on identifying a cost-effective and high-performance anode material, similar to the graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries. Hard carbon emerges as prime anode materials for SIBs, boasting high specific capacity, low sodium storage potential, and wide availability. However, practical applications of hard carbon encounters challenges such as low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), inadequate long-term cycling stability, and poor rate performance. Recent research has focused on the optimization of hard carbon electrodes through functional design. In this comprehensive review, we have meticulously examined the progress in enhancing sodium storage performance through microstructural modulation within hard carbon, encompassing four pivotal aspects: heteroatom doping, incorporation of oxygen functional groups, surface coating, and intrinsic defect engineering. Progress in implementing these strategies is scrutinized, while the merits and challenges of each defect engineering approach are discussed. In conclusion, this review also looks into forthcoming opportunities and challenges in the practical application process of hard carbon electrodes in SIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Evaluating the Risk of Enabling Energy Storage Systems to Provide Multiple Services

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are emerging as a promising, versatile technology for modern power grids due to their inherent distributed nature, their ability to inject bidirectional power flows and to provide multiple grid services. With the proliferation of intermittent renewable energy resources, the BESS procurement is also expected to increase, thereby creating systematic and strategic opportunities for BESS to various revenue streams for providing multiple grid services. Utilizing a co-simulation architecture, this work presents evaluation framework for enabling Utility-scale BESS with simultaneous provision of multiple services. The proposed framework is implemented on a real-life feeder modeled in GridLAB-D, leveraging multi-service grid support. A Risk-Aware control strategy is also implemented in this work that that takes into account the uncertain nature of some of the stochastic services and ensures the BESS to deliver their service commitments. This promotes overall grid reliability and encourages BESS implementation through the revenue streams from providing multiple grid services.

Theisen, John↗

DOE OSTI2024

A Systematic Approach to Developing Sustainable Post-Disaster Shelters in the Southern Region of the United States

This study aims to propose a sustainable shelter design involving energy savings, less environmental impact, and rapid construction. The structural design of the shelter is based on 3D-printing technology. Sustainability assessments, including life cycle analysis (LCA), life cycle energy assessment (LCEA), and energy justice of the designed shelter, were conducted to prove the sustainable shelter design. The outcomes of this study for several scenarios will not only allow decision-makers to design permanent shelters with maximized utilization of limited resources but also help local communities strengthen their ability to recover with minimal outside assistance post-disaster. Furthermore, residents can utilize the sustainable shelter to maintain critical functions, including business continuity and local business in emergencies.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Impact of Emerging Computing Architectures and Opportunities for Process Systems Engineering Applications

Moore’s “law” was the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubled approximately every two years. This trend has distinctly failed to hold in recent years. The death of Moore’s law has left researchers and practitioners in the computational sciences searching for technologies to provide the speedups formerly supported by Moore’s law. Previously overlooked chip architectures and other computing technologies are now receiving more development resources. Critically, these technologies are gaining more mature software support, opening their adoption by researchers in algorithms and applications. In this article, we review some of these computing technologies, their relationship with various algorithms and applications, and their potential benefits (or pitfalls). We close with recommendations for future work by the process systems engineering community specifically.

Emerging hardware↗