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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 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Concept Descriptions for the VTR Rabbit System and Driver Fuel Test Assemblies

Two of the experiment vehicles being developed for the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) are presented here. The first is a rabbit system that will enable rapid insertion of small test capsules into the high fast flux of the VTR core for relatively short durations. The rabbit concept development includes the construction/demonstration of a near-full-scale system in a deep-water pool to demonstrate functionality, development of a concept of operations and initial procedures, and validation of thermal-hydraulic modeling. In addition, modeling efforts are underway to simulate the thermal and neutronic environment of a rabbit capsule. The second type of experiment vehicle presented here is a driver fuel test assembly for inserting fuel and materials tests into the core by replacing a driver fuel assembly. Here, a novel design for dismountable test assemblies is proposed for the VTR.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Impact of Lateral Alignment for Cooling Airflow during Heavy-Truck Platooning

A truck platooning system was tested using two heavy-duty tractor-trailer trucks on a closed test track to investigate the thermal control/heat rejection system sensitivity to intentional lateral offsets over a range of intervehicle spacings. Previous studies have shown the following vehicle can experience elevated temperatures and reduced airflow through the cooling package as a result of close-formation platooning. Four anemometers positioned across the grille of the following trucks as well as aligned and multiple offset positions are used to evaluate the sensitivity of the impact. Straight sections of the track are isolated for the most accurate airflow impact measurements and to be most representative of on-highway driving. An intentional lateral offset in truck platooning is considered as a controls approach to mitigate reduced cooling efficacy at close following scenarios where the highest platoon savings are achieved. The truck platooning system was tested at four gap distances from 9 to 23 meters and the following truck was either aligned with the lead or offset with a 25% width (0.65 m) or 50% width (1.3 m) lateral distance. The experimental results clearly show that offset driving is effective at bringing cooling airflow from 56% with an aligned platoon back up to 75%-80% with minimal impact to fuel savings. In addition, the offset driving can also reduce the trailing truck’s engine coolant temperature by 2°C and the corresponding underhood temperature rise by 10°C. The test outcomes indicate a plausible controls strategy to mitigate reduced cooling flow during hot-weather truck platooning while still enabling the highest-energy-saving, close-following scenarios.

27 ARPA - Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy↗
DOE OSTI2021

AN AUTOMATED ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR AN UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLE

The goal of this thesis is to simulate, design and build an automated device that allows unmanned vessels to anchor themselves in specified locations while being United States Coast Guard Navigation Rules compliant. This is a part of a larger project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for Florida Atlantic University to build an unmanned platform with an Undershot Water Wheel on it. By simulating the environment of the South Florida Intercoastal Water Ways, forces acting on the line, anchor and the vessel are analyzed. These forces are used as the guide for the design and build of a line locking mechanism that takes the tension off the winch and a sensor package to monitor the environment the platform is in as well as control of the system. Based off experimental testing, the system was successful in handling all emulated environments with loads exceeding 150lbs of tension.

Fosbrook, Amanda↗
DOE OSTI2021

BPM System for the PIP-II Injector Test Facility

A new BPM system was used for commissioning and operation of the PIP2 Injector Test Facility. The system of 13 warm and 12 cold BPMs was based upon custom 250 MS/s digitizers controlled and readout over gigabit ethernet by a single multi-core rackmount server running linux. The system provided positions, intensity, and phase for each bpm as a pulse average or pulse waveform from 10 us to 4 ms at a 20 Hz pulse repetition rate.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Equalization of Intensity-Modulated Fiber-Optic Voltage Sensors for Power Distribution Systems

We test fiber-optic voltage sensors based on optical reflection from a piezoelectric transducer. Our specific devices possess a 2 kHz fundamental resonance, and we verify a readily usable frequency band from approximately 10 Hz to 3 kHz, with a dynamic range of 60 dB for a detection system integrating over this entire band. Additionally, we demonstrate a digital signal processing approach to equalize the measured frequency response, enabling accurate retrieval of short-pulse inputs. These results suggest the value and applicability of intensity-modulated fiber-optic voltage sensors for measuring both steady-state waveforms and broadband transients which, coupled with the straightforward and compact design of the sensors, should make them effective tools in electric grid monitoring.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Deploying a Model Predictive Traffic Signal Control Algorithm - A Field Deployment Experiment Case Study

This paper presents a field deployment experiment of a real-time traffic signal control algorithm. We implemented the model predictive control (MPC) algorithm based on the virtual phase-link (VPL) model. We selected the deployment locations and times based on an energy saving potential concept. We developed a set of experiment systems, which included sensing, processing, and actuating components, to enable field deployment. We tested the systems rigorously before the experiment days. We reported the key procedures on the experiment days, including the steps taken, the real-time control procedure, and the monitoring of the experiment. We evaluated the impact of the deployment by looking at the changes in delay and energy consumption.

deployment↗
DOE OSTI2024

An Update on Microreactor Automated Control System (MACS)

Automation of control systems is expected to be important in the economic and safe operation of microreactors. There is a need to develop and demonstrate automated control for microreactors, along with the development of testbeds for this purpose. This report provides updates on the status of a microreactor automated control system (MACS) testbed developed to test control system automation. While a future goal is to demonstrate this system using a prototypic microreactor such as MARVEL, the present focus is on developing and testing within a non-nuclear testbed. The testbed, developed in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory, includes hardware-in-the-loop simulation and uses a Modelica-based model of a prototypic microreactor for use in testing control automation. Research to date at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has focused on the development of prototypic software for automating plant-level control under selected scenarios. Empirical testing on the integrated MACS testbed was performed to quantify key characteristics of the integrated testbed and to demonstrate the use of the software for automating the calculation and use of actuation setpoints for selected load-following scenarios. Ongoing research is focused on integrating additional control algorithms that utilize data from newly included sensors within the MACS hardware testbed, as well as demonstrating and assessing the performance of the different automated control algorithms on multiple additional operational scenarios.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

An Overview of Manufacturing Controls for Production of High-Consequence, Single-Use Systems

Extended Testing (Crowder, et al. (2025) ) is a reliability demonstration technique that can be used to dramatically reduce sample size requirements. Manufacturing controls are needed to supplement extended testing by identifying production issues that a reduced sample sizes might overlook, especially built-in, or latent, manufacturing defects. This report focuses on some of the most commonly used, yet most impactful, manufacturing control tools that are used to limit production-related defects and efficiently screen any remaining defects at final inspection. These tools include statistical process control (SPC), acceptance sampling, environmental stress screening (HASS and ESS), and mistake proofing. The goal is to minimize the probability that built-in defects ever reach the customer. In terms of nuclear weapons (NW), the goal is to prevent defective units from ever entering the nation’s NW stockpile. Examples of each of the techniques are illustrated with case studies.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

ARIES and ADMS Test Bed Overview and Updates

This presentation provides an overview and updates on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform and Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS Test Bed).

ADMS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quantification and prediction of error in MIMO tests

Dynamic testing of systems is most realistic of real-world conditions when multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) techniques are used. To replicate measured environmental conditions, a series of desired outputs (responses) on the system must be realized by inverting the frequency response functions (FRF) matrix for input estimation. System identification is dependent on the number of inputs and outputs, which affect the type of solutions. In input estimation, the auto spectra of the determined inputs are affected by both the auto spectra and cross spectra of the desired outputs. This research evaluates errors and investigates two sources in an experimental setting. The first significant error source is test-to-test variability in FRFs from system identification tests, quantified by magnitude variability from long-duration tests. The second significant error source is the realization of time histories from frequency domain inputs. The spectral content of the realized random process deviates from the desired content and is also quantified. The structure is a linear three-story frame fixed at the base; two inputs are provided uniaxially with the use of suspended electrodynamic shakers. The proposed model for error sources was found to be effective in predicting errors in a SISO (single-input single-output) and a square (2-input 2-output) MIMO test.

Yousef, Odey↗
DOE OSTI2021

Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical Modelling of Stockton University Reservoir Cooling System, Fine Scale Stress Test Modelling

Mesh, properties, initial conditions, injection/withdrawal rates for modelling thermal, hydrological, and mechanical effects of fluid injection to and withdrawal from ground for Stockton University reservoir cooling system (aquifer storage cooling system), Galloway, New Jersey, for unscheduled two hour injection at 133 % designed capacity, on fine scale grid, with some results. Second simulation of J.T. Smith, E. Sonnenthal, P. Dobson, P. Nico, and M. Worthington, 2021. Thermal-hydrological-mechanical modeling of Stockton University reservoir cooling system, Proceedings of the 46th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford University, SGP-TR-218, from which Figures 6-9, pertain.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Review of the Generic Grid-Forming Model Used by the System Operator in Chile

The objective in this project is to verify the applicability of using generic electro-magnetic transient domain models of GFM technology through a wide range of tests and system conditions proposed by subject matter experts of GFM technology through a wide range of tests and system conditions proposed by subject matter experts. For this study, we used the generic GFM electro-magnetic transient model available in the EMTP (Electromagnetic Transient Program) software library, and we assessed the model’s various GFM capabilities through 12 tests. In this report, we compare the performance of the model with that of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) GFM model. We also share the key insights and lessons learned from this work.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

SAVY-4000 Finite-Element Drop Test Analysis

PFE Auxiliary Systems conducted drop testing on SAVY-4000 containers to evaluate structural response under 12-foot drop conditions. In support of that effort, a finite-element modeling capability was developed to simulate drop response across multiple container sizes and impact orientations. The purpose of this work was to provide a consistent analysis framework that could support interpretation of testing, compare response trends across multiple configurations, and generate quantities of interest for later comparison with experimental data. More broadly, the analysis and testing were intended to assess whether the containers continued to perform their primary function after a 12-foot drop, namely maintaining structural integrity and containment of the contents. The modeling approach combined an implicit preload analysis with an explicit drop simulation so that each drop event began from a mechanically realistic assembled condition, including compression of the silicone O-ring. Separate models were developed for 2-quart, 5-quart, 12-quart, and 10-gallon containers. The results were evaluated in terms of strain-gauge response, collar-lid gap behavior, and accumulated plastic strain. In addition, parametric studies were performed on the 2-quart container to assess sensitivity to O-ring stiffness, friction, canister thickness, geometry tolerance, and mesh density. The simulations showed that predicted drop responses depended strongly on both container size and drop orientation. Gap metrics identified cases in which the predicted collar-lid opening exceeded the nominal O-ring cross-section threshold, while plastic strain metrics identified localized regions of elevated permanent deformation. Parametric studies showed that the predicted response was especially sensitive to the assumed O-ring stiffness and contact friction, while the geometry tolerance study produced smaller changes in the cases examined. The main value of this work was that it established a repeatable modeling and simulation workflow to support drop-test implementation, evaluate effects of future configuration changes, and understand modeling assumptions that most influenced predicted response. At the current stage, the results were viewed as preliminary model predictions rather than validated predictions. The next step would be to compare drop-test data to the model so that predictive values of the workflow could be refined and used with greater confidence to assess whether the containers maintained structural integrity and containment of the contents after a 12-foot drop.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Communication Testbed for Testing Power Electronic Agent Systems

Power electronic systems (PES) incorporate complex intra-system communication, which are of vital importance for the successful operation of these systems. This paper proposes and outlines a communication testbed that will help in the development and testing of the communications between the components of PES. It allows for the comparison and evaluation of different communication methods, such as MQTT, Modbus, or User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and for the characterization of how these communication protocols perform.

Dean, Ben↗
DOE OSTI2022

Sample IEEE123 Bus system for OEDI SI

Time series load and PV data from an IEEE123 bus system. An example electrical system, named the OEDI SI feeder, is used to test the workflow in a co-simulation. The system used is the IEEE123 test system, which is a well studied test system (see link below to IEEE PES Test Feeder), but some modifications were made to it to add some solar power modules and measurements on the system. The aim of this project is to create an easy-to-use platform where various types of analytics can be performed on a wide range of electrical grid datasets. The aim is to establish an open-source library of algorithms that universities, national labs and other developers can contribute to which can be used on both open-source and proprietary grid data to improve the analysis of electrical distribution systems for the grid modeling community. OEDI Systems Integration (SI) is a grid algorithms and data analytics API created to standardize how data is sent between different modules that are run as part of a co-simulation. The readme file included in the S3 bucket provides information about the directory structure and how to use the algorithms. The sensors.json file is used to define the measurement locations.

123 bus↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Scalable PDC Placement Technique for Fast and Resilient Monitoring of Large Power Grids

The wide-area measurement system (WAMS) is a key enabler of real-time monitoring of power grids. The essential goals of WAMS design are fast and resilient data transfer from phasor measurement units (PMU) to phasor data concentrators (PDC). We propose a scalable two-stage PDC placement technique for minimizing the end-to-end delay while maintaining resiliency. In the prescreening stage, the plausible candidates of PDC configurations are identified based on a graph theory-based multi-median function (MMF). Here, in this article, a computationally efficient meta-heuristic algorithm is used to address scalability. In the candidate selection stage, two different algorithms, namely, Suurballe's and Dijkstra's, are employed to identify the best of those plausible PDC configurations as the final design. This technique not only minimizes the hop paths between PMUs and PDCs, but also ensures network resiliency against single PMU, PDC, or communication link failure by incorporating the roles of PMUs in power grid observability into routing policy. Simulation results on the IEEE 57-bus test power system and the 2000-bus test power system demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed technique.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

THERMAL MODELING OF HANFORD LEAD CANISTER’S HEATER BENCH TESTS

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was built to simulate planned testing of heater assemblies for the Hanford Lead Canister (HLC) project. The HLC is a canister storage system that will contain heaters to simulate the decay heat of nuclear material and provide the canister storage system with environmental conditions equivalent to the operating conditions on a dry storage pad. The HLC will be equipped with long-term data collection and monitoring systems to provide an early warning of corrosion, pitting, cracking, or other signs of canister degradation that might threaten the integrity of the containment boundary over the potentially long term of dry storage. An important part of the HLC development is to confirm the function and ability of the electric heater assemblies that were specially designed to provide heating similar to the decay heat of nuclear material contained within the canister storage system. Heater bench testing is planned for early 2022 in a test configuration that does not include the canister. The goal of the bench testing is to verify that the heaters can replicate the decay heat of a canister with nuclear material and to validate the thermal models, which are critical to understanding the HLC’s thermal environment, including the local air flow within the canister storage system. Testing of the heater assemblies inside the canister system are planned in the future to validate canister level thermal models, and rigorous pre-deployment testing of the complete HLC cask and canister system is intended to be completed before the HLC is deployed in the 2025-2026 timeframe. This study presents the pre-test temperature predictions of the bench testing. A description of the heater assemblies and planned bench testing is presented. The model was developed with the commercial CFD code STAR-CCM+. An uncertainty analysis was run with the CFD model to determine the uncertainty in the temperature predictions and provide a range over which the predicted temperatures are expected to vary. The uncertainty analysis was performed by coupling STAR-CCM+ with the software Dakota, which provides advanced parametric analyses, including quantification of margins and uncertainty with computational models. This work is expected to provide insight into SNF canister behavior.

Suffield, Sarah R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

FOSWEC v2: System identification and control testing at Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory

This report summarizes the design and execution of a wave tank test of the floating oscillating surge wave energy converter (FOSWEC) in the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory Directional Wave Basin at Oregon State University. This device, which uses two "flaps" that pivot about a central platform when excited by waves, has a natural frequency within the range of the waves by which it is excited. The FOSWEC was originally considered to be a 1:33 scale device, however, for the current tests, no fixed relative scale is used (i.e., the WEC is considered to be scaled for the basin’s wave environment in which it operates). The primary goal of this test was to assess the degree to which previously developed modeling, experimentation, and control design methods could be applied to a broad range of wave energy converter designs. Testing was conducted to identify a dynamic model for the impedance and excitation behavior of the device. Using these models, a series of closed loop tests were conducted using a causal impedance matching controller. This report provides a brief description of the results, as well as a summary of the device and experimental design. The results show that the methods applied to this experimental device perform well and should be broadly applicable. The data collected during testing is compressed into FOSWEC.zip. Please refer to Appendix C (pages 61-63) of the test report for descriptions of each test ID corresponding to the compressed files.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗