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At least 685 records · Page 38

Evaluating the Loss of Communications in Distribution Protection Systems using GridLAB-D

Protection in distribution systems is vital for maintaining reliability and ensuring proper power quality is provided to the end-use customer. As more switching devices are deployed on distribution systems, traditional protection schemes are giving way to more advanced, and sometimes centrally coordinated, protection schemes that rely on communications infrastructure. With these communications-dependent systems, the behaviors of the protection with and without the communications infrastructure must be examined. This work has evaluated the impacts of loss of communication in centrally coordinated protection schemes. Two test cases were examined: a sequence of similar faults on a feeder before and after a topology reconfiguration, and a feeder with a photovoltaic (PV) fault current contribution. Both simulations are run in the GridLAB-D™ simulation environment. A simple connectivity model is used to represent communication status. The results reveal that a failure of the communication system can cause significantly different protection behavior. This analysis can be used as a basis for utility engineers to make an informed decision on the impacts of communication losses on their system, as well as evaluating ways to mitigate its impact on the resiliency of the system.

GridLAB-D, Distribution Analysis↗

A Virtual Space Vector Model Predictive Control for a Seven-Level Hybrid Multilevel Converter

This paper proposes a virtual space vector (VSV) model predictive control (MPC) for a three-phase seven-level (7L) hybrid multilevel converter (HMC), where each phase consists of an active-neutral-point-clamped converter with a floating H-bridge. To achieve the best current tracking, which is the primary goal of the proposed algorithm, a novel geometrical positioning approach is proposed to select the optimal voltage vector among all the realspace vectors and VSVs. Then, all the possible switching sequences that belong to the optimal voltage vector are evaluated to realize the dc capacitor voltage balancing and common-mode voltage reduction. Through an external modulator, the optimal voltage vector can be synthesized by using either one-, three-, or seven-segment switching sequence. Compared with the conventional MPC, the proposed VSV-MPC can reduce not only the computational burden but also the current THD. Both simulation and experimental results obtained on silicon carbide based 7L-HMC prototype are presented to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed VSVMPC strategy.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Prediction of residual stresses in a multipass pipe weld by a novel 3D finite element approach

Due to enormous computation cost, current residual stress simulation of multipass girth welds are mostly performed using two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric models. The 2D model can only provide limited estimation on the residual stresses by assuming its axisymmetric distribution. In this study, a highly efficient thermal-mechanical finite element code for three-dimensional (3D) model has been developed based on high performance Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) computers. Our code is further accelerated by considering the unique physics associated with welding processes that are characterized by steep temperature gradient and a moving arc heat source. It is capable of modeling large-scale welding problems that cannot be easily handled by the existing commercial simulation tools. To demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency, our code was compared with a commercial software by simulating a 3D multi-pass girth weld model with over 1 million elements. Our code achieved comparable solution accuracy with respect to the commercial one but with over 100 times saving on computational cost. Moreover, the three-dimensional analysis demonstrated more realistic stress distribution that is not axisymmetric in hoop direction.

Huang, Hui↗

TU-F-18C-05: Evaluation of a Method to Calculate Patient-Oriented MGD Coefficients Using Estimates of Glandular Tissue Distribution

Purpose: Evaluate mammographic mean glandular dose (MGD) coefficients for particular known tissue distributions using a novel formalism that incorporates the effect of the heterogeneous glandular tissue distribution, by comparing them with MGD coefficients derived from the corresponding anthropomorphic computer breast phantom. Methods: MGD coefficients were obtained using MCNP5 simulations with the currently used homogeneous assumption and the heterogeneously-layered breast (HLB) geometry and compared against those from the computer phantom (ground truth). The tissue distribution for the HLB geometry was estimated using glandularity map image pairs corrected for the presence of non-glandular fibrous tissue. Heterogeneity of tissue distribution was quantified using the glandular tissue distribution index, Idist. The phantom had 5 cm compressed breast thickness (MLO and CC views) and 29% whole breast glandular percentage. Results: Differences as high as 116% were found between the MGD coefficients with the homogeneous breast core assumption and those from the corresponding ground truth. Higher differences were found for cases with more heterogeneous distribution of glandular tissue. The Idist for all cases was in the [−0.8{sup −}+0.3] range. The use of the methods presented in this work results in better agreement with ground truth with an improvement as high as 105 pp. The decrease in difference across all phantom cases was in the [9{sup −}105] pp range, dependent on the distribution of glandular tissue and was larger for the cases with the highest Idist values. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of corrected glandularity image pairs, as well as the HLB geometry, improves the estimates of MGD conversion coefficients by accounting for the distribution of glandular tissue within the breast. The accuracy of this approach with respect to ground truth is highly dependent on the particular glandular tissue distribution studied. Predrag Bakic discloses current funding from NIH, NSF, and DoD, former funding from Real Time Tomography, LLC and a current research collaboration with Barco and Hologic.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Extraction of the strong coupling with HERA and EIC inclusive data

Sensitivity to the strong coupling $∝$ s ($M^{2}_{Z}$) is investigated using existing Deep Inelastic Scattering data from HERA in combination with projected future measurements from the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) in a next-to-next-to-leading order QCD analysis. A potentially world-leading level of precision is achievable when combining simulated inclusive neutral current EIC data with inclusive charged and neutral current measurements from HERA, with or without the addition of HERA inclusive jet and dijet data. The result can be obtained with substantially less than one year of projected EIC data at the lower end of the EIC centre-of-mass energy range. Some questions remain over the magnitude of uncertainties due to missing higher orders in the theoretical framework.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Fusion RF Modeling Machine Learning (FusionML_RF) v1.0

FusionML_RF consists of multiple codes and trained machine learning (ML) models that perform low-cost output modeling from the Genray-CQL3D. Three machine learning techniques (multilayer perceptron, random forest, and Gaussian process) provide fast surrogate models for lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) simulations. For example, completing a single GENRAY/CQL3D simulation without radial diffusion of fast electrons requires several minutes of wall-clock time. On the other hand, these ML models achieve ~ms of inference time with high accuracy across the input parameter space. This software collection consists of multiple components. (1) codes that use ML methods and precomputed Genray-CQL3D simulation output to build regression models that enable approximate computations of Genray-CLQ3D outputs from arbitrary but physically meaningful input parameters (surrogate modeling); (2) three trained models created by the team, using a database of 16,000+ GENRAY/CQL3D simulations, to study the performance of ML models for surrogate modeling; (3) codes that load the trained models and simulation data, and then compute mean squared error between the models' predictions and the ground truth of simulation output data. This collection is being made available in conjunction with a scientific publication about the work to promote reusability and provide an artifact of the scientific work.

Bai, Zhe↗

iVPIC: A low-­dispersion, energy-­conserving relativistic PIC solver for LPI simulations

We have developed a novel low-­dispersion, exactly energy-­conserving PIC algorithm for the relativistic Vlasov-­Maxwell system. The approach features an exact energy conservation theorem while preserving the favorable performance and numerical dispersion properties of explicit PIC. The new algorithm has the potential to enable much longer laser-­plasma-­interaction (LPI) simulations than are currently possible.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Materials and Device Architectures for Organic Solar Cell Applications: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-09-355

The Centre for Organic Photonics & Electronics (COPE) at UQ has been successful in acquiring funding from the Australian Center for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), which is the Australian partner of the Australia-US Institute for Advanced Photovoltaics (AUSIAPV). NREL is a key partner in AUSIAPV (along with other US research institutions (ASU, Sandia NL, LBNL, Stanford, Georgia Tech and UCSB). NREL will collaborate with COPE to advance the science and technology of organic materials for solar cell applications. COPE has significant programs in the development and understanding of new materials for organic optoelectronic applications and, in particular, for thin film bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells and Organic Photodiodes (OPDs). NREL has significant established research programs in all aspects of organic photovoltaic technology and has well-developed expertise in the area of materials characterization, photocarrier transport measurements as well as device fabrication, scale-up and stability. This collaboration will combine the expertise of the two institutions to work towards demonstrating the scalability of organic materials for BHJ and OPD applications by measuring the fundamental properties of the materials as a function of processing and evaluating their performance and stability in photovoltaic devices under simulated illumination conditions. Currently, both NREL and UQ have individual organic material development and processing efforts and have independently demonstrated several prototype materials and device architectures as promising candidates for organic solar cells and OPDs. This CRADA will align these efforts building upon strengths of the two institutions to further design and demonstrate materials and device architectures to advance organic BHJ solar cells and OPDs. It should also be clearly noted that we foreshadow possible expansion of collaborative research activities between COPE and NREL, which currently lie outside the scope of the current statement of work, which will be amended as required by mutually executed written modifications to this CRADA.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Measurement of the (e,e') cross section for12C, 48Ti, 27Al and 40Ar

Many experiments have found that neutrinos have three different flavors, and they can transform from each other. Each flavor is a mixture of three nonzero mass states. In neutrino oscillation experiments, the uncertainty of the extracted oscillation parameters is dependent on the neutrino-nucleus cross section. In recent years various experiments provided precise neutrino and anti-neutrino cross section measurements and they have shown the inability of current Monte Carlo simulations to reproduce the data. A more accurate nuclear structure model of the target employed in neutrino detector is urgently needed to improve the precision of long baseline neutrino experiments. Electron scattering has been one of the most powerful methods of obtaining information about cross sections in the past. In the upcoming deep underground neutrino experiment (DUNE), Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) will be used as the detector technology and argon will be used as the nuclear target. There are very few data available on argon and there is not an accurate nuclear model that describes them accurately, at ~5% level. We have performed an electron-argon scattering experiment at Jefferson Lab (E12-14-012) to provide accurate data that will help build a reliable nuclear model for describing neutrino-argon scattering. The JLab E12-14-012 experiment has successfully taken data in Hall A at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility between February and March of 2017. We collected data for the inclusive (e,e') and exclusive (e,e'p) processes for a variety of targets (argon, titanium, aluminum, carbon) at a wide range of kinematic settings. This thesis will present the results of the inclusive double differential cross sections for carbon, titanium, aluminum and argon at beam energy E = 2:222 GeV and scattering angle theta = 15:541 deg with total uncertainties smaller than 5%. The kinematic settings covered a broad range of energy transfers, including deep inelastic scattering (DIS), delta production, and quasielastic scattering.

Dai, Hongxia↗

Validation of energetic particle transport models for time-dependent integrated simulations of burning plasmas (Final ST Report)

The major goal of this project is to deliver a suite of validated energetic particle (EP) modeling tools for time-dependent integrated tokamak simulations (with the code TRANSP) that can be used for modeling plasma discharges featuring a substantial EP content, such as burning plasmas. During FY20, issues were resolved with an energetic particle transport model called TGLF-EP, with improvements made to the TGLF-EP workflow, generation of input files, and interpretation of runs on the NERSC supercomputing cluster. The recipient also gave input on simulations with the code TRANSP to reproduce the reference JET discharge, and assessed the accuracy and uncertainties of the simulated B field, current evolution, thermal plasma profiles, stored energy, etc. Input was also given on interpretation of fast-ion instability calculations and recommendations for modifications to JET afterglow discharge for the upcoming DT campaign.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Modeling Gray Zone Tactics Used Against Green Energy Supply Chains

This report documents a project demonstrating capabilities within Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Cyber and Infrastructure Resilience program to place newly developed numeric simulations into the current, larger geopolitical context. The emergence of state-backed gray zone threats introduces an unprecedented challenge because they fall short of armed conflict and involve ambiguous tactics, requiring a fresh analytical approach to understanding their potential impact and countering them. In the context of our project, we analyze how China might use gray zone tactics to degrade the power of the United States, including our influence over global efforts to combat climate change.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Improving NOvA's Sterile Neutrino Search with the Booster Neutrino Beam

The NOvA experiment’s most recent search for eV-scale sterile neutrinos is systematically limited in the region of parameter space where $\Delta m^2_{41} \gtrsim 1~\mathrm{eV}^2$. This region of parameter space is preferred by sterile neutrino interpretations of current experimental anomalies; improving sensitivity here is high-priority. When added directly into the fit, additional data samples which are subject to orthogonal systematic uncertainties act as in-situ constraints, breaking the degeneracy between systematic uncertainties and sterile-induced oscillations. The NOvA experiment consists of two functionally identical detectors, 14.6 mrad off-axis of the NuMI beam, with the Near Detector (Far Detector) 1 km (810 km) from the beam source. The Near Detector’s position on-site at Fermilab means that it is also able to observe neutrinos from a second neutrino beam, the BNB, 160 mrad off-axis. NOvA has been taking BNB data since 2015, but has not yet analysed these data. The BNB and NuMI are subject to different beam-related uncertainties, allowing us to leverage this sample as an in-situ constraint. This poster will present the current status, preliminary simulations, and potential additional uses of this unique experimental setup

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Combined TDLAS and chemiluminescence imaging in a flat flame burner operated with NH3/H2 blends

Ammonia is viewed as a viable hydrogen carrier due to favorable storage and transport characteristics. While it can be re-converted to hydrogen at point-of-use via thermal catalytic cracking, direct utilization in combustion systems can result in reduced costs and improved efficiency. A major barrier to this approach is the low flammability and potential for high nitrogen oxide emissions, driven by fuel-bound nitrogen and complex kinetic pathways. While a number of kinetic mechanisms currently exist for simulating ammonia combustion, a major need continues to be direct information about species profiles in easy-to-model systems capable of isolating chemical kinetics from multi-dimensional fluid dynamic effects. This paper reports on recent species measurements made in a flat flame burner using a combined tunable-diode-laser-absorption-spectroscopy (TDLAS) and chemiluminescence imaging approach. Three flame conditions were included representative of NH3/H2 blends, partially cracked NH3 (inc. N2), and 100% NH3 with enhanced air (30% oxygen). Two NIR distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes were used to determine H2O concentration and temperature (via ratio thermometry) at various radial and axial positions, after which an inverse Abel transform was used to infer centerline values. Companion images were collected using a Princeton Instrument PI-MAX intensified camera equipped with a 105mm UV lens and multiple filter sets targeting OH*, NH*, and NH2* emission. Results were compared to companion Cantera burner-stabilized flame simulations using various kinetic mechanisms. A recent mechanism including excited species chemistry was also included, to investigate whether excited and ground state profiles exhibit significant differences.

ammonia combustion↗

Optimized V1G and V2G Electric Vehicle Fleet Management and Grid Transaction at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, CA

The overall technical goal of the project was to demonstrate an all-electric bi-directional non-tactical fleet at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar that was integrated and controlled with other distributed energy resources (DERs) (i.e., PV, stationary battery, and building loads) to provide resilience to critical electric loads in the event of grid outages, to minimize charging costs, and to provide economic energy resources to electricity markets. In this project, the specific, technical objectives were: 1. Demonstrate that bi-directional electric vehicles can provide critical complementary services to fixed storage batteries in microgrid applications while performing function as non-tactical vehicles. 2. Demonstrate participation of bi-directional (V2G) and unidirectional (V1G) PEVs for demand management and minimization of charging costs. 3. Demonstrate integration of multiple DERs for grid service participation. US Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego was the site of this electric vehicle-to-microgrid-utility grid test and demonstration project. Existing microgrid assets in this study included (1) a public works building; (2) a 30-kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system and (3) a separate 250 kW carport PV system. In this project, six bi-directional V2G vans were located at the MCAS Miramar’s showcase building-scale microgrid to develop and test technical capabilities that V2G can provide in microgrid applications (e.g., cost reduction and resiliency). These resources provided aggregated demand management and simulated participation in current retail DR programs. The vehicles used in this demonstration were selected because they provided functionality that MCAS Miramar needed, 15 passenger transport and facilities work cargo carrying capacity, and bi-directional charging capability that the research project required. All vehicles in this study were manufactured and distributed by VIA Motors, Inc. There were six vehicles total and each was VIA’s VTRUX eREV V2G model, a modified General Motors Chevrolet 2500 2WD van. Three of the vans were configured as passenger vans and the other three were configured as cargo vans. Each van had an on-board bi-direcrtional inverter/charger, Bel Power Solutions model 350INVCHGT150-120-240-8G nominally rated at +/-15 kW. The VIA van’s charging connector follows the J1772 charging protocol. The bi-directional EVSEs demonstrated in this study were manufactured by Coritech, Inc. Each VGI-80-AC charging station enabled enhanced V2G charging capability to a Clipper Creek CS-100 charging module. The enhanced capabilities included ethernet communication following the SEP2.0 protocol with a distributed energy resource function set and an operator screen displaying real-time SOC, voltage, and current. The VGI-80-AC charging stations are classified as level 2 with a maximum current output of 80 A or effectively 19 kW. The VIA van’s onboard charger limited the charging and discharging power to 15 kW in each direction. A control computer was installed in the EWOC and connected to an existing monitor. The V2G control communication network was a completely stand-alone closed system that did not have any connection to any other networks on the base. A cybersecure remote communication connection was created with a cellular modem, firewall hardware, and a virtual private network configuration.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

High-Fidelity Building Emulator for Integrated Comfort and Energy Analysis using EnergyPlus and Radiance

The growing need for smart, energy-efficient, and occupant-centric buildings has created a demand for advanced control systems that can optimize building operations to balance energy savings, demand flexibility, and comfort. However, current building energy simulation tools, such as EnergyPlus, have limitations that hinder the development and evaluation of these complex control systems. To address this challenge, we introduce a high-fidelity building emulator that dynamically couples EnergyPlus with Radiance for enhanced daylight modeling. The introduced workflow allows researchers and practitioners to rapidly develop and evaluate innovative control solutions. An example study looking at a south-facing office zone revealed up to 67% deviation in predicted light levels, which can significantly impact building assessment.

Yu, Tammie↗

Towards Fast and Accurate Predictions of Radio Frequency Power Deposition and Current Profile via Data-driven Modeling

Three machine learning techniques (multilayer perceptron, random forest, and Gaussian process) provide fast surrogate models for lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) simulations. A single GENRAY/CQL3D simulation without radial diffusion of fast electrons requires several minutes of wall-clock time to complete, which is acceptable for many purposes, but too slow for integrated modeling and real-time control applications. The machine learning models use a database of 16,000+ GENRAY/CQL3D simulations for training, validation, and testing. Latin hypercube sampling methods ensure that the database covers the range of 9 input parameters ($n_{e0}$, $T_{e0}$, $I_p$, $B_t$, $R_0$, $n_{||}$, $Z_{eff}$, $V_{loop}$, $P_{LHCD}$) with sufficient density in all regions of parameter space. The surrogate models reduce the inference time from minutes to ~ms with high accuracy across the input parameter space.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Modeling and Simulation of Automated Mobility Districts

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are increasingly being discussed as the basis for shared mobility and on-demand services to replace privately owned vehicles. The rapid growth of Transportation Networking Companies (TNCs) and their increasing investment in automated vehicle (AV) technologies attests to this. Combining the concepts of TNCs, with AV and on-demand transit services, the term 'automated mobility district' (AMD) describes a district-scale implementation of CAV technology to realize the full benefits of a shared, fully automated vehicle service within a confined region. A customized open-source microscopic mobility simulation toolkit is currently being developed at NREL to quantify the mobility and energy benefits of AMDs.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

HYDRODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF MACROALGAE LOCAL MODEL USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

In this article, a local scale, fully nonlinear coupled fluid-structural interaction (FSI) sugar kelp model has been developed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. In this model, to be consistent with available experimental data, the sugar kelp is approximated as elongated rectangles with smoothed isosceles triangles at the ends and a single kelp model with one end fixed in a channel with constant current model is developed. Several different current speeds are simulated, and the resulting drag forces and calculated drag coefficients are validated by comparison with experimental data from the literature. In a previous study, a global scale model was developed using a computational structural dynamics (CSD) method to simulate macroalgae farming system and guide the system configuration design. In the global scale model, the hydrodynamic forces are calculated using Morison’s equation and the kinematics and dynamics of the sugar kelp are simplified and the group of kelps attached to the long line is modeled as a slender structure with the same length and an effective diameter such that the volumes are consistent with the real physical system. This simplified model matches the weight and buoyancy but adjusting the hydrodynamic properties when the general hydrodynamic coefficients are employed. Therefore, optimal hydrodynamic coefficients used in global scale model were determined to obtain the hydrodynamic force more accurately. The validated local scale model is then be applied to determine the hydrodynamic coefficients of the simplified sugar kelp model for global dynamic analysis.

hydrodynamic modeling, macroalgae, CFD model↗