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At least 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Towards Full ‘Galilei General Relativity’: Gravitational Kinematics in Bargmann Spacetimes

Because of the strict separation of mass and energy in Galilei physics, a Galilei-invariant tensor formalism is most at home in a 5-dimensional extended spacetime associated with the Bargmann-Galilei (traditionally ‘Bargmann’) group, a central extension of the Galilei group that explicitly exhibits the transformation properties of kinetic energy. While not necessary for a tensor formalism fully embodying Poincaré physics, a similar central extension of the Poincaré group to the Bargmann-Poincaré group may illuminate a path towards a strong-field ‘Galilei general relativity’. Here the Bargmann metric is generalized to curved spacetime by extending the usual 1+3 (traditionally ‘3+1’) formalism of general relativity on 4-dimensional spacetime to a 1+3+1 formalism, whose spacetime kinematics is shown to be consistent with that of the usual 1+3 formalism. On Bargmann spacetime, tensor laws governing the motion of an elementary classical material particle and the dynamics of a simple fluid reference the foliation of spacetime in a manner that partially reverts the Einstein perspective (accelerated fiducial observers, and geodesic material particles and fluid elements) to a Newton-like perspective (geodesic fiducial observers, and accelerated material particles and fluid elements subject to a gravitational force).

Cardall, Christian [ORNL] (ORCID:000000020086105X)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ecosystem-Level Biomimicry for the Built Environment: Adopting Systems Ecology Principles for the Control of Heterogeneous Energy Systems

This paper presents, to our knowledge, the first system-level engineering study to bio-mimic the cybernetics and flow dynamics of energy resources in natural ecosystems for the control of heterogeneous energy infrastructures in the built environment. To this end, we introduce a novel Biomimetic Pulsing State (BPS) control that functionally mimics mature ecosystems. A preliminary Modelica-based case study features a single-family residential building with electrical and HVAC subsystems. The BPS control objective is to minimize the energy exchange between the building and the grid for the purposes of future self-supporting buildings and grid stability. The building contains PV, a wind turbine, a battery storage system, and a fan coil/heat pump HVAC system served by an ambient district energy network. Evaluating the control performance (BPS vs. constant setpoint) over several renewable energy scenarios (net importer, net zero, net exporter), simulation results show how the building's HVAC system can dynamically adjust its electrical load and temperatures to the electrical system's net energy status in real-time with BPS control. As a net importer, the heat pump consumed 29% less energy and its peak power reduced by 15% with BPS control compared to the constant setpoint case, with the zone air temperature 1 degree C lower on average. As a net exporter, the heat pump effectively consumed the same energy, but the peak power increased by 34% with BPS control, while the zone air temperature was 1 degree C higher when renewable energy was abundant, preheating the home. BPS and constant setpoint control produced comparable results under a net zero scenario. While further evaluation is essential, BPS control may help communities meet their sustainability and resiliency targets as they transition towards fully distributed and renewable energy grids.

biomimicry↗
DOE OSTI2024

Physical, socio-psychological, and behavioural determinants of household energy consumption in the UK

Determining which attitudes and behaviours predict household energy consumption can help accelerate the low-carbon energy transition. Conventional approaches in this domain are limited, often relying on survey methods that produce data on individuals’ motivations and self-reported activities without pairing these with actual energy consumption records, which are particularly hard to collect for large, nationally representative samples. This challenge precludes the development of empirical evidence on which attitudes and behaviours influence patterns of energy consumption, thus limiting the extent to which these can inform energy interventions or conservation programs. This study demonstrates a novel methodology for estimating energy consumption in the absence of actual energy records by using a large, publicly available data set of energy consumption in the UK. We develop a predictive model using the Smart Energy Research Laboratory (SERL) data portal (with records from nearly 13,000 UK households) and then use this model to predict energy consumption (both electric and gas) for a sample of 1,000 UK householders for which we separately collect over 200 variables relating to climate change attitudes and practices. Our approach uses a set of over 50 independent variables that are shared between the data sets, allowing us to train a model on the SERL data and use it to analyse the relationship between energy consumption and the opinions, motivations, and daily practices of survey respondents. Results show that electricity consumption is influenced by a broader range of factors compared to gas. Household energy use is best explained by physical dwelling characteristics, socio-demographic variables, and certain behavioural and attitudinal measures. Notably, pro-environmental attitudes, frugality, and conscientiousness correlate with lower energy use, while income and consumerism are linked to higher consumption. We discuss how these findings can inform efforts to decarbonise home energy use in the UK.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Thermo-hydro-mechanical analysis of subsurface ice-based thermal energy storage

Ice-based thermal energy storage systems are widely utilized for cooling and managing peak electrical demand globally, offering daily or weekly storage capabilities for both individual homes and larger office buildings. However, scaling these systems for district-level cooling or integrating them with renewable energy sources presents challenges, especially in accommodating larger volumes and addressing seasonal storage requirements in densely populated urban areas. This paper proposes a novel solution by evaluating subsurface ice-based thermal energy storage, in which the underground is subjected to seasonal freeze/thaw cycles. However, these cycles may influence ground behavior, affecting pore pressure and inducing ground movement. To systematically investigate these challenges, we enhance the TOUGH-FLAC simulator by integrating water/ice phase change capabilities and updating the effective stress–strain constitutive relation. Both modifications are validated against analytical solutions or experimental data. Through numerical simulations spanning a decade with ten seasonal freeze/thaw cycles, we evaluate the performance and long-term stability of a generic subsurface ice-based thermal energy storage system, considering factors such as ground permeability, freezing pipe spacing, freeze/thaw damage, and glycol solution temperature. The simulations indicate that ice formation induces pore pressure variations that drive seasonal surface heave and settlement, controlled by ground permeability, pipe spacing, and glycol solution temperature, along with tensile and localized shear deformation around freeze pipes. This highlights the need for accurate ground property characterization and geomechanical analysis for subsurface ice-based thermal energy storage.

Ground freezing↗
DOE OSTI2023

An overview of polarized neutron instruments and techniques in Asia Pacific

Polarized neutron scattering is an indispensable tool for exploring a vast range of scientific phenomena. With its dynamic scientific community and significant governmental support as well as the rapid economic growth, the Asia–Pacific region has become a key player in the worldwide neutron scattering arena. From traditional research reactors to cutting-edge spallation neutron sources, this region is home to a myriad of advanced instruments offering a wide range of polarized neutron capabilities. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the development and current status of polarized neutron instruments and techniques in the Asia–Pacific region, emphasizing the important role of the Asia–Pacific region in shaping the landscape of global polarized neutron scattering development.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

OCHRE: The Object-oriented, Controllable, High-resolution Residential Energy Model for Dynamic Integration Studies

Electrification and the growth of distributed energy resources (DERs), including flexible loads, are changing the energy landscape of electric distribution systems and creating new challenges and opportunities for electric utilities. Changes in demand profiles require improvements in distribution system load models, which have not historically accounted for device controllability or impacts on customer comfort. Although building modeling research has focused on these features, there is a need to incorporate them into distribution load models that include DERs and can be used to study grid-interactive buildings. In this paper, we present the Object-oriented, Controllable, High-resolution Residential Energy (OCHRE) model. OCHRE is a controllable thermal-electric residential energy model that captures building thermal dynamics, integrates grid-dependent electrical behavior, contains models for common DERs and end-use loads, and simulates at a time resolution down to 1 minute. It includes models for space heaters, air conditioners, water heaters, electric vehicles, photovoltaics, and batteries that are externally controllable and integrated in a co-simulation framework. Using a proposed zero energy ready community in Colorado, we co-simulate a distribution grid and 498 all-electric homes with a diverse set of efficiency levels and equipment properties. We show that controllable devices can reduce peak demand within a neighborhood by up to 73% during a critical peak period without sacrificing occupant comfort. We also demonstrate the importance of modeling load diversity at a high time resolution when quantifying power and voltage fluctuations across a distribution system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effects of land-based wind turbine upsizing on community sound levels and power and energy density

Multiple technological, social, and market factors of wind power are evolving rapidly. Most notably, significant wind turbine scaling is occurring and is forecasted to continue. While the larger turbines expected to be deployed in the future are more powerful and efficient, they are also expected to operate at higher sound levels and require larger setbacks than those installed in the last decade. These sometimes-competing deployment trends and impacts cannot be understood via simple extrapolations of past trends. This study analyzes the effect of these future larger turbines on wind turbine micro-siting, project-level power and energy density, and community noise impacts. Due to their taller heights, larger rotors, and higher sound power levels, future wind turbines will require larger setbacks from homes and greater inter-turbine spacing, resulting in fewer turbines deployed for a given land area. This research finds these changes more than offset the effect of the higher turbine sound emissions, significantly decreasing the average sound levels that wind plant hosting communities experience. Yet, simultaneously, plant layouts using future turbine designs also result in projects with higher installed capacities and annual energy output for a given land area. These increases will likely lead to increased tax benefits and local income in the community. The deployment of fewer turbines on a smaller number of parcels could have implications on siting flexibility and landowner payments.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Performance assessment of active insulation systems in residential buildings for energy savings and peak demand reduction

Active insulation systems (AISs) in buildings are envelopes that integrate thermal insulation, thermal energy storage, and controls. Although different designs for AISs have been proposed in the literature, a comprehensive analysis of feasible AISs is lacking. This paper discusses the energy performance, peak demand reduction potential, and performance characteristics of an AIS that uses a concrete wall as thermal mass sandwiched between two solid-state thermal switches (STSs). These STSs change their thermal conductivity using an on/off metal switch to create or break a thermal bridge across the STS. This paper first describes the experimental setup, used to determine the ratio of thermal resistance during R-high (low thermal conductivity) and R-low (high thermal conductivity) states of the STSs. This ratio was then used in whole-building energy simulations to evaluate the performance of AIS walls across different climate zones with/without a freeze timer of 60 min. The timer was added to reduce the number of switches of STSs from one state to another, and hence the energy needed for these switches. Analysis of the switching frequency and interval of STSs, thermal conductivity of walls, impact of wall orientation, and heat transfer through the wall from the use of AIS at different climate zones/locations were performed. The simulation results show that the AIS can achieve energy savings ranging from ~980 to 2,290 kWh in a single-family home with a floor area of ~220 m 2 compared with an IECC 2018 baseline. We found the energy savings was higher in dry climate zones which represent 17% of residential buildings in the United States, compared to humid or marine climate.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Enabling residential heating decarbonization through hydronic low-temperature thermal distribution using forced-air assistive devices

Space heating represents approximately one-tenth of the United States’ energy use and has a breadth of potential for emission reduction. An element of space heating, hydronic heat distribution methods, use water supply temperatures up to 82.2 °C (180 °F). However, this operating temperature can be incompatible with high-efficiency heat generation systems, which typically provide heating temperatures of up to 60 °C (140 °F). In this work, a low-cost retrofit solution is developed using experimentally validated computational tools by incorporating an airflow distributor that preferentially directs the airflow from a fan to enhance heat transfer over the finned-tube heat exchanger found in conventional baseboards. The same heat output of traditional baseboard heat distribution systems operating at higher water supply temperatures (71.1 – 82.2 °C) can also be achieved at lower temperatures (≤60 °C). Specifically, results indicate that the technology can produce more than a 46.7% improvement in the heat transfer output at temperatures as low as 60 °C (140 °F), effectively matching the same output range achieved by 71.1 – 82.2 °C (160–180 °F) water supply temperatures. An important benefit of this solution is that it utilizes the existing infrastructure as opposed to requiring the replacement of the entire distribution system. Additionally, this technology enables existing building infrastructure to be coupled with newer, high-efficiency heating systems such as condensing boilers, solar-thermal systems, and geothermal/air-to-water heat pumps that may produce lower water supply temperatures (60 °C). A geospatially resolved techno-economic and environmental analysis is completed and presented to further understand the equivalent carbon footprint of enabling higher efficiency heat generation systems with the improved efficiency heat distribution system disclosed. Using 2021 grid-average emission factors, an emission reduction of up to a 67.5% decrease (2658 kgCO 2 /yr) for a single-family home, depending on state and climate region, could be realized by replacing a traditional natural gas-fired boiler with an air-to-water heat pump coupled to the same high-temperature heat distribution system along with the low-cost retrofit solution. A complete CO 2 emission reduction of 6688 kgCO 2 /yr, depending on state and climate region, could be realized if all electricity is further renewably sourced. Thus, this study provides a possible pathway towards enabling the reduction of operational emissions in space heating.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

UrbanPop: A spatial microsimulation framework for exploring demographic influences on human dynamics

Ensuring the social equity of planning measures in social systems requires an understanding of human dynamics, particularly how individual relationships, activities, and interactions intersect with individual needs. Spatial microsimulation models (SMSMs) support planning for human security goals by representing human dynamics through realistic, georeferenced synthetic populations, that a) provide a complete representation of social systems while b) also protecting individual privacy. In this paper, we present UrbanPop, an open and reproducible SMSM framework for analysis of human dynamics with high spatial, temporal, and demographic resolution. UrbanPop creates synthetic populations of demographically detailed worker and student agents, positioning them first at probable nighttime locations (home), then moving them to probable daytime locations (work/school). Summary aggregations of these populations match the granular detail available at the census block group level in the American Community Survey Summary File (SF), providing realistic approximations of the actual population. UrbanPop users can select particular demographic traits important in their application, resulting in a highly tailored agent population. We first lay out UrbanPop's baseline methodology, including population synthesis, activity modeling, and diagnostics, then demonstrate these capabilities by developing case studies of shifting population distributions and high-risk populations in Knox County, TN during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal Storage Integrated into Air-Source Heat Pumps to Leverage Building Electrification: A Systematic Literature Review

Air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) can support a decarbonized economy by replacing combustion appliances in homes and electrifying heating systems in buildings. However, ASHPs have not seen significant adoption primarily due to deteriorated performance under cold conditions - at very low temperatures they require auxiliary resistance heating to meet the heating demand and defrost the evaporator. The additional heat lowers the system efficiency. Thermal energy storage (TES) is a candidate technology to help overcome some of these issues. This paper presents a systematic literature review to map the existing research on the integration of TES into ASHPs. Our review of 59 publications indicates that thermal storage increases the ASHP coefficient of performance by 27% on average, albeit with higher initial cost compared to conventional fossil-fueled heating systems. Phase change materials may be ideal to be integrated with ASHPs due to their high energy density and compact design, but only a few publications address TES sizing and design. First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics are widely used to create metrics to assess ASHP-TES integration, and only recently have cost and environmental impact been explored. This literature review suggests that more comprehensive metrics are needed to evaluate the potential benefits of ASHP-TES systems.

air source heat pump↗
DOE OSTI2027

Low thermal budget dopant activation in shallow junctions of implanted Si via Tunable plasma enhanced annealing

Low thermal budget (LTB) annealing has become increasingly critical for shallow junctions as semiconductor devices are scaled down. Plasma Enhanced Annealing (PEA) has emerged as a promising LTB annealing process, however its mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, arsenic and boron implanted silicon wafers were subjected to helium or argon ion bombardment generated by annealing plasmas under controlled ion energies and doses in a home-built annealing reactor. The structural and electrical changes were characterized by four-point probe measurements, secondary ion mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. A pronounced reduction in sheet resistance, accompanied by a decrease in the damage layer thickness demonstrates the surface selective annealing capability of PEA process. Comparative studies using He and Ar plasmas and related ion bombardment reveal a dependence of activation efficacy on both ion species and the dopant implantation profile. Furthermore, a multi-step annealing mechanism is proposed, consisting of an initial (low dose) structural recovery stage followed by the generation of “extended” defects and concluded at large doses by an enhanced dopant activation. The proposed annealing kinetics are thought to be controlled by ion flux, dose and energy. Finally, these results highlight PEA as an effective, surface-selective, LTB approach for shallow-dopant activation and near surface annealing, and provide mechanistic insights into PEA processes.

dopant activation↗
DOE OSTI2020

Performance of low-cost indoor air quality monitors for PM 2.5 and PM 10 from residential sources

Advances in particle sensor design and manufacturing have enabled the development of low-cost air quality monitors (LCMs). Here, the sensors use light scattering to estimate mass concentration and thus require evaluation for aerosols of varied composition and size distribution. We tested the performance of six LCMs designed for home use and having a retail price under US$300 in October 2018. We assessed their performance by comparing their output to reference PM 2.5 and PM 10 measurements from 21 common residential sources and from infiltrated outdoor PM 2.5 . Reference data were obtained by using gravimetric measurements to adjust time-resolved output from an aerosol spectrometer with both electrical mobility and optical particle sensors. Compared by linear regression to reference measurements, LCMs had negative intercepts and slopes of 1–2 for infiltrated outdoor PM 2.5 . Semi-quantitative responses (~50–200% of actual PM 2.5 ) were obtained for varied aerosols including minerals (ultrasonic humidifier, vacuuming, test dust); combustion products (incense, mosquito coil, extinguished candles); microwave popcorn; and cooking involving frying or grilling. LCMs had low or no response to sources for which all mass was in particles smaller than 0.25 μm, including steady candle flames and cooking without frying or grilling. PM 10 data from LCMs was more variable than PM 2.5 .

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Association of residential energy efficiency retrofits with indoor environmental quality, comfort, and health: A review of empirical data

This paper reviews empirical data from evaluations of the influence of residential energy efficiency retrofits on indoor environmental quality conditions and self-reported thermal comfort and health. The data were extracted from 36 studies described in 44 papers plus two reports. Nearly all reviewed studies were performed in Europe or United States. Most studies evaluated retrofits of homes with low-income occupants. Indoor radon and formaldehyde concentrations tended to increase after retrofits that did not add whole-house mechanical ventilation. Study-average indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds other than formaldehyde increased and decreased with approximately equal frequency. Average indoor temperatures during winter typically increased after retrofits, usually by less than 1.5 °C. Dampness and mold, usually based on occupant's reports, almost always decreased after retrofits. Subjectively reported thermal comfort, thermal discomfort, non-asthma respiratory symptoms, general health, and mental health nearly always improved after retrofits. For asthma symptoms, the evidence of improvement slightly outweighed the evidence of worsening. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether changes in thermal comfort and health outcomes varied depending on the type of energy efficiency retrofit. The published research has numerous limitations including a lack of data from retrofits in warm-humid climates and minimal data on changes in objective health outcomes. Suggestions for future research are provided.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ten questions concerning low-cost indoor air quality sensors: Perspectives from research and practice

Low-cost indoor air quality (IAQ) sensors are increasingly being used in homes and commercial and public buildings, driven by growing concerns about the impact of air on health, cognitive performance, and occupant wellbeing. These sensors offer a potentially transformative opportunity to increase spatial and temporal coverage of IAQ monitoring at a fraction of the cost of conventional reference instruments. However, their widespread use raises questions around accuracy, calibration, placement, data handling and interpretation, and integration into existing standards and workflows. This paper presents ten critical questions concerning the use of low-cost IAQ sensors in buildings, drawing on the latest empirical research, field deployments, and emerging practice. It discusses potential frameworks for deployment and evaluation, examines current sensor capabilities for measuring common pollutants, identifies methodological gaps in validation and uncertainty quantification, and outlines the extent to which existing IAQ standards can accommodate sensor-based evidence. The paper also explores how monitoring needs and deployment models vary by building type, the potential of real-time IAQ data to support building operations, and the ethical and legal implications of widespread sensor use. While significant challenges remain in ensuring data quality and building stakeholder trust, new applications are emerging through open data initiatives and advances in analytics and visualization. As the technology, science, and standards co-evolve, low-cost IAQ sensors are poised to become integral to routine building operation, building science, and environmental health research.

Parkinson, Thomas↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nondestructive neutron imaging diagnosis of acidic gas reduction catalyst after 400-Hour operation in natural gas furnace

Residential natural gas furnaces are the primary space-heating devices in US homes, leading to substantial environmental impact caused by the acidic components in the furnace combustion gases. Here, to experimentally demonstrate acidic gas reduction in a furnace, a monolithic catalyst was fabricated and was called the AGR. A commercially-available condensing furnace was retrofitted with the AGR, and a 400-hour reliability and durability test was conducted. The results showed that the AGR significantly reduced acidic gases in the flue gas and produced condensate with neutral pH. Challenges were also revealed: inappropriate condensate drainage caused incomplete combustion and amorphous carbon deposits. To nondestructively survey the internal state of the AGR, neutron computed tomography (NCT) was employed to produce spatially resolved 2D and 3D representations of the 2-L, aged AGR component. The NCT results confirm the integrity of the AGR component, which consists of two blocks, without deformation or damage to AGR channels. The distribution of the particle accumulation in the middle of the top block was visibly heavier than the entrance and exit of the top block. The representative cross-section views revealed significant aggregation in the central region but not at the rim. The spatially resolved details provide in-depth diagnosis, evaluation, and understanding of the AGR. The insights can enable new AGR designs that realize a uniform and self-cleaning flow pattern, alleviate significant particle aggregation, and thus enhance AGR-enabled furnace performance. The neutron imaging method demonstrates the good potential that can diagnose faults and improve the design, optimization, and production processes of novel catalysts and other components or systems with heavy metal shell.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

A comparison between residential relocation timing of Sydney and Chicago residents: A Bayesian survival analysis

We report that understanding households' behaviour in residential relocation timing is of great importance in the field of transport engineering and economics. This research aims to develop a residential relocation model by considering the potential dynamic impacts of other households' decisions and variables, including economic and demographic attributes, housing features, intra-household decision-making structures, travel mode choice, and other life-course attributes. A multivariate parametric survival model with both fixed and time-varying covariates is developed. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first paper in the literature of residential relocation timing to propose the use of a Bayesian model in contrast to the widely used classic frequentist approach and have conducted a discussion on its advantages. An emerging residential relocation dataset collected for two cities in Australia and the USA (Sydney and Chicago cities) has been used, which covers residence, vehicle ownership, occupation, education, economic and demographic attributes of respondents. A comprehensive comparison between the results of two cities and a comparison between two Bayesian and frequentist approaches are made. This study confirms the impact of life-course variables, intra-household decision-making behaviours, and sociodemographic attributes on home mobility. According to the model outputs, the accelerating or decelerating impact of explanatory variables on the relocation timing has been almost the same in the two cities. The Bayesian model was confirmed to have some advantages over the frequentist model, including being straightforward to interpret, availability of making inferences on the results, and ease of handling complex models, and optimisation convergence complexities.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Employment access assessed using the mobility energy productivity (MEP) metric

Transit agencies, local governments, employers, and job-seekers have a shared interest in connecting residents with jobs in an affordable and time efficient manner, with public agencies also caring about energy efficiency and air quality. Employment hubs are an opportunity to solve the spatial mismatch between homes of job-seekers and the locations of desirable jobs. Such is the case in Columbus, Ohio, between Rickenbacker Industrial Park and the Linden neighborhood, which has experienced persistent poverty. Using the mobility energy productivity (MEP) metric to examine travel time, cost, and energy efficiency, we show current transit service is undesirable due to excessive travel time (70 min, MEP = 0), while driving alone (MEP = 0.20) may be less desirable than a hypothetical, fare-free microtransit service (MEP = 0.23). Updating MEP to use locally-derived input data can help identify parameters under which providing microtransit service in a specific place has compelling benefits in terms of vehicle energy efficiency as well as cost and travel time for riders.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗