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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

ARIES/Flatirons Facility - Hydrogen System Capability Buildout

Under the "Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems" (ARIES) initiative, hydrogen system capabilities including a MW-scale electrolyzer, storage system, and MW-scale fuel cell generator will be designed and commissioned at NREL's Flatirons Campus. This hydrogen infrastructure will support H2@Scale goals by enabling integrated systems R&D to study the science of scaling for hydrogen energy systems. The system is designed with flexibility to provide a testbed to demonstrate systems integration, grid services, energy storage, direct renewable hydrogen production, and innovative end use applications (e.g. HD transportation, natural gas blending, etc.).

DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION,HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2023

ARIES/Flatirons Facility - Hydrogen System Capability Buildout

Under the "Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems" (ARIES) initiative, hydrogen system capabilities including a MW-scale electrolyzer, storage system, and MW-scale fuel cell generator will be designed and commissioned at NREL's Flatirons Campus. This hydrogen infrastructure will support H2@Scale goals by enabling integrated systems R&D to study the science of scaling for hydrogen energy systems.The system is designed with flexibility to provide a testbed to demonstrate systems integration, grid services, energy storage, direct renewable hydrogen production, and innovative end use applications (e.g. HD transportation, natural gas blending, etc.).

Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems↗
DOE OSTI2024

ARIES / Flatirons Facility - Hydrogen System Capability Buildout

Under the "Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems" (ARIES) initiative, hydrogen system capabilities including a MW-scale electrolyzer, storage system, and MW-scale fuel cell generator will be designed and commissioned at NREL's Flatirons Campus. This hydrogen infrastructure will support H2@Scale goals by enabling integrated systems R&D to study the science of scaling for hydrogen energy systems.The system is designed with flexibility to provide a testbed to demonstrate systems integration, grid services, energy storage, direct renewable hydrogen production, and innovative end use applications (e.g. HD transportation, natural gas blending, etc.).

electrical grid↗
DOE OSTI2023

Digital Twin Development of FASTR

This work package is focused on creating a digital twin (DT) of the Facility to Alleviate Salt Technology Risks (FASTR) experiment. FASTR is a high-profile facility tasked with maturing molten salt applications such as liquid salt energy storage, concentrated solar power facilities, and molten salt cooling systems supporting other advanced reactor technologies, all of which may be incorporated as components within the Integrated Energy Systems (IES) program. As part of creating a digital twin (DT), verification and validation (V&V) has been performed for the physics-based model, and gaps have been identified. Additionally, a preliminary integration of the FASTR model has been completed with the existing physics-based model of the Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS)/Microreactor AGile Non-nuclear Experimental Testbed (MAGNET) facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). A Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) of the physics-based system model and a reduced-order model (ROM) were both used to test for a preliminary hardware in the loop operation when the physical loop was offline. Future tasks could include improving the physics-based model to better match the available experimental data, improving the hardware in the loop integration, and improving the integration with the TEDS model.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Capacity optimization of nuclear power integration to meet dynamic industrial demand

To decarbonize their industrial facilities, The Dow Chemical Company has collaborated with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to study the integration of nuclear power with an industrial chemical facility. Using Holistic Energy and Resource Optimization Network developed at INL for optimizing and analyzing integrated energy systems, a nuclear microreactor system was sized and evaluated for dynamic dispatch to Dow Silicones Corporation’s Carrollton, KY (USA) site for iloxane production. It was found that a 180 MW th system (12 × 15MW th ) with 75.1 MWh th of thermal energy storage could provide heat and power to the chemical facilities. In the process, this would reduce electricity imports by 99.9 % and reduce the Scope 1 and 2 emissions of the site by 292,100 tonnes CO 2 /yr (98.8 %). The primary novelty of this work is a first of a kind design and optimization of a microreactor powered integrated energy system to provide heat and power to a chemical plant using real plant data. This analysis will pave the way for future studies using dispatchable clean energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and commodity industries’ reliance on fossil fuels.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Integration of Dynamical System Scaling to RAVEN and Facility Application

As part of the design optimization and model validation effort within the hybrid energy systems program, the research to implement dynamical system scaling (DSS) code to RAVEN is funded under the Integrated Energy System program in collaboration with the Digital Reactor Technology & Development department. The DSS data processing algorithm has been coded within the RAVEN framework along with other metrics and postprocessing models. The implemented code was tested using a gravity-driven draining tank draining case modeled in RELAP5-3D and generated data was successfully postprocessed based on the scaling analyses defined by DSS. Postprocessed data concluded less agreement for the tank exit velocity and indicated that the modeled input deck for RELAP5-3D requires modification to enforce minimal pressure differential effects to the draining process.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

A low-cost centralized HVAC control system solution for energy savings, load shedding, and improved maintenance

University campuses rely on centralized controls for managing and optimizing complex HVAC systems in larger buildings. However, most campuses also have many smaller buildings with packaged HVAC systems controlled by a stand-alone thermostat. Even when these distributed and often overlooked systems have modern programmable thermostats, they cannot be centrally monitored or controlled, and they are typically not programmed adequately. This paper describes the implementation of a low-cost centralized control solution for these systems serving smaller campus buildings, mostly under 5,000 sf and representative of light commercial spaces. Thanks to advances in technology spurred by residential and commercial IoT developments, simple networked thermostat solutions exist that can easily replace original thermostats, and, connect these systems to a web-based portal for monitoring and control. We show that, with small customizations, these platforms can be integrated into facility management workflows. Beyond the energy savings potential from improved scheduling and closer management of these systems, there are significant advantages for maintenance crews since these systems can now be monitored on smart phones or tablets. A grid-responsive load-shedding program has also been implemented for additional cost savings. The networked thermostats can also be connected to additional systems such as economizer controls for improved ventilation management and energy savings. With data from these systems integrated centrally, it can also be used for improved analytics and fault detection. A toolkit has been developed to share the program with other campuses, whether for energy savings, improved management of ventilation, or a more proactive maintenance approach.

Fauchier-Magnan, Nicolas↗
DOE OSTI2025

Deployment and Evaluation of SciStream on OLCF's Advanced Computing Ecosystem (ACE)

The growing demand for real-time analysis, experimental steering, and decision-making in scientific workflows has created a need for tightly coupled integrations between experimental facilities and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. The Department of Energy’s Integrated Research Infrastructure (IRI) initiative highlights data streaming as a key capability for enabling memory-to-memory data transfers, bypassing the limitations of traditional store-and-forward models. SciStream is a toolkit developed by researchers at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to support such streaming by addressing cross-domain security, delegated authentication, and application transparency. We deployed and evaluated SciStream on the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility’s (OLCF) Advanced Computing Ecosystem (ACE) infrastructure, leveraging the Olivine OpenShift cluster and its high-bandwidth Data Streaming Nodes (DSNs) as gateway nodes. Our evaluation included synthetic streaming workloads derived from IRI science workflows, a streaming simulator, and integration with RabbitMQ to handle low-level messaging. This report documents the deployment process, performance evaluation, and challenges encountered, along with opportunities for future improvements.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

ECP libraries and tools: An overview

The Exascale Computing Project (ECP) Software Technology and Co-Design teams addressed the growing complexities in high-performance computing (HPC) by developing scalable software libraries and tools that leverage exascale system capabilities. As we enter the exascale era, the need for reusable, optimized software solutions that can handle the unique challenges posed by these systems becomes increasingly important. The primary challenges the ECP teams faced were to create software libraries and tools that are performant on exascale architectures and portable and usable across diverse hardware platforms. Efforts addressed issues related to concurrent execution, memory management, and the integration of heterogeneous computing resources, such as GPUs from multiple vendors. The ECP’s strategy involved a structured development process encompassing the creation, optimization, and deployment of software in collaboration with industry, academia, and national laboratories. The project was organized into several technical areas: co-design of domain-specific suites with target applications, programming models and runtimes, development tools, mathematical libraries, data and visualization tools, and software ecosystem and delivery mechanisms. ECP has successfully developed a large portfolio of software libraries and tools that demonstrate significant improvements in performance and scalability on exascale systems. These products have been integrated into the Department of Energy’s computing facilities, supporting various scientific applications and ensuring robust performance across different hardware setups. ECP advancements in software development for exascale computing highlight the importance of a collaborative and adaptive approach to handling next-generation HPC systems complexities. The lessons learned emphasize the need for continuous engagement with end-users and vendors, and the importance of maintaining a balance between innovation and practical implementation. Future efforts will focus on ensuring scalability, keeping pace with rapid hardware advancements, and further enhancing the interoperability and usability of the software ecosystem. In conclusion, subsequent articles in this special issue provide in-depth discussions and case studies into specific library and tool efforts.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transportation and Systems Analysis Collaborations in Support of a Federal Consolidated Interim Storage Facility

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) program under the Office of Nuclear Energy is planning for the future transportation, storage, and eventual disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) from nuclear power plant sites across the United States. To better enable informed decision-making regarding the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the IWM program has been sponsoring the development and application of system analysis tools capable of analyzing various options for managing SNF and HLW. With these tools, integrated waste management system (IWMS) architecture analyses are being conducted to support the future deployment of a comprehensive nuclear waste management system that considers all major back-end aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle (i.e., transportation, storage, and disposal). System analyses and assessments typically use these modeling and simulation tools to investigate implications of changes in various assumptions and parameters such as acceptance rates, receipt logic, facility capacities and capabilities, use of standardized canisters, start and stop dates of facilities, etc. The Next Generation System Analysis Model (NGSAM) is an agent-based simulation toolkit that is used for a system-level simulation and analysis focused on SNF management in the United States. An analyst using NGSAM has the ability to define several factors like the number of storage facilities, capacity at each facility, transportation schedules, shipment rates, and other conditions. NGSAM’s primary purpose is to provide a system analyst with capabilities to model the IWMS and gain insights into SNF and HLW management alternatives including the impact of system choices, associated cost estimates, and development of integrated yet flexible approaches. IWM is also developing the Stakeholder Tool for Assessing Radioactive Transportation (START). START is a web-based geospatial tool developed to provide visualization and initial evaluation of transportation options associated with future SNF and HLW shipment planning and operations. This includes characterizing safety, economic, and environmental conditions on and in proximity to shipment origins as well as along prospective transportation routes. Information from the START tool can be presented/shared as maps, graphics, geospatial files, and tabular form to enable easy data representation and export functionality. The system analysis, NGSAM, and START teams had been working closely for several years before formalizing this collaboration. START provides the SNF routing information for use in NGSAM. System analysts use the NGSAM tool to generate results (schedule, costs, infrastructure acquisitions, shipment rates, etc.). Subject-matter experts and system analysts work together to inform how NGSAM should model the waste management system. Specifically, this paper discusses the collaborations between the system analysis, NGSAM, and START teams and their accomplishments over the past year. Some examples of these efforts include calibrating and adding data to the START output files to meet NGSAM needs, gaining a better understanding of START data used in NGSAM, as well as how updates in START data could result in an improved NGSAM analysis. Detailed examples of various tasks that have been performed by the team will be discussed in the full paper. Continued efforts in this direction are expected in the coming years.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transportation and System Analysis Collaborations in Support of a Federal Consolidated Interim Storage Facility

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) program under the Office of Nuclear Energy is planning for the future transportation, storage, and eventual disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) from nuclear power plant and waste custodian sites across the United States. To better enable informed decision-making regarding the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the IWM program has been sponsoring the development and application of system analysis tools capable of analyzing various options for managing SNF and HLW. With these tools, integrated waste management system (IWMS) architecture analyses are being conducted to support the future deployment of a comprehensive nuclear waste management system that considers all major back-end aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle (i.e., transportation, storage, and disposal). System analyses and assessments typically use these modeling and simulation tools to investigate implications of changes in various assumptions and parameters such as acceptance rates, receipt logic, facility capacities and capabilities, use of standardized canisters, start and stop dates of facilities, etc. The Next Generation System Analysis Model (NGSAM) is an agent-based simulation toolkit that is used for a system-level simulation and analysis focused on SNF management in the United States. NGSAM’s primary purpose is to provide a system analyst with capabilities to model the IWMS and gain insights into SNF and HLW management alternatives including the impact of system choices, associated cost estimates, and development of integrated yet flexible approaches. An analyst using NGSAM can define several factors like the number of storage facilities, capacity at each facility, transportation schedules, shipment rates, and other conditions. IWM is also developing the Stakeholder Tool for Assessing Radioactive Transportation (START). START is a web-based geospatial tool developed to provide the visualization and initial evaluation of transportation options associated with future SNF and HLW shipment planning and operations. This includes characterizing safety, economic, and environmental conditions at and in proximity to shipment origins as well as along prospective transportation routes. Information from the START tool can be presented/shared as maps, graphics, geospatial files, and tabular form to enable easy data representation and export functionality. The system analysis, NGSAM, and START teams have been working closely for several years before formalizing this collaboration. START provides the SNF transportation routing information for use in NGSAM. System analysts use the NGSAM tool to generate results (schedule, costs, infrastructure acquisitions, shipment rates, etc.). Subject-matter experts and system analysts work together to inform how NGSAM should model the waste management system. Specifically, this paper discusses the collaborations between the system analysis, NGSAM, and START teams and their accomplishments over the past year. Some examples of these efforts include calibrating and adding data to the START output files to meet NGSAM needs, gaining a better understanding of START data used in NGSAM as well as how updates in START data could result in an improved NGSAM analysis. Detailed examples of various tasks that have been performed by the team will be discussed in the full paper. Continued efforts in this direction are expected in the coming years.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Design, Integration and Synthesis Platform to Advance Tightly Coupled Hybrid Energy Systems (DISPATCHES) v0.1.0

The DISPATCHES software will enable the design and optimization of Integrated Energy Systems (IES). The platform will support hybridizing existing generation facilities (such as nuclear and coal plants) as well as greenfield hybrid designs that incorporate advanced technologies (such as Advanced Modular Reactors and Coal FIRST), and it will enable the consideration of multiple technology options with different time constants. The design of the IES will be optimized for operation within the bulk power system via energy market signals (day ahead, real-time, and ancillary services) obtained from a production cost model. The goal of DISPATCHES is to identify flexible, dynamic designs that are responsive to grid market signals resulting in highly efficient, cost effective tightly coupled hybrid energy systems that can act as a "black box" to the grid to provide increased flexibility and resiliency.

Gunter, Daniel↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamical System Scaling of a Thermocline Thermal Storage System in the Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS) Facility

The purpose of this study was to develop a process to convert input signals from one facility into another by reflecting geometric and environmental settings. The Dynamic Energy Transport and Integration Laboratory (DETAIL) is one facility in development that aims to emulate the daily interactions among power production industry systems and be capable of receiving real-time data from those systems as inputs. To convert signals and ensure that the temporal sequences and magnitudes reflect the laboratory settings, the ability to scale and project data is essential. To demonstrate this ability, Dynamical System Scaling (a methodology that enables systems to scale and project or extrapolate datasets to desired environments while conserving the observed transient behavior based on first principles) was applied to DETAIL’s thermocline thermal storage system in the Thermal Energy Distribution System. The thermocline system was successfully scaled and a test case was conducted to generate a doubly accelerated energy charge and discharge in reference to past experimental data from the facility. The accelerated data were determined as able to conserve the amount of energy stored and the associated test boundary conditions were charge line maximum temperature, charge line velocity, and thermocline maximum temperature at 354 °C, 0.458 m/s, and 418 °C, respectively. The research results represented a case that required signals to be accelerated without altering the stored energy.

Yoshiura, Ramon (ORCID:0000000319781313)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Urban Combined Heat and Power with Integrated Renewables and Energy Storage

District energy systems efficiently provide thermal energy to multiple buildings and facilities through a network of shared infrastructure. Frequently, district energy systems are centered around combined heat and power (CHP) plants that generate electricity as well as heating and cooling to the local buildings. By providing both electricity and thermal energy from a single fuel source and central location, these systems use less fuel, decrease energy and operational costs, and reduce the need for heating and cooling equipment in individual buildings.

EMS, CHP, GWU↗
DOE OSTI2024

Digital risk analysis in nuclear engineering projects: Designing for safety, performance, reliability, and security

Cyber-informed engineering and security-by-design frameworks are important in promoting the need to identify cybersecurity concerns early in the systems engineering lifecycle so risks from adversarial cyber-attacks can be eliminated or reduced through engineering design practices. In addition to adversarial risk, risk in operational technology systems also includes non-adversarial and unintentional risk from other factors such as human performance errors, environmental conditions, design flaws, and device degradation or failure. This paper introduces a new concept for characterizing digital risk, both adversarial and non-adversarial, and provides the basis for initial research into a novel digital risk analysis approach focused on incorporating attack difficulty into a multi-attribute analysis technique using robust decision-making. This digital risk characterization is also used to frame a discussion on the challenges of competing objectives and competing stakeholder requirements in an integrated energy system project that incorporates a small modular reactor and industrial facility.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Guide to Developing Energy Services Interfaces

This document provides guidance to develop communications interfaces that are highly interoperable and adhere to a set of energy services interface (ESI) principles. It can be applied in the context of information and communications technology interface standards and implementation profiles that enable the integration of a facility with responsive distributed energy resources (DER) into an electric power system consistent with the fundamental ESI principles. In this context, a DER facility may consist of a single DER with a communicating controller or may be as complex as a microgrid campus with several buildings and many DERs. This document is not a technical interface standard, but the requirements described can be used to check that existing, augmented, or new interface standards meet the interoperability requirements of the ESI concept. In this way, this guide for the ESI specification can support future advancements in developing interoperability standards and implementation profiles. The intended audience for this document is DER integration practitioners and ecosystem groups that are in the business of developing and implementing communications interfaces for DER integration. It is intended that these groups apply the information and processes in this document to develop communications standards and implementation profiles that are consistent with fundamental ESI principles.

2030.5↗
DOE OSTI2023

Integrate FARM with PID controllers: IES Simulation Ecosystem Control System Development

The FARM (Feasible Actuator Range Modifier) software module is a component of the RAVEN-based FORCE framework for analysis of Integrated Energy Systems (IES). FARM was designed to support the HERON software module in the solution of the optimal dispatch problem for IES units. As the result of HERON-FARM dispatch simulation, the set-point trajectories are optimized to meet constraints on both the production variables (i.e., the variables to be optimized such as the electrical power, the hydrogen production rate, etc.) and the process variables tied to the service life of equipment (e.g., steam flowrate, vessel pressure, turbine firing temperature, etc.) at a coarse time resolution (every 10 or 100 seconds) over long time horizons (several days or weeks). In case the operational constraints need to be met at finer time resolution, the computational burden of HERON-FARM would linearly increase with the sampling rate, and sub-optimal solutions might be obtained. System responses characterized by overshoots and damped oscillations temporarily violating the imposed constraints might occur during abrupt power transients. In this report, a hierarchical control system architecture for the operation of the Dynamic Energy Technology and Integration Laboratory (DETAIL) facility constructed at INL was proposed. First, the preliminary studies on the proposed control strategy for operating the facility and the designed PI controllers were reviewed. In particular, the current approach for generating the set-point trajectories was studied, and its limits were identified. To this aim, the inclusion of a Supervisory Control layer embedding a modified version of the FARM algorithm for preserving the system safe operation over both long and real-time horizons was proposed. In this way, FARM would be applied twice, i.e., the original version (“FARM Validator”) aiding the solution of the power dispatch problem, and the modified version (“FARM Supervisory” coordinating the PI controllers to address the real-time control tasks. Despite the kernel of the two modules is the same algorithm, their roles, tasks, and capabilities are quite different. A detailed description of the role of FARM at addressing low-level control tasks is provided, along with tentative operational procedures for training the models embedded into the algorithm by using the collected experimental data.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integration of renewable energy generation and storage systems for emissions reduction in an islanded campus microgrid

Microgrid connected building communities are projected to play an integral part in the clean energy transition. These types of systems, when integrated with distributed energy resources (DERs) such as combined heat and power (CHP), district heating and cooling, renewable generation, and energy storage, can provide clean, reliable power to critical facilities and vulnerable communities. The intermittent nature of renewable generation is a challenge when integrating renewables into any grid system, but particularly in islanded microgrids. The University of Texas at Austin (UT) operates an islanded microgrid powered by a CHP plant, while also utilizing district heating and cooling systems and thermal energy storage (TES). High fidelity operating data was used to develop a validated reduced order model of UT’s integrated campus energy systems to serve as a testbed for use in a case study. Hypothetical renewable energy installations on land owned by UT in west Texas were modeled and integrated into the validated campus models along with battery energy storage (BES). Simulations showed that a combination of renewable energy from wind, and optimally controlled 24-hour thermal and battery storage systems could reduce carbon dioxide emissions on campus by 45.4%. The additional retrofit of burner systems to utilize hydrogen natural gas blends resulted in an overall annual emissions reduction of 54.7%. Carbon capture and storage eliminated the majority of the remaining emissions with increased plant energy expenditure. The presented simulations display the practical limitations of a CHP system complemented by renewable generation and short-term storage in eliminating emissions. Furthermore, results highlight the need for further research and development in long duration storage technologies and hydrogen fueled turbines to increase penetration of renewable energy and reduce emissions.

CHP↗