Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “field performance”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Design, Deployment, and Characterization of the World’s First Flexible Large Power Transformer

GE Research and its partner Prolec GE have designed, built and deployed in the field the world’s first flexible power transformer. The flexible power transformer is a transmission class 3-phase autotransformer configurable in impedance and in voltage which allows it to serve as a universal spare for multiple units in a given fleet. However, the key innovation in this new concept is the online adjustable leakage impedance which allows the transformer to change its impedance without interrupting the transmission line operation. The flexible power transformer can be designed with up to three low voltage transmission class ratings and up to 12 impedance values changeable both online and offline. This report provides an overview of the design, manufacturing, testing, and commissioning of the 165kV, 60MVA prototype built including the results of the field performance validation tests. The prototype was specified in collaboration with Cooperative Energy, the utility host. It was designed and tested in the factory according to IEEE standard C57.12.00 and followed all protocols for transportation, installation, and commissioning of a power transformer. In addition to the prototype, a flexible protection system capable of automatically adjusting its settings upon the transformer impedance was also developed and deployed in the for testing and validation. On September 3, 2021 the prototype was energized in Cooperative Energy’s substation in Columbia, Mississippi to become the world’s first flexible power transformer in operation. Its performances and impact on the grid operation were demonstrated through different field tests. Results obtained confirm that the impedance of the flexible transformer can be varied under load through its full range, from 4.3% to 9.3%, without adverse impacts on the line operation, the protection system, the transformer stability and health condition. Results also proved that the flexible transformer is very effective in controlling power transfer through the line or load sharing between units operating in parallel. Indeed, it was proven that higher impedances decrease the thruput power of the transformer while lower impedances increase it. Up to 26MW was controllable on a line loading of 45MVA. It was also possible to demonstrate that the variation of the transformer impedance has no effect on the circulating current between units in parallel, except a minor transient during the impedance change. It was also proven that the flexible protection relay can update its protection settings automatically when the impedance change was detected. The prototype has operated continuously for more than 12 months now with a peak load exceeding 50MVA corresponding to >80% of its ONAN power rating. No alarm, trip or sign of failure has been reported by the utility. In addition to the development and deployment of the flexible transformer prototype, investigations were carried out on new nanodielectric fluids to replace the mineral oil used in power transformers with the goal of reducing their footprint and weight. The key parameters that were targeted for improvement included the breakdown voltage to reduce clearances between windings and tank hence the footprint; viscosity and thermal conductivity to increase the cooling efficiency and therefore to reduce the winding material. Several nanodielectric mixtures with mineral oil including with alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2) and Borum Nitrate (BN) with different surfactants have been analyzed and tested. Unfortunately, despite encouraging results no nanofluid candidate has been found viable to replace mineral oil. With the formulations tested, breakdown voltages are generally similar to mineral oil at lower particle contents and worse at higher particle contents. Viscosity appreciably increased at particles concertation over 2 wt% and thermal conductivity increased slightly at 5wt% and appears to be 10-15% higher at 10 wt% particle content. It is recommended to continue investigations to find solutions that can help increase the power density of future flexible power transformers. Flexible power transformers can significantly help the future power grid by providing more flexibility and resiliency. Indeed, by providing voltage and impedance flexibility, flexible power transformers reduce the need for multiple spares, hence inventory costs for utilities. With their online controllable impedance, they can provide support to the grid and help manage short-circuit currents, power flow, line congestion, and grid stability which will become more important with higher penetrations of intermittent renewable resources. During the field validation tests, it was demonstrated that up to 26MW was controllable on a line loading of 45MVA when the transformer impedance was varied from its minimum to its maximum range. Also, with the impedance range, the short-circuit currents could be reduced by up to 38% at the load side of the transformer. With its controllable impedance, flexible transformers can be used in future strategies of grid resilience to help better prepare the grid to face forecasted severe events including storms, heat waves and contingencies. The flexible power transformers can also find role in other applications including high voltage transmission cables such as offshore wind farms where solutions for energizing the cables and managing the reactive power are of critical importance. The designed flexible power transformer is now fully validated and ready for commercialization. Further analysis on the benefits of flexible power transformers for grid stability and short-circuit management including current limiting capability, reclosure and line restoration, control of inrush current, sizing of flexible AC components (FACTS) would help its rapid adoption by the industry.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Initial Field Testing in the Deep Subsurface for the Thermal Breakout Project for Measuring In Situ Stress

The current state-of-the-art technology for in situ stress measurements involves an integrated approach that combines borehole breakout observations, drilling-induced tensile fractures, and hydraulic fracturing tests (i.e., mini-fracs); however, this methodology has several limitations that often prevent successful in situ stress measurements. One major limitation is that breakouts do not appear in every borehole and are generally a natural occurrence that cannot easily be controlled. Because borehole breakouts are used to measure the maximum horizontal in situ stress magnitude, the absence of borehole breakouts presents a major data gap for in situ stress measurements. As a response to this data gap a new thermal breakout technology is being developed that will provide a method for thermally inducing borehole breakouts and obtaining consistent measurements of the maximum horizontal stress magnitude. This thermal breakout technology involves heating the borehole and increasing the thermoelastic compressive stress in the rock until a breakout develops, which is directly correlated to the maximum horizontal stress magnitude. An initial component of the thermal breakout project involves developing a prototype downhole tool and performing field testing in the deep subsurface. The primary objective of the initial tool development and field testing is to provide a physical proof of concept for the thermal breakout technology. Three thermal breakout field tests were performed at approximately 4850 feet deep in the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Each test was performed in a borehole that had been previously used for overcoring stress measurements. The third and final test successfully created two diametrically opposed breakouts after deploying the thermal breakout tool for approximately 3 hours of continuous heating. Post-analysis of the thermally induced breakouts confirmed that the thermal breakout orientation directly corresponds to the known in situ stress orientation and magnitude.

Voegeli, Sam↗
DOE OSTI2023

Toward Autonomous Field Inspection of CSP Collectors With a Polarimetric Imaging Drone

We developed a polarimetric imaging drone to perform field inspections of heliostats and carried out field tests at Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). The preliminary results show that Degree of Linear Polarization (DOLP) and Angle of Polarization (AOP) images greatly enhanced the edge detection results compared with the conventional visible images, supporting fast and accurate detection of heliostat mirror edges and cracks. The system holds the promise to enable future automated detection of heliostats optical errors and mirror defects.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1996

High Spatial Resolution Investigations of Microchannel Plate Imaging Properties for UV Detectors

Microchannel plate (MCP) photon counting detectors are currently being used with great success on many of the recent NASA/ESA ultraviolet (UV) astrophysics missions that make observations in the 1OO A - 1600 A range. These include HUT, the Wide Field Camera on ROSAT, EUVE, ALEXIS, ORFEUS, and SOHO. These devices have also been chosen to fly on future UV astrophysics missions such as FUSE, FUVITA, IMAGE, and both the HST STIS and Advanced Camera instruments. During the period of this award we have fabricated a dual-chamber vacuum test facility to carry out laboratory testing of detector resolution, image stability and linearity, and flat field performance to enable us to characterize the performance of MCPs and their associated read-out architectures. We have also fabricated and tested a laboratory 'test-bed' delay line detector, which can accommodate MCP's with a wide range of formats and run at high data rates, to continue our studies of MCP image fixed pattern noise, and particularly for new small pore MCP's which have recently come onto the market. These tests were mainly focussed on the assessment of cross delay-line (XDL) and double delay line (DDL) anode read-out schemes, with particular attention being focussed on flat-field and spatial resolution performance.

Siegmund, Oswald↗
DOE OSTI2023

De-Risking Large-Scale PV Systems Through Data Analytics

Large-scale photovoltaic system performance analysis is being conducted within the US Department of Energy's-sponsored PV Fleet Performance Data Initiative. This collaboration with commercial PV system owners collects and evaluates PV field performance data, and provides reports on aggregated results. Drawing on over 2200 sites across the US and over 24,000 separate PV inverters we have collected in excess of 8.3 gigawatts (GW) of performance data, representing 6-7% of the entire US installed PV capacity. A mixture of utility-scale and large commercial systems are represented, averaging 4.1 megawatts (MW) in size and 5 years in age. Initial results show average system degradation rates at -0.75% / year, which is slightly higher than historically reported module-level values of -0.5%/year. We also found that the availability of systems averaged 97.7%, which is lower than the typical 99% uptime assumed by many project economic forecasts. Given these results, we compared monthly performance with expected production values, based on satellite weather data and a simple PVWatts performance model. We found that systems were performing within 10% of monthly expectation over 90% of the time, with a fleet average vs expected monthly value of 0.994. We also evaluated the impact of extreme weather events on system performance, and found a range of short-term and longer-term performance effects ranging from grid outage, system downtime, module damage and accelerated long-term degradation rate.

analysis↗
NASA NTRS2000

Rovers as Geological Helpers for Planetary Surface Exploration

Rovers can be used to perform field science on other planetary surfaces and in hostile and dangerous environments on Earth. Rovers are mobility systems for carrying instrumentation to investigate targets of interest and can perform geologic exploration on a distant planet (e.g. Mars) autonomously with periodic command from Earth. For nearby sites (such as the Moon or sites on Earth) rovers can be teleoperated with excellent capabilities. In future human exploration, robotic rovers will assist human explorers as scouts, tool and instrument carriers, and a traverse "buddy". Rovers can be wheeled vehicles, like the Mars Pathfinder Sojourner, or can walk on legs, like the Dante vehicle that was deployed into a volcanic caldera on Mt. Spurr, Alaska. Wheeled rovers can generally traverse slopes as high as 35 degrees, can avoid hazards too big to roll over, and can carry a wide range of instrumentation. More challenging terrain and steeper slopes can be negotiated by walkers. Limitations on rover performance result primarily from the bandwidth and frequency with which data are transmitted, and the accuracy with which the rover can navigate to a new position. Based on communication strategies, power availability, and navigation approach planned or demonstrated for Mars missions to date, rovers on Mars will probably traverse only a few meters per day. Collecting samples, especially if it involves accurate instrument placement, will be a slow process. Using live teleoperation (such as operating a rover on the Moon from Earth) rovers have traversed more than 1 km in an 8 hour period while also performing science operations, and can be moved much faster when the goal is simply to make the distance. I will review the results of field experiments with planetary surface rovers, concentrating on their successful and problematic performance aspects. This paper will be accompanied by a working demonstration of a prototype planetary surface rover.

Stoker, Carol↗
DOE OSTI2026

PV Lifetime Project - 2025 NLR Annual Report

DOE's PV Lifetime project was initiated in 2016 with the goal of accurately characterizing the early-life evolution of photovoltaic (PV) field performance. Different PV cell and module technologies result in different initial degradation rates due to effects like light-induced degradation (LID) and light and elevated temperature-induced degradation (LeTID). To accurately characterize the initial field degradation of maximum power (Pmp) requires the use of high-accuracy indoor IV curve measurements at standard test conditions. Therefore, PV modules involved in this study are removed from the field once or twice per year and brought indoors for measurement under constant temperature and irradiance conditions. Overall annual degradation rates are as follows: our first modules to be deployed (Jinko, Trina, QCells) have annual median degradation rate between -0.4%/yr and -0.5%/yr mainly concentrated in the first year. Mission Solar, LG and Panasonic modules are all displaying modest degradation, better than -0.3% / year. Indeed, Mission Solar fielded modules degraded less than their control modules which remain indoors and un-exposed. This is also true for the LONGi monofacial modules, which had some field degradation, but not as much as the degradation of the indoor control modules. The LONGi bifacial modules on the other hand have degraded more in the field than their monofacial counterparts, although still a modest amount (-0.4 %/yr). Of the four newest module types in the study, only one has had better than average degradation. REC360NP2 (N-type TOPCon) had a slight performance increase over the first year and a half of field deployment. For the other three new module types (plus one older module type), degradation was more rapid. In our study of 16 module types, four have demonstrated degradation faster than -1%/yr: two N-type Heterojunction, one PERC bifacial and one PERC shingled module. The two heterojunction modules in our study are degrading the most rapidly. Sunpreme n-HIT bifacial modules are showing a loss rate around -1.5%/yr, for over -10% total to date. This is largely attributed to loss in front-side Isc. This is distinct from the REC 405AA-Pure modules which have degraded -6.8% in only a year and a half, for an annualized decline of -3.9 %/yr. For this module type, the decline is roughly half in Voc, with the remaining split between FF and Isc. Of the remaining two module types, Prism Solar PERC bifacial has declined -5% total since 2019, although this loss appears to have stabilized in the most recent measurement. The Solaria PowerX-400R Shingled module type has also lost around -3.2% in the first 1.5 years of field deployment. It remains to be seen if these losses will continue with time.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1975

Advanced concept considerations for STOL short-haul systems

Design, performance, and economic tradeoffs for STOL short-haul systems are presented. The analyses showed that quiet, short-field aircraft can be economically viable and provide benefits to airport congestion and to community noise relief. The objective of the studies was to compare and evaluate propulsive-lift systems and low-wing-loading aircraft provided with ride quality control and gust load alleviation, and to determine fuel consumption and cost tradeoffs, along with recommendations for development of technology, noise criteria, and airport planning. In the low density arena, the optimum aircraft sized for less than 50 passengers have active controls for ride quality and gust alleviation; turboprop propulsion offers significant cost and fuel saving with no appreciable block time penalty for the short typical stage lengths (on the order of 150 miles). In the high density arena, high bypass-ratio fan-powered aircraft, with design cruise speed of 0.7 to 0.75M and range capability to 1500 miles, are considered to be optimum. Field performance of 3000 feet or better can be achieved by the hybrid over-the-wing/internally blown flap concept with viable economics and low fuel consumption. Mechanical flap aircraft with high bypass-ratio engines are indicated to be superior for field lengths of 3500 feet or more. Technology development of propulsive lift is required, and further definition of the best fan-powered engine for low noise and low fuel consumption is needed.

Sweet, H. S.↗
DOE OSTI2020

High current density electron emission from an electrodeposited metal nanowire array

High-current electron field emitters are of interest for many applications, but state-of-the-art devices suffer from limitations such as high turn-on macroscopic field, low macroscopic current density, poor emission stability, and short lifetime. Field emitter arrays with a high spatial density of uniform emitters have the potential to address these problems. This work presents the process development, fabrication, and testing of a novel field emitter array. The authors employed electron beam lithography and templated electrodeposition to fabricate a high spatial density array of metallic nanowires, resulting in electron emission with high macroscopic current density (2 A/cm 2 ) and low turn-on macroscopic field (4.35 V/ μ m). Templated electrodeposition of metallic nanowire arrays is a promising method for producing high performance field emitters.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

User's Manual for the FE/NETL Onshore CO 2 EOR Cost Model, Version 1

This user's manual describes the conceptual and mathematical basis for the FE/NETL Onshore CO 2 EOR Cost Model (a Fortran program). The model performs a cash flow analysis to estimate the cost of implementing CO 2 EOR using supercritical CO 2 by incorporating oil field performance outputs for a pattern from the FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model (available on NETL's website along with its associated user's manuals under the Collection Name: FE/NETL CO 2 Prophet Model) and implementing patterns to develop an oil field for CO 2 EOR. The model calculates capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and financing costs. The user’s manual also describes how to run the FE/NETL Onshore CO 2 EOR Cost Model, along with the model’s file structure, inputs and outputs. The FE/NETL Onshore CO 2 EOR Cost Model is available on NETL's website under the Collection Name: FE/NETL Onshore CO 2 EOR Cost Model.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2013

Standard Practices for Usage of Inductive Magnetic Field Probes with Application to Electric Propulsion Testing

Inductive magnetic field probes (also known as B-dot probes and sometimes as B-probes or magnetic probes) are often employed to perform field measurements in electric propulsion applications where there are time-varying fields. Magnetic field probes provide the means to measure these magnetic fields and can even be used to measure the plasma current density indirectly through the application of Ampere's law. Measurements of this type can yield either global information related to a thruster and its performance or detailed, local data related to the specific physical processes occurring in the plasma. Results of the development of a standard for B-dot probe measurements are presented, condensing the available literature on the subject into an accessible set of rules, guidelines, and techniques to standardize the performance and presentation of future measurements.

Polzin, Kurt A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Overview of Advanced Electromagnetic Propulsion Development at NASA Glenn Research Center

NASA Glenn Research Center s Very High Power Electric Propulsion task is sponsored by the Energetics Heritage Project. Electric propulsion technologies currently being investigated under this program include pulsed electromagnetic plasma thrusters, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, helicon plasma sources as well as the systems models for high power electromagnetic propulsion devices. An investigation and evaluation of pulsed electromagnetic plasma thruster performance at energy levels up to 700 Joules is underway. On-going magnetoplasmadynamic thruster experiments will investigate applied-field performance characteristics of gas-fed MPDs. Plasma characterization of helicon plasma sources will provide additional insights into the operation of this novel propulsion concept. Systems models have been developed for high power electromagnetic propulsion concepts, such as pulsed inductive thrusters and magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters to enable an evaluation of mission-optimized designs.

Pencil, Eric J.↗
DOE OSTI2022

In-Field Alpha Spectrometer Development FY2022 Mid-Year Report

In response to needs identified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed an In-Field Alpha Spectrometer (IFAS) to allow IAEA safeguards inspectors to collect samples of uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 ) at processing facilities, to perform field assessments to verify uranium enrichment. For sample collection, the IFAS method uses Single-Use Destructive Assay (SUDA) samplers, developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which contain thin zeolite coatings that trap UF6 gas and convert it to the safer, more stable form uranyl fluoride (as a dihydrate, UO 2 F 2 ·2H 2 O). For alpha spectrometry, the IFAS instrument employs a large area silicon semiconductor transducer to detect and record alpha particle energy-deposition events. Over the course of this project INL, PNNL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory worked to optimize the SUDA sample design for alpha spectrometry, to optimize processes for manufacturing, loading, and shipping SUDA samples, and to allow the measurement of loaded SUDA samples. In fiscal year (FY) 2022 INL has bene investigating the reproducibility and measurement precision of IFAS measurements and the associated determination of uranium enrichment.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗
NASA NTRS1988

Performance of a scanning pencil-beam spaceborne scatterometer for ocean wind measurements

Simulation results show that a scatterometer design using two pencil beams scanning at different incidence angles measures the near-surface oceanic winds from a satellite better under most conditions than previous designs. The return signals from the ocean surface are much stronger than those from the fan beams used previously. Performance on a polar-orbiting satellite is compared with that of a fan beam spaceborne scatterometer. A wider and continuous swath is covered. The improvement in performance is higher at low wind speeds, so it is particularly suitable for measuring the low-mean-speed tropical wind fields. Performance on a low altitude tropic-orbiting platform such as the Space Station is also shown.

Moore, R. K.↗
DOE OSTI2023

INVESTIGATION OF THE MULTILAYER SHIELDING EFFECT THROUGH NbTiN-AlN COATED BULK NIOBIUM

Superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities, composed of bulk niobium (Nb), are extensively utilized in particle accelerators. To optimize their performance and extend their operational range, thin films of superconducting materials are applied to the Nb surfaces. This study focuses on investigating the magnetic field penetration characteristics of NbTiN-AlN coating on bulk niobium. The experimental setup involves measuring the magnetic field penetration across flat superconducting samples at cryogenic temperatures. One key parameter of interest is the field just before the first flux penetration, Bp which enables the observation of the multilayer shielding effect on bulk niobium under high magnetic fields. The study reveals a significant enhancement in Bp of the NbTiN-AlN coated Nb samples compared to bare Nb samples. This property holds critical importance for achieving high field performance in SRF cavities. Furthermore, the study explores the relationship between coating thickness and Bp corroborating the theoretical predictions.

Senevirathne, I. H.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Light and Elevated Temperature Induced Degradation (LeTID) in a Utility-Scale Photovoltaic System

Here, we present a detailed case study of degradation in monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules operating in a utility-scale power plant over the course of approximately three years. We present the results of degradation analysis on arrays within the site, and find that five of the six arrays degraded faster than the best performing array, even though the arrays consist of modules of the same manufacturer and model. We also describe the results of extensive laboratory characterization of modules returned from the field, including module- and cell-level current–voltage characterization, luminescence imaging, and accelerated testing. The laboratory test results and the field performance are consistent with light and elevated temperature induced degradation (LeTID). Notably, we observe differences in back contact technology between affected and unaffected modules. This article also demonstrates a method to identify possible LeTID degradation in the field and confirm the result with laboratory testing of a small number of modules.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1991

Integrated control of thermally distorted large space antennas

The objective is to develop a control system design method that (1) recognizes the time dependence of the thermal distortion due to orbital motion and (2) controls variables that are directly related to far field performance for earth pointing space antennas. The first objective is accomplished by expanding the distortion into principal components that are orthogonal in space and time. The approach for the second objective is to expand the far zone electric field in a Zernike-Bessel series. The method accommodates tapered feeds and arbitrary polarizations. Simulations are performed for a geosynchronous radiometer to determine the effectiveness of the control system under variations in solar geometry, structure materials and thermal properties.

Tolson, Robert H.↗