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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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Public data from three US states provide new insights into well integrity

Significance There are over 900,000 active oil and gas wells in the United States. Estimates of the percentage of these wells that leak during their lifetime have been limited by data availability. We mined publicly available records from state regulatory databases and synthesized the results of various well testing methods into a uniform dataset that describes the integrity of 105,031 wells. Our analysis of the dataset provides insight into regional well leakage frequencies in three US states (Colorado, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania), spatial and temporal leakage trends among vertical and directional wells, and the characteristics of leaked fluids. Our findings demonstrate the value of statewide well testing programs and highlight the challenges of interpreting disparate interjurisdictional well testing data.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Variations in pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic target values across MICs and their potential impact on determination of susceptibility test interpretive criteria

Abstract Background An antibacterial drug’s susceptibility test interpretive criteria (STIC) are determined by integrating clinical, microbiological and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) data. PTA analysis plays a pivotal or supportive role in STIC determination and is heavily dependent on the PK-PD target values determined from animal PK-PD studies. Therefore, variations in PK-PD target values may impact STIC determination. Factors contributing to variation in the PK-PD target values include the number of and MICs for bacterial isolates used in animal PK-PD studies. Objectives To analyse the relationship between PK-PD target values and MICs, describe the variations in PK-PD target values of isolates and evaluate whether the proposed/target STICs were within the ranges of the MICs for isolates used in animal PK-PD studies. Methods A database was compiled for this research by screening animal PK-PD study reports submitted to the FDA from 10 new drug applications (NDAs). Results A relationship evaluation between PK-PD target values and MICs for tested isolates for seven drugs (that used AUC/MIC ratio as the PK-PD index) showed that, generally, the AUC/MIC values decreased with an increase in MIC. These target values were highly variable, with the percentage coefficient of variation ranging between 1% and 132% for isolates having the same MIC. For 16/27 (59%) drug/bacteria combinations from all 10 drugs, the proposed/target STICs were higher than the highest MIC for bacteria isolates evaluated, while 6/27 (22.5%) were lower. Conclusions This research suggests that careful considerations related to selection of bacterial isolates for animal PK-PD studies could strengthen the STIC determination process.

Waack, Ursula↗
DOE OSTI2022

Towards Enhancing Coding Productivity for GPU Programming Using Static Graphs

The main contribution of this work is to increase the coding productivity of GPU programming by using the concept of Static Graphs. GPU capabilities have been increasing significantly in terms of performance and memory capacity. However, there are still some problems in terms of scalability and limitations to the amount of work that a GPU can perform at a time. To minimize the overhead associated with the launch of GPU kernels, as well as to maximize the use of GPU capacity, we have combined the new CUDA Graph API with the CUDA programming model (including CUDA math libraries) and the OpenACC programming model. We use as test cases two different, well-known and widely used problems in HPC and AI: the Conjugate Gradient method and the Particle Swarm Optimization. In the first test case (Conjugate Gradient) we focus on the integration of Static Graphs with CUDA. In this case, we are able to significantly outperform the NVIDIA reference code, reaching an acceleration of up to 11x thanks to a better implementation, which can benefit from the new CUDA Graph capabilities. In the second test case (Particle Swarm Optimization), we complement the OpenACC functionality with the use of CUDA Graph, achieving again accelerations of up to one order of magnitude, with average speedups ranging from 2x to 4x, and performance very close to a reference and optimized CUDA code. Our main target is to achieve a higher coding productivity model for GPU programming by using Static Graphs, which provides, in a very transparent way, a better exploitation of the GPU capacity. The combination of using Static Graphs with two of the current most important GPU programming models (CUDA and OpenACC) is able to reduce considerably the execution time w.r.t. the use of CUDA and OpenACC only, achieving accelerations of up to more than one order of magnitude. Finally, we propose an interface to incorporate the concept of Static Graphs into the OpenACC Specifications.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials and Fuels Complex Five-Year Investment Strategy (FY2020-FY2024)

The Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) mission is to provide the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) foundation to extend the lives of the current operating reactor fleet, develop the next generation of nuclear reactors, and provide integrated nuclear fuel cycle solutions. The Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) serves as the foundation of a nuclear RD&D enabling test bed at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and is an integral part of a National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) strategy. MFC facilities focus on developing and maintaining RD&D capabilities that can increase research throughput, reduce barriers to deployment, and facilitate commercialization of new ideas and technologies for clean and secure sources of energy. This document is a complimentary document to the Materials and Fuels Complex Five-Year Mission Strategy FY-20 – FY-24 (INL/EXT-20-57224) that defines specific implementation strategies for increasing research capability and throughput through targeted investments in research facilities, research instruments, and research staff. Refer to INL/EXT-20-57224 for details about MFC, its capabilities, and the overall mission strategy for the Materials and Fuels Complex.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Superconducting Magnet Qualification Methodology for the Material Plasma Exposure Experiment

The Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX), currently under design, is a new linear plasma device to advance the understanding of plasma-material interactions through the generation and delivery of plasmas as they are expected in future fusion reactor divertors. MPEX will be a steady-state device to study high-fluence exposures of plasma-facing materials and components. The requirements for the magnetic field at the target and the heating stages make the application of superconducting coils necessary. Conceptual designs for the superconducting magnets have been developed, and multiple cryostats with warm bore diameters of either 65 cm or 156 cm are envisioned to facilitate their integrated and timely assembly with other systems such as vacuum, water cooling, and RF power. Although design, fabrication, and testing for the magnets as stand-alone units are straightforward, challenges will arise during the integration of the system. Two different field profiles will be used during operation. The magnetic field where the electron cyclotron heating occurs needs to operate at both 1.25 and 2.5 T. It is critical that the magnets all share the same magnetic axis and alignment. The mutual inductance between cryostats will affect the quench behavior of the system. Also, cryostat-to-cryostat forces can be as large as 700 kN, and the magnitude and direction will change depending on which coils are energized. The design of the system must take those characteristics into account along with the quench scenarios. This paper describes the qualification approach that will be used to determine whether stand-alone tests can be used to ensure the success of the integrated system. Fiducials will be used to define the location of the magnetic axis for each cryostat to ensure proper alignment. Quench tests of a single magnet will be performed at a current above the normal operating current to account for additional stored energy from the mutual inductance to adjacent cryostats. Also, a 1018 steel plate will be mounted on either end of a cryostat to simulate the cryostat-to-cryostat forces. Requirements for the size and location of the steel plates are described.

Burkhardt, Earle↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evaluation of BISON metallic fuel performance modeling against experimental measurements within FIPD and IMIS databases

Simulations were conducted using the BISON fuel performance code on an automated process to read initial and operating conditions from two databases—the Fuels Irradiation and Physics Database (FIPD) and Integral Fast Reactor Materials Information System (IMIS) database. These databases contain metallic fuel data from the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) and the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). The work demonstrates use of an integrated framework to access EBR-II fuel pin data for evaluating fuel performance models contained within BISON to predict fuel performance of next-generation metallic fuel systems. Between IMIS and FIPD, there is enough information to conduct 1,977 unique EBR-II metallic fuel pin histories from 29 different experiments, and 338 pins from FFTF MFF-3 and MFF-5 with varying levels of details between the two databases. Each of these fuel performance histories includes a high-resolution power history, flux history, coolant channel flow rates, and coolant channel temperatures, and new model developments in BISON since the initial demonstration of this integrated framework. Fission gas release (FGR), cumulative damage fraction, fuel axial swelling, FCCI wastage thickness, cladding profilometry, and burnup were all simulated in BISON and compared to post-irradiation examination (PIE) results to evaluate BISON fuel performance modeling. Implementation of new fuel performance models into a generic BISON input file coupled with IMIS and FIPD yielded results with a better representation of physics than the initial evaluation of the integrated framework. Cladding profilometry, FGR, and fuel axial swelling were found to be in good agreement with PIE measurements for most of the pins simulated. The chosen mechanical contact solver was found to significantly impact the axial fuel swelling and cladding strain predictions when used in conjunction with the U-Pu-Zr hot-pressing model since it bound the fuel to prevent further swelling and increased hydrostatic stresses. This work suggests that fuel performance modeling in BISON under steady-state conditions represents the PIE data well and should be reassessed when new PIE data become available in IMIS and FIPD databases and when improved physical models to better capture fuel performance are added to BISON.

Paaren, Kyle M.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Porting numerical integration codes from CUDA to oneAPI: a case study

We present our experience in porting optimized CUDA implementations to oneAPI. We focus on the use case of numerical integration, particularly the CUDA implementations of PAGANI and $m$-Cubes. We faced several challenges that caused performance degradation in the oneAPI ports. These include differences in utilized registers per thread, compiler optimizations, and mappings of CUDA library calls to oneAPI equivalents. After addressing those challenges, we tested both the PAGANI and m-Cubes integrators on numerous integrands of various characteristics. To evaluate the quality of the ports, we collected performance metrics of the CUDA and oneAPI implementations on the Nvidia V100 GPU. We found that the oneAPI ports often achieve comparable performance to the CUDA versions, and that they are at most 10% slower.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Virtual Power Plants: Pilots, Challenges, and Innovations Shaping Future Development

Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs) to provide grid services traditionally delivered by centralized power plants. This article reviews the current state of VPP deployment, highlighting business models, compensation mechanisms, and global pilot projects. While VPPs offer benefits such as grid flexibility, resilience, and cost savings, challenges remain in communication infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, market access, and customer engagement. To address these, we propose a scalable, privacy-preserving hierarchical VPP architecture that coordinates with distribution utilities and preserves customer data. We also present the Integrated T&D Control Room of the Future as a key test bed for validating and accelerating VPP adoption. These innovations can help transition VPPs from pilot programs to integral components of a modern, reliable power grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cloud Droplet Measurement System for the ARM Tethered Balloon System (TBS) Field Campaign Report

The Mesa Photonics' cloud droplet measurement system (CDMS) performs in situ measurement of droplet size distribution and droplet number density in clouds. These characteristics are important cloud microphysical properties that are critical input parameters for atmospheric models and are also useful for proper calibration and validation of performance of other atmospheric measurement instrumentation. This small campaign was the first project (out of two) that involved integration of the CDMS into the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s tethered balloon system (TBS) and its initial testing at the ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) atmospheric observatory. The follow-up campaign (AFC07016) involved testing of the CDMS under relevant conditions at the third ARM Mobile Facility (AMF3) at Oliktok Point, Alaska and making in situ measurements in clouds. The goal of this small field campaign was to deploy the CDMS on the ARM TBS, demonstrate its integrity and compatibility with the TBS, and test the wireless telecommunication system in preparation for subsequent in-cloud measurements at ARM’s North Slope of Alaska (NSA) observatory at Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow). The specific technical objectives included: (1) Integration of the Mesa Photonics' CDMS into the ARM TBS, (2) testing of the wireless telecommunication system of the CDMS, (3) evaluating the data acquisition software and image processing algorithms especially under high-background-illumination conditions, and (4) testing the ruggedness of the instrument's optical alignment and other performance characteristics. All objectives have been successfully met. The mounting hardware was designed and built mostly at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), which allowed reliable mounting of the CDMS on the TBS and co-locating the CDMS with other instruments. The field tests were performed by the principal investigator (PI) in collaboration with the TBS operational crew led by D. Dexheimer. The field testing demonstrated good compatibility of the CDMS with the TBS. During the TBS flights, the crew did not experience any operational issues with the CDMS. The instrument demonstrated reliable operational characteristics, including sufficient battery life and good thermal management. The wireless telecommunication system has been successfully tested at TBS flight altitudes of up to 1000 m. During all flights, the CDMS raw data were wirelessly transmitted to the ground station and processed in real time. The ruggedness of the instrument's optical alignment was evaluated by performing calibration of the CDMS (using Mesa Photonics' fixed-size monodisperse droplet generator) before and after the campaign. The calibration was stable within the instrument's measurement precision. In summary, the campaign demonstrated good compatibility of the Mesa Photonics' CDMS with the ARM TBS. The flight tests confirmed the mechanical integrity of the CDMS and stability of its optical layout, as well as reliability of the wireless telecommunication system. Successful completion of this campaign provided a solid basis for the next campaign (AFC07016, November 2020), that involved testing of the CDMS during in-cloud TBS flights at AMF3 at Oliktok Point.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Direct Subsurface Measurements through Precise Micro Drilling

Wellbore integrity is a significant problem in the U.S. and worldwide, which has serious adverse environmental and energy security consequences. Wells are constructed with a cement barrier designed to last about 50 years. Indirect measurements and models are commonly used to identify wellbore damage and leakage, often producing subjective and even erroneous results. The research presented herein focuses on new technologies to improve monitoring and detection of wellbore failures (leaks) by developing a multi-step machine learning approach to localize two types of thermal defects within a wellbore model, a prototype mechatronic system for automatically drilling small diameter holes of arbitrary depth to monitor the integrity of oil and gas wells in situ, and benchtop testing and analyses to support the development of an autonomous real-time diagnostic tool to enable sensor emplacement for monitoring wellbore integrity. Each technology was supported by experimental results. This research has provided tools to aid in the detection of wellbore leaks and significantly enhanced our understanding of the interaction between small-hole drilling and wellbore materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cyber-Physical System: Design for Sustainability and Resilience

When considering the design tools needed in the transition from numeric models to pilot plant, cyber-physical systems (CPS) come to the forefront as a method to model complex integrated energy systems. CPS approach has proven to be valuable to identify opportunities for economically viable early adoption of integrated energy technologies. This tutorial will introduce the concepts and the roles of CPS in co-design to minimize risks for pilot plant and technology deployment. This tutorial will also layout basic requirements for the CPS development, which requires a highly interdisciplinary effort with expertise in sensors, hardware testing, real-time modeling, controls, and system integration.

Harun, Nor Farida↗
DOE OSTI2025

Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Response Characterization for Grid Integration: Implications for Smart Charge Management

The rapid expansion of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has created a unique challenge for electrical grids due to their significant power demand. At the same time, PEVs also create a unique opportunity to ease their own burden on the power grid, as they create a growing fleet of distributed energy resources capable of providing grid services such as demand response, frequency regulation, and renewable balancing. For aggregators and grid operators to effectively integrate PEVs into grid management, it is essential to first understand and characterize how they would respond in such situations. This study examines 25 models of PEVs across 25 makes, spanning model years from 2013 to 2025, to characterize their responses to the basic controls used in vehicle-grid integration (VGI): stopping, starting, and modulating the charge rate. Each vehicle was tested in a controlled laboratory setting to evaluate its performance in response to varying the maximum allowable current via the SAE J1772 control pilot signal, as well as its response to wake-up commands outlined in SAE J1772. Results show measurable differences across vehicle makes in the accuracy, latency, and precision with which PEVs respond to changes in ampacity, as well as varying sleep and wake-up behavior. The test results show that all vehicles respond to changes in ampacity, though with varying accuracy, precision, latency, and resolution. Wake-up behavior also differs across makes and models. These findings indicate that effective grid integration strategies must account for these differences. The results provide a foundation for understanding current vehicle behavior and advancing smart-charging methods while also highlighting the need for further testing, broader standardization, and manufacturer collaboration to ensure the successful integration of PEVs into the electrical grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Report on FY 2020 testing of Alloy 709 in support of EPP analysis

Research activities in support of the development of a 500,000 hr, 760ºC ASME Code Case (CC) for Alloy 709 are ongoing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Argonne National Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory. Integration of the simplified Elastic-Perfectly Plastic (EPP) methods for the design of Alloy 709 reactor components is a requirement for the Alloy 709 CC. This report documents the research plans and initiation of testing in support of integrating EPP analysis methods for Alloy 709 at ORNL in FY 2020. Tests are designed and initiated to evaluate the effect of cyclic loading on the creep properties of Alloy 709. The preliminary results show that cyclic loading has an insignificant effect on the minimum creep rate, although additional tests are recommended to confirm this conclusion. A preliminary testing plan for multi-axial creep rupture has been established and the specimens are machined. Execution of the testing plan will continue in FY 2021.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Many-isocenter optimization for robotic radiotherapy

Despite significant dosimetric gains, clinical implementation of the 4π non-coplanar radiotherapy on the widely available C-arm gantry system is hindered by limited clearance, and the need to perform complex coordinated gantry and couch motion. A robotic radiotherapy platform would be conducive to such treatment but a new conflict between field size and MLC modulation resolution needs to be managed for versatile applications. This study investigates the dosimetry and delivery efficiency of purposefully creating many isocenters to achieve simultaneously high MLC modulation resolution and large tumor coverage. An integrated optimization framework was proposed for simultaneous beam orientation optimization (BOO), isocenter selection, and fluence map optimization (FMO). The framework includes a least-square dose fidelity objective, a total variation term for regularizing the fluence smoothness, and a group sparsity term for beam selection. A minimal number of isocenters were identified for efficient target coverage. Colliding beams excluded, high-resolution small-field 4π intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment plans with 50 cm source-to-isocenter distance (SID-50) on 10 Head and Neck (H&N) cancer patients were compared with low-resolution large-field plans with 100 cm SID (SID-100). With the same or better target coverage, the average reduction of [Dmean, Dmax] of 20-beam SID-50 plans from 20-beam SID-100 plans were [2.09 Gy, 1.19 Gy] for organs at risk (OARs) overall, [3.05 Gy, 0.04 Gy] for parotid gland, [3.62 Gy, 5.19 Gy] for larynx, and [3.27 Gy, 1.10 Gy] for mandible. R50 and integral dose were reduced by 5.3% and 9.6%, respectively. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in planning target volume (PTV) homogeneity, PTV Dmax, R50, Integral dose, and OAR Dmean and Dmax. The estimated delivery time of 20-beam [SID-50, SID-100] plans were [19, 18] min and [14, 9] min, assuming 5 fractions and 30 fractions, respectively. Finally, with clinically acceptable delivery efficiency, many-isocenter optimization is dosimetrically desirable for treating large targets with high modulation resolution on the robotic platform.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2022

ASC FY2023 Implementation Plan Revision 0

The DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) is an integrated technical program for maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. The SSP incorporates nuclear test data, computational modeling and simulation, and experimental facilities to advance understanding of nuclear weapons. The suite of data analyzed comes from activities including previous nuclear tests, stockpile surveillance, experimental research, and development and engineering programs. This integrated national program requires the continued use of experimental facilities and the computational capabilities to support the SSP missions. These component parts, in addition to an appropriately scaled production capability, enable NNSA to support stockpile requirements. The ultimate goal of the SSP, and thus of the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program, is to ensure that the U.S. maintains a safe, secure, and effective strategic deterrent.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advanced Simulation and Computing: FY25 Implementation Plan

The DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) is an integrated technical program for maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. The SSP incorporates nuclear test data, computational modeling and simulation, and experimental facilities to advance understanding of nuclear weapons. The suite of data analyzed comes from activities including previous nuclear tests, stockpile surveillance, experimental research, and development and engineering programs. This integrated national program requires the continued use of experimental facilities and the computational capabilities to support the SSP missions. These component parts, in addition to an appropriately scaled production capability, enable NNSA to support stockpile requirements. The ultimate goal of the SSP, and thus of the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) program, is to ensure that the U.S. maintains a safe, secure, and effective strategic deterrent.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cybersecurity Certification Recommendations for Interconnected Grid Edge Devices and Inverter Based Resources

Escalating deployment of PV and grid-edge devices on the distribution grid has increased the sustainability and efficiency of the electric grid. However, the increasing number of distributed energy resources (DERs) deployed creates a heightened cyber-physical interdependency on the distribution grid and thus creates more vectors for cyber-attacks to exploit through information and communication technology (ICT) systems and networks. For example, control signal packets can be modified, intercepted, or corrupted due to vulnerabilities in communication protocols used by microgrid controllers and grid edge devices for power control. Therefore, to mitigate and prevent cyber-attacks on grid edge devices and the inverter-based resources connected to the distribution grid, the U.S. Department of Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) awarded funding to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) to research, develop, and harmonize cybersecurity standards for Photovoltaic (PV) systems and for other kinds of DERs. To help develop a standard for DER cybersecurity, NREL established certification recommendations and test cases, in consensus with the solar industry and UL, for ensuring intrinsic design security for DERs. These recommendations were developed to bolster the cybersecure functionalities such as TLS, MAC, CRL, session resumption/renegotiation, and password, system, and service security management within the DER devices. The proposed test cases verify authentication, authorization, confidentiality, and data integrity for data and communications of DERs that use Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). They were also developed to protect DER communications from eavesdropping, replay, man-in-the-middle, denial of service (DoS), spoofing through security certificates, least-privilege violation, and brute-force credentials. This report, which has been validated and reviewed by UL, expands upon those test cases to provide DER cybersecurity certification recommendations which increase DER resiliency and help to mitigate cyber-attacks. UL's collaboration with NREL and approval of this document will accelerate the adoption of a UL standard for DER cybersecurity.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cost-Effective Thermally Activated Building Systems to Support a Power Grid System With High Penetrations Of As-Available Renewable Energy Resources

With a goal to reduce the energy cost for building operation as well as to support renewable energy sources (RES) for the power grid reliability, quality, resilience, and dispatchability, this project developed and demonstrated a novel thermally activated building envelope system that integrates Phase Change Material (PCM)-based Thermal Energy Storage (TES) and the hydronic activation into the building envelope. The main objectives of this study are: 1) to design and laboraorty-test a novel thermally activated building envelope system that integrate PCM-based TES and the hydronic activation into building envelope, and 2) to exploit this new system to significantly reduce the energy cost of operating buildings and manage and support renewable energy sources (RES), e.g., solar and wind for the power grid reliability, quality, resilience, and dispatchability. To achieve the project objectives, a new low-cost, fire-retardant PCM packaging technology (CenoPCM) was developed specifically for high-volume building applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗