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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 757 records · Page 42
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Development of Spouting Bed Reactor for Reduction of Hematite to Magnetite (Final Report)

This project was designed to leverage both past and current technology development efforts and utilize the expertise of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in a collaborative effort with SIOX for the development of a spouting bed reactor to produce magnetite from very fine hematite waste. More specifically, the effort involved the conversion of a steel manufacturing byproduct, iron oxide hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ), and reduces it chemically into a salable magnetite product applicable to a number of markets. SIOX previously operated a magnetite batch production facility based on a rotary kiln reactor process. Unfortunately, that process was both costly and inefficient, making it difficult to achieve desired economies, purity, and throughput levels. NETL’s technology, developed in this work, replaced the batch inefficient rotary kiln with a continuous spouting bed reactor capable of producing synthetic magnetite products. In the project, NETL was to develop the spouting bed for the SIOX application and SIOX was to construct and operate a fully integrated pilot scale demonstration plant. NETL successfully completed its tasks, but SIOX due to financial issues was not able to complete their tasks. They have chosen not to participate in this final report so for their tasks a short summary of NETL’s knowledge of their efforts is included.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the Limited Area, Multi-Purpose (LAMP) High Bay Laboratory

Kier + Wright, as Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), puts forth this Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the Limited Area, Multi-Purpose (LAMP) High Bay Laboratory facility (Project) located at Sandia National Laboratories, 7011 East Avenue, CA. The property is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, and managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC. The project proposes converting an asphalt parking lot into a new high bay machine shop building and a low bay office building. Per the California State Water Resources Control Board’s (California State Water Board) Construction General Permit (CGP), a SWPPP is required when 1 acre or more of land is disturbed. The project site area of 1.6 acres exceeds the minimum acreage threshold of 1 acre and therefore requires SWPPP implementation. QSD has determined the sediment risk for this project, based on soil type at the site and starting and ending dates of construction, to be low (Section 3.4.1 and Appendix B). Receiving water for this project is the Arroyo Seco. QSD has determined the Arroyo Seco to be a high-risk receiving water because it has the three beneficial uses of “spawn”, “cold”, and “migratory” (Sections 3.3 and 3.4.2 and Appendix B). QSD has determined the overall risk level for the site to be Risk Level 2, based on a combination of low sediment risk and high receiving water risk (Appendix B). As such, QSD has delineated a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be employed during project construction to reduce or eliminate pollutants in stormwater runoff or any other discharges from the Project site. In addition to site-specific BMPs, this SWPPP report provides instruction for on site monitoring. Electronic copies of required documentation such as inspection reports, REAPs, annual report documentation, etc. shall be submitted to NTESS Sandia Delegated Representative via Newforma.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Initial Heliostat Supply Chain Analysis

Globally, the growing demand for concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies, primarily for electricity generation plants has been met with supply chains primarily composed of plentiful commodity materials such as steel, aluminum, and glass. Often the majority of the commodity materials are sourced within the domestic market where generating plants are constructed. Although specialty components are required for CSP solar field components - including mirror panels used for heliostat applications - these specialty components constitute about 30-50% of total system installed costs. Only a few companies and countries, including the United States, have developed the capacity to supply such specialty components. This report is an initial assessment of the global and U.S. heliostat supply chain.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Corrosion and Mechanical Durability Testing in High Temperature Molten Sulfur (CRADA Final Report)

The overall goal of the project is to explore and identify suitable candidate materials for high-temperature molten sulfur thermal energy storage (TES) operating up to a maximum temperature of 400°C–420°C for industrial process heat applications. A detailed corrosion and strength analysis of coupons subjected to long-term thermal testing in molten sulfur will be conducted to characterize the fundamental corrosion mechanism, corrosion rates, and mechanical durability. The results from the project contribute to the engineering design of sulfur TES systems with desired longevity and lower construction and maintenance costs. The research outcome benefits the TES research and development community by providing detailed corrosion and degradation information for more effective engineering design of the molten sulfur TES containment. It improves the diversity and reliability of the renewable technologies available for the U.S. industries and U.S. power grid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Artificial Intelligence Ontology: LLM-Assisted Construction of AI Concept Hierarchies

The Artificial Intelligence Ontology (AIO) is a systematization of artificial intelligence (AI) concepts, methodologies, and their interrelations. Developed via manual curation, with the additional assistance of large language models (LLMs), AIO aims to address the rapidly evolving landscape of AI by providing a comprehensive framework that encompasses both technical and ethical aspects of AI technologies. The primary audience for AIO includes AI researchers, developers, and educators seeking standardized terminology and concepts within the AI domain. We use the term “branches” for classes, and their subclasses, in our ontology that are subclasses of owl:Thing. AIO contains eight branches: Bias, Layer, Machine Learning Task, Mathematical Function, Model, Network, Preprocessing, and Training Strategy, each designed to support the modular composition of AI methods and facilitate a deeper understanding of deep learning architectures and ethical considerations in AI. AIO uses the Ontology Development Kit (ODK) for its creation and maintenance, with its content being more easily updated through AI-driven curation support. This approach not only ensures the ontology's relevance amidst the fast-paced advancements in AI but also significantly enhances its utility for researchers, developers, and educators by simplifying the integration of new AI concepts and methodologies. The ontology's utility is demonstrated through the annotation of AI methods data in a catalog of AI research publications and the integration into the BioPortal ontology resource, highlighting its potential for cross-disciplinary research. The AIO ontology is open source and is available on GitHub ( https://w3id.org/aio/ ) and BioPortal ( https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/AIO ).

Joachimiak, Marcin P. [Biosystems Data Science Dep↗
DOE OSTI2020

Perspectives on three-dimensional printing of self-assembling materials and structures

Spiders, silks, and webs are marvels of nature that have inspired high-performance material design, resilient structural design, and innovative manufacturing in the materials science and engineering fields. In this article, we review the roles and mechanisms of self-assembly and spinning processes for making hierarchical structures of synthetic and natural fibers with multifunctionality. We discuss the ability of spider webs to maintain their functionality under construction while withstanding predator, human, and environmental threats, which comes from their self-assembled structures from nanoscales to macroscales. We conclude by exploring the future of novel mobile, autonomous, time- and cost-effective spider-inspired three-dimensional printing technology for making resilient biomaterials, structures, and synthetic silk materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Polyacrylonitrile Composites of Ag–Al–Si–O Aerogels and Xerogels as Iodine and Iodide Sorbents

Mechanically robust engineered sorbents were constructed by embedding Ag-loaded aerogels or xerogels in a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) matrix at 30 or 50 mass% loadings of gel in PAN. Here, the process for making the base gels as well as the composite materials is described herein, a technology that is very flexible for making hybrid sorbents using various inorganic or organic active sorbents. The PAN-gel composite materials were evaluated for iodine uptake in the form of gaseous iodine [I 2(g) ] at room temperature and at 150°C as well as iodide (I – ) at room temperature from simulated liquid nuclear wastes. The composites show high I 2(g) uptake and high I – uptake (= 93 mass%) in simulated liquid secondary waste spiked with 5 mg L -1 I – . These results demonstrate the utility of such a composite form for iodine removal from contaminated gas and liquid streams.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

CSP Plant Construction, Start-Up, and O&M Best Practices Study

There are currently 90 operational CSP plants of 10 MW or larger located throughout the world, primarily in Spain, U.S., MENA region, South Africa, and China. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded Solar Dynamics, under subcontract to NREL, to investigate and document lessons learned and best practices associated with the construction, start-up, and operations phases of a majority of these plants. DOE funding for the effort was leveraged by additional funds provided through SolarPACES and the World Bank. This information was obtained by interviewing key stakeholders representing CSP plant owners, operators, construction companies, vendors, technical advisors and financers of these systems, and will be published as an NREL Technical Report at the completion of the project. This paper provides an overview of key challenges facing today's CSP parabolic trough and power tower technologies during all the phases mentioned above.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2022

How sheath properties change with gas pressure: modeling and simulation

Abstract Particle-in-cell simulations are used to study how neutral pressure influences plasma properties at the sheath edge. The high rate of ion–neutral collisions at pressures above several mTorr are found to cause a decrease in the ion velocity at the sheath edge (collisional Bohm criterion), a decrease in the edge-to-center density ratio ( h l factor), and an increase in the sheath width and sheath potential drop. A comparison with existing analytic models generally indicates favorable agreement, but with some distinctions. One is that models for the h l factor need to be made consistent with the collisional Bohm criterion. With this and similar corrections, a comprehensive fluid-based model of the plasma boundary transition is constructed that compares well with the simulation results.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancement of Carbon Capture Reactor Performance (Final Technical Report)

Significant challenges are still present in post-combustion CO 2 capture and new technologies and advanced components are needed to significantly advance the deployment of CO 2 capture for natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants. Critical elements of CO 2 capture that still need to be addressed include how to increase CO 2 mass transfer in the absorber column with liquid to gas ratios of <1.2, while reducing the size of the absorber column to reduce capital costs. Research involving chemical mechanism with design, synthesis, and assembly of materials with targeted functionally were combined with advanced additive manufacturing techniques towards development of enhanced CO 2 capture reactors that can lead to safe, reliable, and low-cost carbon capture technologies. The objective of the project was to develop and test novel carbon capture materials and reactor components that contribute to increased CO 2 mass transfer through increased turbulent gas-liquid interface and improved solvent wetting within the absorber. A technoeconomic analysis (TEA) was completed showing how the proposed technology decreases capital costs by reducing the size of the absorber column and the amount of packing required for high CO 2 capture rates. A technology maturation plan (TMP) was also developed to describe the current technology readiness levels (TRL) and outline additional research and development (R&D) needed to further develop these advanced components for NGCC CO 2 capture plants. The successful completion of this project has shown a pathway to reduce the absorber size and associated construction costs of post-combustion NGCC CO 2 capture systems at 97% capture and promote the utilization of abundant natural gas for production of reliable electricity.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

The DUNE Photon Detection System

DUNE is an underground neutrino oscillation experiment that will be performing precision measurements of the PMNS matrix to determine unambiguously the mass ordering and the leptonic CP violation. It also comprises a rich non-accelerator physics program for the detection of supernova neutrinos, nucleon decay, and BSM physics. DUNE employs a high-power neutrino beam under construction at Fermilab together with the DUNE Near Detector, and four liquid argon TPCs (Far Detector) that will be installed at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota, 1300 km away from the neutrino source. The photon detection system (PDS) – which records the 128 nm scintillation light of argon and provides the time of interaction of the beam neutrinos in the Far Detector - is critical for studying nucleon decay and detecting Supernova Neutrino Bursts. The PDS also complements the calorimetric measurement performed by the TPC (i.e. the charge readout) and contributes to the energy calibration and time performance of the Far Detector. The article is an overview of the design of the PDS for the first DUNE far detector module, with special emphasis on VUV light trapping in a cryogenic environment, its technical challenges, and the expected physics performance. The status of the construction of the PDS and its validation in the Run II of ProtoDUNE-SP will be also presented.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

gRNA-SeqRET: a universal tool for targeted and genome-scale gRNA design and sequence extraction for prokaryotes and eukaryotes

High-throughput genetic screening is frequently employed to rapidly associate gene with phenotype and establish sequence-function relationships. With the advent of CRISPR technology, and the ability to functionally interrogate previously genetically recalcitrant organisms, non-model organisms can be investigated using pooled guide RNA (gRNA) libraries and sequencing-based assays to quantitatively assess fitness of every targeted locus in parallel. To aid the construction of pooled gRNA assemblies, we have developed an in silico design workflow for gRNA selection using the gRNA Sequence Region Extraction Tool (gRNA-SeqRET). Built upon the previously developed CCTop, gRNA-SeqRET enables automated, scalable design of gRNA libraries that target user-specified regions or whole genomes of any prokaryote or eukaryote. Additionally, gRNA-SeqRET automates the bulk extraction of any regions of sequence relative to genes or other features, aiding in the design of homology arms for insertion or deletion constructs. We also assess in silico the application of a designed gRNA library to other closely related genomes and demonstrate that for very closely related organisms Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) > 95% a large fraction of the library may be of relevance. The gRNA-SeqRET web application pipeline can be accessed at https://grna.jgi.doe.gov. The source code is comprised of freely available software tools and customized Python scripts, and is available at https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/grnadesigner/src/master/ under a modified BSD open-source license (https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/grnadesigner).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Field-Scale Testing of a High-Efficiency Membrane Reactor (MR)—Adsorptive Reactor (AR) Process for H2 Generation and Pre-Combustion CO2 Capture

The study objective was to field-validate the technical feasibility of a membrane- and adsorption-enhanced water gas shift reaction process employing a carbon molecular sieve membrane (CMSM)-based membrane reactor (MR) followed by an adsorptive reactor (AR) for pre-combustion CO2 capture. The project was carried out in two different phases. In Phase I, the field-scale experimental MR-AR system was designed and constructed, the membranes, and adsorbents were prepared, and the unit was tested with simulated syngas to validate functionality. In Phase II, the unit was installed at the test site, field-tested using real syngas, and a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of the technology was completed. All project milestones were met. Specifically, (i) high-performance CMSMs were prepared meeting the target H2 permeance (>1 m3/(m2.hbar) and H2/CO selectivity of >80 at temperatures of up to 300 °C and pressures of up to 25 bar with a <10% performance decline over the testing period; (ii) pelletized adsorbents were prepared for use in relevant conditions (250 °C < T < 450 °C, pressures up to 25 bar) with a working capacity of >2.5 wt.% and an attrition rate of <0.2; (iii) TEA showed that the MR-AR technology met the CO2 capture goals of 95% CO2 purity at a cost of electricity (COE) 30% less than baseline approaches.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Scaling Deep Energy Retrofits for Residential Walls - Energy, Cost, and Economic Assessment of Five Wall Systems

Providing strong economic and performance value is a primary challenge of convincing homeowners to implement deep energy retrofits to their wall systems. This study combines energy modeling and technoeconomic assessment of six experimental residential retrofit wall systems to typical existing homes in cold climates to evaluate their energy performance and cost effectiveness. Deep energy retrofits can significantly improve the energy performance of a home’s thermal envelope, help manage indoor environmental pollutants, increase homeowner comfort, increase building value, and register significant energy and cost savings in the process. We are evaluating exterior wall retrofit components and construction practices to measure and recommend steps to improve financial performance for manufacturers, installers and consumers. This study leverages a literature review, inputs from an advisory group made up of thermal enclosure experts, and simulations to identify state-of-the-art technologies for energy efficient wall systems that are suitable for cold and very cold climate zones. This paper will present results from energy modeling of six experimental wall systems compared to one baseline, that inform cost and energy performance of the subject wall systems.

Ganguli, Sumitrra↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design and performance of a 35-ton liquid argon time projection chamber as a prototype for future very large detectors

Liquid argon time projection chamber technology is an attractive choice for large neutrino detectors, as it provides a high-resolution active target and it is expected to be scalable to very large masses. Consequently, it has been chosen as the technology for the first module of the DUNE far detector. However, the fiducial mass required for “far detectors” of the next generation of neutrino oscillation experiments far exceeds what has been demonstrated so far. Scaling to this larger mass, as well as the requirement for underground construction places a number of additional constraints on the design. A prototype 35-ton cryostat was built at Fermi National Acccelerator Laboratory to test the functionality of the components foreseen to be used in a very large far detector. The Phase I run, completed in early 2014, demonstrated that liquid argon could be maintained at sufficient purity in a membrane cryostat. A time projection chamber was installed for the Phase II run, which collected data in February and March of 2016. The Phase II run was a test of the modular anode plane assemblies with wrapped wires, cold readout electronics, and integrated photon detection systems. While the details of the design do not match exactly those chosen for the DUNE far detector, the 35-ton TPC prototype is a demonstration of the functionality of the basic components. Measurements are performed using the Phase II data to extract signal and noise characteristics and to align the detector components. A measurement of the electron lifetime is presented, and a novel technique for measuring a track's position based on pulse properties is described.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Transforming Windows from Energy Liabilities to Zero-Energy Assets: Next-Generation Solutions for Buildings

Windows have traditionally contributed to a building's HVAC load, but they can also become a source of net energy gain or even operate as zero-energy components. For heating applications, highly insulating windows can harness more solar heat than the energy lost through them, transforming windows from energy liabilities to assets. Dynamic glazings provide further benefits by regulating solar heat gain, reducing cooling loads in summer and heating demands in winter. This simulation study focuses on developing the next generation of zero-energy windows (ZEW) for residential new construction. Through annual energy simulations across climate zones 1-8, ZEW performance benchmarks were established based on current code-level buildings, and we've identified the regions where meeting ZEW standards are most achievable. This work evaluates both static and dynamic window technologies, assessing their effects on annual energy use and cost. Key findings demonstrate that ZEW performance is achievable across diverse climate zones, with specific regional requirements. Most climate zones from 3-8 can achieve ZEW with specific configurations, while some warm climates (1-2) appear challenging for ZEW implementation. Climate zones 4-6 consistently allow for zero energy window implementation, offering multiple pathways through either static or dynamic window technologies. Colder climate zones (7-8) ZEW products allow for higher SHGC values while requiring low U-values.

Yu, Lili↗
DOE OSTI2022

In Hot Water! The Challenges and Barriers of Decarbonizing Water Heating in Multifamily Buildings: Preprint

Domestic hot water heating is responsible for 32% of the total energy consumption in multifamily buildings and offers a significant decarbonization opportunity. An extensive market assessment was conducted to understand and document key technical and economic barriers to electrification of domestic water heating in multifamily buildings throughout the U.S. Through the program, 77 interviews were conducted to understand key market drivers and technical challenges associated with electrification of water heating systems in both retrofit and new construction scenarios. Interviewees encompassed a wide range of stakeholders in the ecosystem surrounding water heating systems, including suppliers, manufacturers, designers, owners, utilities, and developers. This paper documents key interview takeaways, including an extensive list of market barriers, technical challenges, and sought-after technology attributes that can inform pertinent design criteria for electric water heating research, development, and deployment efforts. Among economics and energy efficiency features, interviewees overwhelmingly alluded to space constraints, cold air exhaust, and lack of clear guidance regarding distributed versus centralized design selections as key challenges associated with mass adoption of electric water heating. Owners and developers seek systems with minimal footprint, which maximize rentable space and profits. Moreover, distributed heat pump solutions should balance ducting costs that mitigate cold exhaust entrainment into conditioned zones. Lastly, the market needs clear guidance regarding the selection of distributed versus central electric hot water systems.

challenges of water heating electrification↗