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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

Food Security, Decision Making and the Use of Remote Sensing in Famine Early Warning Systems

Famine early warning systems use remote sensing in combination with socio-economic and household food economy analysis to provide timely and rigorous information on emerging food security crises. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is the US Agency for International Development's decision support system in 20 African countries, as well as in Guatemala, Haiti and Afghanistan. FEWS NET provides early and actionable policy guidance for the US Government and its humanitarian aid partners. As we move into an era of climate change where weather hazards will become more frequent and severe, understanding how to provide quantitative and actionable scientific information for policy makers using biophysical data is critical for an appropriate and effective response.

Brown, Molly E.↗

A Blockchain Based Co-Simulation Framework for Integrating DERs into Wholesale Electricity Markets

As the number of distributed energy resources (DERs) continue to increase across energy-delivery systems, there remains a need for integrating their capabilities into traditional grid operations. In this paper, a blockchain-based solution is proposed to facilitate FERC's Order No. 2222 implementations. The presented use-case enables small-scale DERs to participate in wholesale market operations through DER aggregators, while also enabling local distribution system operators to enforce distribution system constraints in a secure and traceable manner. The presented use case is built around the Unified Testing Platform (UTP) being developed as a part of the Blockchain for Optimized Security and Energy Management (BLOSEM) project. This is a multi-lab effort intended to simplify the deployment of blockchain-powered grid solutions by enabling the integration of simulation tools, and blockchain technologies through the use of system-agnostic interfaces that provide a modular, interoperable, and reusable connectivity layer.

blockchain testing↗

A Blockchain Based Co-Simulation Framework for Integrating DERs to Wholesale Electricity Markets: Preprint

As the number of distributed energy resources (DERs) continue to increase across energy-delivery systems, there remains a need for integrating their capabilities into traditional grid operations. In this paper, a blockchain-based solution is proposed to facilitate FERC's Order No. 2222 implementations. The presented use-case enables small-scale DERs to participate in wholesale market operations through DER aggregators, while also enabling local distribution system operators to enforce distribution system constraints in a secure and traceable manner. The presented use case is built around the Unified Testing Platform (UTP) being developed as a part of the Blockchain for Optimized Security and Energy Management (BLOSEM) project. This is a multi-lab effort intended to simplify the deployment of blockchain-powered grid solutions by enabling the integration of simulation tools, and blockchain technologies through the use of system-agnostic interfaces that provide a modular, interoperable, and reusable connectivity layer.

blockchain testing↗

Advanced Measurements for Resilient Integration of Inverter-Based Resources: PROGRESS MATRIX Final Report

As nearly every aspect of the electric power grid undergoes rapid change, measurement technologies that support grid operation and planning must evolve as well. The rapid large-scale deployment of inverter-based resources (IBRs) vital to achieving the nation’s clean energy goals has in some cases led to negative impacts on the reliability and security of the bulk power system (BPS). Advanced power system measurements, including synchronized phasor and waveform measurements, are key to making IBR integration secure and reliable. To this end, the Department of Energy (DOE) initiated the PROGRESS MATRIX project to develop advanced measurement capabilities and analytics that will accelerate adoption of IBRs while improving the reliability and resilience of the BPS. This report discusses the outcomes of the project, which was a joint effort between the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). In the project’s first year, PNNL, NREL, and ORNL partnered with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) to understand their existing measurement capabilities and the gaps limiting deployment of IBR-focused measurement systems and analytics. The other primary activity in the first year was deployment of GridSweep instruments, which provide unprecedented precision in waveform measurement while probing distribution systems. The instruments were deployed at Dominion Energy and the University of California, Riverside. In the project’s second year, the input from partner utilities and collected measurements were used to advance measurement capabilities. Twelve analytical methods spanning disturbance analysis, power plant evaluation, feeder evaluation, and modeling were developed. Two software tools were developed, one to analyze GridSweep measurements and another to automatically evaluate the control performance of power plants connected to the BPS. Testbeds at ORNL and NREL were augmented to better enable studies of IBR integration. The project culminated in demonstrations of these analytical methods, software tools, and testbeds, both in the field and in the laboratory. This report discusses these various accomplishments and documents the significant progress in developing advanced measurement capabilities to support the secure, reliable, and accelerated adoption of IBRs in the BPS.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

FiberFlex: Real-time FPGA-based Intelligent and Distributed Fiber Sensor System for Pedestrian Recognition

In recent years, security monitoring of public places and critical infrastructure has heavily relied on the widespread use of cameras, raising concerns about personal privacy violations. To balance the need for effective security monitoring with the protection of personal privacy, we explore the potential of optical fiber sensors for this application. This article proposes FiberFlex, an intelligent and distributed fiber sensor system. Ultizing Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) high-level synthesis (HLS) acceleration, FiberFlex offers real-time pedestrian detection by co-designing the entire pipeline of optical signal acquisition, processing, and recognition networks based on the principles of optical fiber sensing. As a promising alternative to traditional camera-based monitoring systems, FiberFlex achieves pedestrian detection by analyzing the vibration patterns caused by pedestrian footsteps, enabling security monitoring while preserving individual privacy. FiberFlex comprises three modules: First , fiber-optic sensing system: A fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system is built and used to measure the ground vibration waves generated by people walking. Second , algorithms: We first collect the training data by measuring the ground vibration waves, label the data, and use the data to train the neural network models to perform pedestrian recognition. Third , hardware accelerators: We use HLS tools to design hardware modules on FPGA for data collection and pre-processing and integrate them with the downstream neural network accelerators to perform in-line real-time pedestrian detection. The final detection results are sent back from FPGA to the host CPU. We implement our system FiberFlex with the in-house built DAS system and AMD/Xilinx Kintex7 FPGA KC705 board and verify the whole system using the real-world collected data. We conduct recognition tests on five test subjects of varying ages, heights, and weights in a fixed sensing area. Each subject experienced 20 real-time recognition tests using their daily walking habits, and the subjects were given adequate rest between tests. After 100 tests on five test subjects, the overall real-time recognition accuracy exceeded \(88.0\%\) . The whole system uses 55 W of power, 33 W in the optical DAS system and 22 W in the FPGA. Relying on its end-to-end interdisciplinary design, FiberFlex seamlessly combines fiber-optic sensors with FPGA accelerators to enable low-power real-time security monitoring without compromising privacy, making it a valuable addition to the existing security monitoring network. According to FiberFlex, more valuable research can be conducted in the future, such as fall monitoring for the elderly, migration of identification networks between different application scenarios, and improvement of anti-interference performance in more complex environments. In future perception networks, where the “eyes” are not feasible, let’s use fiber optic touch instead.

Distributed↗

A Perspective on the Impact of Group Delay Dispersion in Future Terahertz Wireless Systems

This article discusses the challenges and opportunities of managing group delay dispersion (GDD), and its relation to the performance standards of future sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems utilizing terahertz frequency waves. The unique susceptibilities of 6G systems to GDD are described, along with a quantitative description of the sources of GDD, including multipath, rough surface scattering, intelligent reflecting surfaces, and propagation through the atmosphere. An experimental case-study is presented that confirms previous models quantifying the impact of atmospheric GDD. Several GDD manipulation strategies are presented, illustrating their hindered effectiveness in the 6G context. Conversely, some benefits of leveraging GDD to enhance 6G systems, such as improved security and simplified hardware, are also discussed. Finally, a perspective on using photonic GDD control devices is provided, revealing quantitative benefits that may unburden existing equalization schemes. Here, the article argues that GDD will uniquely and significantly impact some 6G systems, but that its careful consideration along with new mitigation strategies, including photonic devices, will help optimize system performance. The conclusion provides a perspective to guide future research in this area.

Strecker, Karl↗

Obstacles to Practical Digital Supply Chain Risk Management in the Energy Sector

Cyber supply chain risk management (C-SCRM) programs must consider operations that depend on the lifecycles of digital components such as hardware, firmware, software, and services. We integrate academic literature, historical incidents, and existing standards to identify obstacles faced by C-SCRM programs.

Business Process Management & Integration↗

Secure, Mobile, Wireless Network Technology Designed, Developed, and Demonstrated

The inability to seamlessly disseminate data securely over a high-integrity, wireless broadband network has been identified as a primary technical barrier to providing an order-of-magnitude increase in aviation capacity and safety. Secure, autonomous communications to and from aircraft will enable advanced, automated, data-intensive air traffic management concepts, increase National Air Space (NAS) capacity, and potentially reduce the overall cost of air travel operations. For the first time ever, secure, mobile, network technology was designed, developed, and demonstrated with state-ofthe- art protocols and applications by a diverse, cooperative Government-industry team led by the NASA Glenn Research Center. This revolutionary technology solution will make fundamentally new airplane system capabilities possible by enabling secure, seamless network connections from platforms in motion (e.g., cars, ships, aircraft, and satellites) to existing terrestrial systems without the need for manual reconfiguration. Called Mobile Router, the new technology autonomously connects and configures networks as they traverse from one operating theater to another. The Mobile Router demonstration aboard the Neah Bay, a U.S. Coast Guard vessel stationed in Cleveland, Ohio, accomplished secure, seamless interoperability of mobile network systems across multiple domains without manual system reconfiguration. The Neah Bay was chosen because of its low cost and communications mission similarity to low-Earth-orbiting satellite platforms. This technology was successfully advanced from technology readiness level (TRL) 2 (concept and/or application formation) to TRL 6 (system model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment). The secure, seamless interoperability offered by the Mobile Router and encryption device will enable several new, vehicle-specific and systemwide technologies to perform such things as remote, autonomous aircraft performance monitoring and early detection and mitigation of potential equipment malfunctions. As an additional benefit, team advancements were incorporated into open standards, ensuring technology transfer. Low-cost, commercial products incorporating the new technology are already available. Furthermore, these products are fully interoperable with legacy network technology equipment currently being used throughout the world.

Ivancic, William D.↗

The Technical and Economic Potential of the H2@Scale Hydrogen Concept within the United States

The U.S. energy system is evolving as society and technologies change. Renewable electricity generation - especially from wind and solar - is growing rapidly, and alternative energy sources are being developed and implemented across the residential, commercial, transportation, and industrial sectors to take advantage of their cost, security, and health benefits. Systemic changes present numerous challenges to grid resiliency and energy affordability, creating a need for synergistic solutions that satisfy multiple applications while yielding system-wide cost and emissions benefits. One such solution is an integrated hydrogen energy system. This is the focus of H2@Scale - a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative led by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Hydrogen and Fuel Technologies Office. H2@Scale brings together stakeholders to advance affordable hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilization in multiple energy sectors. The H2@Scale concept involves hydrogen as an energy intermediate. Hydrogen can be produced from various conventional and renewable energy sources including as a responsive load on the electric grid. Hydrogen has many current applications and many more potential applications, such as energy for transportation - used directly in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), as a feedstock for synthetic fuels, and to upgrade oil and biomass - feedstock for industry (e.g., for ammonia production, metals refining, and other end uses), heat for industry and buildings, and electricity storage. Owing to its flexibility and fungibility, a hydrogen intermediate could link energy sources that have surplus availability to markets that require energy or chemical feedstocks, benefiting both. This document builds upon a growing body of analyses of hydrogen as an energy intermediate by reporting the results from our initial analysis of the potential impacts of the H2@Scale vision by the mid-21 st century for the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Previous estimates have been based on expert elicitation and focused on hydrogen demands. We build upon them, first, by estimating hydrogen’s serviceable consumption potential for possible hydrogen applications and the technical potential for producing hydrogen from various resources. We define the serviceable consumption potential as the quantity of hydrogen that would be consumed to serve the portion of the market that could be captured without considering economics (i.e., if the price of hydrogen were $0/kg over an extended period); thus, it can be considered an upper bound for the size of the market. We define the technical potential as the resource potential constrained by real-world geography and system performance, but not by economics. We then compare the cumulative serviceable consumption potential with the technical potential of a number of possible sources. Second, we estimate economic potential: the quantity of hydrogen at an equilibrium price at which suppliers are willing to sell and consumers are willing to buy the same quantity of hydrogen. We believe this method provides a deeper understanding than was available in the previous analyses. We develop economic potentials for multiple scenarios across various market and technology-advancement assumptions.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Dynamic Model Agnostic Reliability Evaluation of Machine-Learning Models Integrated in Instrumentation & Control Systems

In recent years, the field of machine learning (ML), specifically neural networks, has grown significantly and has spurred research in its applicability to digital instrumentation and control systems (DI&C). While ML models have shown promise in operational contexts, the trustworthiness of using such algorithms has not been adequately assessed. Failures of ML integrated systems are not well understood, and the lack of comprehensive risk modeling can degrade the trustworthiness in these systems. In recent reports by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) [1] and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) [2], they indicate that trustworthiness in ML is a critical barrier and will play a vital role in the safe, accountable, and secure operation of intelligent systems. Thus, in this work, we demonstrate a dynamic model-agnostic method to quantify the relative reliability of AI/ML predictions by incorporating out-of-distribution (OOD) detection on the training dataset. It is well documented that most ML algorithms excel at interpolation (or near-interpolation) tasks but experience significant performance degradation at extrapolation. The method, referenced as the Laplacian distributed decay for reliability (LADDR), determines the difference between the operational and training datasets which can used to the relative reliability of AI/ML predictions. LADDR is then demonstrated on a feedforward neural network based digital twin used for the prediction of safety significant factors during a loss-of-flow transient. LADDR is used to demonstrate how training data can be used as evidence to support the relative reliability of ML/AI predictions enhancing the overall trustworthiness of the system.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading under Network Constraints Based on Generalized Fast Dual Ascent

We report the wide deployment of renewable energy resources, combined with a more proactive demand-side management, is inducing a new paradigm in both power system operation and electricity market trading, which especially boosts the emergence of the peer-to-peer (P2P) market. A more flexible local market mechanism is highly desirable in response to fast changes in renewable power generation at the distribution network level. Moreover, large-scale implementation of P2P energy trading inevitably affects the secure and economic operation of the distribution network. This paper presents a new P2P electricity trading framework with distribution network security constraints considered using the generalized fast dual ascent method. First, an event-driven local P2P market framework is presented to facilitate short-term or immediate local energy transactions. Then, the sensitivity analysis of nodal voltage and network loss with respect to nodal power injections is used to evaluate the impacts of P2P transactions on the distribution network, which ensures the secure operation of the distribution system. Thereby, the external operational constraints are internalized, and the cost of P2P energy trading can be appropriately allocated in an endogenous way. Moreover, a generalized fast dual ascent method is employed to implement distributed market-clearing efficiently. Finally, numerical results indicate that the proposed model could guarantee secure operation of the distribution system with P2P energy trading, and the solution method enjoys good convergence performance.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Risk-Significant Adverse Condition Awareness Strengthens Assurance of Fault Management Systems

As spaceflight systems increase in complexity, Fault Management (FM) systems are ranked high in risk-based assessment of software criticality, emphasizing the importance of establishing highly competent domain expertise to provide assurance. Adverse conditions (ACs) and specific vulnerabilities encountered by safety- and mission-critical software systems have been identified through efforts to reduce the risk posture of software-intensive NASA missions. Acknowledgement of potential off-nominal conditions and analysis to determine software system resiliency are important aspects of hazard analysis and FM. A key component of assuring FM is an assessment of how well software addresses susceptibility to failure through consideration of ACs. Focus on significant risk predicted through experienced analysis conducted at the NASA Independent Verification Validation (IVV) Program enables the scoping of effective assurance strategies with regard to overall asset protection of complex spaceflight as well as ground systems. Research efforts sponsored by NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance defined terminology, categorized data fields, and designed a baseline repository that centralizes and compiles a comprehensive listing of ACs and correlated data relevant across many NASA missions. This prototype tool helps projects improve analysis by tracking ACs and allowing queries based on project, mission type, domaincomponent, causal fault, and other key characteristics. Vulnerability in off-nominal situations, architectural design weaknesses, and unexpected or undesirable system behaviors in reaction to faults are curtailed with the awareness of ACs and risk-significant scenarios modeled for analysts through this database. Integration within the Enterprise Architecture at NASA IVV enables interfacing with other tools and datasets, technical support, and accessibility across the Agency. This paper discusses the development of an improved workflow process utilizing this database for adaptive, risk-informed FM assurance that critical software systems will safely and securely protect against faults and respond to ACs in order to achieve successful missions.

Fault management↗

Handheld Raman Spectrometers: Assessment Report

In April 2022 the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory’s System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders program conducted an operational assessment of ten commercially available handheld Raman spectrometers. Additionally, prior to the operational assessment, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conducted laboratory testing of the devices, including scanning a number of samples in various containers. This report summarizes the results of the assessment.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Advanced Measurements for Resilient Integration of Inverter-Based Resources: PROGRESS MATRIX Year-1 Report

As nearly every aspect of the electric power grid undergoes rapid change, measurement technologies that support grid operation and planning must evolve as well. Recent large-scale deployments of inverter-based resources (IBRs) have brought to the forefront the critical need for new measurement technologies. Though these IBRs are vital to achieving the nation’s clean energy goals, their rapid deployment has in some cases led to negative impacts on the reliability and security of the bulk power system (BPS). Advanced power system measurements, including synchronized phasor and waveform measurements, are key to making IBR integration secure and reliable. To this end, the Department of Energy (DOE) initiated a project in 2022 to develop advanced measurement capabilities and analytics that will accelerate adoption of IBRs while improving the reliability and resilience of the BPS. This report discusses a portion of the findings from the project’s first year, which focused on surveying existing measurement capabilities of partner utilities and comparing these capabilities with the requirements of applications that support IBR integration. This report also discusses how these findings will guide the development and demonstration of a set of applications in the project’s second year.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Ultra Wide Bandgap Laser Addressable Photoconductors

Wide Band Gap (WBG) and Ultra Wide Band Gap (UWBG) photoconductors have the potential to meet several critical mission needs for LLNL and the broader USG due to their exceptional characteristics related to large critical electric field. In particular, high energy laser systems such as the National Ignition Facility would benefit from the development of new materials for active optical devices such as the Optically Addressable Light Valve (OALV) used in the Programmable Spatial Shaper System. Missions in Global Security would benefit from higher performance Photoconductive Semiconductor Switches for pulsed power and radiofrequency amplifiers. This project examined the suitability of both commercially available and custom synthesized semi insulating WBG and UWBG materials for several of these applications. We developed high laser damage threshold OALVs for optical systems based on several of these materials as well as new RF, pulsed power, and power electronics devices based on the same. These devices show superior power handling in terms of laser damage threshold, electric field, and power output. A number of the technologies developed have been transitioned to both internal and external customers.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Network Security Challenges and Countermeasures for Software-Defined Smart Grids: A Survey

The rise of grid modernization has been prompted by the escalating demand for power, the deteriorating state of infrastructure, and the growing concern regarding the reliability of electric utilities. The smart grid encompasses recent advancements in electronics, technology, telecommunications, and computer capabilities. Smart grid telecommunication frameworks provide bidirectional communication to facilitate grid operations. Software-defined networking (SDN) is a proposed approach for monitoring and regulating telecommunication networks, which allows for enhanced visibility, control, and security in smart grid systems. Nevertheless, the integration of telecommunications infrastructure exposes smart grid networks to potential cyberattacks. Unauthorized individuals may exploit unauthorized access to intercept communications, introduce fabricated data into system measurements, overwhelm communication channels with false data packets, or attack centralized controllers to disable network control. An ongoing, thorough examination of cyber attacks and protection strategies for smart grid networks is essential due to the ever-changing nature of these threats. Previous surveys on smart grid security lack modern methodologies and, to the best of our knowledge, most, if not all, focus on only one sort of attack or protection. This survey examines the most recent security techniques, simultaneous multi-pronged cyber attacks, and defense utilities in order to address the challenges of future SDN smart grid research. The objective is to identify future research requirements, describe the existing security challenges, and highlight emerging threats and their potential impact on the deployment of software-defined smart grid (SD-SG).

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

UNREVIEWED DISPOSAL QUESTION EVALUATION: Disposal of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Torus Cleanup System Molecular Sieve Dryer Bed at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site, Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada

This Unreviewed Disposal Question Evaluation (UDQE) assesses whether the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Torus Cleanup System Molecular Sieve Dryer Bed (MSDB), PERM000000043, Revision 0 (Perma-Fix [PERM] 2021), is suitable for shallow land burial (SLB) at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS) on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Disposal of the PPPL Torus Cleanup System MSDB meets all performance objectives of DOE Manual DOE M 435.1-1, Radioactive Waste Management Manual, Chapter IV, Section P (DOE 1999). The PPPL Torus Cleanup System MSDB waste stream is recommended for acceptance without conditions.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗