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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 811 records · Page 45
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Wyoming CarbonSAFE Phase III: Site Characterization and Permitting Commercial-Scale Carbon Storage Complex Feasibility Study at Dry Fork Station, Wyoming

This report presents the findings of the technical and non-technical site characterization and permitting activities (“Phase III”) conducted under the Wyoming CarbonSAFE: Accelerating CCUS Commercialization and Deployment at Dry Fork Power Station (DFS) and the Wyoming Integrated Test Center project (“Wyoming CarbonSAFE”). Wyoming CarbonSAFE is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (“CarbonSAFE”) Initiative. The results of Phase III demonstrate that the Wyoming CarbonSAFE project - referred to as the Northern Powder River Basin Carbon Sequestration Hub (NPRB-CSH) - meets the technical, regulatory, and commercial feasibility requirements necessary to advance toward commercial development and construction. The activities completed under this project Phase make the NPRB-CSH one of the region’s most commercially ready carbon storage sites. Completion of this Phase included the finalization of all site surface and subsurface characterization activities, completion and testing of two Class VI standard wells, 10 draft Class VI permits-to construct to address the future needs of a storage complex, finalized NEPA assessments, transportation and capture FEED studies, and a full commercialization strategy with economic modeling, operation and site closure strategies. The NPRB-CSH meets all requirements to progress to a CarbonSAFE Phase IV program or advance to full commercial operations under the development of a business partner.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2025

Surrogate modeling and optimization of the leaching process in a rare earth elements recovery plant

Critical minerals (CMs) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) play a vital role in crucial infrastructure technologies such as renewable energy generation and batteries. Recovering them from waste materials has recently been found to significantly reduce environmental impact and supply chain costs related to these materials. In this work, we investigate surrogate modeling techniques aimed to simplify the modeling, simulation, and optimization of the leaching processes involved in CM and REE recovery flowsheets. As there is currently a lack of systematic studies on this topic, we perform extensive computational testing to ascertain which surrogate models are easier to construct and offer high predictive accuracy. Further, our results suggest that sparse quadratic models balance predictive accuracy and computational efficiency. Training and using these surrogates for global optimization of the leaching process requires two orders of magnitude fewer measurements and is up to four orders of magnitude faster than optimizing the original simulation using equation-oriented optimization or derivative-free optimization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Biomimetic catalysts of iron-based metal–organic frameworks with high peroxidase-mimicking activity for colorimetric biosensing

The field of metal–organic framework (MOF)-based biomimetic catalysts has achieved great progress but is still in its infancy. The systematic investigation of the tailored construction of MOF-based biomimetic catalysts is required for further development. Herein, two iron-based MOFs, namely, [(Fe 3 O) 2 (H 2 O) 4 (HCOO)(L) 2 ] n (HUST-5: H 6 L = hexakis(4-formylphenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene; HUST = Huazhong University of Science and Technology) and [(Fe 3 O)(H 2 O) 3 (L)] n (HUST-7) have been fabricated through the assembly of different iron clusters and hexa-carboxylate ligand under the control of the added acid species. The two MOFs exhibit distinct secondary building units (SBUs) and topological structures, which could be used as biomimetic catalysts for the systematic comparisons of structural characteristics and the catalytic activity. Both MOFs possess catalytic activity similar to that of natural peroxidases towards the catalysis of the oxidation of a variety of substrates. Significantly, HUST-5 and HUST-7 can effectively catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H 2 O 2 accompanied by significant colorimetric biosensing. With same compositions, different catalytic performances were obtained due to differences in the porous structures and characteristics of SBUs in two Fe-MOFs, which was also validated by theoretical calculation results. Furthermore, the phenomenon of colorimetric biosensing could be significantly suppressed by the addition of ascorbic acid (AA) during the oxidation process of TMB. It was observed from these findings that a facile colorimetric biosensing platform for detecting H 2 O 2 and ascorbic acid has been successfully explored. Therefore, this work provides another unique perspective for the tailor-made preparation of stable MOF-based peroxidase mimics with excellent catalytic performance and colorimetric biosensing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Towards quantum simulations in particle physics and beyond on noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices

We review two algorithmic advances that bring us closer to reliable quantum simulations of model systems in high-energy physics and beyond on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. The first method is the dimensional expressivity analysis of quantum circuits, which allows for constructing minimal but maximally expressive quantum circuits. The second method is an efficient mitigation of readout errors on quantum devices. Both methods can lead to significant improvements in quantum simulations, e.g. when variational quantum eigensolvers are used. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Quantum technologies in particle physics’.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2022

An Intelligent Power Electronic System for Secondary Use Batteries

This paper presents a plug-and-play power electronic system for integration of multiple energy storage system technologies. The system uses a communication and control architecture with individual developed modules to support scaling to larger systems for the electric grid. An optimization framework is also presented to demonstrate the functionality of the system. This system is shown to work in hardware with a constructed testbed to demonstrate different use cases and systems. Results are presented for a full efficiency cycle test.

Starke, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2022

HTS Cable Conductor for Compact Fusion Tokamak Solenoids

Significant progress has been made recently in the US fusion community to develop a strategic plan to enable engineering design and construction of a fusion pilot plant (FPP). Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is working on developing high current density HTS conductors for next fusion experiments. Partnering with the US industry, we are evaluating feasibility and affordability of Conductor on Round Core (CORC ® ) developed by Advanced Conductor Technologies (ACT) for the next compact fusion tokamak facility. High current density achieved by a CORC ® cable based on a four-layer model coil recently tested at National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) motivated its consideration for low cost, reduced size fusion magnet application. This is of interest to PPPL because of its scalability to tokamak central solenoid (CS) coils in terms of required flux swings for plasma startup operations. Furthermore, partnering with ACT, we designed and built a two-layer model coil solenoid directly wound with CORC to demonstrate its applicability for compact solenoids such as that used in the national spherical torus experiment (NSTX), NSTX-upgrade (NSTX-U) and the US sustained high-power density test facility (SHPD). The ~160 mm diameter solenoid wound by a two-layer CORC is being tested in early 2022 under electromagnetic cyclic loading at NHMFL in a unique 160 mm bore, 14 T background field magnet facility.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Investigations of Long-Range Wakefield Effects in a TESLA-type Cryomodule at FAST

The preservation of low emittance of electron beams during transport in the accelerating structures of large facilities is an ongoing challenge. In the cases of the TESLA-type superconducting rf cavities currently used in the European X-ray Free-electron Laser (XFEL) and the under-construction Linac Coherent Light Source upgrade (LCLS-II), off-axis beam transport may result in emittance dilution due to transverse long-range wakefields (LRWs) and short-range wakefields (SRW)***. To investigate such effects, experiments were performed at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) facility with its unique configuration of two TESLA-type cavities after the photocathode rf gun followed by an 8-cavity cryomodule CM). We generated beam trajectory changes with the H/V125 corrector set located 4 m upstream of the cryomodule. At 125 pC/bunch, 50 bunches, 25-MeV input, and 100-MeV exit energy, we observed for the first time submacropulse position slews of up to 500 microns at locations ~3 m after the CM and a centroid oscillation at a difference frequency of 240 kHz further downstream. Both are emittance-dilution effects which we mitigated with selective upstream beam steering.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Manufacture of Carbon Foam in Continuous Process at Atmospheric Pressure

CFOAM LLC has been manufacturing vitreous carbon foam from coal in panel form for several years. The process is currently set up in batch mode as two steps, where the first step is conducted at very high pressure. In order to reduce cost and increase capacity, a new process for making carbon foam is being developed that can be performed at atmospheric pressure. This advance in turn would enable the development of a continuous manufacturing process, which is also being pursued. Both carbon foam panels and light weight aggregates are being investigate. Construction of the pilot scale manufacturing plant has been completed and results of processing, microstructure, properties and performance of carbon foam products made using this new process will be discussed. This project is being supported by a cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy – National Energy Technology Laboratory (DE-FOA-0002185, Area of Interest 4: Coal-Derived Carbon Foam Produced via a Continuous Process, award number DE-FE-0031992).

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

An Evaluation of Three Dimensional Scene Reconstruction Tools for Safeguards Applications

Over the past 5 years, advances in digital imaging and image processing have enabled everyday computing hardware, such as that found on laptops and even phones, to easily create 3D models of scenes from a series of still images. This field is broadly known as photogrammetry. For safeguards applications, a safeguards inspector could evaluate a 3D model of a facility (such as an enrichment plant or the top of a reactor) constructed from multiple photos instead of reviewing each photo individually. This report compares the detailed capabilities of a particular commercial offering (Quidient) that Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has investigated in depth with the general capabilities provided in the industry and recommends areas where the general technology could be pursued for potential safeguards applications.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s

We live in an extraordinary period of discovery in astronomy and astrophysics. Six Nobel Prizes have been awarded over the past decade alone for discoveries based on astronomical data (dark energy, gravitational waves, neutrino oscillations, the discovery of exoplanets, cosmology, and supermassive black holes). Many of the ambitious scientific visions of the 2010 New Worlds, New Horizons (Astro2010)1 decadal survey are being fulfilled, but momentum has only grown. We stand on the threshold of new endeavors that will transform not only our understanding of the universe and the processes and physical paradigms that govern it but also humanity’s place in it. This report of the Committee for a Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 (Astro2020) proposes a broad, integrated plan for space- and ground-based astronomy and astrophysics for the decade 2023–2032.2 It also lays the foundations for further advances in the following decade. This is the seventh in a sequence of decadal survey studies in this field from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This survey examines the program of record, providing advice on the major projects from prior surveys that are yet to be completed. It also lays out priorities for future investments driven by scientific opportunities. The recommendations in this report advance foundational activities that support the people who drive innovation and discovery, and that promote the technologies and tools needed to carry out the science. The report also recommends sustaining activities on a broad range of cost and time scales, as well as activities that enable future visionary projects by maturing them scientifically and technically. Last, the recommendations set in motion the construction of frontier facilities that will change the view and understanding of the cosmos. The survey is bounded by plausible budget scenarios based on briefings from the sponsoring agencies— the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Within these bounds, the survey aims high, reflecting this time of great scientific promise and progress, with opportunities to pursue some of the most compelling scientific quests of our times.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Asymptotic solutions and convergence studies of the resistive inner region equations

A recent publication presents a detailed prescription for constructing global eigenfunctions and complex growth rates for resistive instabilities in axisymmetric toroidal systems, using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. At each singular surface in the plasma, the small-x asymptotic solutions of the ideal MHD outer-region equations are matched to the large-x asymptotic solutions of the resistive inner-region equations, with x being the distance from the singular surface. The success of this method depends upon accurate asymptotic solutions of the resistive inner region equations. Extensive studies have shown that there are not only regimes of excellent agreement with straight-through methods, without asymptotic matching, but also regimes of strong disagreement. As such, in an effort to find the cause of this discrepancy, we present here a different method of constructing asymptotic solutions of the inner region equations and we study the convergence properties of the new and old solutions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

State of Innovation 2024: Paving the Way for Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete

Concrete production in the U.S. accounted for nearly 393 million cubic yards in 2023, with $38.8 billion in revenue. While cement, the key ingredient in concrete, is only 10%-15% of concrete's mixture by mass, 8% of total global emissions come from the production of cement. A significant challenge lies in the fact that roughly 51% of concrete emissions stem from the material calcination process of cement production. Stakeholders ranging from cement producers to government agencies are beginning to take measures to significantly reduce concrete emissions by 2050 and are seeking novel technologies from the startup community. Strategies to lower carbon emissions include reducing quantities of cement in concrete formulas; optimizing digital and automated production; lower temperature processing; carbon capture, utilization, and durable storage; and other cost-saving approaches to energy and material efficiencies. New materials based on carbon mineralization and novel cement chemistries hold the potential to reach net-zero or even carbon-negative concrete production; however, there is presently no readily available substitute that can replicate concrete's unique properties and versatility at the volume demanded by construction worldwide. The nature of concrete's raw materials, diverse applications, and scale of demand means that complete decarbonization will rely on a combination of innovative production methods and novel cement chemistries. Low-carbon solutions will need to compete economically with traditional concrete to become viable in a high-volume commodity market, although consumer demand and regulation will play important roles. Despite these challenges, this analysis reveals that venture capital (VC) investments in low-carbon concrete reflect a growing awareness of the decarbonized cement market opportunity. Between 2022 and 2023 emerging low-carbon technologies garnered more than $700 million in VC investments, representing a growing share of investment in the built environment. An investment gap appears after Series A for technology solutions, demonstrating the sector's potential, as well as the need for additional performance assurance and technology incubation.

cement↗
DOE OSTI2023

Semi-Automatic Geographic Information System Framework for Creating Photo-Realistic Digital Twin Cities to Support Autonomous Driving Research

Digital twin cities are frequently used in vehicle and traffic simulations to render realistic on-road driving scenarios under various traffic and environmental conditions. These digital twins provide a high-fidelity replica of the physical world (e.g., buildings, roads, infrastructures, traffic) to create three-dimensional (3D) virtual-physical environments to support various emerging vehicle and transportation technologies such as connected and automated vehicles. These virtual environments provide a cost-effective digital proving ground to evaluate, validate, and test emerging technologies that include control algorithms, localization, perception, and sensors. Replicating a real-world traffic scenario in a digital twin using a traditional 3D modeling approach is a time-consuming and labor-intensive effort. Here this paper presents a semi-automated spatial framework to construct realistic 3D digital twin cities to support autonomous driving research using readily available geographic information system (GIS) data and 3D prefabricated (prefab) models. We start with a comprehensive review of geospatial data sources of essential digital entities required in a 3D digital twin city and present an integrated GIS-3D modeling pipeline using customized QGIS/GDAL and Blender scripting in Python. The pipeline outputs are realistic 3D digital twin cities compatible with common vehicle simulation software, such as CARLA and IPG CarMaker. The paper closes with a showcase to demonstrate the quality and usability of a digital twin city created to replicate the Shallowford Road corridor in Chattanooga in both Unity and Unreal engine-based virtual environment. The generated digital twin city can be applied to a hardware-in-the-loop simulation environment with an actual testing vehicle to facilitate autonomous driving research.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Natural Gas Community of the Future (Final Report)

Nicor Gas, a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas and its parent company Southern Company, is developing the concept of the Carbon-neutral, Affordable, Resilient, and Equitable Community ("CARE Community") to address the challenges of accessibility and affordability of grid-interactive efficient buildings in historically disadvantaged communities. The CARE Community is a new construction net-zero energy and carbon neutral residential neighborhood consisting of 50 homes with electricity and natural gas services in South Suburban Chicago, built as low-income affordable housing. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is assisting Southern Company to explore how energy efficiency, renewable technologies, and the reliability and resilience of natural gas can be combined and optimized in an islandable energy system as part of a broader effort to understand the role natural gas plays in future communities integrated with renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. The CARE Community will demonstrate how energy efficiency, distributed energy resources (DERs), and advanced controls can be combined with existing natural gas infrastructure to serve historically disadvantaged communities in a cold climate with low energy cost for affordable housing programs and enhanced resilience to withstand extreme weather. Homes will be a part of an islandable energy system, integrating multiple DER technologies such as solar panels, natural gas fuel cells, reciprocating natural gas engines, and battery storage. The CARE Community will provide a replicable template that affordable housing developers and energy companies can adopt throughout the United States. In this report, we present the design and modeling of the community and potential approaches for integrating DERs. We analyze and discuss annual simulations under normal operating conditions and week-long simulations under electric power grid outage conditions.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Robotics for Systems Integration in Buildings - Pilot Study of Viable Approaches to Install Hygrothermal and Rigid Electrical Systems: Preprint

The Industrialized Construction Innovation (ICI) team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been exploring the use of robotics to integrate hygrothermal, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in prefabricated building assemblies (offsite construction) and 3D Printed buildings (onsite construction). Such multi-system integration tasks often require specialized robots and custom end-effectors for handling a range of rigid and non-rigid building components. This paper begins with a brief overview of the current state of robotics in construction, followed by a pilot study exploring the use of robotics to integrate a simple prototype multi-trade wall assembly composed of structural studs, hygrothermal layer, wall finishing, and electrical fixtures. The study was funded by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). Insights about the implementation of design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) principles in designing the prototype wall for robotic assembly, and selection of appropriate robotic end effector hardware for handling these components are included. Detailed comparison of computational toolpath simulations of the robotic assembly process and real-life demonstration of the same is presented. Finally, limitations and lessons learned from this study along with future research recommendations for robotic assembly of more complex multi-trade assemblies, including potential scenarios such as robotic outfitting of facilities in extra-terrestrial environments is included.

advanced manufacturing↗