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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 829 records · Page 46
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Low-Temperature Geothermal Geospatial Datasets: An Example from Alaska: Preprint

This project is part of a broader effort focused on geothermal heating and cooling with the purpose of demonstrating the multi-faceted value of integrating GHC/GHX into national decarbonization plans and community energy plans. Currently, there is a need to better define and evaluate low-temperature geothermal resource potential to provide the basis for supporting private sector investment. For shallow GHC/GHX fields, there is no formal compilation of subsurface characteristics shared among industry practitioners that can improve system design and operations. Alaska is specifically noted in this work, because heretofore, it has not received a similar focus in geothermal potential evaluations as the contiguous United States. The methodology consists of leveraging relevant data generate a baseline low-temperature resources (< 150 degrees C) geospatial dataset to compare and analyze information accessible to anyone trying to understand the potential of GHC/GHX and small-scale low-temperature geothermal power in Alaska (e.g., energy modelers, communities, planners, and policymakers). Importantly, this project is identifying data related to (1) the evaluation of GHC/GHX in the shallow subsurface, and (2) the evaluation of low-temperature geothermal resource availability. Additionally, data is being compiled to assess repurposing of oil and gas wells to contribute co-produced fluids toward the geothermal direct use and heating and cooling resource potential. The goal of this project is facilitating future deployment of GHC/GHX analysis and community-led programs and update the low-temperature geothermal resources assessment of Alaska. A better understanding of shallow potential for geothermal heat exchange (GHX) will improve design and operations of highly efficient GHC systems. The deployment and impact that can be achieved for low temperature geothermal resources will contribute to decarbonization goals and facilitate widespread electrification by shaving and shifting grid loads.

bottom-hole temperature↗
DOE OSTI2023

Decision-Making Framework to Evaluate Opportunities for Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals in Produced Water Networks

Oil and gas development activities require a significant amount of water. Given the environmental impacts associated with high consumption and subsequent disposal of this water, there is a need for strategies to support effective reuse of, treatment of, and/or resource recovery from this produced water. These streams can contain appreciable concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals (CM) (e.g., Lithium), which are critical for many important applications in electronics, technology, manufacturing, energy, and medicine [1]. Along with REE/CM present in produced water, other waste streams such as fly ash from coal-fired power plants and acid mine discharge present other potential sources for recovery of REE/CM [2-4]. And with increases in demand for REE/CM, the need for recovery from wastewater streams is becoming even more important. There is a need to develop effective decision-making tools to evaluate the economic and environmental potential for REE/CM recovery from produced water networks while supporting the needs of drilling and hydraulic fracturing activities. In this work, we present our progress in developing a decision-making framework to efficiently design and operate produced water networks for REE/CM recovery. Our approach considers REE/CM recovery from produced water streams alongside other potential wastewater sources. The models consider the location and capacity of storage and decentralized treatment processes as well as the design and operation of pipeline and transportation networks to connect different sources and effectively schedule inventories, reuse, and recovery opportunities. We focus on the evaluation of opportunities for REE/CM recovery with treatment constraints on composition and flow. We demonstrate this framework with an illustrative case study that features diverse production sites, storage facilities, transportation, and treatment sites. This proposed framework will be deployed in an open-source software package that is compatible with the PARETO framework to deliver analysis and decision-making tools that allow stakeholders to quantitatively evaluate potential opportunities for REE/CM recovery in produced water networks.

Pulsipher, Joshua↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced Computing Annual Report 2022

National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) high-performance computing (HPC), efficient data center operation, and state-of-the-art data visualization powered over 300 clean energy projects in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). 555 scientists and engineers utilized HPC resources to assess and integrate data into their research. The report highlights the arrival of new HPC Kestrel in 2023, the contributions of the Insight Center, and researchers looking into bias in artificial intelligence, alongside key research collaborations using advanced computing.

advanced computing↗
DOE OSTI2024

Long-Term Assessment of Commercial Building Energy and Carbon Emissions in the Northwestern Region Under Future Weather Trend

The future climate significantly impacts building performance and increases uncertainties in energy simulations. A rising temperature trend is expected to heighten cooling loads during summer and result in more carbon emissions. Understanding the impact of future climate on building performance is significant for policymakers to make informed decisions. Building retrofit measures can improve building energy efficiency and reduce operational carbon emissions, yet their effects under future climate conditions have not been fully investigated so far. Thus, we proposed an assessment methodology for evaluating long-term energy consumption and operational carbon reduction potential using a building stock dataset. For this study, commercial buildings in the northwestern (NW) region were utilized to assess the impacts of future climate and building retrofit. In addition, we selected Montana with a cold and dry climate as an example to analyze and discuss the carbon emission reduction potential in buildings. The main findings are: (1) Under future climate trends, changes in energy use intensity (EUI) will fluctuate due to variations in heating and cooling degree-days (HDDs and CDDs) and increasing HDDs will lead to increasing EUI. (2) After applying annual building retrofitting, the long-term EUI reduction potential of buildings in the NW region will decrease with the increasing retrofitting degree, and the short-term EUI reduction potential will be impacted by the change of heating and cooling degree days. (3) In Montana, the long-term carbon intensity reduction potential of retrofitted buildings will decrease under future climate trends with the increasing renewable energy penetration.

building energy modeling↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhancing Fluid Flow Pressure and Saturation Prediction Accuracy and Reducing Uncertainty with Committee Machine – Illinois Basin Decatur Project (IBDP) as a Case Study

This is the conference paper accompanying an oral presentation at the 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies GHGT-17 held in Calgary, Canada, October 20-24, 2024. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a way to play a critical role in the global transition to a low-emission economy. Current progress is hampered by a number of factors, among which the lack of risk-informed design tools and decision support frameworks is seen as a major roadblock. Significant interest exists in using artificial intelligence to accelerate CCS site feasibility studies, as well as to facilitate the permit application process. Existing works commonly train a single deep learning model. This work investigates the feasibility of using a conventional ensemble learning (committee machine) technique to further improve prediction accuracy. Ensemble-based algorithms generally improve over individual base learners in terms of robustness and accuracy. Deep ensembles, however, are time-consuming to create and train. A pragmatic question is whether small-sized ensembles may lead to prediction improvement. Here we evaluated the efficacy of an ensemble learning technique using the latent spectral model (LSM), an efficient deep neural operator algorithm, as base learners. Preliminary results, obtained using the Illinois Basin-Decatur Project (IBDP) carbon sequestration data/model, show that small-sized ensembles can improve prediction over the base learners, achieving prediction accuracy of ~1.6 psi root mean square error (RMSE) on pressure (relative the average reservoir pressure of 3150 psi), and less than 1.3% for saturation.

Sun, Alexander↗
DOE OSTI2024

Securing Future Energy Supplies: From Renewables to Microreactors

This session will provide insight into how future energy deployments, critical to national-level programs focused on reducing carbon emissions, can be secured-by-design using lessons learned from current energy infrastructure. It will begin with an overview of current threats and risks associated with renewable energy assets and systems, primarily wind and solar, focusing on their control architecture and key system functions for both efficient and safe operations. This talk will then translate the key takeaways from current renewable infrastructure into applications for securing future energy systems, including microreactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), based on planned concepts of operations and control. Microreactors and SMRs are intended to be factory-assembled with commercially available components and deployed in more remote or distributed environments, necessitating centralized control centers, remote monitoring, and offsite maintenance and technical support. All of these factors lead these assets to a security posture and controls more similar to today's renewable energy assets than today's nuclear reactors, which represents a significant shift in mindset for the nuclear industry. This talk will provide justification for this shift as well as a path forward to motivate securing these groundbreaking technologies from the outset of their design and deployment.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Beyond Price Taker: Optimizing Integrated Energy Systems Considering Market/Grid Interactions

Integrated Energy Systems (IES) combine two or more processes to increase the efficiency, flexibility of operation, and the overall reliability. However, analyzing IESs in volatile electricity markets is challenging, since the volatility in electricity prices makes the conventional levelized cost-type analysis less realistic. This work presents two approaches to address the challenge: price-taker and a surrogates-based approach for incorporating market interactions. The price-taker approach formulates a multiperiod optimization problem that takes the time-varying electricity prices into account, and solves the optimization problem to determine the optimal operational schedule that maximizes the chosen economic metric. This approach is successfully applied to investigate the performance of flexible power and hydrogen co-production systems. The market surrogates approach trains a machine learning model to predict the market behavior as a function of the characteristics of the IES. The trained surrogate model is used to optimize the design and operation of the given IES in an electricity market. This approach is demonstrated on a case study involving a nuclear power plant retrofitted with a low-temperature electrolysis unit to co-produce power and hydrogen.

beyond price taker↗
DOE OSTI2025

Initial Design of SABRE Fueled Molten Salt Experiment Irradiation Vehicle

Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are emerging as promising advanced reactor technologies, utilizing molten salts for both fuel and primary cooling. These reactors may offer advantages such as passive safety, enhanced economic viability, and efficient waste reprocessing while operating at high temperatures and low pressures, which leads to increased system efficiency and reduced mechanical stress on containment structures. However, challenges arise from the complex chemistry and high corrosion rates of fueled molten salts, alongside the volatility of certain fission products during irradiation. The accumulation of these fission products can alter the fuel salt chemistry, affecting corrosion potential and radioactive source terms. Therefore, understanding these phenomena under neutron irradiation is essential for future MSR designs. The SABRE (Salt and Actinide Burnup in a Reactor Environment) experiment, currently in conceptual design at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), aims to investigate these challenges by conducting a drop-in capsule experiment in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The primary objectives include achieving a minimum burnup of 2 GWd/MTU and characterizing fission products while studying corrosion behavior in molten salt systems. This innovative experiment will leverage recent advancements in ATR capabilities, allowing for the safe irradiation of molten salts, thereby advancing the understanding and qualification of MSR technology for future nuclear power generation.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Case Study of Integrating High-Temperature Heat Pump with LiBr-H2O Absorption Chiller for Data Center Liquid Cooling

Data centers (DCs) are physical infrastructures that support artificial intelligence workloads. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is putting substantial pressure on the US power grid. Most of electricity consumed by IT equipment, accounting for 50%-60% of total DC power, ultimately becomes waste heat. This heat is dissipated by DC’s cooling facilities, accounting for an additional 30%-40% of total DC power. Recovering and repurposing this waste heat offers a significant opportunity to enhance energy efficiency and reduce operating costs of DCs. One potential pathway is converting heat to cold using thermal-driven absorption chillers, therefore, reducing the power consumption in DC cooling facilities. Existing studies mainly demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of repurposing DC’s waste heat for cooling applications but provide limited technical details on how to integrate the thermal-driven absorption chillers with DC cooling systems. In addition, the low-grade waste heat available from DCs must be upgraded to higher temperatures suitable for absorption chillers. This paper presents a case study on integrating high-temperature heat pumps with a LiBr-H2O absorption chiller to use DC waste heat for cooling. A thermodynamic model of single-effect, LiBr-H2O absorption chiller and an empirical model of high-temperature heat pumps were built. The case study considers ASHRAE W17 liquid-cooled DC, with facility service water supplied at 17.0℃ and returned at 25.3℃. The thermal behaviors of absorption chiller components were predicted for the generation temperature ranging from 75.0℃ to 115.0℃. Based on the available waste heat in the integrated system, two waste heat recovery strategies were evaluated: a facility service water-based strategy and cooling water-based strategy. Results indicated that the cooling water-based strategy achieves higher Coefficient of Performance (COPs) than the facility service water-based strategy. The relatively low cooling COPs of single-effect LiBr-H2O absorption chillers could be offset by high heating COP of high temperature heat pumps. The maximum cooling COP of absorption chiller and the overall COP of integrated systems occur at lower generation temperatures, but these conditions also yield lower cooling capacities. In practice, system operation should balance the trade-off between the COP and cooling capacity

Wang, Pengtao [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000214713429)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Practical Operations of Energy Storage Providing Ancillary Services: From Day-Ahead to Real-Time

As renewable resources are increasingly penetrating power systems, energy storage systems (ESSs) become essential in providing both energy arbitrage and ancillary services. Because of its high flexibility, ESSs have been taken into account in the daily operation of the bulk power system in many places. This paper proposes a general framework in the current electricity market environment to help system operators model the participation of multi-type ESSs and evaluate the performance of both energy arbitrage and reserve provision. We discuss different levels of ESSs' flexibility in providing ancillary services and also consider a deliberate and practical implementation of the modeling. This framework can be seamlessly integrated into the daily market operation without sacrificing computational efficiency. Numerical experiments validate the efficacy of the proposed framework and show that ESSs possess excellent potential in providing ancillary services for the bulk power system.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Impact of Materials Properties on Higher-Temperature Engine Operation

Here, we examine the effects on materials temperatures and engine efficiency via simulations of engines operating at temperatures which exceed the thermal limits of today’s materials. Potential focus areas include high-speed, high-load operation (in the fuel-enrichment zone) as well as conditions of selective cooling at lower speeds and loads. We focus on a light-duty DISI and a heavy-duty CI engine using GT-Power. Temperature distributions within the head, block, piston, and valves were obtained from 3D FEA simulations coupled with 1D GT-Power representations of the engine’s gas flow and combustion regions. We use experimentally measured thermal properties of current commercial alloys for specific engine components, as well as candidate developmental alloys with improved temperature tolerance, to gauge the effects of materials properties on engine performance, particularly focusing on operating areas where materials which can withstand higher temperatures can enable intensified combustion conditions and increased specific output. The outcome of this work is guidance on materials selection targets and benefits as OEMs meet engine-performance needs in the coming decades, to include Class 8 line-haul freight vehicles with reduced emissions, as well as design of future near net zero-carbon light-duty range extenders for more rapid electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

High Efficiency, Low Cost RF Sources for Accelerators and Colliders

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc. (CCR) and its collaborators are developing high efficiency, low cost RF sources. Phase and Amplitude Controlled Magnetrons: CCR, Fermilab, and Communications & Power Industries, LLC (CPI) recently developed a 100 kW, 1.3 GHz magnetron system with amplitude and phase control. The system operated at more than 80% efficiency and demonstrated rapid control of amplitude and phase. Multiple Beam Triodes: CCR, in collaboration with CPI and JP Accelerator Works, Inc., is developing 200 kW, pulsed and CW RF sources from 350 to 700 MHz with projected efficiencies exceeding 80% and cost of $0.50/Watt. Prototype tubes are scheduled for tests in spring 2021. High Efficiency Klystrons:CCR, CPI, and Leidos, Inc. are building a 1.3 GHz, 100 kW klystron operating at 80% efficiency. High power testing is scheduled for summer 2021. Multiple Beam IOTs: CCR and Georgia Tech Research Institute are developing MBIOTs with simplified input coupling and high efficiency. Simulations indicate that 3rd harmonic drive power can increase the efficiency 8-10 %. The program is developing a prototype tube to produce 200 kW peak, 100 kW average power at 704 MHz.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cradle to grave: the importance of the fuel cycle to molten salt reactor sustainability

Advanced reactor technologies are being considered for the next-generation of nuclear power plants. These plants are designed to have a smaller footprint, run more efficiently at higher temperatures, have the flexibility to meet specific power or heating needs, and have lower construction costs. This paper offers a perspective on molten salt reactors, promoted as having a flexible fuel cycle and close-to-ambient pressure operation. A complexity introduced by reducing the reactor footprint is that it may require low-enriched fuel for efficient operation, available from enrichment of the feed salt or by reusing actinides from existing used nuclear fuel (UNF). Recycling UNF has the potential to reduce high-level waste, if done correctly. Release limits from UNF processing are stringent, and processes for waste reduction, fission gas trapping, and stable waste-form generation are not yet ready for commercial deployment. These complex processes are expensive to develop and troubleshoot because the feed is highly radioactive. Thus, fuel production and supply chain development must keep abreast of reactor technology development. Another aspect of reactor sustainability is the non-fuel waste streams that will be generated during operation and decommissioning. Some molten salt reactor designs are projected to have much shorter operational lifetimes than light-water reactors: less than a decade. A goal of the reactor sustainability effort is to divert these materials from a high-level waste repository. However, processing of reactor components should only be undertaken if it reduces waste. Economic and environmental aspects of sustainability are also important, but are not included in this perspective.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mechanism-Informed Breakdown: Understanding Degradation by Controlling Voltage-Hold Patterns in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

Low catalyst loadings pose challenges to performance stability in proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis over extended operation. To study the impact of degradation mechanisms and voltage loss rates, different stress tests are applied to membrane electrode assemblies. Potential cycling conditions were observed to induce higher degrees of iridium (Ir) oxide crystallization, ionomer degradation, and catalyst layer (CL) thinning, which likely contributed to higher kinetic loss rates. On the other hand, while Ir migrating into the PEM (Ir band) generally impairs performance, the interconnected and more uniform Ir band formed under a constant 2 V hold may allow for Ir at the catalyst/membrane interface to remain electronically connected and kinetically accessible, as well as indicate greater Ir site access during the applied stressor. The 2 V hold also demonstrates improved kinetic durability through a lower Tafel slope, faster polarization kinetics, and reduced charge transfer resistance. In contrast, potential cycling caused the migration of disconnected Ir agglomerates into the membrane bulk and created a steady increase in charge transfer resistance, a more dramatic decrease in capacitance (46.7% loss), and significant damage to the surrounding ionomer, indicating a decline in both the quality and quantity of active sites in the anode CL. This work underscores the distinct degradation pathways associated with load holds versus cycling, highlighting the role of catalyst-ionomer interactions in kinetic performance and long-term stability. These insights can inform operational strategies for PEM electrolyzers powered by intermittent energy sources, aiming to minimize efficiency losses over extended operation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Sensitivity Study of Multiscale and Phenomenological Elasto-Viscoplastic Grade 91 Material Models for Component-Scale Response

Many advanced nuclear reactor concepts currently being developed are targeting higher operating temperatures relative to the current fleet of light water nuclear reactors, for efficiency gains and other operational considerations. The design of high temperature structural components with reliable long-term operational performance will depend on material models that accurately capture the inelastic deformation mechanisms active in these environments. In this work, we perform a detailed parameter sensitivity analysis of two unified elasto-viscoplastic Grade 91 material models capable of capturing long term high temperature creep deformation. The first model is a phenomelogical material model from the Nuclear Engineering Material Library (NEML) developed at Argonne National Lab. The NEML model parameters and their uncertainty were fit to a range of Grade 91 experimental data using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo analysis. The second model is a LAROMance data-driven surrogate material model developed at Los Alamos National Lab. The LAROMance model is fit to a large database of responses produced by a mechanistic crystal plasticity based polycrystal model. Parameters for the LAROMance surrogate material model reflect the pedigree of the Grade 91 microstructure. Both material models have been integrated into the Grizzly code, based on the open-source MOOSE multiphysics simulation framework, to simulate both the progression of aging mechanisms and the effects of that aging on nuclear power plant structures. Grizzly is used analyze a three-dimensional Grade 91 piping system to compare the long-term inelastic response predicted by these two fundamentally different models and assess the sensitivity of the material model input parameters on this quantity of interest.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimal operation of multi-plant steam district heating systems for enhanced efficiency and sustainability

Despite their crucial role in supplying heat and power to universities, industries, and healthcare facilities, many steam-based district heating systems rely on outdated control methods. Among these, multi-central plant districts are particularly challenging due to the complexities of coordinating multiple plants, optimizing load distributions, and managing system downtime. In response, new operational strategies are developed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of steam districts while utilizing existing resources. These strategies include reducing plant operational pressure without compromising the reliable supply to buildings and optimizing load allocation across multiple plants. The load allocation considers boiler part-load efficiency, runtime, network losses, and building pressure set points, and is compared with traditional multi-boiler controls. To support this exploration, new dynamic Modelica models are developed. In addition, methods to reduce modeling complexities are incorporated, enhancing their suitability for practical applications. A holistic district-wide analysis using a real university case study demonstrates a 4.7% fuel savings by lowering boiler operational pressure from 900 kPa to 600 kPa, along with a 13.3% reduction in condensation losses across the distribution network. Furthermore, the load allocation approach results in a 13.1% reduction in fuel consumption during peak winter periods and 15.3% during shoulder periods, with corresponding decreases in carbon emissions and fuel costs. This approach can also save maintenance costs by reducing the boiler runtime by 49.6%. In conclusion, this research underscores the benefits of retrofitting aging steam district heating systems, offering immediate operational improvements by enhancing efficiency, meeting regulatory compliance, and extending infrastructure lifespans while delaying costly overhauls.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fundamental Understanding of Cu-zeolite SCR Catalyst Aging Mechanism (CRADA 452)

The CRADA between Cummins and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will focus on advanced emission control for high-efficiency engines. It will specifically focus on the following three areas: 1. Passive NOx absorbers - The purpose is to develop next generation materials that can be efficiently used to address the cold-operation, as driven by improved engine efficiency. 2. Oxidation of methane and short alkanes – The purpose is to address cold-operation emissions arising from CNG vehicles. 3. Improved understanding of particulates–the purpose is to understand how particulates are formed which will be used to develop strategies to address the tightening regulations and their enforcement for exhaust particulate matter. The first two areas will be based on PNNL’s technical leadership in the area of zeolite-based materials. The third area will have a shorter time scope to leverage the unique SPLAT capabilities at PNNL to help address Cummins’ needs in improving the understanding of particulates.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advanced Emission Control for High-Efficiency Engines

The CRADA between Cummins and Battelle will focus on: advanced emission control for high-efficiency engines. It will specifically focus on the following three areas: 1. Passive NOx absorbers - The purpose is to develop next generation materials that can be efficiently used to address the cold-operation, as driven by improved engine efficiency. 2. Oxidation of methane and short alkanes – The purpose is to address cold-operation emissions arising from CNG vehicles. 3. Improved understanding of particulates – The purpose is to understand how particulates are formed which will be used to develop strategies to address the tightening regulations and their enforcement for exhaust particulate matter. The first two areas will be based on PNNL’s technical leadership in the area of zeolite-based materials. The third area will have a shorter time scope to leverage the unique SPLAT capabilities at PNNL to help address Cummins’ needs in improving the understanding of particulates

02 PETROLEUM↗