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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 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Fusing TensorFlow with building energy simulation for intelligent energy management in smart cities

Buildings account for 35% of the global final energy demand. Efficiency improvements and advanced control strategies have a significant impact in the reduction of energy costs and CO2 emissions. Building energy simulation is widely used to help planners, contractors, and building owners analyse diverse options regarding the planning and management of energy consumption in buildings. Furthermore, recent advances in data processing and computing have led to the development of sophisticated machine learning algorithms that can learn from large datasets, e.g., sensor data from buildings, and use them to develop building-specific adaptive and automatic energy controllers. Control algorithms, such as deep reinforcement learning can tune themselves, are model-free, and economical to implement. In this paper, we introduce an integrated simulation environment that combines CitySim, a fast building energy simulator, and TensorFlow, a platform for efficient implementation of advanced machine learning algorithms. The integration is achieved via Keras - an API for TensorFlow - and a set of text and csv files for data transfer between the applications. This new environment will allow researchers to investigate novel learning control algorithms, and demonstrate their robustness and potential for diverse applications in the built environment. We present two case studies for energy savings and demand response, respectively.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2021

A KBase Case Study on Genome-wide Transcriptomics and Plant Primary Metabolism in Sorghum

A better understanding of the genetic and metabolic mechanisms that confer stress resistance and tolerance in plants is key to engineering new crops through advanced breeding technologies. This requires a systems biology approach that builds on a genome-wide understanding of the regulation of gene expression, plant metabolism, physiology and growth. In this study, we examine the response to drought stress in Sorghum, as we leverage the tools for transcriptomics and plant metabolic modeling we have implemented at the U.S. Department of Energy Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase). KBase enables researchers worldwide to collaborate and advance research by allowing them to upload private or public data into the KBase Narrative Interface, empowering them to analyze this data using a rich, extensible array of computational and data-analytics tools, and allows them to securely share scientific workflows and conclusions. We demonstrate how to use the current RNA-seq tools in KBase, applicable to both plants and microbes, to assemble and quantify long transcripts and identify differentially expressed genes effectively. More specifically, we demonstrate the utility of the platform by identifying key genes that are differentially expressed during drought-stress in Sorghum bicolor, which is an important sustainable production crop plant. We then show how to use KBase tools to predict the membership of genes in metabolic pathways and examine expression data in the context of metabolic subsystems. We demonstrate the power of the platform by making the data analysis and interpretation available to the biologists in the reproducible, re-usable, point-and-click format of a KBase Narrative thus promoting FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) guiding principles for scientific data management and stewardship.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Meter-based synthesis of equipment schedules for improved models of electrical demand in multifamily buildings

Here, the authors present a novel method for using electrical meter data to synthesize realistic equipment use schedules that can improve models of electrical demand in buildings. Other methods exist for creating schedules based on historical data from a limited set of past field studies, but the method presented here is unique because it allows a modeller to customize and calibrate equipment use schedules based on user-specified meter data and load profile metrics. Additionally, a case study with water heaters demonstrates that this schedule synthesis method can outperform traditional modelling strategies by replicating key characteristics of a measured equipment load profile, including its magnitude, variability, and relationships between load and time. In particular, the new method was more effective at replicating the total water heater electrical load duration curve and ramp duration curve of a real-world reference building.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic machine learning-based optimization algorithm to improve boiler efficiency

With decreasing computational costs, improvement in algorithms, and the aggregation of large industrial and commercial datasets, machine learning is becoming a ubiquitous tool for process and business innovations. Machine learning is still lacking applications in the field of dynamic optimization for real-time control. This work presents a novel framework for performing constrained dynamic optimization using a recurrent neural network model combined with a metaheuristic optimizer. The framework is designed to augment an existing control system and is purely data-driven, like most industrial Model Predictive Control applications. Several recurrent neural network models are compared as well as several metaheuristic optimizers. Hyperparameters and optimizer parameters are tuned with parameter sweeps, and the resulting values are reported. Further, the best parameters for each optimizer and model combination are demonstrated in closed-loop control of a dynamic simulation, and several recommendations are made for generalizing this framework to other systems. Up to 0.953% improvement is realized over the non-optimized case for a simulated coal-fired boiler. While this is not a large improvement in percentage, the total economic impact is $991,000 per year, and this study builds a foundation for future machine learning with dynamic optimization.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2014

Zone Level Occupant-Responsive Building Energy Systems at the GSA

The General Services Administration (GSA) partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and implement building energy system retrofits, aiming to reduce energy consumption of at least two building systems by a total of 30 percent or more, as part of DOE’s Commercial Building Partnership (CBP) Program. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) provided technical expertise in support of this DOE program, working with the GSA and a team of consultants. This case study reports expected energy savings from appropriate energy efficient design and operations modifications to lighting and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at the selected study sites. These retrofits comprised installation of new lighting systems with dimming capability and occupancy-sensor control at the individual light fixture level, and utilized lighting system occupancy sensor signals to continually readjust zone-level ventilation airflow according to the number of people present, down to minimum rates when vacant.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Zero Export Feeder Through Transactive Markets

This project is aimed at creating a transactive energy market to address the challenges faced by utility providers when increasing distributed energy resource (DER) adoption in their service area. One major challenge is mitigating export back to the grid during times of excess production. The transactive energy market operates at the distribution level and balances the supply and demand on the feeder, thus maintaining a zero-energy export at the primary feeder head. The market participants in this case are the residential customers on the feeder, who bid into the market. Building controls are then optimized based on the settled price. Market performance was demonstrated in this study by simulating different levels of DER penetration on a selected Pepco feeder. The feeder successfully achieved a zero export while providing cost-effective electricity to the participants, demonstrating that this market design can enable high DER penetration on existing feeders.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Towards Resolving the Risk of Turbine Collision on Fish: FY21-22 Seedling Report Phase I

The most important concern for permitting tidal and river turbines is the collision risk of marine animals with the turbine blades. Our understanding of the risk to individual fish from colliding with turbine blades is poor; if these collisions were to occur, it is unknown whether fish will sustain recoverable injuries or be killed. Equally unknown is the impact these collisions might have on populations, particularly for threatened, endangered, or commercially managed fish species. In addition to observations of interactions of fish with turbines, numerical models need to be developed or expanded to predict impacts on fish populations. These models could replace expensive and technically challenging monitoring programs in high energy, often murky, tidal or river waters. In this project, a multi-pronged approach was taken to understand the state of knowledge for collision risk of fish with turbines and build a pathway forward. This approach included a workshop with experts, a literature review of modeling and empirical studies, the development of a research framework, and the identification of case studies to address through future work. This project is a first step towards the future development of effective and robust numerical models for assessing the collision risk of fish around turbines. This will achieve a balanced and improved estimate of the severity of collision risk to fish at the population scale.

Garavelli, Lysel↗
NASA NTRS2013

Modified Hitschfeld-Bordan Equations for Attenuation-Corrected Radar Rain Reflectivity: Application to Nonuniform Beamfilling at Off-Nadir Incidence

As shown by Takahashi et al., multiple path attenuation estimates over the field of view of an airborne or spaceborne weather radar are feasible for off-nadir incidence angles. This follows from the fact that the surface reference technique, which provides path attenuation estimates, can be applied to each radar range gate that intersects the surface. This study builds on this result by showing that three of the modified Hitschfeld-Bordan estimates for the attenuation-corrected radar reflectivity factor can be generalized to the case where multiple path attenuation estimates are available, thereby providing a correction to the effects of nonuniform beamfilling. A simple simulation is presented showing some strengths and weaknesses of the approach.

nonuniform beamfilling↗
DOE OSTI2014

Technology Solutions Case Study: Cold Climate Foundation Wall Hygrothermal Research Facility, Cloquet, Minnesota

This case study describes the University of Minnesota’s Cloquet Residential Research Facility (CRRF) in northern Minnesota, which features more than 2,500 ft2 of below-grade space for building systems foundation hygrothermal research. Here, the NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership team researches ways to improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope, including wall assemblies, basements, roofs, insulation, and air leakage.

basement foundation insulation↗
DOE OSTI2014

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Green Home 3 - Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

This case study describes a unique vocational program at Lancaster County Career Technology Center in Mount Joy, PA, where high school students are gaining hands-on construction experience in building high performance homes with help from Building America team, Home Innovation Research Labs. This collaboration resulted in the Green Home 3, the third in a series of high performance homes for Apprentice Green. As one of LCCTC’s key educational strategies for gaining practical experience, students are involved in building real houses that incorporate state-of-the-art energy efficiency and green technologies. With two homes already completed, the Green Home 3 achieved a 44% whole-house energy savings over the Building America New Construction B10 Benchmark, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (formerly Challenge Home) certification, and National Green Building Standard Gold-level certification.

BUILDING AMERICA↗
DOE OSTI2019

Development of an Experimental Approach for Thermal Testing in Bedded Salt - 19431

Safe and permanent isolation of used nuclear fuel (UNF) and high-level nuclear waste (HLW) is an integral component of the cradle-to-grave philosophy of radioactive waste management. Out of the multitude of rock types considered for the permanent deep disposal of nuclear waste (tuff, shale, granite, clay, and salt), salt has received significant interest particularly because of the advantage offered by salt as an impermeable and dry medium with self-sealing properties. The concept of HLW disposal in salt has been investigated through several testing campaigns in the U.S. and in Germany. Serval knowledge gaps still exist in our understanding of how brine is generated and how it transports under heat generating conditions. These knowledge gaps limit our ability to build a robust safety case for the disposal of heat generating waste in salt. The current manuscript reports on efforts performed to develop a field-testing campaign to study brine and water vapor migration in heated salt. The paper summarizes initial work done in a phased thermal testing program in bedded salt at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Carlsbad, New Mexico. The testing to date has been focused on existing boreholes and is being used to 'shakedown' the process for implementation of a more refined testing program that will be implemented in freshly drilled boreholes planned for FY2019. We designed and deployed a heater assembly that consisted of a packer, borehole deformation gauge, heater block, a network of thermocouples, and a pressure transducer setup to measure in situ temperature and pressure. The assembly was deployed in an existing borehole and several heating and cooling experiments were performed to test the performance of the different instruments fielded. We report on the results obtained for brine generation as a function of time and heating and cooling cycles and temperature evolution in the rock salt. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2014

Technology Solutions Case Study: Stand-Off Furring in Deep Energy Retrofits

IBACOS, in collaboration with GreenHomes America, was contracted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to research exterior wall insulation solutions. This research investigated cost-effective deep energy retrofit (DER) solutions for improving the building shell exterior while achieving a cost-reduction goal, including reduced labor costs to reach a 50/50 split between material and labor. The strategies included exterior wall insulation plus energy upgrades as needed in the attic, mechanical and ventilation systems, and basement band joist, walls, and floors. The work can be integrated with other home improvements such as siding or window replacement. This strategy minimizes physical connections to existing wall studs, encapsulates existing siding materials (including lead paint) with spray foam, and creates a vented rain screen assembly to promote drying. GreenHomes America applied construction details created by IBACOS to a test home. 2x4 framing members were attached to the wall at band joists and top plates using "L" clips, with spray foam insulating the wall after framing was installed. Windows were installed simultaneously with the framing, including extension jambs. The use of clips in specific areas provided the best strength potential, and "picture framing" the spray foam held the 2x4s in place. Short-term testing was performed at this house, with monitoring equipment installed for long-term testing.

Building America↗
DOE OSTI2019

Hygrothermal analyses of the moisture control and energy efficiency potential of an adaptive water-resistive barrier for building envelopes

A water-resistive barrier (WRB) is a material installed on the exterior side of the sheathing to prevent water intrusion so that building components are not damaged by moisture. A membrane that can change its water vapor permeability between two states to control water vapor transport into and out of residential and commercial building wall systems is being developed. This simulation study assesses if this membrane used as a WRB reduces moisture levels and mold growth risk in exterior walls and building energy consumption. The developed membrane may require modifications to fully function as a WRB in contact with liquid water. Hygrothermal component simulations were conducted for different climate zones, different wall assemblies, different switching points and permeabilities to identify the most beneficial application cases and their required perm range and switching control. The study details the required simulation settings and suggests that the switchable membrane can reduce the water content in the sheathing and reduce the mold growth risk in the cavity in all climate zones. The effect on energy consumption of the switchable membrane is not significant. The study also includes recommendations on how to model the material characteristics of a switchable membrane and recommendations on practical applications for the switchable membrane.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Testing Ductless Heat Pumps in High-Performance Affordable Housing, the Woods at Golden Given - Tacoma, Washington

The Woods is a 30-home, high- performance, energy efficient sustainable community built by Habitat for Humanity (HFH). With Support from Tacoma Public Utilities, Washington State University (part of the Building America Partnership for Improved Residential Construction) is researching the energy performance of these homes and the ductless heat pumps (DHP) they employ. This project provides Building America with an opportunity to: field test HVAC equipment, ventilation system air flows, building envelope tightness, lighting, appliance, and other input data that are required for preliminary Building Energy Optimization (BEopt™) modeling and ENERGY STAR® field verification; analyze cost data from HFH and other sources related to building-efficiency measures that focus on the DHP/hybrid heating system and heat recovery ventilation system; evaluate the thermal performance and cost benefit of DHP/hybrid heating systems in these homes from the perspective of homeowners; compare the space heating energy consumption of a DHP/electric resistance (ER) hybrid heating system to that of a traditional zonal ER heating system; conduct weekly "flip-flop tests" to compare space heating, temperature, and relative humidity in ER zonal heating mode to DHP/ER mode.

Appliance↗
DOE OSTI2022

U.S. Building Stock Characterization Study: A National Typology for Decarbonizing U.S. Buildings

To support the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Collaborative, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been tasked with characterizing the U.S. building stock and developing a national typology of buildings. The potential use cases of such a typology are flexible and evolving, but in this initial phase, the primary intention is to help identify technology requirements and engineering solutions for moving the U.S. building stock toward a zero-carbon future by mid-century. This typology will also support the development of appropriate ABC research goals for existing buildings, such as cost targets for new technology development, and in a later phase, the typology can be used to support the implementation of ABC solutions by informing market aggregation and business model development. The ABC Initiative invests in new technologies that enable high building performance, can be deployed quickly with minimal onsite construction time, and are affordable and appealing to building owners, investors, and occupants. Funding awardees use many innovations, including new building materials, 3D printing, offsite manufacturing, robotics, and digital art-to-part. Although the goals of ABC cover a broad range of objectives around energy, comfort, and health, the primary ABC-related application of this national building characterization study is the development of retrofit packages that can be applied to reduce thermal loads in buildings. Retrofit packages will be determined collaboratively by the DOE and the ABC Collaborative. We anticipate a range of upgrade measures covering envelope-, HVAC-, and water-heating-related loads.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2015

Historical Building Stability Monitoring by Means of a Cosmic Ray Tracking System

Cosmic ray radiation is mostly composed, at sea level, by high energy muons, which are highly penetrating particles capable of crossing kilometers of rock. The ubiquitous and steady presence at the Earth's surface and the high penetration capability have motivated the use of cosmic ray radiation also in fields beyond particle physics, from geology, archaeology, speleology to industrial applications and homeland security. In particular, in recent years, the novel technique of muon tomography has been proposed, with the aim of performing non invasive inspection of large non accessible volumes, material atomic number Z and density discrimination, and three dimension image reconstruction of the inspected volume. In the present paper, after a short recall of the physical principles and mathematical formalism on which muon tomography is based, a number of examples of application of the novel technique in industry and homeland security issues is given. Moreover, a new application of cosmic rays detection techniques in the field of civil engineering is proposed. The aim is the monitoring of the stability of large structures, in particular the static monitoring of historical buildings, where conservation constraints are more severe and the time evolution of the deformation phenomena under study may be of the order of months or years. The new technique may be seen, in some way, as the reverse problem of muon tomography. As a significant case study, the monitoring of the wooden vaulted roof of the Palazzo della Loggia in the town of Brescia, in Italy, has been considered. The feasibility as well as the performances and limitations of a monitoring system based on cosmic ray tracking have been studied by Monte Carlo simulation and discussed in comparison with more traditional monitoring systems. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗