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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement and Modeling of Polarized Atmosphere at the South Pole with SPT-3G

We present the detection and characterization of fluctuations in linearly polarized emission from the atmosphere above the South Pole. These measurements make use of data from the SPT-3G receiver on the South Pole Telescope in three frequency bands centered at 95, 150, and 220 GHz. We use the cross-correlation between detectors to produce an unbiased estimate of the power in Stokes I, Q, and U parameters on large angular scales. Our results are consistent with the polarized signal being produced by the combination of Rayleigh scattering of thermal radiation from the ground and thermal emission from a population of horizontally aligned ice crystals with an anisotropic distribution described by Kolmogorov turbulence. The measured spatial scaling, frequency scaling, and elevation dependence of the polarized emission are explained by this model. Polarized atmospheric emission has the potential to significantly impact observations on the large angular scales being targeted by searches for inflationary B-mode CMB polarization. We present the distribution of measured angular power spectrum amplitudes in Stokes Q and I for 4 yr of Austral winter observations, which can be used to simulate the impact of atmospheric polarization and intensity fluctuations at the South Pole on a specified experiment and observation strategy. We present a mitigation strategy that involves both downweighting significantly contaminated observations and subtracting a polarized atmospheric signal from the 150 GHz band maps. In observations with the SPT-3G instrument, the polarized atmospheric signal is a well-understood and subdominant contribution to the measured noise after implementing the mitigation strategies described here.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Economic Analysis of an Electric Thermal Energy Storage System Using Solid Particles for Grid Electricity Storage

As renewable power generation becomes the mainstream new-built energy source, energy storage will become an indispensable need to complement the uncertainty of renewable resources to firm the power supply. When phasing out fossil-fuel power plants to meet the carbon neutral utility target in the midcentury around the world, large capacity of energy storage will be needed to provide reliable grid power. The renewable power integration with storage can support future carbon-free utility and has several significant impacts including increasing the value of renewable generation to the grid, improving the peak-load response, and balancing the electricity supply and demand. Long-duration energy storage (10–100 hours duration) can potentially complement the reduction of fossil-fuel baseload generation that otherwise would risk grid security when a large portion of grid power comes from variable renewable sources. Current energy storage methods based on pumped storage hydropower or batteries have many limitations. Thermal energy storage (TES) has unique advantages in scale and siting flexibility to provide grid-scale storage capacity. A particle-based TES system has promising cost and performance for the future growing energy storage needs. This paper introduces the system and components required for the particle TES to be technically and economically competitive. A technoeconomic analysis based on preliminary component designs and performance shows that the particle TES integrated with an efficient air-Brayton combined cycle power system can provide power for several days by low-cost, high-performance storage cycles. It addresses grid storage needs by enabling large-scale grid integration of intermittent renewables like wind and solar, thereby increasing their grid value. The design specifications and cost estimations of major components in a commercial scale system are presented in this paper. The cost model provides insights for further development and cost comparison with competing technologies.

27 ARPA - Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy↗
DOE OSTI2024

Primordial black hole mass functions as a probe of cosmic origin

Here, we discuss a novel window to probe the origin of our universe via the mass functions of primordial black holes (PBHs). The mass functions of PBHs are simply estimated using the conventional Press-Schechter formalism for two paradigms of cosmic origin, including inflationary ΛCDM and bounce cosmology. The standard inflationary ΛCDM model cannot generate an appreciable number of massive PBHs; however, non-trivial inflation models with blue-tilted power spectra at small scales and matter bounce cosmology provide formation mechanisms for heavy PBHs, which in turn, may seed the observed supermassive black holes (SMBHs). By fitting the SMBH mass functions at high redshift (z ~ 6) derived from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Canada-France High-z Quasar Survey (CFHQS) quasars, for two paradigms of cosmic origin, we derive constraints on the PBH density fraction $f$ PBH at z ~ 6 and the characteristic mass M $\ast$ , with the prior assumption that all SMBHs stem from PBHs. We demonstrate that this newly proposed procedure, relying on astronomical measurements that utilize deep-field surveys of SMBHs at high redshift, can be used to constrain models of cosmic origin. Additionally, although not the main focus of this paper, we evolve the mass function from z ~ 6 to z ~ 0 through an assumption of 3 × 10 8 -year Eddington’s accretion, and give a rough estimation of $f$ PBH at z ~ 0.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Power system inertia estimation: Review of methods and the impacts of converter-interfaced generations

Understanding and quantifying the inertia of power systems with the integration of converter-interfaced generation (CIG) plays an essential role in the safe transition to a future low-inertia scenario. Here we provide a comprehensive summary of inertia definitions for both synchronous generators and CIGs as well as their corresponding estimation methods. In particular, the estimation methods are categorized as model-based and measurement-based approaches considering both small and large disturbances. The advantages and disadvantages of different methods are carefully discussed. This paper also offers for the first time a framework to quantify the virtual inertia of CIGs at the component and aggregation levels, an open problem in the literature. Finally, future directions for inertia estimation are identified and discussed. This significantly benefits the design of appropriate control and protection schemes in achieving a more reliable, secure, and resilient power system.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Technoeconomic Analysis of the Electrochemically Mediated Amine Regeneration CO 2 Capture Process

The electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) process presents an alternative route to the conventional thermal amine regeneration for carbon capture from a flue gas source. In this study, we conducted an economic analysis on the EMAR system for postcombustion CO2 capture from a 550 MWe power plant capturing 3.1 MtCO2 annually and from a mini steel mill with annual capture close to 170 ktCO2. We followed the recommendation of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) 2010 report to estimate the cost of CO2 avoided ([$/tCO2]). Detailed cost modeling of the electrochemical separation stage was conducted. This is integrated with the entire process flowsheet (e.g., including absorber, compressor, pumps, and other auxiliary equipment). Here, we identified the membrane cost as the dominant capital cost for the electrochemical separation train. At a membrane unit price of less than 10/m2, the CO2 capture cost can be reduced to below 50/tCO2 with optimized process conditions (e.g., desorption pressure and utilization of waste heat). Improvements in process design, cell construction, and solvent formulation may lead to additional reductions in the CO2 capture cost.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modelling and assessing the near-wake representation and turbulence behaviour of control-oriented wake models

Due to the interaction between the wake of an upstream turbine on a downstream turbine, power losses and increased fatigue loads occur. By yawing the upstream turbine with regard to the wind direction, one can potentially reduce the power losses of the downstream turbine and reduce the fatigue loads. The evolution of the wake depends on the pressure gradient within the near-wake region and the turbulent kinetic energy and must be incorporated in existing wake steering algorithms to provide an accurate estimation of the wake flow. This paper will show a first approach to implement a near-wake model and a turbulence model in the curled wake model within the controls-oriented framework FLORIS. The near-wake model is based on an analytical expression of the velocity profile to model the pressure gradient. Furthermore, two turbulence models are incorporated within the curled wake model based on a Gaussian-distribution and a mixing length formulation. The adapted curled wake model is then assessed with the measurement data acquired in the wind tunnel at ForWind – University of Oldenburg. The evaluation of the models show good agreement for the velocity deficit and representation of the near-wake region. Furthermore, the turbulent kinetic energy behaved as expected in comparison to other work, showing a ring of high turbulent kinetic energy at non-yawed condition which is deflected to a curled shape at large yaw angles with the turbulence model based on a mixing length formulation.

FLORIS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Planck 2018 results - VIII. Gravitational lensing

We present measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) lensing potential using the final Planck 2018 temperature and polarization data. Using polarization maps filtered to account for the noise anisotropy, we increase the significance of the detection of lensing in the polarization maps from 5σ to 9σ. Combined with temperature, lensing is detected at 40σ. We present an extensive set of tests of the robustness of the lensing-potential power spectrum, and construct a minimum-variance estimator likelihood over lensing multipoles 8 ≤ L ≤ 400 (extending the range to lower L compared to 2015), which we use to constrain cosmological parameters. We find good consistency between lensing constraints and the results from the Planck CMB power spectra within the ΛCDM model. Combined with baryon density and other weak priors, the lensing analysis alone constrains σ 8 Ωm 0.25 = 0.589 ± 0.020 (1σ errors). Also combining with baryon acoustic oscillation data, we find tight individual parameter constraints, σ8 = 0.811 ± 0.019, H0 = 67.9-1.3+1.2 km s -1 Mpc -1 , and Ω m = 0.303 -0.018 +0.016 . Combining with Planck CMB power spectrum data, we measure σ 8 to better than 1% precision, finding σ 8 = 0.811 ± 0.006. CMB lensing reconstruction data are complementary to galaxy lensing data at lower redshift, having a different degeneracy direction in σ 8 - Ω m space; we find consistency with the lensing results from the Dark Energy Survey, and give combined lensing-only parameter constraints that are tighter than joint results using galaxy clustering. Using the Planck cosmic infrared background (CIB) maps as an additional tracer of high-redshift matter, we make a combined Planck-only estimate of the lensing potential over 60% of the sky with considerably more small-scale signal. We additionally demonstrate delensing of the Planck power spectra using the joint and individual lensing potential estimates, detecting a maximum removal of 40% of the lensing-induced power in all spectra. The improvement in the sharpening of the acoustic peaks by including both CIB and the quadratic lensing reconstruction is detected at high significance.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Analyzing the Effects of Cyberattacks on Distribution System State Estimation

Key components of power systems—such as energy management systems, automatic generation control, and state estimation—are under serious vulnerability from cyberattacks. Cyber threats in electric grids have increased significantly because of the increased interconnectivity of supervisory control and data acquisition systems and public network infrastructure. As the penetration level of distributed energy resources increases, it is imperative to employ system-monitoring techniques such as state estimation for the reliable operation of distribution systems. Recently, multiple methods have been developed that exploit the low rank property of distribution system state matrix and are robust to bad data, such as matrix completion. This paper analyzes the impact of various realistic cyberattack scenarios on matrix completion. Realistic cyberattack scenarios are converted into data corruption models that are used in an extensive simulation of a custom IEEE 123-bus system.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Estimation of the Thermal-Fluids and Thermal-Structural Performance of Helium-Cooled Modular Finger-Type Divertors

Over the past decade, our group has investigated the thermal-fluid performance of the helium-cooled modular divertor with multiple jets (HEMJ) and a simplified “flat” design of the HEMJ for long-pulse magnetic fusion energy (MFE) reactors. Experimental studies were performed in a helium (He) loop at the prototypical pressure of 10 MPa, nearly prototypical He temperatures and incident heat fluxes using test sections made from stainless steel and tungsten alloys. Correlations for average Nusselt numbers and pressure loss coefficients were developed from the data and are used to validate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. Here, this work presents updated thermal-fluids performance curves based on these correlations that estimate the maximum heat flux that can be accommodated by the plasma-facing surface and coolant pumping power requirements at prototypical operating conditions. Thermal-structural performance curves developed from ITER structural design criteria are introduced, which include protection against ductile and non-ductile failure, ratcheting fatigue, and creep fatigue. The performance design curves for these finger-type divertors demonstrate that the “flat” design, with a significantly less complicated geometry than the HEMJ, has thermal-fluid and thermal-structural performance comparable to the original HEMJ concept, and may be superior in terms of non-ductile failure criteria.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Correlation-Aided Robust Decentralized Dynamic State Estimation of Power Systems with Unknown Control Inputs

This paper proposes a correlation-aided robust adaptive unscented Kalman filter for power system decentralized dynamic state estimation with unknown inputs, termed as robust AUKF-UI. The temporal and spatial correlations among the unknown inputs are used to derive a vector auto-regressive (VAR) model in an adaptive manner. This VAR model is further integrated together with state transition and measurement models for joint state and unknown inputs estimation. This allows taking into account the implicit cross-correlations between the states and the unknown inputs. As a result, the rank requirement for unknown input vector estimation is relaxed and the local generator frequency measurement is not required. The temporal correlations of time series innovation vectors, predicted state and input vectors are also leveraged by the robust AUKFUI to detect, identify and process bad data. Without these correlations, it is very challenging to address bad data with unknown inputs. Simulation results carried out on the IEEE 39-bus system demonstrate that the proposed robust AUKF-UI achieves much better results than other methods in the presence of low measurement redundancy, strong nonlinearity, and bad data.

Zhao, Junbo↗
NASA NTRS1982

Atmospheric turbulence parameters for modeling wind turbine dynamics

A model which can be used to predict the response of wind turbines to atmospheric turbulence is given. The model was developed using linearized aerodynamics for a three-bladed rotor and accounts for three turbulent velocity components as well as velocity gradients across the rotor disk. Typical response power spectral densities are shown. The system response depends critically on three wind and turbulence parameters, and models are presented to predict desired response statistics. An equation error method, which can be used to estimate the required parameters from field data, is also presented.

Holley, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The case for a wet, warm climate on early Mars

Arguments are presented in support of the idea that Mars possessed a dense CO2 atmosphere and a wet, warm climate early in its history. The plausibility of a CO2 greenhouse is tested by formulating a simple model of the CO2 geochemical cycle on early Mars. By scaling the rate of silicate weathering on Earth, researchers estimated a weathering time constant of the order of several times 10 to the 7th power years for early Mars. Thus, a dense atmosphere could have existed for a geologically significant time period (approx. 10 to the 9th power years) only if atmospheric CO2 was being continuously resupplied. The most likely mechanism by which this could have been accomplished is the thermal decomposition of carbonate rocks induced directly or indirectly by intense, global scale volcanism.

Pollack, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Analysis of an initial lunar outpost life support system preliminary design

A preliminary design of a life-support system (LSS) was developed as part of an ongoing comprehensive trade study of advanced processor technologies and system architectures for an initial lunar outpost. The design is based on a mission scenario requiring intermittent occupation of a lunar-surface habitat by a crew of four. It incorporates physiochemical process technologies that were considered for Space Station Freedom. A system-level simulation model of the design was developed to obtain steady-state material balances for each LSS processor. The mass-flow rate predictions were used to obtain estimates of the LSS mass, volume, and power consumption by means of processor-sizing correlations that were extrapolated from Space Station Freedom processor designs. The results were used to analyze the impacts of varying crew size, mission duration, processor-operation strategy, and crew-cabin loads on the LSS mass, average power consumption, volume, periodic resupply mass, and waste-accumulation rates. The merits of the design were quantified relative to an open-loop LSS, and the implications of this assessment for future LSS research and technology development were identified.

Ballin, Mark G.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Chandra Discovery of Luminous Supersoft X-Ray Sources in M81

A Chandra ACIS-S imaging observation of the nearby galaxy M81 (NGC 3031) reveals 9 luminous soft X-ray sources. The local environments, X-ray spectral properties, and X-ray light curves of the sources are presented and discussed in the context of prevailing physical models for supersoft sources. It is shown that the sample falls within expectations based on population synthesis models taken from the literature though the high observed luminosities (L approx.2e36 to approx.3e38 ergs in the 0.2--2.0-keV band) and equivalent blackbody temperatures (T approx.40 to 80 eV) place the brightest detected M81 objects at the high luminosity end of the class of supersoft sources defined by previous ROSAT and Einstein studies of nearby galaxies. This is interpreted as a natural consequence of the higher sensitivity of Chandra to hotter and more luminous systems. Most of the sources can be explained as canonical supersoft sources, secreting white dwarfs powered by steady surface nuclear burning, with X-ray spectra well-fit by hot white dwarf local thermodynamic equilibrium atmosphere models. An exceptionally bright source is scrutinized in greater detail as its estimated barometric luminosity, L approx. 1.5e39 ergs, greatly exceeds theoretical estimates for supersoft sources. This source may be beyond the stability limit and undergoing a phase of mass outflow under extreme conditions. Alternatively, a model in which the observed X-ray spectrum arises from an accretion disk around a blacklists of mass approx.1200/sqrt(cosi) solar masses (viewed at an inclination angle 1) cannot be excluded.

Swartz, Douglas A.↗
NASA NTRS2014

A Battery Health Monitoring Framework for Planetary Rovers

Batteries have seen an increased use in electric ground and air vehicles for commercial, military, and space applications as the primary energy source. An important aspect of using batteries in such contexts is battery health monitoring. Batteries must be carefully monitored such that the battery health can be determined, and end of discharge and end of usable life events may be accurately predicted. For planetary rovers, battery health estimation and prediction is critical to mission planning and decision-making. We develop a model-based approach utilizing computaitonally efficient and accurate electrochemistry models of batteries. An unscented Kalman filter yields state estimates, which are then used to predict the future behavior of the batteries and, specifically, end of discharge. The prediction algorithm accounts for possible future power demands on the rover batteries in order to provide meaningful results and an accurate representation of prediction uncertainty. The framework is demonstrated on a set of lithium-ion batteries powering a rover at NASA.

prediction↗
NASA NTRS2017

Mind the Gap: Exploring the Underground of the NASA Space Cancer Risk Model

The REID quantifies the lifetime risk of death from radiation-induced cancer in an exposed astronaut. The NASA Space Cancer Risk (NSCR) 2012 mode incorporates elements from physics, biology, epidemiology, and statistics to generate the REID distribution. The current model quantifies the space radiation environment, radiation quality, and dose-rate effects to estimate a NASA-weighted dose. This weighted dose is mapped to the excess risk of radiation-induced cancer mortality from acute exposures to gamma rays and then transferred to an astronaut population. Finally, the REID is determined by integrating this risk over the individual's lifetime. The calculated upper 95% confidence limit of the REID is used to restrict an astronaut's permissible mission duration (PMD) for a proposed mission. As a statistical quantity characterized by broad, subjective uncertainties, REID estimates for space missions result in wide distributions. Currently, the upper 95% confidence level is over 350% larger than the mean REID value, which can severely limit an astronaut's PMD. The model incorporates inputs from multiple scientific disciplines in the risk estimation process. Physics and particle transport models calculate how radiation moves through space, penetrates spacecraft, and makes its way to the human beings onboard. Epidemiological studies of exposures from atomic bombings, medical treatments, and power plants are used to quantify health risks from acute and chronic low linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation. Biological studies in cellular and animal models using radiation at various LETs and energies inform quality metrics for ions present in space radiation. Statistical methodologies unite these elements, controlling for mathematical and scientific uncertainty and variability. Despite current progress, these research platforms contain knowledge gaps contributing to the large uncertainties still present in the model. The NASA Space Radiation Program Element (SRPE) defines the knowledge gaps that impact our understanding of the cancer risks. These gaps are outlined in NASA's Human Research Roadmap [4], which identifies the research questions and actions recommended for reducing the uncertainty in the current NSCR model and for formulation of future models. The greatest contributors to uncertainty in the current model include radiation quality, dose rate effects, and the transfer of exposure-based risk from other populations to an astronaut population. Future formulations of the risk model may benefit from including other potential sources of uncertainty such as space dosimetry, errors in human epidemiology data, and the impact of microgravity and other spaceflight stressors. Here, we discuss the current capabilities of the NSCR-2012 model and several immediate research needs, highlighting areas expected to have an operational impact on the current model schema. The following subway-style route map outlines the NSCR-2012 model (Green Line), emphasizing the research gaps in the Human Research Roadmap for risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis (Stops on Dashed Lines). The map diagrams how these research gaps feed specific portions of the model.

Chappell, L. J.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Economic Analysis of a Novel Thermal Energy Storage System Using Solid Particles for Grid Electricity Storage: Preprint

As renewable power generation becomes the mainstream new-built energy source, energy storage will become an indispensable need to complement the uncertainty of renewable resources to firm the power supply. When phasing out fossil-fuel power plants to meet the carbon neutral utility target in the midcentury around the world, large capacity of energy storage will be needed to provide reliable grid power. The integration of renewable power and storage to support future carbon-free utility has several significant and positive impacts including expanding the renewable generation into the grid, improving the peak-load response, and balancing the electricity supply and demand. Long-duration energy storage (10–100 hours duration) can potentially complement the reduction of fossil-fuel baseload generation that otherwise would risk grid security when a large portion of grid power comes from variable renewable sources. Current energy storage methods based on pumped storage hydropower or batteries have many limitations. Thermal energy storage (TES) has unique advantages in scale and siting flexibility to provide grid-scale storage capacity. A particle-based TES system has promising cost and performance for the future growing energy storage needs. This paper introduces the system and components required for the particle TES to be technically and economically competitive. A technoeconomic analysis based on preliminary component designs and performance shows that the particle TES integrated with an efficient air-Brayton combined cycle power system can provide power for several days by low-cost, high-performance storage cycles. It addresses grid storage needs by enabling large-scale grid integration of intermittent renewables like wind and solar, thereby increasing their grid value. The design specifications and cost estimations of major components in a commercial scale system are presented in this paper. The cost model provides insights for further development and cost comparison with competing technologies.

27 ARPA - Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analyzing the Effects of Cyberattacks on Distribution System State Estimation: Preprint

Key components of power systems—such as energy management systems, automatic generation control, and state estimation—are under serious vulnerability from cyber attacks. Cyber threats in electric grids have increased significantly because of the increased interconnectivity of supervisory control and data acquisition systems and public network infrastructure. As the penetration level of distributed energy resources increases, it is imperative to employ system-monitoring techniques such as state estimation for the reliable operation of distribution systems. Recently, multiple methods have been developed that exploit the low rank property of distribution system state matrix and are robust to bad data, such as matrix completion. This paper analyzes the impact of various realistic cyber attack scenarios on matrix completion. Realistic cyber attack scenarios are converted into data corruption models that are used in an extensive simulation of a custom IEEE 123-bus system.

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