Metrics for Assessing the Impacts of Energy-Efficient Mobility Systems
This presentation summarizes the updates for the Mobility Energy Productivity (MEP) metric project over the past fiscal year.
ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY PLANNING, POLIC↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “Energy efficiency”
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Lost in translation: Overcoming divergent seasonal performance metrics to strengthen air conditioner energy-efficiency policies
Not Available
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Audits and Energy Efficiency in Support of Resilience
Presentation provides an overview of how facility energy and water efficiency audits can provide resilience benefits, how NREL's REopt Lite web tool optimizes the economic and resilience benefits of distributed energy resources, and how FEMP's Technical Resilience Navigator assesses risk to a site's critical functions and prioritizes solutions.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Accelerating the Adoption of Energy Efficiency and Renewables in Warehouses and Distribution Centers
Commercial warehouses and storage facilities represent a large part of the commercial buildings in the United States, and their share increases every year. NREL is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to understand barriers, sector needs, and opportunities to enhance sustainability in the warehouse sector, driving ultra-high efficient, zero-energy design, while considering electrification in buildings and vehicles, grid-friendly operation, and decarbonization. After investigating literature about warehouse sustainability practices and high-performance warehouse case studies, several one-on-one interviews were carried out with warehouse managers and stakeholders. Data collected through literature and the interviews were captured to provide the current status of warehousing in the context of energy efficiency, renewables, carbon emissions, and overall sustainability. The results are intended to inform areas for new research and deployment activities to achieving zero energy and zero carbon goals.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
AI-Enabled Discovery and Physics-Based Optimization of Energy Efficient Processing Strategies for Advanced Turbine Alloys (Final Technical Report)
In this project, the multi-organizational team of academic and industrial researchers from the University of Kentucky an aerospace and energy generation OEM partner has leveraged novel Digital Process Twin (DPT) models of process/structure interactions (i.e., process-induced surface integrity) to advance a paradigm of fully integrated computational materials engineering (ICME). Using efficient process models as the core of a digital process simulator for a reinforcement learning algorithm, the team has integrated industrial data and metrics of structure/performance/energy relationships and manufacturing-related energy metrics to optimize dynamic processing parameters for significantly improved life-cycle energy efficiency of advanced γ-TiAl low-pressure turbine (LPT) alloys, as indicated by a set of design relevant parameters (e.g., residual stresses and scrap rate). The key objective and anticipated outcome of the project was at least a 10% reduction in life-cycle embodied energy for a recently developed, γ-TiAl low-pressure turbine (LPT) alloy and nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718, through the adoption of the proposed AI-enabled process optimization approach. The final project outcomes significantly exceeded this original target, realizing manufacturing-related energy efficiency improvements of more than 130% for TiAl and up to 80% for Inconel 718. Rather than following the prevailing and highly inefficient empirical paradigm, the proposed study demonstrated the feasibility of adopting a digital, physics-based process design and optimization paradigm. The recurring need for manual intervention, rework, reinspection causes significant production bottlenecks and unnecessary expense associated with delivering the requisite component quality. The OEM partner, and turbine industry in general, expect to reap significant cost and resource savings if an AI-optimized set of parameters can be applied to specific machining operations. The technical scope of the proposed project involved the paving of a realistic path towards model-based and AI-enabled Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), and away from inefficient empirical process optimization and legacy manufacturing practices, which are no longer able to efficiently process novel high-performance turbine alloy materials. The project team will address the fundamental knowledge gap that currently exists within the ICME paradigm with respect to the process/structure/performance/energy impacts of finishing processes. While significant resources have been devoted to the ‘early stages’ of manufacturing, such as alloy design, primary and secondary processing, finishing processes have not been adequately integrated within ICME. To provide an actionable path towards model-based finishing process design (e.g., machining, burnishing, grinding, polishing), we will employ a novel AI-enabled process optimization paradigm, based on a computationally efficient, physics-based process simulator. Through limited experimental work to calibrate and validate our process simulator model via an advanced in-situ characterization technique and process optimization via reinforcement learning, the project will seek to demonstrate a viable alternative to the inefficient ‘legacy’ processing strategies, empirical testing and broad scope machining learning approaches, all of which fail to adequately consider complex process physics. The project team has identified an intermetallic γ-TiAl LPT alloy, which is currently being used as part of the OEM partner’s advanced gas turbine designs. This particular alloy poses significant manufacturing challenges during finishing operations, which limit the degree to which the current turbine design can be manufactured in an energy- and cost-efficient manner. Empirical testing and numerical modeling efforts to optimize processing parameters for γ-TiAl have not been able to resolve these manufacturing challenges, so the proposed physics-based AI-enabled optimization technology would offer a truly novel and transformative capability. The multi-organizational team of academic and industry experts from the UKY and the OEM partner will work together closely to demonstrate the analytical and experimental critical function and characteristic proof of concept of this novel approach.
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
Towards Energy–Efficient Direct Air Capture with Photochemically–Driven CO 2 Release and Solvent Regeneration
The intensive energy demands associated with solvent regeneration and CO 2 release in current direct air capture (DAC) technologies makes their deployment at the massive scales (GtCO 2 /year) required to positively impact the climate economically unfeasible. This challenge underscores the critical need to develop new DAC processes with significantly reduced energy costs. Recently, we developed a new approach to photochemically drive efficient release of CO 2 through an intermolecular proton transfer reaction by exploiting the unique properties of an indazole metastable-state photoacid (mPAH), opening a new avenue towards energy efficient on-demand CO 2 release and solvent regeneration using abundant solar energy instead of heat. In this Concept Article, we will describe the principle of our photochemically-driven CO 2 release approach for solvent-based DAC systems, discuss the essential prerequisites and conditions to realize this cyclable CO 2 release chemistry under ambient conditions. We outline the key findings of our approach, discuss the latest developments from other research laboratories, detail approaches used to monitor DAC systems in situ, and highlight experimental procedures for validating its feasibility. Finally, we conclude with a summary and outlook into the immediate challenges that must be addressed in order to fully exploit this novel photochemically-driven approach to DAC solvent regeneration.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Chapter 9: Metering Cross-Cutting Protocol. The Uniform Methods Project: Methods for Determining Energy-Efficiency Savings for Specific Measures
Estimated energy savings are calculated as the difference between the energy use during the baseline period and the energy use during the post installation period of the EEM. This chapter describes the physical properties measured in the process of evaluating EEMs and the specific metering methods for several types of measurements. Skill-level requirements and other operating considerations are discussed, including where, when, and how often measurements should be made. The subsequent section identifies metering equipment types and their respective measurement accuracies. This is followed by sections containing suggestions regarding proper data handling procedures and the categorization and definition of several load types.
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
Kentucky: Using LEAD Tool Data to Fund Energy Efficiency Programs
The Kentucky Office of Energy Policy (OEP) applied the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) web-based Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool to identify areas of their state with energy affordability needs. Kentucky OEP staff used the LEAD Tool to identify counties in Kentucky with the highest energy burden, which is the percentage of household income spent on energy. With this knowledge, Kentucky OEP staff allocated funds to relevant nonprofit organizations that provide home repairs, weatherization upgrades, and other solutions in areas where these services have the highest potential energy saving benefits and can reduce energy burden.
Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool, LEAD To↗
DOE-EFRC Center on Nanostructuring for Efficient Energy Conversion (CNEEC)
CNEEC’s mission has been to understand how nanostructuring of materials can enhance efficiency for solar energy conversion to produce hydrogen fuel and to solve fundamental cross-cutting problems. The overarching hypothesis underlying CNEEC research was that controlling, synthesizing and modifying materials at the nanometer scale increases the efficiency of energy conversion and storage devices and systems. In this pursuit, we emphasized the development of functional nanostructures that are based primarily on earth abundant and inexpensive materials.
08 HYDROGEN↗
Achieving Versatile Energy Efficiency With the WANDERER Biped Robot
Legged humanoid robots promise revolutionary mobility and effectiveness in environments built for humans. However, inefficient use of energy significantly limits their practical adoption. The humanoid biped walking anthropomorphic novelly-driven efficient robot for emergency response (WANDERER) achieves versatile, efficient mobility, and high endurance via novel drive-trains and passive joint mechanisms. Results of a test in which WANDERER walked for more than 4 h and covered 2.8 km on a treadmill, are presented. Results of laboratory experiments showing even more efficient walking are also presented and analyzed in this article. WANDERER's energetic performance and endurance are believed to exceed the prior literature in human-scale humanoid robots. This article describes WANDERER, the analytical methods and innovations that enable its design, and system-level energy efficiency results.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Energy efficiency package for rooftop unit replacement: laboratory testing and validation of energy savings
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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Chapter 20: Data Center IT Efficiency Measures Evaluation Protocol. The Uniform Methods Project: Methods for Determining Energy Efficiency Savings for Specific Measures
This chapter focuses on IT measures in the data center and examines the techniques and analysis methods used to verify savings that result from improving the efficiency of two specific pieces of IT equipment: servers and data storage.
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
Building Monitoring and Energy Efficiency Training for Small and Mid-Sized Commercial Buildings in Non-Urbanized Areas of Alaska
The goal of this project was to create an effective training that increases understanding, competency and capacity in monitoring critical building data. Mentorship, verification and follow-up ensured participants now have necessary skills to install and maintain building monitoring systems. This training sought to empower building managers and maintenance staff to properly and efficiently operate their buildings for energy savings and increased lifespan of equipment. Through the project, participants’ knowledge of the building was increased through hands-on training using a familiar building environment and eliminating common barriers to effective training through peer-to peer delivery. In successful cases the host organization will save money and resources due to more efficient operation of building equipment already in place.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Opportunities for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Multi-Modal Intra-City Freight Movement
This poster focuses on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's analysis of opportunities for freight movement energy savings via optimization and integration of existing/emerging intra-city goods delivery modes as well as an assessment of the efficacy and energy consumption impact of new technologies.
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
Observation and interpretation of energy efficient, diffuse direct current glow discharge at atmospheric pressure
A diffuse direct-current glow discharge was realized with low energy consumption and high energy utilization efficiency at atmospheric pressure. The formation of diffuse discharge was demonstrated by examining and comparing the electrical properties and optical emissions of plasmas. In combination with theoretical derivation and calculation, we draw guidelines that appearance of nitrogen ions at low electron density is crucial to enhance the ambipolar diffusion for the expansion of discharge channel and the increasing ambipolar diffusion near the cathode plays a key role in the onset of diffuse discharge. An individual-discharge-channel expansion model is proposed to explain the diffuse discharge formation.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Methane Catalytic Pyrolysis by Microwave and Thermal Heating over Carbon Nanotube-Supported Catalysts: Productivity, Kinetics, and Energy Efficiency
Methane catalytic pyrolysis, which is the reaction to produce hydrogen and carbon without emitting CO 2 , represents an approach for decarbonization using natural gas as an energy resource. In this work, the endothermic pyrolysis reaction was carried out under two heating scenarios: convective thermal heating and microwave-driven irradiative heating. The pyrolysis reaction was conducted at 550-600 °C over carbon nanotube-supported Ni-Pd and Ni-Cu catalysts. On both catalysts, an enhanced methane conversion rate was observed under microwave irradiation. The enhanced catalytic activity was hypothetically caused by the presence of free electrons in the carbon atoms within CNT that enabled the CNT support to absorb microwave energy effectively and to be heated efficiently by microwave. The microwave catalytic pyrolysis has shown improvement in kinetics, where the apparent activation energy dropped from 45.5 kJ/mol under conventional convective heating to 24.8 kJ/mol under microwave irradiation. When the methane conversion rate is increased by 37 %, the microwave power consumption only changed by 10.8 %. The research demonstrated the potential of transforming natural gas to clean hydrogen and value-added carbon in a more energy-efficient way. Process simulation and techno-economic analysis showed that potentially hydrogen minimum selling price of about $1 /kg H 2 could be achieved.
03 NATURAL GAS↗
Estimating the cost of saving electricity through U.S. utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs
The program administrator and total cost of saved energy allow comparison of the cost of efficiency across utilities, states, and program types, and can identify potential performance improvements. Comparing program administrator cost with the total cost of saved energy can indicate the degree to which programs leverage investment by participants. Based on reported total costs and savings information for U.S. utility efficiency programs from 2009 to 2013, here we estimate the savings-weighted average total cost of saved electricity across 20 states at 0.046 per kilowatt-hour (kW h), comparing favorably with energy supply costs and retail rates. Programs targeted on the residential market averaged 0.030 per kW h compared to 0.053 per kW h for non-residential programs. Lighting programs, with an average total cost of 0.018 per kW h, drove lower savings costs in the residential market. We provide estimates for the most common program types and find that program administrators and participants on average are splitting the costs of efficiency in half. More consistent, standardized and complete reporting on efficiency programs is needed. Differing definitions and quantification of costs, savings and savings lifetimes pose challenges for comparing program results. Reducing these uncertainties could increase confidence in efficiency as a resource among planners and policymakers.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit”: Creating Alignment between Cities and Utility Energy Efficiency Programs
Cities are significantly acting as market catalysts to encourage and require building owners to improve energy performance. Yet, cities implementing building performance policies that require actions like audits or re-tuning may experience conflicts with their regulated utilities’ efficiency programs, which depend on energy savings being additional—not attributable to market adoption or preexisting laws. These utility programs preclude free ridership, meaning that the energy savings should be achieved by someone who otherwise would not have acted in the absence of the incentive or rebate. Utilities may decline to offer incentives where cities require particular actions, in turn dissuading cities from enacting ordinances that would lead to further efficiency improvements. This regulatory challenge impedes what could otherwise be a shared goal of improving energy efficiency. Finding solutions that allow city ordinances and utility programs to coexist is vital as cities are taking climate and energy matters into their own hands. Cities and utilities have so far navigated this problem informally. One potential approach is to apply established models from the world of energy codes, where some state regulators have permitted utilities to earn energy savings credit from supporting adoption of energy codes, or from improving code compliance. We consider how this approach and other frameworks could be applied to building performance policies. More specifically, this paper lays out a theory for how utilities can collaborate with local partners to drive deeper energy savings, with oversight from regulators, and examines the question of attributing the savings between the city and utility.
Crandall, Kelly↗