Hydropower development potential at non-powered dams: Data needs and research gaps
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13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Results for “Retrofit”
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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Demonstration and characterization of insertable passive thermal switches for dynamic building envelopes
A dynamic building envelope integrated with thermal energy storage, such as phase change material (PCM), is an emerging technology that offers a promising solution to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. This study reports the development of insertable thermal switches, which modulate thermal resistance, thereby making building envelopes dynamic and enhancing the use of free ambient heating and cooling. The reported thermal switches are passive, meaning they work solely based on indoor and outdoor temperatures. A single switch when inserted into 10 × 10-in (0.064-m 2 ) XPS foam board insulation demonstrates effective thermal conductivity of 0.050 W/m-K in the resistive state and 0.285 W/m-K in the conductive state. Thermal switches exhibit an effective switching ratio of 5.7, with no noticeable degradation in performance over 770 cycles. Additionally, when integrated into a wall sample containing a PCM layer, switches significantly reduce the PCM solidification time by 43.2% during the cooling process.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Blueprint for Integrating Grid-Interactive Efficient Building (GEB) Technologies into U.S. General Services Administration Performance Contracts
This document provides recommended strategies for increasing implementation of grid-interactive efficient building (GEB) measures in federal performance contracts. This document outlines distributed energy resource screening processes, contractual considerations for GEB technologies within performance contracts, and guidance for integration of GEB analysis procedures and technologies into each phase of a performance contract.
ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION,↗
Bringing Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) Tools into the Mainstream: Retro Commissioning and Continuous Commissioning of HVAC and Refrigeration Systems
HVAC systems in the commercial building sector consume about 3.4 quads of energy annually. Of all the HVAC systems, packaged rooftop air–conditioning units (RTUs) provide cooling and heating for over 60 percent of the commercial building floorspace (about 90 billion ft2) in the U.S. and they are a significant source of energy consumption and peak demand. All HVAC systems suffer from faults that impact thermal comfort and increase energy consumption. There are several commercially available Automated Fault Detection and Diagnostic (AFDD) tools on the market that can detect and diagnose faults, and if those faults are corrected, can save significant national energy. However, there are multiple market barriers for these tools including lack of independent verification of their performance in the field in terms of their technical capabilities, ease of use and installation.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Performance Characterization and Energy Savings Assessment of a Radial Flux Surface Permanent Magnet Motor Technology
This project is part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) "Commercialization Assistance Program" to provide technical expertise to help emerging companies overcome technical barriers to commercialization. In this study, NREL has evaluated the efficiency and energy saving potential of a novel motor technology designed by ZEUS Motor Inc. located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. The motor expands on permanent magnet AC motor (PMAC) design to create a new "radial flux, surface PMAC", or RF-sPMAC motor that is expected to outperform other novel motor technologies on the market. Here, the motor showed considerable energy benefits over typical induction motors. The motor benefits from a tightly-packed magnetic steel and copper stator that allows the motor size to be reduced to a thin disc with an internal cavity 1/30th the size of a traditional induction motor. The housing is also aluminum which is magnetically benign. This eliminates the need for external cooling (up to 25 HP), in addition to reducing power consumption.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project: Wainwright, Alaska. Cohort 1 Technical Assistance: Assessment of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Energy Storage Options
This project identified pathways to reduce energy consumption and enhance indoor environmental quality and resilience of a 1,500-square-foot former federal armory building owned by the tribe as it is renovated as a community multipurpose facility. The scope included thermal evaluation of multiple building efficiency measures, and a techno-economic exploration of an on-site renewable energy and integrated energy storage systems.
25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
Validation Study of Experimental Insulating and Air-Sealing Technology for Enclosed Roof Cavities
Validation Study of Experimental Insulating and Air-Sealing Technology for Enclosed Roof Cavities, explores a new minimally invasive system known as Pinhole Insulation ® for retroft insulation of cathedral ceilings, flat roofs, dormer roofs, and other enclosed roof cavities. It also explores the validation of the associated equipment, software, and materials used in this application. The Pinhole Insulation process essentially consists of drilling a ¼” hole in the ceiling surface and then injecting closed cell polyurethane foam such that the foam is deposited on the interior surface of the exterior roof sheathing. In a typical cathedral ceiling with R19 batts, the R value will be improved by at least 60% and the cavity will become completely air sealed. The system is quick, minimally invasive and at least an order of magnitude less expensive than alternatives such as removing the ceiling surface and spraying closed cell foam.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
National Simulation Analysis of 120V Heat Pump Water Heaters
This presentation details efforts to integrate 120V HPWHs into ResStock, including detailing the required upgrades to the ResStock tools. Example results from this dataset are shown to inform the audience of what will be available in the next release.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Legacy Devices and Interoperability: Developing a Scientific Strategy for Inclusion and Representation of Older Devices
Legacy devices across grid, transportation, and building systems present complex modernization challenges that extend far beyond simple equipment obsolescence. Pulling from presentations and break-out group discussions from this workshop on legacy devices across all three sectors, this report examines the interconnected factors driving replacement decisions, documents successful modernization initiatives from recent years, and provides strategic guidance for coordinating infrastructure transformation across these critical sectors.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Reducing Deferrals by Integrating Health Homes with Weatherization
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) improves energy efficiency and household health for low-income families, yet a substantial number of otherwise eligible homes are deferred from due to health and safety concerns in their homes, including mold, moisture damage, or structural deficiencies. These deferred homes are often occupied by marginalized or otherwise vulnerable residents who may be exposed to elevated indoor air pollutant concentration. Integrating Healthy Homes (HH) interventions with weatherization has been proposed as a strategy to reduce deferrals, address environmental justice concerns, and improve health outcomes. However, limited data on the health and economic implications of such integration exist. This study aimed to assess the potential health benefits and savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) associated with integrating Healthy Homes interventions into weatherization programs for homes typically deferred from WAP services. We collected indoor air pollutant data from homes undergoing health home renovations, including fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and formaldehyde, with sampling times up to one month. Except for fomaldehyde, which was measured using passive UMEx badges, the other metrics were measured using the airQ Pro indoor air quality monitor.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Combining Generative Modeling and Advanced Control for Building Scenario Generation
Buildings make up a large portion of energy consumption in the U.S. today. Understanding their energy consumption patterns can improve their efficiency, but requires detailed models that rely on incomplete or unknown information. Previous work has shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to predict missing information and even suggest upgrades to improve building efficiency. However, building upgrades may require undesirable upfront costs. Oppositely, advanced control could improve building efficiency with negligible upfront cost. To explore the tradeoffs between these two approaches, in this work we propose a workflow to compute optimal temperature setpoint schedules to minimize energy consumption and operational cost. Results show that modifying the temperature setpoints in a building using model predictive control (MPC) can effectively reduce its energy consumption and operational cost. This optimal operation cannot fully meet a desired goal. However, we show that by considering MPC in addition to component upgrades, a desired goal can be met with significantly less upfront costs.
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
Best Practices for Upgrading Fluorescent Troffers to LED
This fact sheet provides guidance on the various factors to consider when deciding on an LED upgrade for a fluorescent system, such as installation costs, operating costs, desired lighting levels, and performance criteria.
lighting, LED, troffer, retrofit, fluorescent, lum↗
Modular intelligent ventilator platform for new and existing residential building ventilation
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
42 ENGINEERING↗
Production of Low-Cost Aerogel Insulation by a Continuous Manufacturing Process
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Energy Efficiency Analysis for Residents of North Birmingham, Alabama
The community of North Birmingham, Alabama, participated in the Communities LEAP pilot program. As part of this technical assistance pilot, residential buildings, energy efficiency, and electrification were analyzed. This factsheet has a summary of the results.
building envelope↗