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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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Techno-economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Biomass-Derived Polyhydroxyurethane and Nonisocyanate Polythiourethane Production and Reprocessing
Not Available
Evaluating the techno-economic potential of defossilized air-to-syngas pathways
Defossilizing the chemical industry using air-to-chemical processes offers a promising solution to driving down the emission trajectory to net-zero by 2050.
Process intensified lauric acid self-ketonization and its economic and environmental impact on biolubricant base oil production
Intensified lauric acid self-ketonization and its impact on biolubricant base oil production.
Performance and Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Three-Phase, 50-kW SiC-Based PV Inverter
The technical capabilities and benefits of silicon carbide (SiC) compared to silicon (Si) based power electronics converters as well as the premium associated with using SiC instead of Si are well understood. This work proves that the benefits provided by SiC, such as increased efficiency, would result in a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) compared to both commercially available, state-of-the-art inverters and the benchmark commercial system cost calculated for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office's SunShot program. The LCOE is calculated to be same as the commercial benchmark despite the installed system cost being 8% more than the benchmark. The LCOE calculation is based on both experiential values obtained from testing the SiC photovoltaic (PV) inverter and on the bottoms-up modeled volume cost for the same 50-kW SiC-based inverter. The PV system used for the LCOE model is also explained, and the system cost breakout is presented in this paper. Furthermore, multiple scenarios with variations in the PV system are presented to show their effect on the system LCOE.
A Techno-Economic Analysis of a 50MWth Light-Trapping Cavity-Planar Solar Receiver Tower Capital Expenditures and its Cost Mitigation Strategies
To maximize thermal efficiency, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has proposed a light-trapping cavity-planar receiver design intended to capture energy from reradiating surfaces. This system implements a macroscale light trapping mechanism induced by panels with triangular channels, this mechanism allows for elevated temperatures on the receiver panels and in turn the temperature of the HTF; using this design coupled with the implementation of a fluidized particle flow as the HTF, it can be expected for some components to reach a peak working temperature of nearly 1000 degrees C cyclically throughout each day-night cycle. While these temperatures correlate to higher efficiency of the CSP tower they also demand intense thermomechanical properties from the materials used to make the receiver panels. In this analysis, we will list our assumptions to provide clarity on the significance of our calculation. This cost analysis will be conducted using a combination of both case study data and surveying industry to determine costs that are relevant to the current market trends. This analysis represents an early attempt to establish the Capital Expenditures required for a CSP tower of such design to determine the feasibility of implementing such a system in the industry.
Parametric Modeling and Economic Analysis of a 2MW th 3-Stream sCO 2 Heat Exchanger
Here, this paper presents the design and cost optimization of a novel 2MW th 3-stream sCO2 plate-fin heat exchanger. This heat exchanger design is unique in that it uses reduced metal oxide particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger for cost-effective energy storage applications. The design uses low velocity, laminar air as the re-oxidizing reactant to transfer the heat of the re-oxidizing reaction to a sCO2 power loop. The design of the heat exchanger is based on a 2-D, 3-fluid plate/fin heat transfer model. The model parameterizes the size, shape, and number of passages of the heat exchanger to calculate the temperature profile, pressure drop, and fluid velocities of all three fluids. Global heat exchanger parameters such as the effectiveness and total heat transferred to the sCO2 are then calculated for overall performance. Due to the value and increased use of sCO2 heat exchangers in power cycles, a cost model of the system based on the unique high temperature/high pressure operating conditions was created using quotes from reference projects and market analysis. These quoted air-to-sCO2 heat exchangers are then processed using multiple weighting factors pertinent to heat exchanger design, including heat exchanger type, maximum temperature, differential pressures, fluids, duty, and more. These factors are then used in an exponential function in order to generate a parameterized cost curve. The design and cost of the heat exchanger are then optimized using the SMPSO genetic algorithm in Python. The optimization objectives for the system are to maximize the overall system effectiveness, including an air recuperator for preheating, and to minimize unit costs. Additional constraints are added to the system for the sCO2 and air pressure drops, air velocity to reduce particle entrainment, and the length and volume of the heat exchanger.
High Yield, Economical and Environmentally Benign Production of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Ash [Abstract]
Fly ash stored in landfills and ponds across the United States is an attractive, abundant domestic resource for the cost-effective recovery of rare earth elements (REE) and other critical minerals (CM). Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and its team members, Winner Water Services (WWS) and University of Kentucky/Center for Applied Energy Research (UK/CAER) successfully executed a multiphase program that developed and demonstrated pilot plant operations for cost-effective and environmentally-friendly production of rare earth element oxide (REO) concentrates, and the critical minerals scandium and aluminum (in the forms of salts or oxide products). We constructed and operated a sub-scale (0.5 kg/day) micropilot facility to demonstrate the key physical and chemical processing operations, predict yields, and troubleshoot process bottlenecks. The project team then designed, constructed and operated two decoupled pilot plant operations: (1) an operational pilot plant for physical separation processes with a capacity of 0.4 metric tons per day (tpd) where we optimized processes to produce selected ash fractions as the feedstock for chemical processing as well as valuable byproducts such as cement substitute, cenospheres, magnetic ash and secondary fuel carbon, and (2) an operational pilot plant for chemical processing with a capacity of 0.5 tpd that developed optimized processes for the production of: (a) REO concentrates, (b) critical minerals recovery (Sc, Al), and (c) beneficiated ash as valuable byproduct suitable for cement applications.
End-Use Savings Shapes Measure Documentation: Economizers
Building on the successfully completed effort to calibrate and validate the U.S. Department of Energy's ResStock™ and ComStock™ models over the past 3 years, the objective of this work is to produce national data sets that empower analysts working for federal, state, utility, city, and manufacturer stakeholders to answer a broad range of analysis questions. The goal of this work is to develop energy efficiency, electrification, and demand flexibility end-use load shapes (electricity, gas, propane, or fuel oil) that cover a majority of the high-impact, market-ready (or nearly market-ready) measures. "Measures" refers to energy efficiency variables that can be applied to buildings during modeling. An end-use savings shape is the difference in energy consumption between a baseline building and a building with an energy efficiency, electrification, or demand flexibility measure applied. It results in a time-series profile that is broken down by end use and fuel (electricity or on-site gas, propane, or fuel oil use) at each time step. ComStock is a highly granular, bottom-up model that uses multiple data sources, statistical sampling methods, and advanced building energy simulations to estimate the annual subhourly energy consumption of the commercial building stock across the United States. The baseline model intends to represent the U.S. commercial building stock as it existed in 2018. The methodology and results of the baseline model are discussed in the final technical report of the End-Use Load Profiles project.
Evaluating the economic impacts of using enzymatic membranes to optimize bicarbonate production and delivery to open raceway ponds
Gas sparging is the most commonly used method for delivering CO2 to algal cultures in Open Raceway Ponds (ORPs). While this method is well-tested and effective, these systems experience large amounts of outgassing to the surrounding atmosphere and often achieve carbon utilization efficiencies (CUE) lower than 30%. With such large losses, system are overdesigned to provide CO2 gas in extreme excess, resulting in increased capital and operational expenses. This research is focused on the development, testing, and implementation of a hydrogel membrane seeded with the enzyme carbonic anhydrase and designed to convert gaseous CO2 into aqueous bicarbonate and deliver this inorganic carbon (iC) directly to the algae pond. Despite increased capital expenses for the module, bicarbonate storage tank, and added pumps and infrastructure, preliminary results suggest that the membrane module has the potential to reduce the minimum biomass selling price by 35% by significantly reducing the operational expenditure for CO2.
Produced Water Quality Standards & Techno-economic Analysis for Alternative Treatment Trains
This work presents NETL’s efforts in analyzing the performance and cost of a of water treatment trains for processing produced water. Levelized cost of water (LCOW) and specific energy consumption (SEC) figures are provided for both treatment trains. Permeate compositions are compared to the Type I produced water standards for the state of Texas.
Assessing the Impact of Lubrication on Efficiency and Life Cycle Economics of the US Wind Turbine Fleet: Cooperative Research and Development (Final Report)
As with any mechanical system, lubrication plays a key role in the performance of wind turbines used to generate electricity. The lubricant design offers a way to optimize the competing requirements of efficiency, component reliability, and maintenance strategy. This project will estimate the impact of improved lubrication on the levelized cost of energy of the US wind turbine fleet as a means of identifying opportunities for disruptive innovation or system-level optimization. The models developed will provide a clear understanding of the benefits and potential for advanced lubrication of wind turbines. The project will enable identification of high value targets for wind turbine component suppliers and a roadmap that highlights where the greatest return on technology investment can be achieved. This will promote efficient resource allocation in areas of new technology development.
The Economic Accessibility of CO2 Sequestration through Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) in the US
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is one strategy to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. To assess the potential scale and cost of CO2 sequestration from BECCS in the US, this analysis models carbon sequestration net of supply chain emissions and costs of biomass production, delivery, power generation, and CO2 capture and sequestration in saline formations. The analysis includes two biomass supply scenarios (near-term and long-term), two biomass logistics scenarios (conventional and pelletized), and two generation technologies (pulverized combustion and integrated gasification combined cycle). Results show marginal cost per tonne CO2 (accounting for costs of electricity and CO2 emissions of reference power generation scenarios) as a function of CO2 sequestered (simulating capture of up to 90% of total CO2 sequestration potential) and associated spatial distribution of resources and generation locations for the array of scenario options. Under a near-term scenario using up to 206 million tonnes per year of biomass, up to 181 million tonnes CO2 can be sequestered annually at scenario-average costs ranging from $62 to $137 per tonne CO2; under a long-term scenario using up to 740 million tonnes per year of biomass, up to 737 million tonnes CO2 can be sequestered annually at scenario-average costs ranging from $42 to $92 per tonne CO2. These estimates of CO2 sequestration potential may be reduced if future competing demand reduces resource availability or may be increased if displaced emissions from conventional power sources are included. Results suggest there are large-scale opportunities to implement BECCS at moderate cost in the US, particularly in the Midwest, Plains States, and Texas.
Research and Development Economics
Future of research and development and relationship to total economy
An economic and technical analysis of a partially reusable space vehicle system.
Partially reusable space vehicle systems examined and compared for operational costs, savings, feasibility, flexibility, simplification, etc
Construction of an Athena-Like Economics Model
No abstract available
Strategies for Co-Processing in Refineries: Techno-Economic & Refinery Impact Analysis
Refinery LP model for refinery impact analysis, co-processing at mile hydro-cracking unit, co-processing at fluidized catalytic cracking unit and discussions and future plans.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Biofuel Production via Catalytic Upgrading of Carbohydrates in Paper Sludge
A full-plant model was developed using correlations from a rigorous mass and energy balance and based on experimental results to determine the MFSP and its Sensitivity Analysis in the production of a hydrocarbon product from Paper Sludge. In this base case a preliminary MFSP of $5.97/GGE has been determined. This value is higher than the results reported in recent NREL reports. The difference is explained since much larger capacity plants are considered in those reports, and because we are not considering the production of co-products that bring the fuel costs down. The obtained model is being used to guide the next steps in our laboratory work since the team is now aware of which are the more sensitive process parameters "impacting" the MFSP of the final product.