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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Building Tune-Up Accelerator Program (Final Technical Report)

In 2016, the City of Seattle passed a mandatory Building Tune-Up requirement for all commercial buildings 50,000 square feet (SF) and larger as part of its Climate Action strategy. The requirement is phased in by size with large buildings (greater than 200,000 SF) required first. This allowed Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) to offer the Building Tune-Up Accelerator (TUA) Program to the “mid-size” building market (less than 100,000 SF) to meet the requirements early. With funding from the US DOE, a package of technical and financial support was developed for building owners and energy service providers to encourage this hard-to-reach market to participate in the tune-up—and even go beyond requirements for greater energy savings. Seattle City Light, the municipal electric utility, offered participants a simple per square foot financial incentive. Partners at the University of Washington Integrated Design Lab, Smart Buildings Center and Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) offered service provider trainings, analytical tools and technical support. This final technical report summarizes the program, projected energy and emissions savings and lessons learned from program development to implementation to final evaluation for the 102 buildings that participated.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Risk-Informed Safety Analysis for Accident Tolerant Fuels

Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF) are being tested by different nuclear vendors and research organization and their introduction in light water reactors fleet is planned for the second half of the 2020`s. In the framework of the US-DOE Light-Water Reactor Sustainability program, Risk-Informed Safety Analysis pathway (LWRS-RISA), research activities are being conducted at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for developing tools and methods that can help the industry in quantifying the ATF introduction benefits. In this paper we describe the developed risk-informed methodology, the codes improvements and we present some results for selected accidental conditions. The developed methodology combines INL state-of-the-art deterministic Best Estimate tools like RELAP5-3D code, and Probabilistic Risk Analysis tools like RAVEN and SAPHIRE codes. The analyses are performed on a three-loops pressurized water reactor (PWR) simulating accidental conditions like Station Blackout and LB-LOCA and considering near-term ATF (FeCrAl and Chromium-coated clads). Finally, we show, through our methodologies, how the delta-Core Damage Frequency can be assessed.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

PV CAMPER (Progress Report)

The objective of the Photovoltaic Collaborative to Advance Multi-climate and Performance Research (PVCAMPER) is to create a multi-climate research platform similar to the US DOE Regional Test Center (RTC) program. Overall, the goal is to foster collaborative research and to build an international organization dedicated to sharing data and exchanging best practices related to PV performance.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Energy Storage Financing: Project and Portfolio Valuation

This study investigates the issues and challenges surrounding energy storage project and portfolio valuation and provide insights in to improving visibility into the process for developers, capital providers, and customers so they can make more informed choices. Energy storage project valuation methodology is typical of power sector projects through evaluating various revenue and cost assumptions in a project economic model. The difference is that energy storage projects have many more design and operational variables to incorporate, and the governing market rules that control these variables are still evolving. This makes project valuation for energy storage more difficult. As the number of operating projects grow, portfolios of these projects are being developed, garnering the interest of larger investors. Valuation challenges of these portfolios can be even more challenging as market role and geographical diversity can actually exacerbate the variability, not mitigate it. By proposing additional visibility of key factors and drivers for industry participants, the US DOE can reduce investment risk, expanding both the number and types of investors, plus helping emerging energy storage technology into sustained commercialization.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Measuring Heat Transfer Coefficients for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Cycle Recuperators

This paper describes the measurement of convective heat transfer coefficients and friction factors for sCO 2 flowing in pin-fin patterned pipes at the US DoE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, WV. The measurement procedures were validated by conducting benchmark tests with smooth stainless-steel tube and comparing the results with published correlations for Nusselt number (𝑁𝑢) and friction factor. Over Reynolds numbers (Re D ) ranging from 5×104 to 2.5×105 , measured 𝑁𝑢 was within 5% of the Dittus-Boelter correlation and measured friction factors were within 5% of the McAdams correlation for smooth tube flow.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Field Scale Testing of the Thermocatalytic Ethylene Production Process Using Ethane and Actual Coal Fired Flue Gas Co 2

This report provides a summary of the work performed and results obtained from a project supported by the US DOE (DE-FE0031713). In this study, Southern Research (SR) completed field-scale demonstration of a rationally designed novel nano-engineered catalyst driven thermochemical process to produce high yield of ethylene by using CO 2 derived from actual coal-fired flue gas and ethane. This process, referred to here as “CO 2 -ODH” due to CO 2 use via oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) mechanism, follows a modified pathway to classical steam cracking (SC) process of ethylene production thus paving the way for significantly reduced CO 2 footprint, marginally improved thermodynamics, higher product selectivity and lower reaction temperatures.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development and Demonstration of a Fuel-Efficient, Class 8 Tractor & Trailer Engine System (SuperTruck II)

Navistar presents the SuperTruck II (ST II) Final Report to the Unites States Department of Energy (US DOE), which covers the five Budget Periods (BPs) from 10-1-2016 through 6-30-2022. For ST II, Navistar built on the achievements of the SuperTruck I (ST I) Program as a catalyst to continue critical research, design and development, testing, and operations to reach the ambitious goals of the ST II project. This approach allowed Navistar to continue contributing to the essential needs of our nation for safe, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of goods and services, as we reduced negative environmental effects and improved operational productivity. This document contains information specified in DOE F 4600.2, Final Scientific/Technical Report DOE F 241.3, B. SCIENTIFIC/TECHNICAL REPORTS, explaining how we met and exceeded program requirements. Throughout this Final Report, Navistar extracted information from documents prepared during the project that represent our management, design and development, building, and testing efforts to meet and exceed SuperTruck II project goals. Navistar followed Plan requirements to achieve / exceed Project Objectives: a) >100% improvement in vehicle freight efficiency (FE) (on ton-MPG basis) relative to 2009 baseline with stretch goal of 140% improvement [actual: 170%); b) >55% engine brake thermal efficiency (BTE) demonstrated in operational engine at a 65-mph cruise point on a dynamometer – ≥31% increase from 2009 baseline [actual: 55.20% of combined BTE) ; and c) development and implementation of commercially cost effective technologies (in terms of a simple payback). Technology selection / development path focused on developing technologies applicable for production within 3-year approach, while ensuring technology readiness and cost of ownership for end users. The Program was organized into five budget periods: Requirements / Technology Assessment and Initial Hardware Testing; Technology Development and Concept Readiness Demonstration; Technology Finalization and Validation Tractor / Trailer Fabrication, Integration and Commissioning Demonstration; and Fuel Economy (FE) and Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) and Program Completion. Leadership was provided by DOE, with tasks performed by laboratories (Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory); partners at Bosch, TPI, Dana, and J.B. Hunt; , and support from University of Michigan and Clemson University. Navistar lead this team with Principal Investigator / Contracting Officer; Project Manager (PM); Vehicle, Engine, and Aftertreatment Engineers; Finance Manager, Technical Program Leads, and Legal/IP; and other key personnel. Work also included personnel in risk management; funding / budget / finance. Work involved analysis, development, testing, and down selection of individual/system engine, aftertreatment, and vehicle technologies, with integration of selected technologies into a prototype vehicle for demonstration of fuel-efficiency gain. Work also included component/integrated system level development of truck and trailer aerodynamics, base engine efficiency, advanced aftertreatment, combustion efficiency, waste heat recovery, hybrid powertrain, reduced rolling resistance, weight reduction, idle reduction, and driver feedback. As ST II progressed, Navistar performed computer-based modeling / simulations of technologies focused on the primary operational areas: Engine, Aftertreatment, and Vehicle. During the ST II Program, the COVID Virus outbreak unexpectedly challenged by the effects of, which affected staffing, scheduling, design, supplies, availability of materials, production procedures, and testing. The DOE responded by extending the program by three quarters to ensure that project tasks were completed for this vital project. Focus continued on analyzing, developing, testing, and down selecting individual-/system-level engine and vehicle technologies for integration of the final selected technologies into a prototype vehicle that would demonstrate fuel-efficiency gains made possible through these technologies. This included component/integrated system-level development of truck and trailer aerodynamics, base engine efficiency, advanced aftertreatment, combustion efficiency, waste heat recovery, solar power, distributed and intelligent vehicle power, hybrid powertrain, reduced rolling resistance, weight reduction, idle reduction, and driver feedback. Throughout the program, function, reliability, and performance at all levels were ensured through testing. Proof of this approach was demonstrated in multiple, on-road demonstrations: Scenario A (Flatland) Fuel Economy, Scenario B (Hilly) Fuel Economy, and City Cycle Tests. Other benefits derived from ST II included new/improved products, publications, patents, and next-step capabilities related to electric/hydrogen vehicles and autonomous driving.

Zukouski, Russ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pressure safety approach for PIP-II cryogenic distribution system and cryomodules

The Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) is a superconducting linear accelerator being built at Fermilab that will provide 800 MeV proton beam for neutrino production. The linac consists of a total of twenty-three (23) cryomodules of five (5) different types. Cooling is required at 2K, 5K and 40K. The Cryogenic Distribution System (CDS) consists of a Distribution Valve Box, ~285 m of cryogenic transfer line, modular Bayonet Cans to interface with cryomodules, and a Turnaround Can. The cryogenic system must provide protection from over-pressure by sizing pressure relief devices for all volumes and process line circuits. The cryomodule cavity circuits have dual pressure ratings, 4.1 bara when cold and 2.05 bara when warm (T>80K). Worst case relieving cases will be identified. The methods for determining heat flux will be presented. For the relieving occurring in the linac tunnel, flow must vent to outside to avoid an oxygen deficiency hazard. Also, we will present vacuum vesse l relief sizing to protect the cryogenic distribution system vacuum shells from over pressure during an internal line rupture. The project is funded by US DOE Offices of Science, High Energy Physics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Precision measurement of the magnetic field in run 1 of the g-2 experiment

The Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) is a superconducting linear accelerator being built at Fermilab that will provide 800 MeV proton beam for neutrino production. The linac consists of a total of twenty-three (23) cryomodules of five (5) different types. Cooling is required at 2K, 5K and 40K. The Cryogenic Distribution System (CDS) consists of a Distribution Valve Box, ~285 m of cryogenic transfer line, modular Bayonet Cans to interface with cryomodules, and a Turnaround Can. The cryogenic system must provide protection from over-pressure by sizing pressure relief devices for all volumes and process line circuits. The cryomodule cavity circuits have dual pressure ratings, 4.1 bara when cold and 2.05 bara when warm (T>80K). Worst case relieving cases will be identified. The methods for determining heat flux will be presented. For the relieving occurring in the linac tunnel, flow must vent to outside to avoid an oxygen deficiency hazard. Also, we will present vacuum vessel relief sizing to protect the cryogenic distribution system vacuum shells from over pressure during an internal line rupture. The project is funded by US DOE Offices of Science, High Energy Physics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Battery Energy Storage System Evaluation Method

This report describes development of an effort to assess Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) performance that the US DOE Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and others can employ to evaluate performance of deployed BESS or solar photovoltaic (PV) +BESS systems. The proposed method is based on actual battery charge and discharge metered data to be collected from BESS systems provided by federal agencies participating in the FEMP's performance assessment initiatives. Long-term (e.g., at least one year) time series (e.g., hourly) charge and discharge data are analyzed to provide approximate estimates of key performance indicators (KPIs).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dual-Purpose Canister Filling Demonstration Project Progress Report at ORNL, 2023

The US DOE Office of Nuclear Energy is investigating the feasibility of direct disposal of dual-purpose canisters (DPCs) in a hypothetical geological repository to offset the potential requirement to repackage spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from existing DPCs into smaller, disposal-ready canisters. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is currently evaluating the feasibility of filling void space in loaded DPCs with an engineered material to prevent a criticality event caused by groundwater/moderator intrusion. Metal alloys are being investigated as a filler material because of their relatively low viscosities when molten, which may facilitate their injection via an existing drainpipe that runs almost the full length of the DPC. ORNL’s strategy for evaluating filler viability includes simulations and physical demonstrations of filling and casting behavior, as well as evaluations of materials for compatibility in the repository environment. Filling of DPCs in this manner is expected to mitigate the risk associated with a post-closure criticality event during the repository performance assessment time frame (10,000 years or greater). Efforts in this fiscal year focused on (1) destructive analysis of experimental filler castings made in FY 2022, (2) a report outlining a conceptual design of a DPC filling facility (Fortner et al., 2023, M3SF 23OR010305044/ ORNL/SPR-2023/2921, May 31, 2023), (3) a report on affected features, events, and processes (FEPs) due to DPC filling (Price et al., 2023, M3SF-23SN010305093, issuance pending), (4) developing and testing a more practical alloy filler based upon a Sn-Al eutectic, and (5) modeling the heating and cooling dynamics of a DPC subjected to molten metal filling. The preliminary results from each of these tasks support the feasibility of filling DPCs with metal as a strategy against the possibility of criticality in the repository. The FY 2022 casting was found to penetrate even very small orifices in the mold and internal structures. Preliminary testing of the Sn-Al eutectic indicate little interaction of the melt with Zircaloy cladding. Thermal modelling shows that a filled DPC will cool to manageable temperatures within 2-3 days, which is likely manageable in a facility.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Environmentally Assisted Fatigue in Light Water Reactor Environment

This report summarizes the Environmentally Assisted Fatigue (EAF) research conducted at ANL under the US DOE Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program. Starting from a rich background in theoretical and experimental EAF, ANL previously developed an approach to evaluate fatigue performance of reactor materials in light water reactor environments with the correction factor F en . The approach was based on a large body of experimental work performed at ANL and elsewhere, and was consistent with American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)’s methodology governing the design and construction of reactor components. In recent years, the program was focused on component fatigue prediction and made several major and fundamental contributions in this area. These accomplishments help meet the needs identified by the industry concerning component level fatigue predictions in complex, transient conditions. The main contribution of the ANL program involved the development of a system-level model for estimating residual strain and life of nuclear reactor coolant system components under connected-system-thermal-mechanical boundary conditions. The goal was to predict the stress hotspots, strain residuals, strain amplitudes and the resulting fatigue lives. Thermal-mechanical stress analysis was performed considering thermal stratification and a design-basis reactor loading cycle. Based on the finite element (FE) model results, the strain residuals, strain amplitudes and resulting fatigue lives of reactor coolant system (RCS) components were predicted. The results show that some of the RCS components can have significantly different strain amplitudes, residual strain, and fatigue lives, despite having similar geometry and material. In addition, the simulated component-level strain profile can guide the selection of appropriate test inputs for conducting laboratory-scale EAF tests. Building upon the system-level model, ANL developed a digital twin (DT) framework to predict the structural states and associated fatigue life of components in real-time. This framework is a comprehensive system designed to predict the structural states and fatigue lives of reactor components. It includes multiple models and integrates artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and FE based modeling tools to evaluate the structural states and fatigue lives.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mass transfer coefficients, kL, and air-CO2 ingassing rates in 3.4 m2 and 1-acre raceway ponds.

The US DOE 2016 Billion Ton Update (Langholtz 2016) projected that CO2 in flue-gas from power plants or similar sources would limit U.S. algal biofuel potential to under 5 billion gallons gasoline equivalent (gge) per year, due to lack of sufficient land, water and other requirements near such flue gas sources. 2nd generation carbon capture technologies are proposed to overcome this constraint (Davis 2017), and could expand this resource potential nearly 10-fold, assuming CO2 costs near the future, 2025 DOE NETL, goal of $40/metric ton CO2. An alternative pathway is the direct uptake of air CO2 into the algal ponds through an increase in the air-CO2 transfer rate resulting from the reaction of CO2 with hydroxide ions. However, such a ‘chemical enhancement’ in mass transfer depends on a high pH in the culture, and, by extension, the ability of microalgae to maintain high rates of carbon assimilation under such conditions. Abiotic experiments characterized the air-CO2 mass-transfer rate in 1-acre and 3.4 m2 raceway ponds as a function of pH, with rates approaching 10 g C/m2-day at pH 12 in the brackish water tested, equivalent to a biomass productivity potential of near 20 g AFDW/m2-day (@ 0.47 g C/g AFDW). The mass transfer rate was found to be nearly independent of the mass-transfer coefficient, indicating that at turbulence levels achievable in typical raceway ponds, the system is reaction rate, rather than diffusion limited. In biotic trials with an unknown green microalga, biomass productivity in ponds receiving CO2 from only direct surface air-CO2 exchange averaged 5 +/- 0.5 g AFDW/m2-day in August - September central California conditions, about half-that of experimental controls fertilized with supplemental CO2. pH in the air-only treatment reached a maximum of 10.5, supporting a model predicted air-CO2 ingassing rate between 2-3 g C/m2-day, consistent with the observed biomass carbon assimilation rate. Results suggest that unique alkaliphilic strains are required if reliant on direct in-pond air-CO2 transfer for algal inorganic carbon supply, and that reaching an economically viable biomass productivity will require strains that thrive at pH 11 and above.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Improved PARE (Pressurized Airborne Release Equipment) for Damage Ratio, Airborne Release Fraction and Respirable Fraction Testing (Version 4)

This paper describes an improved version of the PARE (Pressurized Airborne Release Equipment) system (Sutter 1983a and Sutter 1983b and Ballinger et al 1987) for powder venting testing. This effort seeks to improve the accuracy of risk estimation for the venting of pressurized powders and the venting of gases through pressurized powders. This includes experimental measurement for estimating DR (damage ratio), ARF (airborne release fraction) and RF (respirable fraction) quantities. The present study was performed to address previously indicated problematic factors (i.e. noted gaps) (US DOE 1994).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Life-Cycle Analysis of Residential Windows Retrofits: Net GHG Emission Reduction and Payback Periods

Windows are a critical envelope component that plays an important role in the overall performance and environmental impact of a building life cycle. These implications can be embedded in the window lifecycle related to its design, manufacturing, raw materials and transportation, performance during the building’s use (operational), replacements, maintenance and end-of-life. Windows may impact 25% of the heating and cooling energy use, 10% of total building energy use and 45% of the envelope heat transfer (Harris 2022). The impacts of windows on the energy consumption of buildings have been extensively discussed, however, its embodied life-cycle impacts, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the trade-offs between the embodied and its operational emissions are less explored. Understanding the life cycle impacts of windows may subsidize decision making process and inform the development of emerging windows technologies. BTO’s Windows Program has played an important role to increase the adoption of emerging technologies as high-performance windows in the U.S. (Harris 2022) and to consider the GHG emission impacts of the those windows is an important aspect that can support the strategic objectives and the performance targets from the national blueprint for decarbonizing the buildings sector and to reduce the on-site emissions and embodied life cycle emissions from building materials and construction (US DOE 2024).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

Thermal properties and Thermodynamic Equilibrium Modeling of Cementitious Waste Forms

INTRODUCTION Cementitious matrices are used in the US DOE complex and worldwide to solidify aqueous radioactive, hazardous, mixed salt solutions, and sludges to meet low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal requirements. Blended formulations are used for most waste form mix designs. Substitution of pozzolans for Class F fly ash has the potential to alter the processing properties and stabilization properties of the resulting waste forms because they add chemical and mineralogical complexity to the final material. The Savannah River Site saltstone waste form was selected as the test case material. CemGEMS software was chosen as the model for predicting hydrated cementitious phases assemblages and phase evolution. Isothermal calorimetry was used as the method for evaluating processing and properties of fresh, uncured waste forms. The test cases consisted of reference case saltstone, and five natural pozzolan substituted saltstone mixes.

Bustamante, Michael E. [Savannah River National La↗
DOE OSTI2023

Durable Fuel Cell MEA through Immobilization of Catalyst Particle and Membrane Chemical Stabilizer

For hydrogen-based fuel cell electric vehicle to be cost competitive with the incumbent diesel-powered internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicle, the total cost of ownership of the truck must be decreased via both capital cost and the operating cost (H 2 fuel expense) reduction. This puts the emphasis on the decrease of fuel cell stack cost via use of low platinum catalyst material usage to decrease capital cost, high H 2 fuel efficiency and high stack durability to decrease the operating cost. US DOE has set a target of ≤ 0.25 mgPt/cm 2 total loading in the membrane electrode assembly, high fuel efficiency of > 68% and a HD-combined target of ≥ 2.5 kW/gPGM after running an accelerated stress test (AST) equivalent to 30,000 hours of heavy-duty fuel cell operation.

08 HYDROGEN↗