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At least 1,495 records · Page 83

Modeling transmission line constraints in two-stage robust unit commitment problem

Integration of renewable energy sources and demand response poses new challenges to system operators as they increase the uncertainty of the power supply and demand. Recently, robust optimization techniques are applied to the unit commitment problem with uncertainty as an alternative to the stochastic programming approaches. However, it remains challenging to solve the robust unit commitment model with full transmission line constraints. In this paper, we propose novel acceleration techniques for solving two-stage robust unit commitment problem with consideration of full transmission line constraints. We use 1) the cutting-plane algorithm for the master problem, which dynamically includes critical transmission line constraints, and 2) column-generation methods, including the branch-and-price-and-cut algorithm and heuristic approaches, for the subproblems, which add only necessary transmission line dual variables on the fly. Furthermore, computational results for the modified IEEE 118-bus system show that the combination of the cutting-plane algorithm and the heuristic column-generation approach greatly reduces the total solution time of the two-stage robust unit commitment problem.

Heuristic algorithms↗

Determination of filter pore size for use in HB line phase II production of plutonium oxide

H-Canyon and HB-Line are tasked with the production of plutonium oxide (PuO 2 ) from a feed of plutonium (Pu) metal. The PuO 2 will provide feed material for the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility. After dissolution of the Pu metal in H-Canyon, plans are to transfer the solution to HB-Line for purification by anion exchange. Anion exchange will be followed by plutonium(IV) oxalate precipitation, filtration, and calcination to form PuO 2 . The filtrate solutions, remaining after precipitation, contain low levels of Pu ions, oxalate ions, and may include solids. These solutions are transferred to H-Canyon for disposition. To mitigate the criticality concern of Pu solids in a Canyon tank, past processes have used oxalate destruction or have pre-filled the Canyon tank with a neutron poison. The installation of a filter on the process lines from the HB-Line filtrate tanks to H-Canyon Tank 9.6 is proposed to remove plutonium oxalate solids. This report describes SRNL’s efforts to determine the appropriate pore size for the filters needed to perform this function. Information provided in this report aids in developing the control strategies for solids in the process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Novel Rotated Virtual Synchronous Generator Control for Power-Sharing in Microgrids with Complex Line Impedance

Virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control is based on the fact that the line impedance in a microgrid is highly inductive. This assumption was made due to the emulation of the stator winding of an electrical machine. This concept can affect the controllability of a microgrid with complex line impedance, generating deviations in the chosen operation point. To overcome this issue, additional techniques must be implemented. This paper describes a novel mathematical approach that uses the power line characteristics in a microgrid to rotate the power control reference frame and proposes a new control method called a “Rotated Virtual Synchronous Generator” (RVSG). This RVSG control approach integrates the effect of complex impedance on the microgrid’s operation and adjusts the reference frame accordingly to improve the system’s stability and performance. The use of this proposed mathematical approach in microgrids allows the further emulation of virtual inertia in microgrids that lack inertia. Finally, a comparison between RVSG control and the classical virtual synchronous generator method is carried out to show that it allows the improvement of the transient power response, power quality, stability, and performance, mainly in microgrids with complex line impedance.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Broad Balmer absorption line variability: Evidence of gas transverse motion in the QSO SDSS J125942.80+121312.6

We report on the discovery of broad Balmer absorption lines variability in the QSO SDSS J125942.80+121312.6, based on the optical and near-infrared spectra taken from the SDSS-I, SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), and TripleSpec observations over a timescale of 5.8 years in the QSO's rest-frame. The blueshifted absorption profile of Hβ shows a variation of more than 5σ at a high velocity portion (>3000 km s{sup −1}) of the trough. We perform a detailed analysis for the physical conditions of the absorber using Balmer lines as well as metastable He i and optical Fe ii absorptions (λ4233 from b{sup 4}P{sub 5/2} level and λ5169 from a{sup 6}S{sub 5/2}) at the same velocity. These Fe ii lines are identified in the QSO spectra for the first time. According to the photoionization simulations, we estimate a gas density of n(H)≈10{sup 9.1} cm{sup −3} and a column density of N{sub col}(H)≈10{sup 23} cm{sup −2} for the BOSS data, but the model fails to predict the variations of ionic column densities between the SDSS and BOSS observations if changes in ionizing flux are assumed. We thus propose transverse motion of the absorbing gas being the cause of the observed broad Balmer absorption line variability. In fact, we find that the changes in covering factors of the absorber can well-reproduce all of the observed variations. The absorber is estimated ∼0.94 pc away from the central engine, which is where the outflow likely experiences deceleration due to the collision with the surrounding medium. This scheme is consistent with the argument that LoBAL QSOs may represent the transition from obscured star-forming galaxies to classic QSOs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE X-RAY THROUGH OPTICAL FLUXES AND LINE STRENGTHS OF TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENTS

We study the emission from tidal disruption events (TDEs) produced as radiation from black hole accretion propagates through an extended, optically thick envelope formed from stellar debris. We analytically describe key physics controlling spectrum formation, and present detailed radiative transfer calculations that model the spectral energy distribution and optical line strengths of TDEs near peak brightness. The steady-state transfer is coupled to a solver for the excitation and ionization states of hydrogen, helium, and oxygen (as a representative metal), without assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium. Our calculations show how an extended envelope can reprocess a fraction of soft X-rays and produce the observed optical fluxes of the order of 10{sup 43} erg s{sup −1}, with an optical/UV continuum that is not described by a single blackbody. Variations in the mass or size of the envelope may help explain how the optical flux changes over time with roughly constant color. For high enough accretion luminosities, X-rays can escape to be observed simultaneously with the optical flux. Due to optical depth effects, hydrogen Balmer line emission is often strongly suppressed relative to helium line emission (with He ii-to-H line ratios of at least 5:1 in some cases) even in the disruption of a solar-composition star. We discuss the implications of our results to understanding the type of stars destroyed in TDEs and the physical processes responsible for producing the observed flares.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Stark broadening of high-order radio recombination lines toward the Orion nebula

We report the results of observations and analyses of 41 Δn=1,…,5 hydrogen radio recombination lines from the Orion nebula (M42) at 5.5 to 6.5 GHz, with a spectral sensitivity (channel-to-channel standard deviation) of ≈2 mJy. Observations were conducted at the Australia Telescope Compact Array. A 1 GHz bandwidth allowed simultaneous detection of up to 11 spectral lines of equal Δn that were stacked to enable accurate measurement of line widths. Collisional widths in the range of principal quantum numbers n from 100 to 179 are found to be consistent with predictions of electron impact Stark broadening theory. An Orion nebula model with density inhomogeneities (clumps) and gradients of temperature and density is consistent with our data. We reanalyze the data of Smirnov et al. and Bell et al. and find excellent agreement between all statistically significant measurements and theory. Our findings confirm the absence of line narrowing for n = 100...179.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Double-Peaked Profiles: Ubiquitous Signatures of Disks in the Broad Emission Lines of Active Galactic Nuclei

Broad (∼10,000 km s{sup −1}), double-peaked emission-line profiles of Balmer lines emitted by active galactic nuclei (AGN) are thought to originate in the outer parts of an accretion disk surrounding a nuclear supermassive black hole (SMBH), at ∼1000 gravitational radii, and are most frequently observed in the nuclear spectra of low-luminosity AGN (LLAGN) and radio galaxies. In the present paper we argue that broad double-peaked profiles are present also in the spectra of other type 1 AGN, such as Seyfert 1 galaxies, suggesting that the inner part of the broad-line region (BLR) is also the outer part of the accretion disk. We use the Palomar spectral survey of nearby galaxies to show that the only difference between Seyfert 1 BLR line profiles and “bona fide” double-peakers is that, in most cases, besides a disk component, we need an additional Gaussian component attributed to nondisk clouds. The recognition that the inner and most variable part of the BLR has a disk geometry suggests that the factor f in the expression to obtain the SMBH mass in type 1 AGN, M{sub BH}=f(R{sub BLR}ΔV{sup 2}/G), is f=1/sin{sup 2}i for the disk-dominated sources. Our median i = 27° implies f = 4.5, very close to the most recent value of f = 4.3 ± 1.05, obtained from independent studies. We derive a relation between f and the FWHM of the broad profile that may help to reduce the uncertainties in the SMBH mass determinations of AGN.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Low-frequency Carbon Radio Recombination Lines. II. The Diffuse Interstellar Medium

In the second paper of the series, we have modeled low-frequency carbon radio recombination lines (CRRLs) from the interstellar medium. Anticipating the Low Frequency Array survey of Galactic CRRLs, we focus our study on the physical conditions of the diffuse, cold neutral medium. We have used the improved departure coefficients computed in the first paper of the series to calculate line-to-continuum ratios. The results show that the line width and integrated optical depths of CRRLs are sensitive probes of the electron density, gas temperature, and emission measure of the cloud. Furthermore, the ratio of CRRL to the [C ii] at the 158 μ m line is a strong function of the temperature and density of diffuse clouds. Guided by our calculations, we analyze CRRL observations and illustrate their use with data from the literature.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Outflow Kinematics Manifested by the Hα Line: Gas Outflows in Type 2 AGNs. IV

Energetic ionized gas outflows driven by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have been studied as a key phenomenon related to AGN feedback. To probe the kinematics of the gas in the narrow-line region, [O iii] λ 5007 has been utilized in a number of studies showing nonvirial kinematic properties due to AGN outflows. In this paper, we statistically investigate whether the H α emission line is influenced by AGN-driven outflows by measuring the kinematic properties based on the H α line profile and comparing them with those of [O iii]. Using the spatially integrated spectra of ∼37,000 Type 2 AGNs at z < 0.3 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7, we find a nonlinear correlation between H α velocity dispersion and stellar velocity dispersion that reveals the presence of the nongravitational component, especially for AGNs with a wing component in H α . The large H α velocity dispersion and velocity shift of luminous AGNs are clear evidence of AGN outflow impacts on hydrogen gas, while relatively smaller kinematic properties compared to those of [O iii] imply that the observed outflow effect on the H α line is weaker than the case of [O iii].

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Failed Radiatively Accelerated Dusty Outflow Model of the Broad Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei. I. Analytical Solution

The physical origin of the broad line region in active galactic nuclei is still unclear despite many years of observational studies. The reason is that the region is unresolved, and the reverberation mapping results imply a complex velocity field. We adopt a theory-motivated approach to identify the principal mechanism responsible for this complex phenomenon. We consider the possibility that the role of dust is essential. We assume that the local radiation pressure acting on the dust in the accretion disk atmosphere launches the outflow of material, but higher above the disk the irradiation from the central parts causes dust evaporation and a subsequent fallback. This failed radiatively accelerated dusty outflow is expected to represent the material forming low ionization lines. In this paper we formulate simple analytical equations to describe the cloud motion, including the evaporation phase. The model is fully described just by the basic parameters of black hole mass, accretion rate, black hole spin, and viewing angle. We study how the spectral line generic profiles correspond to this dynamic. We show that the virial factor calculated from our model strongly depends on the black hole mass in the case of enhanced dust opacity, and thus it then correlates with the line width. This could explain why the virial factor measured in galaxies with pseudobulges differs from that obtained from objects with classical bulges, although the trend predicted by the current version of the model is opposite to the observed trend.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Circumgalactic Medium of eBOSS Emission Line Galaxies: Signatures of Galactic Outflows in Gas Distribution and Kinematics

We report on the distribution and kinematics of the cool circumgalactic medium (CGM) of emission line galaxies (ELGs) traced by metal absorption lines. Using about 200,000 ELGs from SDSS-IV eBOSS and half a million background quasars from SDSS, we measure the median absorption strength of Mg ii and Fe ii lines in quasar spectra for impact parameters ranging from 10 kpc to 1 Mpc. For comparison, we measure the same quantity around luminous red galaxies (LRGs). On scales greater than 100 kpc both ELGs and LRGs exhibit similar absorption profiles. However, metal absorption is 5–10 times stronger around ELGs on smaller scales. The metal absorption strength is anisotropic, with an excess along the minor axis of the galaxies, indicating an outflow origin of the absorbing gas. The ratio among the velocity dispersion of the cool CGM and that of its host dark matter halo is about one for ELGs but about half for LRGs. These findings demonstrate that the dichotomy of galaxy types is reflected in both the density distribution and kinematics of the CGM traced by metal absorption lines. Our results provide robust evidence that the CGM of ELGs is enriched by gas outflows generated by star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

High-resolution Laboratory Measurements of K-shell X-Ray Line Polarization and Excitation Cross Sections in Helium-like S XV Ions

We report measurements of electron-impact excitation cross sections for the strong K-shell n = 2 → 1 transitions in S xv, using the LLNL EBIT-I electron beam ion trap, two crystal spectrometers, and the EBIT Calorimeter Spectrometer. The cross sections are determined by direct normalization to the well-known cross sections of radiative electron capture, measured simultaneously. Using contemporaneous polarization measurements with the two crystal spectrometers, whose dispersion planes are oriented parallel and perpendicular to the electron beam direction, the polarization of the direct excitation line emission is determined, and in turn the isotropic total cross sections are extracted. We further experimentally investigate various line-formation mechanisms, finding that radiative cascades and collisional inner-shell ionization dominate the degree of linear polarization and total line-emission cross sections of the forbidden line, z.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The Physics of the Coronal-line Region for Galaxies in Mapping Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory

The fundamental nature and extent of the coronal-line region (CLR), which may serve as a vital tracer for active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, remain unresolved. Previous studies suggest that the CLR is produced by AGNdriven outflows and occupies a distinct region between the broad-line region and the narrow-line region, which places it tens to hundreds of parsecs from the galactic center. Here, we investigate 10 coronal line (CL; ionization potential ≳100 eV) emitting galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV Mapping Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) catalog with emission from one or more CLs detected at ≥5$σ$ above the continuum in at least 10 spaxels—the largest such MaNGA catalog. We find that the CLR is far more extended, reaching out to 1.3–23 kpc from the galactic center. We crossmatch our sample of 10 CL galaxies with the largest existing MaNGA AGN catalog and identify seven in it; two of the remaining three are galaxy mergers and the final one is an AGN candidate. Further, we measure the average CLR electron temperatures as ranging between 12,331 and 22,530 K, slightly above the typical threshold for pure AGN photoionization (~20,000 K) and indicative of shocks (e.g., merger induced or from supernova remnants) in the CLR. In conclusion, we reason that ionizing photons emitted by the central continuum source (i.e., AGN photoionization) primarily generate the CLs, and that energetic shocks are an additional ionization mechanism that likely produce the most extended CLRs we measure.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Physical Drivers of Emission-line Diversity of SDSS Seyfert 2s and LINERs after Removal of Contributions from Star Formation

Ionization sources other than H ιι regions give rise to the right-hand branch in the standard ([N ιι]) BPT diagram, populated by Seyfert 2s and LINERs. However, because the majority of Seyfert/LINER hosts are star-forming (SF), H ιι regions contaminate the observed lines to some extent, making it unclear if the position along the branch is merely due to various degrees of mixing between pure Seyferts/LINERs and SF, or whether it reflects the intrinsic diversity of Seyfert/LINER ionizing sources. In this study, we empirically remove SF contributions in ~100,000 Seyferts/LINERs from SDSS using the doppelganger method. Here, we find that mixing is not the principal cause of the extended morphology of the observed branch. Rather, Seyferts/LINERs intrinsically have a wide range of line ratios. Variations in ionization parameter and metallicity can account for much of the diversity of Seyfert/LINER line ratios, but the hardness of the ionization field also varies significantly. Furthermore, our k -means classification on seven decontaminated emission lines reveals that LINERs are made up of two populations, which we call soft and hard LINERs. The Seyfert 2s differ from both types of LINERs primarily by higher ionization parameter, whereas the two LINER types mainly differ from each other (and from star-forming regions) in the hardness of the radiation field. We confirm that the [N ιι] BPT diagram more efficiently identifies LINERs than [S ιι] and [O ι] diagnostics, because in the latter many LINERs, especially soft ones, occupy the same location as pure starformers, even after the SF has been removed from LINER emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Catalog of Narrow Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 12

We present a new catalog of narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 12 (SDSS DR12). This was obtained by a systematic analysis through modeling of the continuum and emission lines of the spectra of all the 68,859 SDSS DR12 objects that are classified as “QSO” by the SDSS spectroscopic pipeline with z<0.8 and a median signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) > 2 pixel{sup −1}. This catalog contains a total of 11,101 objects, which is about 5 times larger than the previously known NLSy1 galaxies. Their monochromatic continuum luminosity at 5100 Å is found to be strongly correlated with Hβ, Hα, and [O iii] emission line luminosities. The optical Fe ii strength in NLSy1 galaxies is about two times larger than the broad-line Seyfert 1 (BLSy1) galaxies. About 5% of the catalog sources are detected in the FIRST survey. The Eddington ratio (ξ{sub Edd}) of NLSy1 galaxies has an average of log ξ{sub Edd} of −0.34, much higher than −1.03 found for BLSy1 galaxies. Their black hole masses (M{sub BH}) have an average of log M{sub BH} of 6.9 M{sub ⊙}, which is less than BLSy1 galaxies, which have an average of log M{sub BH} of 8.0 M{sub ⊙}. The M{sub BH} of NLSy1 galaxies is found to be correlated with their host galaxy velocity dispersion. Our analysis suggests that geometrical effects playing an important role in defining NLSy1 galaxies and their M{sub BH} deficit is perhaps due to their lower inclination compared to BLSy1 galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The Lyman Continuum Escape Fraction of Emission Line-selected z ∼ 2.5 Galaxies Is Less Than 15%

Recent work suggests that strong emission line, star-forming galaxies (SFGs) may be significant Lyman continuum leakers. We combine archival Hubble Space Telescope broadband ultraviolet and optical imaging (F275W and F606W, respectively) with emission line catalogs derived from WFC3 IR G141 grism spectroscopy to search for escaping Lyman continuum (LyC) emission from homogeneously selected z ∼ 2.5 SFGs. We detect no escaping Lyman continuum from SFGs selected on [O ii] nebular emission ( N = 208) and, within a narrow redshift range, on [O iii]/[O ii]. We measure 1 σ upper limits to the LyC escape fraction relative to the non-ionizing UV continuum from [O ii] emitters, f {sub esc} ≲ 5.6%, and strong [O iii]/[O ii] > 5 ELGs, f {sub esc} ≲ 14.0%. Our observations are not deep enough to detect f {sub esc} ∼ 10% typical of low-redshift Lyman continuum emitters. However, we find that this population represents a small fraction of the star-forming galaxy population at z ∼ 2. Thus, unless the number of extreme emission line galaxies grows substantially to z ≳ 6, such galaxies may be insufficient for reionization. Deeper survey data in the rest-frame ionizing UV will be necessary to determine whether strong line ratios could be useful for pre-selecting LyC leakers at high redshift.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Study of the Effect of a Closed-End Side Branch on Sinusoidally Perturbed Flow of Liquid in a Line

Classical undamped acoustic-wave theory was used to determine analytical relations among sinusoidal perturbations of pressure and flow at the ends of a hydraulic-transmission line having a closed-end branch of arbitrary length attached at an arbitrary point. Experimental data were obtained for the equilateral case (a branch half as long as the main line connected to the main line at the midpoint) at mean flow speeds of 5 to 10 feet per second. Measured pressure-perturbation ratios agreed closely with analytical predictions. As frequencies for which the branch length was an odd multiple of 1/4 wavelength, waves in the main line were almost completely reflected at the junction point.

TRANSMISSION LINE↗

Morphologic differentiation of colon carcinoma cell lines HT-29 and HT-29KM in rotating-wall vessels

A new low shear stress microcarrier culture system has been developed at NASA's Johnson Space Center that permits three-dimensional tissue culture. Two established human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, HT-29, an undifferentiated, and HT-29KM, a stable, moderately differentiated subline of HT-29, were grown in new tissue culture bioreactors called Rotating-Wall Vessels (RWVs). RWVs are used in conjunction with multicellular cocultivation to develop a unique in vitro tissue modeling system. Cells were cultivated on Cytodex-3 microcarrier beads, with and without mixed normal human colonic fibroblasts, which served as the mesenchymal layer. Culture of the tumor lines in the absence of fibroblasts produced spheroidlike growth and minimal differentiation. In contrast, when tumor lines were co-cultivated with normal colonic fibroblasts, initial growth was confined to the fibroblast population until the microcarriers were covered. The tumor cells then commenced proliferation at an accelerated rate, organizing themselves into three-dimensional tissue masses that achieved 1.0- to 1.5-cm diameters. The masses displayed glandular structures, apical and internal glandular microvilli, tight intercellular junctions, desmosomes, cellular polarity, sinusoid development, internalized mucin, and structural organization akin to normal colon crypt development. Differentiated samples were subjected to transmission and scanning electron microscopy and histologic analysis, revealing embryoniclike mesenchymal cells lining the areas around the growth matrices. Necrosis was minimal throughout the tissue masses. These data suggest that the RWV affords a new model for investigation and isolation of growth, regulatory, and structural processes within neoplastic and normal tissue.

Colonic Neoplasms/pathology↗