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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental demonstration of continuous quantum error correction

The storage and processing of quantum information are susceptible to external noise, resulting in computational errors. A powerful method to suppress these effects is quantum error correction. Typically, quantum error correction is executed in discrete rounds, using entangling gates and projective measurement on ancillary qubits to complete each round of error correction. Here we use direct parity measurements to implement a continuous quantum bit-flip correction code in a resource-efficient manner, eliminating entangling gates, ancillary qubits, and their associated errors. An FPGA controller actively corrects errors as they are detected, achieving an average bit-flip detection efficiency of up to 91%. Furthermore, the protocol increases the relaxation time of the protected logical qubit by a factor of 2.7 over the relaxation times of the bare comprising qubits. Our results showcase resource-efficient stabilizer measurements in a multi-qubit architecture and demonstrate how continuous error correction codes can address challenges in realizing a fault-tolerant system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

SFCOMPO Database of Spent Nuclear Fuel Assay Data – the Next Frontier

SFCOMPO is the world’s largest database for measured spent nuclear fuel assay data. An international effort coordinated by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) resulted in a significant expansion of the database and its release online in 2017 as a downloadable application. The SFCOMPO Technical Review Group (TRG) was recently formed under the direction of NEA’s Nuclear Science Committee/Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety and was mandated to maintain and further coordinate the development of SFCOMPO. This TRG is currently focused on (1) critical evaluation of the experimental assay data by independent experts and (2) development of benchmarks and benchmark models that can be applied to validate burnup codes. This will improve the quality and documentation of the experimental datasets and enable their use by the international community to support code validation for design and safety analysis of spent nuclear fuel transportation, storage, and repository applications. It follows the precedent and draws on the experience gained from similar NEA efforts in the International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project and the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiment Project. Ongoing SFCOMPO evaluations have served as a test bed to develop templates for documenting evaluations, develop review guidance, improve approaches for a global uncertainty analysis, and devise a strategy focused on providing practical information of highest value to the user community. The current effort, status, and associated challenges are discussed.

Ilas, Germina↗
DOE OSTI2021

Use of Gas Adsorption and Inversion Methods for Shale Pore Structure Characterization

The analysis of porosity and pore structure of shale rocks has received special attention in the last decades as unconventional reservoir hydrocarbons have become a larger parcel of the oil and gas market. A variety of techniques are available to provide a satisfactory description of these porous media. Some techniques are based on saturating the porous rock with a fluid to probe the pore structure. In this sense, gases have played an important role in porosity and pore structure characterization, particularly for the analysis of pore size and shapes and storage or intake capacity. In this review, we discuss the use of various gases, with emphasis on N2 and CO2, for characterization of shale pore architecture. We describe the state of the art on the related inversion methods for processing the corresponding isotherms and the procedure to obtain surface area and pore-size distribution. The state of the art is based on the collation of publications in the last 10 years. Limitations of the gas adsorption technique and the associated inversion methods as well as the most suitable scenario for its application are presented in this review. Finally, we discuss the future of gas adsorption for shale characterization, which we believe will rely on hybridization with other techniques to overcome some of the limitations.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
NASA NTRS1984

Computer vision for real-time orbital operations. Center directors discretionary fund

Machine vision research is examined as it relates to the NASA Space Station program and its associated Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV). Initial operation of OMV for orbital assembly, docking, and servicing are manually controlled from the ground by means of an on board TV camera. These orbital operations may be accomplished autonomously by machine vision techniques which use the TV camera as a sensing device. Classical machine vision techniques are described. An alternate method is developed and described which employs a syntactic pattern recognition scheme. It has the potential for substantial reduction of computing and data storage requirements in comparison to the Two-Dimensional Fast Fourier Transform (2D FFT) image analysis. The method embodies powerful heuristic pattern recognition capability by identifying image shapes such as elongation, symmetry, number of appendages, and the relative length of appendages.

Vinz, F. L.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Multiple-Parameter, Low-False-Alarm Fire-Detection Systems

Fire-detection systems incorporating multiple sensors that measure multiple parameters are being developed for use in storage depots, cargo bays of ships and aircraft, and other locations not amenable to frequent, direct visual inspection. These systems are intended to improve upon conventional smoke detectors, now used in such locations, that reliably detect fires but also frequently generate false alarms: for example, conventional smoke detectors based on the blockage of light by smoke particles are also affected by dust particles and water droplets and, thus, are often susceptible to false alarms. In contrast, by utilizing multiple parameters associated with fires, i.e. not only obscuration by smoke particles but also concentrations of multiple chemical species that are commonly generated in combustion, false alarms can be significantly decreased while still detecting fires as reliably as older smoke-detector systems do. The present development includes fabrication of sensors that have, variously, micrometer- or nanometer-sized features so that such multiple sensors can be integrated into arrays that have sizes, weights, and power demands smaller than those of older macroscopic sensors. The sensors include resistors, electrochemical cells, and Schottky diodes that exhibit different sensitivities to the various airborne chemicals of interest. In a system of this type, the sensor readings are digitized and processed by advanced signal-processing hardware and software to extract such chemical indications of fires as abnormally high concentrations of CO and CO2, possibly in combination with H2 and/or hydrocarbons. The system also includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based particle detector and classifier device to increase the reliability of measurements of chemical species and particulates. In parallel research, software for modeling the evolution of a fire within an aircraft cargo bay has been developed. The model implemented in the software can describe the concentrations of chemical species and of particulate matter as functions of time. A system of the present developmental type and a conventional fire detector were tested under both fire and false-alarm conditions in a Federal Aviation Administration cargo-compartment- testing facility. Both systems consistently detected fires. However, the conventional fire detector consistently generated false alarms, whereas the developmental system did not generate any false alarms.

Hunter, Gary W.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Lunar Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (LSMES)

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) is an energy storage system that stores electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field by passing direct current through a superconducting coil. The conductor for carrying the current operates at cryogenic temperatures where it becomes a superconductor and thus has virtually no resistive losses as it produces the magnetic field. [1]. The energy can be stored in a persistent mode until required [2]. The main terrestrial challenge for SMES is the need for a cryo-cooling system and the cost associated with its deployment, operation and maintenance. For lunar and planetary exploration, this challenge is totally mitigated using the cold environment of the mission to sustain superconductivity temperatures. The permanently shadowed craters on the moon have regolith temperatures between 50-60K (3), which is the operating temperature for High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) wire. SMES provides several ad-vantages over traditional chemical batteries that: 1) incur much energy loss in extremely cold environments due to power needed for heaters, 2) are inefficient due to their inherent redox and side reactions, and 3) fail over time due to charge/discharge cycling changes in their chemical processes.

Evans, M. E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sand Thermal Energy Storage Pilot Design (Final Report)

This report summarizes work done on developing a 10-MWhe pilot of the sand-based thermal energy storage (SandTES) technology at Alabama Power’s Plant Gaston Unit 5, an operating, supercritical coal power unit. The system will be integrated to the unit, obtaining steam to heat the sand through an air-blown fluidized-bed heat exchanger, then storing the water to be reused during discharging to produce steam that will then be vented. An electrical particle heater will also be included to provide part of the heat to the sand to provide data and learnings for commercial systems that will be fully electrically heated. Hot sand is contained in one bunker, while cold sand is housed in the other bunker, and standard solids handling equipment moves the sand around. This pilot would advance the SandTES technology to Technology Readiness Level 6 and position it for commercial readiness by 2030. This work was done in two phases: Phase I performed a conceptual study that provided Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) Class 5 costs and estimated performance, and then Phase II, which also involved a design update, performed a more detailed pre-front-end engineering and design study that elicited AACE Class 4 costs. Work was also done to provide estimated costs for commercial applications of the technology, assess its gaps, create its technology maturation and commercialization plans, and finally perform an Environmental Information Volume for the pilot site as a first step in the National Environmental Policy Act process.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Power market models for the clean energy transition: State of the art and future research needs

As power systems around the world are rapidly evolving to achieve decarbonization objectives, it is crucial that power system planners and operators use appropriate models and tools to analyze and address the associated challenges. This paper provides a detailed overview of the properties of power market models in the context of the clean energy transition. We review common power market model methodologies, their readiness for low- and zero-carbon grids, and new power market trends. Based on the review, we suggest model improvements and new designs to increase modeling capabilities for future grids. The paper highlights key modeling concepts related to power system flexibility, with a particular focus on hydropower and energy storage, as well as the representation of grid services, price formation, temporal structure, and the importance of uncertainty. We find that a changing resource mix, market restructuring, and growing price uncertainty require more precise modeling techniques to adequately capture the new technology constraints and the dynamics of future power markets. In particular, models must adequately represent resource opportunity costs, multi-horizon flexibility, and energy storage capabilities across the full range of grid services. Moreover, at the system level, it is increasingly important to consider sub-hourly time resolution, enhanced uncertainty representation, and introduce co-optimization for dual market clearing of energy and grid services. Likewise, models should capture interdependencies between multiple energy carriers and demand sectors.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Biomass carbon removal can help sustainable aviation fuels achieve on-time arrival

Biofuels, including sustainable aviation and marine fuels, and biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) are often viewed as potentially competing pathways for advancing climate and energy goals. Their comparative economic, environmental, and temporal advantages remain debated. Rather than identifying a “best-use” for biomass, we show that the relative economic advantages of BiCRS versus biofuels exist along a continuum shaped by energy- and decarbonization-focused market conditions. These pathways need not be adversarial: BiCRS can enable, rather than displace, future biofuel deployment. While the lignocellulosic biofuel sector continues to face barriers associated with underdeveloped supply chains and technologies that have not yet been commercialized at scale, emerging BiCRS approaches are comparatively feedstock-flexible, rapidly deployable, and responsive to carbon removal markets. Early BiCRS deployment can help establish reliable biomass supply chains, reducing investment risk for future lignocellulosic biorefineries. By easing initial supply chain constraints, BiCRS can serve as a practical stepping stone toward meeting both near-term carbon removal needs and long-term sustainable fuel objectives under uncertain future market and policy conditions.

bioenvironmental engineering↗
DOE OSTI2020

Impact of electrode thick spot irregularities on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell initial performance

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have great potential for power generation in many applications, but to implement them on a larger scale, understanding of quality requirements, tolerances, and controls during manufacturing must improve. As part of this broad challenge, irregularities resulting from the membrane electrode assembly production process must be studied to determine if they impact the performance of the cell. One potential irregularity is a locally increased thickness of the coated or deposited electrode. In order to understand and provide insight into the impact of such irregularities, we intentionally created thick spots in the center of cathode electrodes. The thick spots fabricated by two different approaches were carefully characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found that the impact of the thick spots on the electrochemically active catalyst area and mass activity was minimal. However, specific electrode thick spot irregularities significantly impacted the mass transport properties of the cells. Based on SEM analysis, the likely cause of the performance drop is morphological changes associated with the creation of the thick spot irregularity. Spatial performance results obtained with a segmented cell system further indicated that the area of the performance impact exceeded that of the intentionally created thick spot.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Overlooked branch turnover creates a widespread bias in forest carbon accounting

Most measurements and models of forest carbon cycling neglect the carbon flux associated with the turnover of branch biomass, a physiological process quantified for other organs (fine roots, leaves, and stems). Synthesizing data from boreal, temperate, and tropical forests (184,815 trees), we found that including branch turnover increased empirical estimates of aboveground wood production by 16% (equivalent to 1.9 Pg Cy −1 globally), of similar magnitude to the observed global forest carbon sinks. In addition, reallocating carbon to branch turnover in model simulations reduced stem wood biomass, a long-lasting carbon storage, by 7 to 17%. This prevailing neglect of branch turnover suggests widespread biases in carbon flux estimates across global datasets and model simulations. Branch litterfall, sometimes used as a proxy for branch turnover, ignores carbon lost from attached dead branches, underestimating branch C turnover by 38% in a pine forest. Modifications to field measurement protocols and existing models are needed to allow a more realistic partitioning of wood production and forest carbon storage.

Lim, Hyungwoo↗
DOE OSTI2021

Challenges and needs for system-level electrochemical lithium-ion battery management and diagnostics

The desire for energy-dense and fast-charged battery technology in consumer-electronics, electric-vehicle, grid, and aviation applications is pushing the envelope on materials to cells and pack designs to use and operating conditions. However, some approaches could inherently decrease safety of the battery—thus requiring the development of advanced management and diagnostics. Safety of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), particularly in multicell configurations, is highly variable and could evolve with use. Existing works primarily focus on cell life and safety diagnostics without considering module and pack-level uncertainties and sometimes imply that cell-level electrochemical diagnostics would work in modules or packs, a naive oversimplification. Using example case studies, we highlight the potential and challenges associated with extending single-cell diagnostics to multiple cells, note the challenge involved, and motivate the research and development and support communities to devote efforts to fill the gap by developing diagnostics at these levels for current- and future-generation LiBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Distributed Resources for the Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF) Advanced Management (DREAM). Final Report

Distributed Resources for the Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF) Advanced Management (DREAM) is a proposed system that will enable data from an infinite number of diverse sources to be organized and accessed from anywhere using any handheld or other computer device. The approach offers a powerful roadmap for the creation and integration of a unified knowledge base of an entire ecosystem, including its many geophysical, geographical, social, political, agricultural, energy, transportation, and cyber aspects. The resulting aggregation of data has the potential to generate an informational universe of unprecedented size that has never before been possible due to the prohibitive costs, managerial complexity, and technical barriers associated with ever-changing exponential-growth data flows. We envision that DREAM will accelerate discovery by enabling climate researchers, among other types of researchers, to manage, analyze, and visualize data from earth-scale measurements and simulations. DREAM’s success will be built on proven components that leverage existing services and resources. A key building block for DREAM will be the ESGF, chaired by Dean N. Williams. Expanding on the existing ESGF, the project will ensure that the access, storage, movement, and analysis of the large quantities of data that are processed and produced by diverse science projects can be dynamically distributed with proper resource management. Much of the Office of Science data is currently generated by multiple stand-alone facilities. DREAM can collect data accumulated from these facilities and incorporate it into a fully integrated network accessible from anywhere in the world. The result is a completely new paradigm shift for data management, analysis, and visualization enabling researchers to: Manage their calculations, data, tools, and research results; Ensure that all data are sharable, reproducible and (re)usable—accompanied by appropriate metadata describing its provenance, syntax, and semantics at creation; Advance application performance by selectively adapting APIs and services in response to scientific requirements and architectural complexities; and Provide scalable interactive resource management—navigate data and metadata at multiple levels, provide architecture-aware data integration, analysis and visualization tools. We will engage closely with DOE, NASA, and NOAA science groups working at the leading edge of computing. These engagements—in domains such as biology, climate, and hydrology—will allow us to advance disciplinary science goals and inform our development of technologies that can accelerate discovery across DOE more broadly. We will advertise and promote our technologies via dedicated workshops, tutorials, and sessions at conferences, stand-alone events with broad inter-disciplinary invitation, and engagements with leadership facilities.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

An Evaluation of the Economic and Resilience Benefits of a Microgrid in Northampton, Massachusetts

Recent developments and advances in distributed energy resource (DER) technologies make them valuable assets in microgrids. This paper presents an innovative evaluation framework for microgrid assets to capture economic benefits from various grid and behind-the-meter services in grid-connecting mode and resilience benefits in islanding mode. In particular, a linear programming formulation is used to model different services and DER operational constraints to determine the optimal DER dispatch to maximize economic benefits. For the resiliency analysis, a stochastic evaluation procedure is proposed to explicitly quantify the microgrid survivability against a random outage, considering uncertainties associated with photovoltaic (PV) generation, system load, and distributed generator failures. Optimal coordination strategies are developed to minimize unserved energy and improve system survivability, considering different levels of system connectedness. The proposed framework has been applied to evaluate a proposed microgrid in Northampton, Massachusetts that would link the Northampton Department of Public Works, Cooley Dickenson Hospital, and Smith Vocational Area High School. The findings of this analysis indicate that over a 20-year economic life, a 441 kW/441 kWh battery energy storage system, and 386 kW PV solar array can generate $2.5 million in present value benefits, yielding a 1.16 return on investment ratio. Results of this study also show that forming a microgrid generally improves system survivability, but the resilience performance of individual facilities varies depending on power-sharing strategies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1981

Study of multi-megawatt technology needs for photovoltaic space power systems, volume 2

Possible missions requiring multimegawatt photovoltaic space power systems in the 1990's time frame and power system technology needs associated with these missions are examined. Four specific task areas were considered: (1) missions requiring power in the 1-10 megawatt average power region; (2) alternative power systems and component technologies; (3) technology goals and sensitivity trades and analyses; and (4) technology recommendations. Specific concepts for photovoltaic power approaches considered were: planar arrays, concentrating arrays, hybrid systems using Rankine engines, thermophotovoltaic approaches; all with various photovoltaic cell component technologies. Various AC/DC power management approaches, and battery, fuel cell, and flywheel energy storage concepts are evaluated. Interactions with the electrical ion engine injection and stationkeeping system are also considered.

Peterson, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

CESDIS

CESDIS, the Center of Excellence in Space Data and Information Sciences was developed jointly by NASA, Universities Space Research Association (USRA), and the University of Maryland in 1988 to focus on the design of advanced computing techniques and data systems to support NASA Earth and space science research programs. CESDIS is operated by USRA under contract to NASA. The Director, Associate Director, Staff Scientists, and administrative staff are located on-site at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The primary CESDIS mission is to increase the connection between computer science and engineering research programs at colleges and universities and NASA groups working with computer applications in Earth and space science. Research areas of primary interest at CESDIS include: 1) High performance computing, especially software design and performance evaluation for massively parallel machines; 2) Parallel input/output and data storage systems for high performance parallel computers; 3) Data base and intelligent data management systems for parallel computers; 4) Image processing; 5) Digital libraries; and 6) Data compression. CESDIS funds multiyear projects at U. S. universities and colleges. Proposals are accepted in response to calls for proposals and are selected on the basis of peer reviews. Funds are provided to support faculty and graduate students working at their home institutions. Project personnel visit Goddard during academic recess periods to attend workshops, present seminars, and collaborate with NASA scientists on research projects. Additionally, CESDIS takes on specific research tasks of shorter duration for computer science research requested by NASA Goddard scientists.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2020

Disordering of helium gas bubble superlattices in molybdenum under ion irradiation and thermal annealing

Self-organization of gas bubbles causes the formation of an ordered array of nanoscale gas bubbles (a gas bubble superlattice), a highly efficient mechanism for gas storage under irradiation. Here, the stability of helium (He) gas bubble superlattices in molybdenum (Mo) under krypton (Kr) ion irradiation and thermal annealing has been investigated. The He gas bubble superlattices gradually become disordered under Kr ion irradiation at 300° C, and the order-disorder transformation process completes at 2.5 dpa. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) reveal that the order-disorder transformation of He gas bubble superlattices is associated with a slight increase in the average bubble size. Phase-field modeling indicates that the inhomogeneous growth and coarsening of bubbles/voids cause the disordering of imperfect superlattices under irradiation and implies that highly ordered superlattices could potentially exhibit much stronger resistance to irradiation damage. Under thermal annealing, the He gas bubble superlattices in Mo become unstable and disordered at 1000° C with the bubble size increasing from ~1.1 to ~1.6 nm. The finding in this research provides insights into the disordering mechanisms of defect superlattices as well as guidance for designing stable defect superlattices in harsh environments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

SEIN: Breaking Barriers Resilient Energy System Analysis [Slides]

The Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN) is a collaborative research program that supports multi-stakeholder teams in researching and sharing solutions to real-world challenges associated with solar energy adoption. The Breaking Barriers project was selected to participate in the Solar Energy Innovation Network, Round 2, and was led by Groundswell, a D.C.-based clean energy project developer. The Breaking Barriers team included Partnership for Southern Equity, Atlanta University Center campus facility managers and professors, the City of Atlanta's Neighborhood Planning Unit T, and Georgia Power Company. The project aimed to design and construct innovative urban energy resiliency hubs integrating microgrid technology, solar generation, and energy storage in Atlanta colleges and communities. The hubs will help these historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the energy-burdened broader community in West Atlanta be more resilient, in addition to informing new course curricula at Atlanta University Center campuses. With many possible options for the system's battery size, the Breaking Barriers team needed insight into the relationships between BESS size, economic performance, and resilience at Spelman College's Manley Center. These insights are crucial for entering procurement negotiations with project developers, establishing resilience capabilities that the HBCU campuses can plan around, and guiding the team's fundraising targets. This analysis includes estimates of PV and battery performance, costs, savings, and resilience for multiple battery sizes. In order to provide power during a grid outage, the resilient energy system also needs to be connected to the Manley Center in a safe and island-able manner (electrically isolated from the grid). Analysis of potential electrical configurations and estimated setup costs is key to successfully entering a required interconnection agreement with Georgia Power, as well as informing requests for engineering firms to construct the system. This analysis includes conceptual options and rough order of magnitude cost estimates for electrically interconnecting the resilient energy system to the Manley Center and the grid. The Breaking Barriers team used this analysis to select preferred system characteristics and design for the resilient energy system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗