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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 1,567 records · Page 87
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Life-Cycle Cost and Optimization of PV Systems Based on Power Duration Curve with Variable Performance Ratio and Availability

A new derivation of Power Duration Curve is presented and applied to analysis of photovoltaic system life cycle cost. The effect of non-unity Performance Ratio and non-unity Availability on the power duration curve are illustrated. The effect of these two key performance indicators on calculation of life cycle cost and PV system design optimization (optimal DC/AC ratio) are illustrated as example applications of the method.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Briquetting Logging Residues and Lumber Manufacturing Coproducts in Western United States

Abstract. Timber harvest activities in the western United States have resulted in large volumes of low- to no-value logging (forest) residues. Alternatives to pile-and-burning are needed to best utilize this material and to mitigate the resultant environmental impacts. Briquetting (densifying) forest residues near-woods is one such option and is the focus of this study. This study presents a cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment (LCA) performed to evaluate the overall environmental impacts associated with briquetting post-harvest forest residues and dry sawmill residues (sawdust) in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region of the United States. Environmental impacts resulting from the two briquette production systems were compared with firewood and propane production, which are common residential heating sources in rural areas of the PNW, on a per 1 MJ of useful energy for domestic heating. In the briquetted post-harvest forest residue system, the feedstock preparation stage had the largest share in global warming (GW) impact, mainly resulting from the drying process (69.5%), followed by transportation. Valorization of post-harvest forest residues, in combination with a briquetter, to produce a bioenergy carrier was revealed to be advantageous in smog, acidification, and eutrophication impact categories, with considerable environmental benefits from avoided pile-and-burn emissions. With all scenarios investigated, briquette production from post-harvest forest residues with high dryer efficiency showed lowest GW impact compared to briquetting sawmill residues and firewood supply chain. For a scenario analysis, LCA showed that using a diesel generator to support the forest residue briquetter operation resulted in 45% higher GW impact compared to use of a wood-gas-powered generator. Keywords: Bioenergy, Biomass densification, Briquette, Forest residues, Life-cycle assessment, Sawdust.

Agriculture↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fluid dynamics analysis of a gas attenuator for X-ray FELs under high-repetition-rate operation

Newtonian fluid dynamics simulations were performed using the Navier–Stokes–Fourier formulations to elucidate the short time-scale (µs and longer) evolution of the density and temperature distributions in an argon-gas-filled attenuator for an X-ray free-electron laser under high-repetition-rate operation. Both hydrodynamic motions of the gas molecules and thermal conductions were included in a finite-volume calculation. It was found that the hydrodynamic wave motions play the primary role in creating a density depression (also known as a filament) by advectively transporting gas particles away from the X-ray laser–gas interaction region, where large pressure and temperature gradients have been built upon the initial energy deposition via X-ray photoelectric absorption and subsequent thermalization. Concurrent outward heat conduction tends to reduce the pressure in the filament core region, generating a counter gas flow to backfill the filament, but on an initially slower time scale. If the inter-pulse separation is sufficiently short so the filament cannot recover, the depth of the filament progressively increases as the trailing pulses remove additional gas particles. Since the rate of hydrodynamic removal decreases while the rate of heat conduction back flow increases as time elapses, the two competing mechanisms ultimately reach a dynamic balance, establishing a repeating pattern for each pulse cycle. Finally, by performing simulations at higher repetition rates but lower per pulse energies while maintaining a constant time-averaged power, the amplitude of the hydrodynamic motion per pulse becomes smaller, and the evolution of the temperature and density distributions approach asymptotically towards, as expected, those calculated for a continuous-wave input of the equivalent power.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Uncertainty Quantification for Dissimilar Material Joints Under Corrosion Environment

Abstract Self-Piercing Riveting (SPR) is one of the most commonly used methods for joining dissimilar materials in the automotive industry. These joints are popular due to their adaptability, high performance and short cycle time. However, since these joints involve two dissimilar materials, they are susceptible to galvanic corrosion in the presence of an electrolyte which is driven by the difference in the equilibrium potential of the metals. This can affect the safety and resilience of these joints. In this paper, we focus on galvanic corrosion in Al-Fe SPR joints. A Machine learning (ML) based surrogate model, which is based off of FE simulations, for statistical corrosion analysis is developed. This model enables the resilience and reliability analysis of SPR joints under corrosion environment. In this study, first a physics-based finite element (FE) corrosion model has been developed to simulate the galvanic corrosion between a Fe cathode and an Al anode of a SPR joint. This model takes into account the effect of the crystal microstructure of the Al anode and the precipitation of the corrosion product. Several geometric and environmental factors including crevice gap, roughness of anode, conductivity, pH and the temperature of the electrolyte that effect corrosion are investigated. A thorough Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) analysis is conducted for the overall corrosion behavior of the Fe-Al SPR joints using a novelistic Probabilistic Confidence-Based Adaptive Sampling (PCAS) technique. PCAS is used to train the surrogate model by identifying the critical sampling points and thus reducing the overall computational costs. It is found that the electrolyte temperature has the largest effects on the material loss and needs to be managed closely for better corrosion control. By understanding the corrosion performance and resultant uncertainty impact on SPR joints, the reliability and resilience of these joints can be improved.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment for Evaluating the Global Warming Potential of Geothermal Energy Production Using Inactive Oil and Gas Wells for District Heating in Tuttle, Oklahoma

Repurposing abandoned oil and gas infrastructure for geothermal energy production has great potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study quantified the life cycle global warming potential of geothermal energy production using four inactive oil and gas wells repurposed for district heating in Tuttle, Oklahoma. A cradle-to-grave prospective life cycle assessment was performed to compare GHG emissions between the geothermal district heating system and conventional natural gas-fired heating system from 2020 to 2050. For initial implementation of the geothermal system, we investigated two approaches: 1) repurposing abandoned infrastructure from a nearby oil and gas well site, and 2) production and injection well drillings including new construction of a central heat exchange station. Environmental impacts from the geothermal system were estimated for five scenarios where a natural gas peaking boiler is incorporated to supply peak heat demand. The prospective results indicated that cumulative reduction in GHG emissions from transitioning to the geothermal district heating system increase over time as a function of future renewable resource penetration and technological advancements within electricity, fuel, and steel production. Over 30 years, the global warming potential associated with the district heating demand will have been reduced by up to 24 % with the repurposed system. These results imply that repurposing existing oil and gas infrastructure for geothermal energy systems of district heating will bring future climate benefits.

abandoned oil and gas wells↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced Drying Cycle Simulator Thermal Response to Commercial Drying Conditions

The purpose of this report is to document updates on testing of the apparatus built to simulate commercial drying procedures for spent nuclear fuel at the Nuclear Energy Work Complex at Sandia National Laboratories. Validation of the extent of water removal in a dry spent nuclear fuel storage system based on drying procedures used at nuclear power plants is needed to close existing technical gaps. Operational conditions leading to incomplete drying may have potential impacts on the fuel, cladding, and other components in the system during subsequent storage and disposal. A general lack of data suitable for model validation of commercial nuclear canister drying processes necessitates well-designed investigations of drying process efficacy and water retention that incorporate relevant physics and well-controlled boundary conditions. This report documents testing updates for the Advanced Drying Cycle Simulator (ADCS). This apparatus was built to simulate commercial drying procedures and quantify the amount of residual water remaining in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel assembly after drying. The ADCS was constructed with a prototypic 17×17 PWR fuel skeleton and waterproof heater rods to simulate decay heat. These waterproof heaters are the next generation design to heater rods developed and tested at Sandia National Laboratories in FY20. This report describes preliminary testing of the ADCS through measurement and analysis of the thermal response of the system to a subset of commercial drying conditions that exclude the introduction of water, namely simulated decay heats and pressures relevant to commercial drying. This test series, referred to as a “dry” test series in this report, spans three uniform waterproof heater rod powers (representing spent fuel decay heats), four helium fill pressures, and six vacuum levels. This test series was conducted to cover the range of expected ADCS testing conditions for upcoming “wet” testing, where water will be introduced and a simulated commercial drying cycle will be performed. The dry test conditions were derived from the commercial drying conditions seen in the High Burnup Demonstration and the vacuum drying conditions chosen for a smaller scale Dashpot Drying Apparatus tested at Sandia National Laboratories in FY22. For a given uniform power and pressure/vacuum level, the ADCS was operated at constant power and pressure and allowed to reach steady state conditions. The thermal data obtained from these tests were analyzed, and the results can inform computational models built to simulate commercial drying processes by providing baseline thermal data prior to the introduction of water. Following the preliminary dry tests, a test plan for the ADCS will be developed to implement a drying procedure that begins with the introduction of water to the system and is based on measurements from the drying process used for the High Burnup Demonstration Project. While applying power to the simulated fuel rods, this procedure is expected to consist of filling the ADCS vessel with water, draining the water with applied pressure and multiple helium blowdowns, evacuating additional water with a vacuum drying sequence at successively lower pressures, and backfilling the vessel with helium. Additional investigations are expected to feature failed fuel rod simulators with engineered cladding defects and guide tubes with obstructed dashpots to challenge the drying system with multiple water retention sites. The data from these investigations is expected to inform the efficacy of commercial drying operations through the quantification of residual water in a prototypic-length dry storage canister.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Characterization of GDI PM during Vehicle Start-Stop Operation

As the fuel economy regulations increase in stringency, many manufacturers are implementing start-stop operation to enhance vehicle fuel economy. During start-stop operation, the engine shuts off when the vehicle is stationary for more than a few seconds. When the brake is released by the driver, the engine restarts. Depending on traffic conditions, start-stop operation can result in fuel savings from a few percent to close to 10%. Gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines are also increasingly available on light-duty vehicles. While GDI engines offer fuel economy advantages over port fuel injected (PFI) engines, they also tend to have higher PM emissions, particularly during start-up transients. Thus, there is interest in evaluating the effect of start-stop operation on PM emissions. In this study, a 2.5L GDI vehicle was operated over the FTP75 drive cycle. Runs containing cold starts (FTP-75 cycle Phases 1 & 2) and multiple runs containing hot starts (FTP-75 cycle Phases 3 & 4) were performed each day. Note that the FTP-75 Phases 3 & 4 are identical to Phases 1 & 2 except that the engine is warmed up. Three fuels were evaluated: an 87 AKI gasoline (E0), a 21% splash blend of ethanol and the 87 AKI gasoline (E21), and a 12% splash blend of iso-butanol and the 87 AKI gasoline (iBu12). PM mass, transient particle number concentration and size distribution, and soot mass concentration were evaluated for both start-stop operation and no start-stop operation on each fuel. Three Phase 1 & 2 cycles and as many as 27 Phase 3 & 4 cycles were performed for each fuel-mode combination. Composite FTP mass emissions for E0 and iBu12 showed increased total PM emissions with start-stop operation, but E21 showed no difference. Statistical analysis of the effects of start-stop on PM number and soot emissions showed different trends for different fuels. For example, when E0 is used with start-stop operation, the particle number decreased but the soot mass tended to increase. The results of this study have implications for hybrid vehicle operation as well because the internal combustion engine in hybrid vehicles must stop and re-start during normal operation.

Storey, John↗
DOE OSTI2016

Nanoporous Tin with a Granular Hierarchical Ligament Morphology as a Highly Stable Li-Ion Battery Anode

Next generation Li-ion batteries will require negative electrode materials with energy densities many-fold higher than that found in the graphitic carbon currently used in commercial Li-ion batteries. While various nanostructured alloying-type anode materials may satisfy that requirement, such materials do not always exhibit long cycle lifetimes and/or their processing routes are not always suitable for large-scale synthesis. Here, we report on a high-performance anode material for next generation Li-ion batteries made of nanoporous Sn powders with hierarchical ligament morphology. This material system combines both long cycle lifetimes (more than 72% capacity retention after 350 cycles), high capacity (693 mAh/g, nearly twice that of commercial graphitic carbon), good charging/discharging capabilities (545 mAh/g at 1 A/g, 1.5C), and a scalable processing route that involves selective alloy corrosion. The good cycling performance of this system is attributed to its nanoporous architecture and its unique hierarchical ligament morphology, which accommodates the large volume changes taking place during lithiation, as confirmed by synchrotron-based ex-situ X-ray 3D tomography analysis. In conclusion, our findings are an important step for the development of high-performance Li-ion batteries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chapter 4: "Waste"-to-Energy for Decarbonization - Transforming Nut Shells Into Carbon-Negative Electricity

This chapter presents a study demonstrating waste pistachio nut shells as a renewable feedstock for climate-friendly electricity generation via industrial gasification technology. The study includes biomass feedstock characterization (i.e., pistachio waste critical material attributes), process variability (i.e., bulk material handling), and overall operational reliability and conversion performance through extended testing. Additionally, techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) were performed to assess the economic feasibility and environmental impact of the technology to transform agricultural waste to biopower. For processing pistachio waste material, among critical material attributes, fines content in the biomass (<1/4") had the largest potential to reduce the operating time of the gasifiers due to plugging. Pelletizing fines and co-feeding them with the mixed pistachio waste increased the average feed density, feed rate, and biochar production. Compared to pine wood chips, mixed pistachio waste yielded higher biochar quantity but slightly reduced quality. In general, a systematic Quality by Design methodology is the preferred approach for designing preprocessing and material conveyance systems, where a downstream technology (end user) for the produced intermediate is specified at the outset. TEA results show that the biochar production rate and selling price had an overwhelming impact on the modeled Minimum Electricity Selling Price (MESP), which ranged from 35.5 to 39.9 cents/kWh for the cases studied (16 h/day operational basis). Moreover, LCA results show that the valorization of pistachio shells for biopower generation is a "carbon negative" process that can help decarbonize the U.S. electricity grid. The specific carbon intensity was -0.29 to -0.71 kg CO2e/kWh, compared to 0.45 kg CO2e/kWh for the average U.S. electricity mix. Biochar production from pistachio waste as a potential means for carbon sequestration was a significant driver for the LCA. The highly stable biochar permanently sequesters a considerable fraction of biochar carbon in the ground, more than enough to offset the life cycle emissions, and can be a complementary climate change mitigation strategy.

bio-char↗
DOE OSTI2021

Unveiling the Stabilities of Nickel–Based Layered Oxide Cathodes at an Identical Degree of Delithiation in Lithium–Based Batteries

Bulk, surface, and interfacial instabilities that impact the cycle and thermal performances are the major challenges with high-energy-density LiNi 1–x–y Mn x Co y O 2 (NMC) cathodes with high nickel contents. It is generally believed that the instabilities and performance losses become exponentially aggravated as the nickel content increases. Disparate from this prevailing belief, it is herein demonstrated that NMC cathodes with higher Ni contents may imply better overall stability than “lower-Ni” cathodes under an identical degree of delithiation (charging) conditions. With two representative cathodes, LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 and LiNiO 2 , a systematic investigation into their stabilities with control of the degree of delithiation is presented. Electrochemical tests indicate that LiNiO 2 displays better cyclability than LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 at the same delithiation state. Comprehensive structural and interphase investigations unveil that the inferior cyclability of LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 predominantly results from aggravated parasitic reactions, and the interphase stability may be more critical than lattice stability in dictating cyclability. Also, LiNiO 2 delivers similar or better thermal behavior than LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 . Finally, the findings demonstrate a strong correlation of the stability of NMC cathodes to the degree of delithiation state rather than the Ni content itself, highlighting the importance of reassessing the true implications of Ni content and structural and interphasial tuning on the stabilities of NMC cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tunable 3D Aerosol Jet Printing of Low‐Power Redox‐Gated Transistors with Multicomponent Inks

Printed hybrid electronics (PHE) offer a promising alternative for microelectronics fabrication, addressing some limitations of traditional subtractive manufacturing. Despite the versatility of PHE, particularly in the customization of printing inks, these devices have not yet matched the performance of silicon-based electronics due to challenges in gating mechanisms and operational stability. However, the potential of low-voltage redox-gating to achieve significant carrier modulations in correlated metal oxides remains unexplored in PHE. This study systematically investigates vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) nanoparticles and redox inks, linking their organization in solution to their morphology, phase state, and properties in solid films and multilayered structures. Using an aerosol jet printer (AJP), a solid-state VO 2 transistor is fabricated, operating at just 0.4 V gating voltage. The printed VO 2 films demonstrate redox-modulated conductivity and consistent transistor behavior. The solid-state redox gating materials also provide long-term stability, with the device maintaining performance over 6000 cycles without degradation. These results highlight the potential of redox gating to enhance the application of functional nanoparticles in printed hybrid microelectronics, especially for flexible, low-voltage, and energy-efficient devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Compact 3D Copper with Uniform Porous Structure Derived by Electrochemical Dealloying as Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anode Current Collector

Here, the development of lithium (Li) metal anodes Li metal batteries faces huge challenges such as uncontrolled Li dendrite growth and large volume change during Li plating/stripping, resulting in severe capacity decay and high safety hazards. A 3D porous copper (Cu) current collector as a host for Li deposition can effectively settle these problems. However, constructing a uniform and compact 3D porous Cu structure is still an enormous challenge. Herein, an electrochemical etching method for Cu–Zinc (Zn) alloy is reported to precisely engrave a 3D Cu structure with uniform, smooth, and compact porous network. Such a continuous structure endows 3D Cu excellent mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity. The uniform and smooth pores with a large internal surface area ensures well dispersed current density for homogeneous Li metal deposition and accommodation. A smooth and stable solid electrolyte interphase is formed and meanwhile Li dendrites and dead Li are effectively suppressed. The Li metal anode conceived 3D Cu current collector can stably cycle for 400 h under an Li plating/stripping capacity of 1 mA h cm –2 and a current density of 1 mA cm –2 . The Li@3D Cu||LiFePO 4 full cells present excellent cycling and rate performances. The electrochemical dealloying is a robust method to construct 3D Cu current collectors for dendrite–free Li metal anodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Magnetic Field-Suppressed Lithium Dendrite Growth for Stable Lithium-Metal Batteries

Lithium metal is the most attractive anode material due to its extremely high specific capacity, minimum potential, and low density. However, uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrite results in severe safety and cycling stability concerns, which hinders the application in next generation secondary batteries. In this paper, a new and facile method imposing a magnetic field to lithium metal anodes is proposed. That is, the lithium ions suffering Lorentz force due to the electromagnetic fields are put into spiral motion causing magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effect. This MHD effect can effectively promote mass transfer and uniform distribution of lithium ions to suppress the dendrite growth as well as obtain uniform and compact lithium deposition. The results show that the lithium metal electrodes within the magnetic field exhibit excellent cycling and rate performance in a symmetrical battery. Additionally, full batteries using limited lithium metal as anodes and commercial LiFePO 4 as cathodes show improved performance within the magnetic field. In summary, a new and facile strategy of suppressing lithium dendrites using the MHD effect by imposing a magnetic field is proposed, which may be generalized to other advanced alkali metal batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Uncovering the Solvation Structure of LiPF 6 –Based Localized Saturated Electrolytes and Their Effect on LiNiO 2 –Based Lithium–Metal Batteries

Electrolytes play a critical role in stabilizing highly reactive lithium-metal anodes (LMAs) and high-voltage cathodes for rechargeable lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Localized high concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have achieved remarkable success in the context of LMBs. However, the state-of-the-art LHCEs are based on LiFSI salt, which is prohibitively expensive. Here, the utility of low-cost LiPF 6 salt in localized saturated electrolytes (LSEs) with a series of solvents and diluents in LMBs with cobalt-free LiNiO 2 cathode is systematically explored. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that the unique solvation structure formed not only changes the distribution of solvents and anions but also alters the atom–atom distances within them, leading to different reduction and oxidation stabilities compared to low-concentration electrolytes. In addition, LSEs help form LiF-rich interphase layers on the LMA and LiNiO 2 cathode, protecting the electrodes from degradation during cycling. Different LSEs also lead to differences in lithium plating morphology and impedance buildup during cycling, impacting the performance of LMBs. Finally, the solvent and diluent must be carefully selected for compatibility with a lithium salt when developing LHCEs and LSEs for LMBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Biomass‐based chemical production using techno‐economic and life cycle analysis

Abstract Furfural has been selected as one of the top 30 biomass derived platform compounds by the U.S. Department of Energy based on several indicators including the raw material used for production, estimated processing cost, technical complexity, and market potential. In this work, several high value chemicals such as butadiene, surfactants, jet‐fuels, and lubricants are produced from furfural. The paper proposes the integrated flowsheet to produce those chemical and techno‐economic and life cycle analysis is performed to compare the minimum selling price and environmental impacts of the integrated process. The capital and operating cost for production of lubricants and surfactants is the highest when compared with other products. Production of surfactants performs the best in terms of environmental impacts except in water depletion when compared with other processes while butadiene production performs the worst regarding the environmental effects.

Athaley, Abhay↗
DOE OSTI2025

Environmental Metrics of Ethanol Production Improve with Increased Biomass Yield and Carbohydrate Content in Populus Trichocarpa

When selecting economically and environmentally advantageous genotypes for domestication in a biofuel supply chain, variability of cell-wall composition within a feedstock population and its impact on biorefinery metrics must be understood. We performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) on a poplar-to-ethanol supply chain to quantify global warming potential and cumulative energy demand as affected by variable carbohydrate content in a large representative natural variant population of Populus trichocarpa. The results showed that both environmental metrics decrease with increasing tree size and with increasing biomass carbohydrate content. These trends parallel prior economic results and provide clear direction to breeders or genetic engineers when improving poplar cultivars.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ion Exchange Processes for CO 2 Mineralization Using Industrial Waste Streams: Pilot Plant Demonstration and Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract An attractive technique for removing CO 2 from the environment is sequestration within stable carbonate solids (e. g., calcite). However, continuous addition of alkalinity is required to achieve favorable conditions for carbonate precipitation (pH>8) from aqueous streams containing dissolved CO 2 (pH<4.5) and Ca 2+ ions. In this study, a pH‐swing process using ion exchange was demonstrated to process 300 L of produced water brine per day for CO 2 mineralization. Proton titration capacities were quantified for aqueous streams in equilibrium with gas streams at various concentrations of CO 2 (pCO 2 =0.03–0.20 atm) and at various flow rates (0.5–2.0 L min −1 ). Energy intensities for the process were determined to be between 30 and 65 kWh per tonne of CO 2 sequestered depending on the composition of the brine stream. A life cycle assessment was performed to analyze the net carbon emissions of the technology which indicated a net CO 2 reduction for pCO 2 ≥0.12 atm (−0.06–−0.39 kg CO 2 e per kg precipitated CaCO 3 ) utilizing calcium‐rich brines. The results from this study indicate the ion exchange process can be used as a scalable method to provide alkalinity necessary for the capture and storage of CO 2 in Ca‐rich waste streams.

Chemistry↗