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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 1,603 records · Page 89
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Multiphysics Meshfree Degradation Modeling of Energy Storage Materials with Kernel Enrichment

Energy storage materials exhibit strong electro-chemo-mechanical coupling and highly anisotropic material properties, contributing to the formation and propagation of micro-cracking during charge/discharge cycling and ultimately diminishing performance and service life. With microstructural images supplied by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), pixel-based meshfree model construction by the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM) is used to represent the complex material microstructures that dictate the coupled physics of these systems. Traditional electro-chemo-mechanical models rely on mesh-based finite element methods, which can lead to difficulties in meshing such complex geometries and capturing crack propagation due to mesh dependency. The first kernel enrichment discussed will be the interface modified reproducing kernel (IM-RK) [1, 2], constructed by scaling a smooth kernel function with an interface-distance function to achieve strategic discontinuity types (i.e. weak discontinuities for strain discontinuities and strong discontinuities for cracks) and alleviate Gibbs oscillations near these transition zones. The IM-RK is especially useful for areas in which a known discontinuity-type is expected a priori. The second kernel enrichment to be discussed is a neural network-enhanced reproducing kernel (NN-RK) [3, 4], which is introduced to effectively model non-obvious damage and crack propagation in the material microstructures; the location, orientation, and solution transition near a localization are automatically captured by superimposed block-level NN optimizations. This NN enrichment approach allows for effective modeling of localizations via a fixed background discretization, relieving tedious efforts for adaptive refinement in traditional mesh-based methods. Applications to the heterogeneous microstructures of Li-ion battery cathodes will be presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. NN-RK is additionally used to inform how crack opening and closure in turn affect the electro-chemo-mechanical responses in the material microstructure. Reference: [1] Wang, Y., Baek, J., Tang, Y. et al. "Support vector machine guided reproducing kernel particle method for image-based modeling of microstructures," Comput Mech 73, 907-942 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00466-023-02394-9. [2] Susuki, K., Allen, J. & Chen, J. S.. "Image-based modeling of coupled electro-chemo-mechanical behavior of Li-ion battery cathode using an interface-modified reproducing kernel particle method," Engineering with Computers (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-024-02016-9. [3] Baek, J., Chen, J. S., Susuki, K., "Neural Network enhanced Reproducing Kernel Particle Method for Modeling Localizations," International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 123, 4422-4454 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.7040.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

How the Modular Construction Industry Is Changing the Construction Workforce [Slides]

564,000 - that's the number of construction workers the United States lacked in 2023. This is not a new or unfamiliar problem, but high interest rates, housing shortages, and an aging workforce are amplifying the pressure to build faster and recruit new talent. Panelized and modular construction are often touted as a solution to this workforce challenge and have seen year over year increases in market share. While research confirms industrialized construction can increase building efficiencies, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), RMI, Washington State University, Dodge Construction Network and Guidehouse were curious how workers are being impacted both on construction sites, at factories, and all the stages in between.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

Design Basis Document / Owner’s Technical Specification for Nitrate Salt Systems in CSP Projects (Final Technical Report)

The number of commercial coal, gas, and nuclear projects built over the past 100 years number in the thousands. As such, there is a large database, available to a wide range of commercial engineering contractors, on proven designs. In essence, unsuccessful designs have, through generations of iterations, been identified and then deleted from further consideration. In contrast, the number of commercial parabolic trough projects using nitrate salt for the thermal storage media is perhaps 60. Further, the number of commercial central receiver projects using nitrate salt as the working fluid is on the order of 20, including estimates for China. Given the relative immaturity of salt technology, and commercial pressures to successfully bid new solar projects into a mature electricity market, solar projects often promise more than has been delivered. The Design Basis Document / Owner’s Technical Specification is a first step in the iteration process. The report describes the successful features of commercial projects, outlines a range equipment and system failures in projects that didn’t operate as intended, and provides a draft set of design changes intended to correct the known problems. The product of the study is 3 volumes of technical material; one volume is on parabolic trough technologies; a second is on central receiver technologies, and the third is on potential design changes to parabolic trough and central receiver projects. The 3 volumes, which total some 590 pages, can be found at https://www.solardynllc.com/csp-plant-technologies. One of the principal topics in the report is the use of functional or prescriptive specifications. Functional specifications describe what the equipment needs to do, consistent with the minimum legal requirements of the local jurisdictions. The details of how this is to be accomplished is developed by the engineering contractor. Prescriptive specifications, which are developed by the Owner, prescribe to the engineering contractor how the functional requirements are to be met. This arrangement ensures that the favorable experience from a previous project is repeated. One example is the design code for the hot salt tank in central receiver projects. The closest design basis is API Standard 650 Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage. However, the maximum design temperature in API 650 is 260 °C. As such, solar projects have typically adopted a hybrid Code approach, in which allowable material stresses are taken from ASME Section II Materials. Further, since the tanks experience daily changes in temperature and in (static) pressure, and since portions of the tank can operate at stresses beyond the elastic range, the low cycle fatigue life of the tank is conducted using the rules of Section VIII Division 2. However, in a recent study by NREL, the principal damage mechanism was identified as creep rather than fatigue. Further, design stresses permitted under Section VIII Division 2, corresponding to a fatigue life of 30 years, result in projected creep lifetimes of only 2 to 5 years. An alternate design approach, prescribed by the Owner, would be based on Code sections intended for high temperature service in the creep regime. A candidate is Section III Division 5. Granted, this is a nuclear code section, and it’s use would not likely be mandated by local jurisdictions. However, the effects of creep have been deemed to be of sufficient importance that one nuclear project developer, and one central receiver project developer, have stipulated in the tank design specification that the equipment be designed to the requirements of Section III Division 5.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Pressure-Swing Process for Reactive CO2 Capture and Conversion to Methanol through Precise Control of Co-Located Active Sites in Dual Functional Materials

The goals of this project are to design and develop tailored dual-functional materials (DFMs) and the accompanying pressure-swing process for the reactive capture and conversion (RCC) of CO 2 to methanol, a vital product in the chemical market and a versatile precursor to fuels. Throughout this project, NREL researcher team has successfully developed 2 groups of DFM and associated cyclic RCC procedure to selectivity produce either methanol or CO, which is a major intermediate for methanol synthesis with commercially available technologies.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of IEC 62443 Standard Gaps for Electric Grid Substation Model Use Case

This report presents an evaluation of the IEC 62443 standards in the context of electric grid substations, as part of a collaborative effort among Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The primary objective is to assess the applicability of these standards to enhance cybersecurity measures for industrial automation and control systems (IACS) within the energy sector. The evaluation identifies strengths, such as the scalability of security levels and the structured lifecycle guidance provided by IEC 62443. However, it also highlights significant gaps, including limited integration of physical security, insufficient guidance for legacy systems, and challenges in addressing emerging threats like supply chain vulnerabilities. Recommendations for refining the standards are proposed, including the need for tailored guidance for securing legacy systems, integrating physical security with cybersecurity frameworks, and enhancing interoperability across multi-vendor environments. By addressing these gaps, the IEC 62443 standards can be strengthened to ensure comprehensive cybersecurity for electric grid substations, thereby supporting the resilience and reliability of critical energy infrastructure.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluating Air-Source Heat Pumps with Distributed Energy Resources in REopt

This training introduces attendees to NREL's REopt(R) web tool and its capabilities in evaluating air-source heat pumps (ASHP) alongside distributed energy resources (DERs). Designed for energy managers, facility operators, and sustainability managers, this session will explore how REopt provides techno-economic analysis to assess the financial viability of ASHP while identifying synergies with solar PV and battery storage. Participants will gain practical insights into using REopt to optimize energy strategies, reduce costs, and improve site resilience.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

New Mobility Technology Assessment - Benefits, Risks, and Safety

The age of vehicle automation is upon us. The fundamental perception and control technology is maturing as we speak (and write) with robo-taxis proliferating in select US cities. The news cycle is no longer filled with technological skepticism, but rather societal commentary on our collective response and use of the technology. This maturing of the technology is also accompanied by a renaissance in new types of urban movement technology to more effectively link people with goods, services, and employment, particularly in dense development areas where vehicle congestion (even automated vehicles) prevents high quality mobility. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, through the DOE Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program has worked with two jurisdictions to assess the benefits, risks, and safety concerns for a new product offering based on suspended cable technology which is fully automated and proposes an aerial network of self-propelled gondolas. The recognized need, independent of the technology, is to fairly assess the benefits of the proposed transportation system, assess its technical maturity, as well as risks and safety concerns. Using this new technology as an example, a technology represented by Swyft Cities, NREL developed a succession of mini-studies that characterized the technical maturity level, assessed the proposed benefits for Greenville, SC, examined the risks involved in moving forward with an emerging mobility technology, and determined the governing safety protocols and standards that are applicable to the space. These mini-case studies, though centered on Swyft Cities aerial automated gondola technology, are highly transferable to any type of new mobility technology and lays out a repeatable process for assessing new technology within an city or community context.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Preliminary Assessment of PV + Electric Storage Options at the Energy Coordinating Agency

NREL used the REopt (R) platform to evaluate the techno-economic potential of adding solar PV and electric storage at the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) in Philadelphia, PA. The site has access to 600 PV panels (rated at 305 W each) and would like to evaluate the potential of pairing them with battery storage to offset electricity costs, increase renewable energy usage, and establish an onsite microgrid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Development of a Digital Twin for Hydrogen Dispersion and Safety Assessment in an Electrolyzer Based Hydrogen Production Facility

Digital twin models are virtual representations of physical systems that use real-time data to simulate and optimize performance. This study presents the development and initial implementation of a digital twin (DT) for the electrolyzer-based hydrogen production facility at NREL's Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES), focused on enhancing safety and optimizing sensor placement through physics-based simulations and metadata integration. The DT incorporates detailed facility-specific information, including component layout, leak locations, and controlled release parameters, to model hydrogen dispersion under varying environmental conditions. Using steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations informed by real meteorological data, such as wind speed, direction, and vertical wind profiles, the DT enables visualization of hydrogen plume behavior and spatial concentration distributions. Comparative analysis between high and low wind speed scenarios illustrates the significant influence of wind dynamics on plume shape and extent, with horizontal momentum dominating dispersion at higher speeds, while buoyancy effects become more prominent under low wind conditions. These simulations generate a rich dataset embedded within the DT, allowing users to assess potential leak outcomes and identify optimal sensor locations based on concentration thresholds. The model supports scenario-based analysis to guide safety strategies and equipment deployment for open-area hydrogen infrastructure. The digital twin thus serves as a dynamic platform for virtual prototyping, providing predictive insight into hydrogen behavior and enhancing risk-informed decision-making. This initial phase establishes a validated foundation for future integration of transient, uncontrolled leak scenarios and real-time sensor feedback, positioning the DT as a critical tool for safety design, operational planning, and adaptive monitoring in hydrogen systems. Overall, the approach demonstrates the value of combining environmental data with digital simulations to inform safer and more efficient deployment of hydrogen technologies.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Wind 2H2 Project (CRADA Final Report)

The Xcel-NREL Wind Electrolysis R&D Project is designed to gain knowledge and insight about producing hydrogen from electricity for use as a vehicle fuel and as a “stored wind”. The project will analyze producing hydrogen directly from wind as well as from the electric grid. In addition, it will look at storing hydrogen and then using it to put electricity back onto the grid. Modifications were made to the original scope to also include electric vehicles integration with the electric grid. This report addresses Task 8 portion of the CRADA, focused on testing and measuring the attributes of plug-in electric vehicles.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Study of Emerging Ancillary Service Markets in Non-Restricted Regions of the Western Power Grid (CRADA Final Report)

Rising penetrations of renewable energy generation in the Western United States pose new requirements for ancillary services, which are the services required, in addition to energy service, in order to maintain the system reliability. This project combines the research capabilities of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder) to provide more accurate information to market participants and regulators about the present and future size and composition of ancillary service markets in the non-restructured regions of the West. This information would provide market participants and state and federal regulators with a more transparent view of future ancillary service markets, and allow for more efficient system planning in both the private and public sectors of the electricity market.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Floating Wind Array Ontology and Modeling Framework

While there are many tools for designing and modeling a single floating turbine, array level design and modeling has much more to consider. Designing floating wind arrays requires a coupled approach considering many variables, from bathymetry to installation and maintenance to failure and risk analysis. With all of these considerations, an array-level modeling tool is needed to quickly evaluate array designs. The Floating Array Model (FAModel) tool developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory was created to fill this gap in low-fidelity array modeling. FAModel is a python framework created to streamline holistic low-fidelity floating wind modeling for array-level analysis. FAModel integrates site data and models with a variety of open-source modeling tools developed by NREL, including FLORIS, RAFT, MoorPy, and anchor capacity models. The integration of these tools allows users to quickly and holistically design an array by considering forces, area analysis, visualization, annual energy production, failure modeling, and component costs.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Forecasting EV Charging Demand on the Distribution System

The U.S. transportation and electricity sectors have historically operated independently, but the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) is driving their convergence. After decades of stagnant demand, utilities must prepare for rising load growth, driven in part by transportation electrification. Utilities must anticipate when and where these new loads will materialize to effectively manage EV growth and maintain grid reliability. This presentation outlines NREL's approach to developing high-resolution EV load datasets for distribution planning, with insights from the Multi-State Transportation Electrification Impact Study on EV and load forecasting, infrastructure requirements, and managed charging strategies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) Training [Slides]

This is a presentation developed by the NREL-Alaska team for the Nonprofit Retrofits for Health and Housing (NORTHH) Program. This presentation will be shared with nonprofits and community members in and around the Interior Alaska region to share information about Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM). ESPM is used to track the energy performance of buildings in the United States and was used on the NORTHH Project to understand the performance of nonprofit owned buildings in the program. This presentation will allow users to learn how to leverage the benefits of this tool.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Sensor Dilemma in Intelligent Transportation Systems

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are at the forefront in advancing the way we interact and perceive with the transportation network. This revolution is fueled by the significant advancement in sensor perception technologies such as Radar, LiDAR and Video Imaging which are the most popular modalities for ITS. Real-time perception data from these sensors allows intelligent infrastructure side decision making to improve the energy, efficiency and safety at traffic intersections. As traffic departments across the United States are transitioning from traditional loop detectors / emulators and embracing newer technologies, they are often left with a dilemma in choosing a sensor technology for infrastructure-based perception which is reliable, inexpensive, easy to setup and has robust performance in varying weather conditions. However, choosing a sensor which checks all boxes is not straightforward as every sensor type has unique benefits and drawbacks. Radar is excellent at detecting long range vehicles and weather resistance but lacks high resolution. LiDAR is expensive and weather-sensitive, while cameras provide rich visual data at a low cost but are constrained by lighting and visibility. This study examines Radar, LiDAR and camera sensors capabilities to ascertain whether any of these qualifies as the "best" sensor for ITS perception. Through this evaluation, we hope to draw attention to the necessity of National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Infrastructure Perception and Control (IPC) framework which presents a multi-sensor track data fusion engine to assimilate multiple data streams in order to provide robust and reliable perception. While no single sensor can meet all the demands of ITS, a hybrid approach combining multiple sensor modalities like Radar, LiDAR and cameras, offers the most robust solution for enhancing the safety and efficiency in intelligent transportation systems.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗