Propulsion/electrical power generation Final report
Generation of electric power with use of nuclear engine for rocket vehicles /NERVA/ heat source
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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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Vitamin-Mediated Glucose Flow Cell for Sustainable Power Generation
Glucose as biofuel asserts unique advantages, including low-temperature electricity generation, easy accessibility, low storage cost, and flexible application for on-demand power generation. Riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B 2 , is a critical component in biological systems and is involved in many metabolic reactions as enzyme cofactors. Inspired by these metabolic reactions, we demonstrate a flow cell for electrochemical glucose oxidation reaction (GOR), using riboflavin as an environmentally friendly mediator to replace traditional noble metal catalysts. When paired with O 2 under alkaline conditions, the glucose flow cell achieves a peak power density of 13 mW/cm 2 , 20 times higher than the previous report in alkaline conditions. The demonstrated vitamin-mediated engineered biofuel flow cell delivered high peak power density at room temperature/ambient pressure while maintaining low cost and environmental friendliness, eliminating the need for a noble metal catalyst.
electrolytes↗
New Thermoelectric Materials and Devices for Terrestrial Power Generators
The development of new, more efficient, materials and devices is the key to expand the range of appplications of thermoelectric generators. New potential terrestrial applications have been recently described in the literature. There exists a wide range of heat source temperatures for these applications. Recent results on novel materials have demonstrated that ZT values significantly larger that 1.0 could be obtained in the 475 to 975K temperature range. These materials are excellent candidates to be used in terrestrial thermoelectric power generators using waste heat or liquid fuels.
thermoelectric↗
Solid-state millimeter-wave power generation and amplification Final report, 1 Mar. 1966 - 28 Feb. 1970
Research and development in solid state millimeter wave power generation and amplification
Steinbrecher, D. H.↗
The 400-Hz aircraft power-generation systems: Advancing the baseline
Today's benchmark system for the Boeing 757/767/A310 airplanes and future trends in hydromechanical aircraft power generating systems are discussed. The 757/767/A310 system represents the commercial state of the art and the direction in which Sundstrand Corp. is headed, particularly in regard to weight reduction. Sundstrand introduced microprocessor control in an in service system in the Boeing 767 and was the first to use databus communications between the controls. Plans to develop this technology are briefly discussed. Alternative ways to produce and use power in aircraft are discussed. The integrated starter drive is discussed.
Glennon, T.↗
Estimates of Optimal Operating Conditions for Hydrogen-Oxygen Cesium-Seeded Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generator
The value of percent seed, oxygen to fuel ratio, combustion pressure, Mach number, and magnetic field strength which maximize either the electrical conductivity or power density at the entrance of an MHD power generator was obtained. The working fluid is the combustion product of H2 and O2 seeded with CsOH. The ideal theoretical segmented Faraday generator along with an empirical form found from correlating the data of many experimenters working with generators of different sizes, electrode configurations, and working fluids, are investigated. The conductivity and power densities optimize at a seed fraction of 3.5 mole percent and an oxygen to hydrogen weight ratio of 7.5. The optimum values of combustion pressure and Mach number depend on the operating magnetic field strength.
Smith, J. M.↗
Estimating the value of jointly optimized electric power generation and end use: a study of ISO-scale load shaping applied to the residential building stock
A generation-to-load simulation estimated the impact, in terms of production costs and CO2 emissions, attributable to the joint optimization of electric power generation and flexible end uses to support increasing penetrations of renewable energy. Newly conceived, evaluated, and foundational in developing a U.S. National Standard was a transaction-less yet continuous demand response system based on a day-ahead optimum load shape (OLS) designed to encourage Internet-connected devices to autonomously and voluntarily explore options to favour lowest cost generators - without requiring two-way communications, personally identifiable information, or customer opt-in. Boundary conditions used for model calibration included historical weather, residential building stock construction attributes, home appliance and device empirical operating schedules, prototypical power distribution feeder models, thermal generator heat rates, startup and ramping constraints, and fuel costs. Results of an hourly-based annual case study of Texas indicate a 1/3 reduction in production costs and a 1/5 reduction in CO2 emissions are possible.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Integration of sensors through additive manufacturing leading to increased efficiencies of gas turbines for power generation and propulsion
To realize the full capability of additively manufactured components in complex energy systems, it is imperative to minimize early component failures during development phases and during operation. Traditional field feedback timelines and offline inspection protocols significantly reduce the design-manufacturing iteration times. To address this specific question, the project developed and demonstrated a method for the integration of sensors into complex components through additive manufacturing. The team used gas turbine engines as a platform, which meets the need of both power generation and propulsion and offer opportunities for cost reductions and efficiency increases. The innovation of this intelligent integration of sensors into complex components uniquely customized to address questions of integrity and durability for additively manufactured components. With real-time sensing data from additively manufactured components, turbine manufacturers will realize higher efficiencies, reduced component failures, and a 30-50% acceleration in product deployment of high efficiency gas turbine components due to a faster reduction in component risk assessment under actual operating conditions. This is a transformative shift towards a data-driven design and qualification of additively manufactured gas turbine components. To directly integrate sensors into additively manufactured components with all the complexities of actual hardware, powder bed fusion (direct metal laser sintering) and laser metal deposition technologies was developed. Validation took take place in two university laboratories both of which contain actual engine hardware and closely simulate a gas turbine prior to demonstrating the technology in a turbine development test. Indeed, two major technologies from this research cold impact turbine systems in the near future: (1) higher efficiency materials and designs enabled by additive manufacturing with 50% faster design to manufacturing cycle time, to enable faster time-to-market targets; and (2) integration of sensors into additively manufactured components enabling broad health and condition based prognostics for faster component and engine risk reduction.
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
Repurposing Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms to Support Wind Power Generation
B. Gibbs, J. McAvoy, S. T. Nutakki and R. Seetharam, "Repurposing Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms to Support Wind Power Generation," 2025 IEEE International Communications Energy Conference (INTELEC), Houstin, TX, USA, 2025, pp. 215-221, doi: 10.1109/INTELEC63987.2025.11214768.
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
Comparison of two total energy systems for a diesel power generation plant
The capabilities and limitations, as well as the associated costs for two total energy systems for a diesel power generation plant are compared. Both systems utilize waste heat from engine cooling water and waste heat from exhaust gases. Pressurized water heat recovery system is simple in nature and requires no engine modifications, but operates at lower temperature ranges. On the other hand, a two-phase ebullient system operates the engine at constant temperature, provides higher temperature water or steam to the load, but is more expensive.
Chai, V. W.↗
An Set-Free, All Digital Controlled Point-of-Load Regulator for Next Generation Power Systems: ADC-POL
This paper presents a digitally controlled programmable point-of-load regulator for next-generation power systems. A novel digital control scheme was designed to minimize single-event effect (SEE)-induced transient effects. By effectively programming the loop transmission, the POL can trade off transient response time with SET robustness. The IC works with 1 to 5.5 V input voltage, 1-4.5V regulated output voltage, high efficiency (peak efficiency at 94%) and power of up to 5 W. The design was fabricated in the AMI i2t100 0.7 mu m complimentary, metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process and characterized with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) pulsed laser system.
Digital Signal Processing (DP)↗
Single phase inverter for a three phase power generation and distribution system
A breadboard design of a single-phase inverter with sinusoidal output voltage for a three-phase power generation and distribution system was developed. The three-phase system consists of three single-phase inverters, whose output voltages are connected in a delta configuration. Upon failure of one inverter the two remaining inverters will continue to deliver three-phase power. Parallel redundancy as offered by two three-phase inverters is substituted by one three-phase inverter assembly with high savings in volume, weight, components count and complexity, and a considerable increase in reliability. The following requirements must be met: (1) Each single-phase, current-fed inverter must be capable of being synchronized to a three-phase reference system such that its output voltage remains phaselocked to its respective reference voltage. (2) Each single-phase, current-fed inverter must be capable of accepting leading and lagging power factors over a range from -0.7 through 1 to +0.7.
Lindena, S. J.↗
Viability of Harvesting Salinity Gradient (Blue) Energy by Nanopore-Based Osmotic Power Generation
Not Available
42 ENGINEERING↗
Increasing Power Generation at the Patua Nevada Geothermal Field through Targeted and Adaptive EGS
In 2020, Patua Acquisition Company LLC, submitted the proposal “Increasing Power Generation at the Patua Nevada Geothermal Field through Targeted and Adaptive EGS”, in response to the DOE’s Geothermal Wells of Opportunity Funding Opportunity Announcement. The primary goal of the project was to convert an idle well, Patua 16-29, to an active producer and generate at least an additional 5 MWe at the Patua plant. The project was intended to provide an example of a reproducible methodology for well stimulation in Enhanced Geothermal Systems The project was proposed to be performed in three phases over a period of performance of four years. A first project go/no-go decision was made at the end of Phase 1 based on feasibility of the wellbore, site, and ability to realize a 5 MWe benefit from the project. Several factors were recognized that led to a no-go decision at this phase: • Electrical needs for placing the stimulated well on production were not considered in the initial scoping. Costs of pipeline costs were also underestimated in the original cost share. Easements and rights-of-way to establish a geothermal pipeline underneath or across an interstate highway were also found to be intractable on the time scale of the project. • The plant is injection limited, and no design or cost estimate was in place to handle the additional production needed to realize a 5 Mwe benefit. A new injection well would need to be drilled in addition to the other facility improvements to bring in the stimulated well. Patau Acquisition Company attempted to locate additional wells of opportunity that could realize the SOPOs goals, but was unsuccessful. As a result, this project is being terminated at the end of Phase 1.
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
Electrodynamic Tether Propulsion and Power Generation at Jupiter
The results of a study performed to evaluate the feasibility and merits of using an electrodynamic tether for propulsion and power generation for a spacecraft in the Jovian system are presented. The environment of the Jovian system has properties which are particularly favorable for utilization of an electrodynamic tether. Specifically, the planet has a strong magnetic field and the mass of the planet dictates high orbital velocities which, when combined with the planet's rapid rotation rate, can produce very large relative velocities between the magnetic field and the spacecraft. In a circular orbit close to the planet, tether propulsive forces are found to be as high as 50 N and power levels as high as 1 MW.
Gallagher, D. L.↗
Preliminary Technoeconomic Analysis for Power Generation from Coal Water Slurry Using Modular Staged-OMB Gasifier
Trimeric performed a technoeconomic analysis for a proposed 5 MWe gross modular gasification power generation facility. The cost estimate was used to determine the economic advantages of the proposed modular, staged-OMB gasifier in comparison to other modular gasifier designs. The project, Staged OMB for Modular Gasifier/Burner, is led by The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UK CAER) and supported by East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) and Trimeric Corporation. A high-level summary of the findings from this project are presented below.
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
Optimization of closed Brayton cycles for space power generation
A development status evaluation is presented for methods that allow accurate preliminary design and optimization of closed Brayton cycle engines for space electrical power generation. The basis for such work is the Closed Cycle Engine Performance simulation code, in conjunction with the optimization code COPES/ADS; the joining of the two codes has greatly expedited the optimization process. Attention is given to a variety of other model-versatility enhancers.
Hanlon, James C.↗
A Systematic Approach for Estimating High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse Coupling onto Power Generation Facility Equipment
A systematic approach is presented to evaluate the effects of high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) signals on the equipment located inside a power generation facility. The approach uses a combination of practical measurement and simulation efforts to characterize the radio wave propagation behavior and the device immunity profile. Of particular interest in this work was estimating the vulnerability level of equipment that is connected to long cables. As an example application, a detailed study was conducted for one common class of facility equipment, and its frequency- and time-domain HEMP coupling properties were investigated as a function of terminal loading condition and cable attachment configuration. Overall, the proposed method can be generalized and applied to other electronic components and systems found in the facility environment.
42 ENGINEERING↗