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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 1,783 records · Page 99
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Assigning value to energy storage systems at multiple points in an electrical grid

The ability to define the potential value that energy storage systems (ESS) could generate through various applications in electric power systems, and an understanding of how these values change due to variations in locations, ESS performance and parameters, market structure, utility structures, and valuation methodologies is highly important in advancing ESS deployment. This paper presents the outcome of an effort to assign benefits values, or more precisely ranges of values, to major ESS applications, and summarize and evaluate the capabilities of several available tools currently used to estimate value for specific ESS deployments.

energy storage valuation, balducci, energy storage↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development and Testing of an Advanced Cascaded Thermoelectric Residential Heat Pump

Electricity-driven heat pumps using vapor compression cycle are an energy-efficient solution to replace fossil fuel burning and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for space heating in residential buildings. However, heating capacity and Coefficient of Performance (COP) of heat pumps degrade significantly with increasing temperature difference between ambient and indoor environments. Residents and building owners are hence reluctant to fully embrace electric heat pumps. The use of conventional all-electric heat pumps also causes concern for electric utilities due to an increased winter peak demand arising from the use of supplemental electric resistance heaters. Our research is an attempt to alleviate these concerns by designing and laboratory testing a thermoelectric (TE) heat pump cascaded with a vapor compression cycle to enhance heating capacity and COP. TE modules increase the subcooling in the refrigerant liquid of the vapor compression cycle to enlarge the evaporating capacity and works at an efficiency greater than a conventional electric resistance strip. This results in a simple, affordable, efficient and highly controllable solution to adequately meet space heating needs in dwellings. The laboratory testing of the 3-stage cascaded TE heat pump performed in this research has exhibited a higher heating capacity by above 15%, while maintaining a heating COP of 2.0-3.6 in the ambient temperature range of -18˚C to 8˚C (0˚F to 47 ˚F), which represents more than 60% of winter temperatures observed in US. If successfully commercialized, this technology can advance space-heating electrification by overcoming consumer cost barrier of heat pumps.

Shen, Bo↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cyberinfrastructure for the democratization of smart manufacturing

“Smart Manufacturing” is the transformation of U.S. manufacturing that results from disrupting traditional business, organizational, operating, and market structures with a radical increase in the availability and use of real-time operations data to produce value in previously inconceivable ways—a transformation process known as “manufacturing digitalization” or “manufacturing digital transformation.” There are significant economic and investment opportunities with substantially increased supply chain productivity and far better product design with process and machine precision and performance for highervalue products manufactured better, faster, cheaper with less energy and material.

Advanced sensor controls platforms and modeling↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rechargeable metal-metal alkaline batteries: Recent advances, current issues and future research strategies

Over the past few decades, remarkable advancement has been attained in the field of rechargeable metal–metal alkaline batteries (RABs). In terms of safety, energy density, charge-discharge capacity, and long-term storage capability, metal-metal RABs (e.g., Ni–Zn, Ni–Fe, Ni–Bi, Ni–MH, Ag–Zn, Co–Zn, Cu–Zn, and Bi–Zn systems) are contemplated as the promising energy storage devices for the applications in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid EVs, grid-scale energy storage, as well as various implantable and wearable electronic devices. Especially, Ni-MH batteries become competitive with Li-ion batteries for EVs and hybrid EVs applications due to their high tolerance against mechanical abuse, stability under wide temperature ranges, and considerable charge/discharge capacity. Meanwhile, earlier works reviewed only specific topics, so, as a rapidly growing research topic, providing a deep understanding on metal–metal RABs is timely and worthwhile. So here, in this work, we discuss the electrochemistry of all metal-metal RABs, then full cell designing with their performance will be discussed thoroughly. Further, issues associated with the existing metal–metal RABs and corresponding improvement approaches will be provided for future advances in high-performance and reliable metal-metal RABs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sensor impacts on building and HVAC controls: A critical review for building energy performance

Building operations rely heavily on control systems and sensors. This paper provides a sophisticated literature review on sensor systems in building/HVAC systems, particularly in the context of controls, and their impacts on energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This study aims to understand the previous and current research and identify future research opportunities on this subject. The reviewed sensor systems were used for heuristic rule-based controls, local controls, and advanced optimal controls for existing and emerging technologies. Five major aspects of sensors are reviewed here: control loops for sensors, sensor types, sensor locations, sensor data, and a sensor impact evaluation framework. To augment the literature review, comprehensive standardized interviews were also conducted with relevant industry experts and practitioners. These interviews were designed and performed to (1) identify significant factors for selecting sensor sets and current undergoing issues, (2) identify potential improvements in sensor configuration/deployment, and (3) integrate expert (e.g., researcher, building operation practitioner) knowledge and experiences to develop structured use-case scenarios. Researchers collected and analyzed 31 interview responses for this paper.

Building control↗
DOE OSTI2018

Challenges in Developing Electrodes, Electrolytes, and Diagnostics Tools to Understand and Advance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Here, considering the natural abundance and low cost of sodium resources, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have received much attention for large-scale electrochemical energy storage. However, smart structure design strategies and good mechanistic understanding are required to enable advanced SIBs with high energy density. In recent years, the exploration of advanced cathode, anode and electrolyte materials as well as advanced diagnostics have been extensively carried out. This review mainly focused on the challenging problems for the attractive battery materials (i.e. cathode, anode and electrolytes) and summarized the latest strategies to improve their electrochemical performance as well as presented recent progress of operando diagnostics to disclose the physic behind the electrochemical performance, and to provide guidance and approaches to design and synthesize advanced battery materials. Outlook and perspectives on the future research to build better SIBs are also provided.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advanced Characterization of Thin Film Solar Cells

Polycrystalline thin-film solar cells have reached a levelized cost of energy that is competitive with all other sources of electricity. The technology has significantly improved in recent years, with laboratory cell efficiencies for cadmium telluride (CdTe), perovskites, and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) each exceeding 22 percent. Both CdTe and CIGS solar panels are now produced at the gigawatt scale. However, there are ongoing challenges, including the continued need to improve performance and stability while reducing cost. Advancing polycrystalline solar cell technology demands an in-depth understanding of efficiency, scaling, and degradation mechanisms, which requires sophisticated characterization methods. These methods will enable reseachers and manufacturers to improve future solar modules and systems. This work provides researchers with a concise overview of the status of thin-film solar cell technology and characterization. Chapters describe material systems and their properties and then provide an in-depth look at relevant characterization methods and the learning facilitated by each of these. Following an introductory chapter, the book provides systematic and thorough coverage of the following topics: trends to improve CdTe solar cell performance; Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and related materials; perovskite solar cells; photovoltaic device modelling; luminescence and thermal imaging of thin-film photovoltaic materials, devices, and modules; application of spatially resolved spectroscopy characterization techniques on Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells; time-resolved photoluminescence characterization of polycrystalline thin-film solar cells; fundamentals of electrical material and device spectroscopies applied to thin-film polycrystalline chalcogenide solar cells; nanometer-scale characterization of thin-film solar cells by atomic force microscopy-based electrical probes; scanning transmission electron microscopy characterization of solar cells; photoelectron spectroscopy methods in solar cell research; time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry and atom probe tomography; and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance characterization for photovoltaic applications. The final chapter provides an overview and describes future prospects.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗
NASA NTRS2004

Brayton Power Conversion System Study to Advance Technology Readiness for Nuclear Electric Propulsion

Recently, there has been significant interest within the aerospace community to develop space based nuclear power conversion technologies especially for exploring the outer planets of our solar system where the solar energy density is very low. To investigate these technologies NASA awarded several contracts under Project Prometheus, the Nuclear Systems Program. The studies described in this paper were performed under one of those contracts, which was to investigate the use of a nuclear power conversion system based on the closed Brayton cycle (CBC).The investigation performed included BPCS (Brayton Power Conversion System) trade studies to minimize system weight and radiator area and advance the state of the art of BPCS technology. The primary requirements for studies were a power level of 100 kWe (to the PPU), a low overall power system mass and a lifetime of 15 years (10 years full power). For the radiation environment, the system was to be capable of operation in the generic space environment and withstand the extreme environments surrounding Jupiter. The studies defined a BPCS design traceable to NEP (Nuclear Electric Propulsion) requirements and suitable for future missions with a sound technology plan for technology readiness level (TRL) advancement identified. The studies assumed a turbine inlet temperature approx. 100 C above the current the state of the art capabilities with materials issues and related development tasks identified. Analyses and evaluations of six different HRS (heat rejection system) designs and three primary power management and distribution (PMAD) configurations will be discussed in the paper.

Patrick E. Frye↗
DOE OSTI2019

Insights into Boron-Based Polyanion-Tuned High-Nickel Cathodes for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries

Ultrahigh-Ni layered oxide cathodes (Ni content > 90%) are at the forefront for potentially enabling higher-energy density lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, they suffer from rapid capacity fade, poor thermal stability, and increased air sensitivity. Introduction of boron-based polyanion into layered cathodes has been found to be effective in stabilizing high-Ni cathodes, but the mechanism behind it is not yet fully understood. To develop a better understanding, we present here an extensive characterization of the ultrahigh-Ni cathode LiNi 0.94 Co 0.06 O 2 (NC) and B 2 O 3 -LiNi 0.94 Co 0.06 O 2 (B-NC). The B-NC delivers a capacity of 223 mA h g -1 with 80% capacity retention after 400 cycles in full cells with graphite anodes, superior to 61% retention for NC. In-depth interphase investigations reveal that the improved cyclability is attributed to the development of a well-passivated boron/phosphorus-rich cathode-electrolyte interphase in B-NC. Moreover, B-NC demonstrates a considerably enhanced air-exposure and thermal stability. A 30-day air-stored B-NC delivers a discharge capacity of 125 mA h g -1 at 10C rate, in sharp contrast to 65 mA h g -1 for the stored NC. Finally, this work advances the understanding of the effect boron-based polyanion insertion into layered oxides has on battery performance and offers a viable strategy for developing practically viable ultra-high-Ni cathodes with high-energy density.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2012

DOE Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Test Platform

Based on the contract NT-42790 to the Department of Energy, “Plug-in Hybrid Ethanol Research Platform”, Advanced Vehicle Research Center (AVRC) Virginia has successfully developed the phase I electric drive train research platform which has been named as Laboratory Rapid Application Testbed (LabRAT). In phase II, LabRAT is to be upgraded into plug-in hybrid research platform, which will be capable of testing power systems for electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles running on conventional as well as alternative fuels. LabRAT is configured as a rolling testbed with plentiful space for installing various component configurations. Component connections are modularized for flexibility and are easily replaced for testing various mechanisms. LabRAT is designed and built as a full functional vehicle chassis with a steering system, brake system and four wheel suspension. The rear drive axle offers maximum flexibility with a quickly changeable gear ratio final drive to accommodate different motor speed requirements. The electric drive system includes an electric motor which is mechanically connected to the rear axle through an integrated speed/torque sensor. Initially, a 100 kW UQM motor and corresponding UQM motor controller is used which can be easily replaced with another motor/controller combination. A lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack is installed, which consists of 108 cells of 100 AH capacity, giving the total energy capacity of 32.5 kWh. Correspondingly, a fully functional battery management system (BMS) is installed to perform battery cell operation monitoring, cell voltage balancing, and reporting battery real time operating parameters to vehicle controller. An advanced vehicle controller ECU is installed for controlling the drive train. The vehicle controller ECU receives traction or braking torque command from driver through accelerator and brake pedal position sensors and battery operating signals from the BMS through CAN BUS, and then generates motor torque command (traction or braking) to the motor controller based on the control algorithm software embedded in the vehicle controller ECU. The vehicle controller ECU is a re-programmable electronic control unit. Any control algorithm software developed can be easily downloaded to vehicle controller ECU to test any newly developed control strategy. The flexibility of the control system significantly enhances the practical applicability of the LabRAT. A new test methodology has been developed for the LabRAT simulating any vehicles running on road with different weights from compact passenger car to light duty truck on an AC or eddy current dynamometers without much effort for modification of the system. LabRAT is equipped with a fully functional data acquisition system supplied by CyberMetrix. The measurement points along the drive train are DC electric power between battery pack and motor controller input, AC electric power between motor controller and electric motor, mechanical power between motor and rear axle. The data acquisition system is designed with more capability than current requirements in order to meet the requirements for phase II.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Accelerating Scientific Applications With SambaNova Reconfigurable Dataflow Architecture

Here, our exploratory work finds that the SambaNova Reconfigurable Dataflow Architecture (RDA) along with the SambaFlow software stack provides for an attractive system and solution to accelerate AI for science workloads. We have observed the efficacy of using the system with a diverse set of science applications and reasoned their suitability for performance gains over traditional hardware. As the Data-Scale system provides for a very large memory capacity, the system can be used to train models that typically do not fit in a GPU. The architecture also provides for deeper integration with upcoming supercomputers at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), a US Department of Energy Office of Science user facility, to help advance science insights.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2016

A Stable Whole Building Performance Method for Standard 90.1-Part II

In May of 2013 we introduced a new approach for compliance with Standard 90.1 that was under development based on the Performance Rating Method of Appendix G to Standard 90.11. Since then, the approach has been finalized through Addendum BM to Standard 90.1-2013 and will be published in the 2016 edition of the Standard. In the meantime, ASHRAE has published an advanced copy of Appendix G including Addendum BM and several other addenda so that software developers and energy program administrators can get a preview of what is coming in the 2016 edition of the Standard2. This article is an update on Addendum BM, summarizes changes made to the original concept as introduced in May of 2013, and provides an approach for developing performance targets for code compliance and beyond code programs.

Addendum BM↗
DOE OSTI2023

Faster-than-real-time Simulation with Demonstration for Resilient DER Integration

The US electric grid is facing operational, stability, and security challenges. Transmission system operators need some measure of visibility into distribution system renewable generation. Distribution system generation needs to support transmission system voltage. The grid is experiencing an expansion in measurement systems. How to take full advantage of this expansion and defend against attacks, both cyber and physical, poses additional challenges. The Faster-than-real-time Simulation with demonstration for Resilient DER Integration project set out to do the following: a. Flatten the voltage profile through the feeders and system for cost saving and voltage stabilization needs. b. Increase the amount of intermittent distributed energy resources (IDERs) that could be deployed on a utility feeder and provide 100% or more energy needed for the demands on that feeder, and c. based on an accurate model (Digital Twin) of the utilities system, be able to detect any abnormalities on the utilities distribution system. To manage the voltage and increase IDER penetration (a,b), Graph Trace Analysis is employed in a time-series, optimal power flow to coordinate the time-varying feedback control setpoints of a distribution feeder’s utility control devices. Under the coordinated control are a Load Tap Changing Transformer, a voltage regulator, and five switched capacitor banks. The feeder serves over 2000 customers, the feeder secondaries are modeled, and the feeder has 2.3 MW of PV generation, corresponding to a 17.4% penetration of PV generation. The feeder model has over 12,000 components, where every customer load bus and PV generator are modeled. The accuracy of the power flow solution is compared against historical meter voltage measurements, the improvement in conservation voltage reduction energy savings as a function of the coordinated control desired voltage profile is investigated, and the increase in PV penetration of the coordinated control over the existing control is presented. To achieve improved control performance while observing system operation constraints, bellwether Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) voltage measurements are used to adjust the desired voltage profile used by the optimal power flow analysis. To detect and alleviate or negate attacks or failures on the distribution and transmission utility grids (c) the grid needs to be resilient and self-healing. In this project software was designed to do just that. At the center of the software is an Integrated System Model (ISM) that spans from transmission to secondary distribution. The ISM is employed in real-time abnormality detection, voltage stability forecasting, and multi-mode control. Testing results are presented for: 1—attacks on utility infrastructure; 2—energy savings from optimal control; 3—distribution system control response during a low voltage transmission system event; 4—cyber-attacks on PV inverters, where physical inverters are used in hard-ware-in-the-simulation-loop studies. Contributions of this work include real-time analysis that spans from three-phase transmission through secondary distribution; an approach for detecting abnormalities that employs measurements from three independent measurement systems; and a multi-mode distribution system control that responds to cyber-attacks, physical attacks, equipment failures, and transmission system needs.

Integrated System Model, Graph Trace Analysis, Adv↗
DOE OSTI2017

Next-Generation Performance-Based Regulation: Emphasizing Utility Performance to Unleash Power Sector Innovation

Performance-based regulation (PBR) enables regulators to reform hundred-year-old regulatory structures to unleash innovations within 21st century power systems. An old regulatory paradigm built to ensure safe and reliable electricity at reasonable prices from capital-intensive electricity monopolies is now adjusting to a new century of disruptive technological advances that change the way utilities make money and what value customers expect from their own electricity company. Advanced technologies are driving change in power sectors around the globe. Innovative technologies are transforming the way electricity is generated, delivered, and consumed. These emerging technology drivers include renewable generation, distributed energy resources such as distributed generation and energy storage, demand-side management measures such as demand-response, electric vehicles, and smart grid technologies and energy efficiency (EE). PBR enables regulators to recognize the value that electric utilities bring to customers by enabling these advanced technologies and integrating smart solutions into the utility grid and utility operations. These changes in the electric energy system and customer capacities means that there is an increasing interest in motivating regulated entities in other areas beyond traditional cost-of-service performance regulation. This report addresses best practices gleaned from more than two decades of PBR in practice, and analyzes how those best practices and lessons can be used to design innovative PBR programs. Readers looking for an introduction to PBR may want to focus on Chapters 1-5. Chapters 6 and 7 contain more detail for those interested in the intricate workings of PBR or particularly innovative PBR.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

ASCR@40: Four Decades of Department of Energy Leadership in Advanced Scientific Computing Research

Throughout its long history, the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) has built the critical technologies to ensure U.S. leadership in energy science and national security. It has made its parent agency, the Department of Energy (DOE) and its Office of Science, the world’s recognized leader in computational science. ASCR’s stated mission is “to discover, develop, and deploy computational and networking capabilities to analyze, model, simulate, and predict complex phenomena important to the DOE.” To accomplish this goal, ASCR oversees a large complex of computing and networking facilities and is responsible for procuring, deploying and operating high-performance computing (HPC), networking and storage resources; conducting basic research in mathematics and computer science; developing and sustaining a large body of software; and collaborating with other Office of Science programs, academia and industry. ASCR’s computational science leadership has a long history, predating even DOE’s inception. Applied mathematics and advanced computing were both elements of the Manhattan Project’s Theoretical Division. In the 1950s, DOE’s predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, created a mathematics program to develop and apply digital computing by supporting researchers at universities and AEC laboratories. Several organizational and name changes later, this program would grow and become ASCR.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fuel-Coolant Interaction Results for High Energy In-Pile LWR Fuels Experiments

Fuel-coolant interaction (FCI) has long been a subject of interest in severe-accident reactor safety applications. Significant chemical interaction also frequently results at the high temperature associated with these events in a water environment. Historical rapid, high energy transient irradiation test results are reviewed for experiments performed in transient experimental reactors in Idaho. Though such events are not credible for any deployed nuclear reactor technology, the pressure waves produced by FCI on surrounding containment structures are of importance to advanced light water reactor designs and for transient experiment design considerations. A brief introduction to steam explosion and related studies is provided in the context of these experiments. Extensive reactivity initiated accident testing programs were carried out in the Transient REActor Test (TREAT) facility, the Special Power Excursion Reactor Test (SPERT) facility, and the Power Burst Facility (PBF) from the 1960’s through the late 1970’s. A variety of fuel forms including waterlogged rods were tested in capsules containing water coolant at standard temperature pressure. A few tests were performed at high pressure and temperature in the water loop of PBF. In many of these experiments, energy deposition was high enough to greatly exceed melting temperatures of the fuel, resulting in some fraction of the fuel being dispersed into the coolant. A purpose of many of these tests was to determine the nuclear-to-mechanical energy conversion ratio as well as the extent of metal-water reaction. Relevant data collected from these tests included transient energy deposition, pressure response of the coolant, water column velocity, total hydrogen generation, and resulting particle size distributions and particle characterization. In this paper, the mechanical configuration of each experiment facility is reviewed and discussed relative to the measured responses. The empirical results for source pressure and extent of metal-water reaction are presented in the context of the experimental conditions. The results of these experiments provide a unique understanding for behavior of fuel under severe accident conditions in a reactor environment.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency through Advanced Sizing and Dispatch Methods for Energy Storage

Energy storage and electrification of buildings hold great potential for future decarbonization. However, there are several technical and economic barriers that prevent large-scale adoption and integration of energy storage in buildings. These barriers include integration with building control systems, high capital costs, and the necessity to identify and quantify value streams for different stakeholders. To overcome these obstacles, it is crucial to develop advanced sizing and dispatch methods to assist planning and operational decision-making for integrating energy storage in buildings. This work develops simple and flexible optimal sizing and dispatch framework for thermal energy storage (TES) and battery energy storage (BES) systems in large-scale office building. The optimal sizes of TES, BES, as well as other building assets are determined in a joint manner instead of sequentially to avoid sub-optimal solutions. The interaction between the sizing at the planning stage and hourly or sub-hourly dispatch at the operating stage is explicitly modeled. The solution is determined considering both capital costs in optimal sizing and operational benefits in optimal dispatch. Comprehensive assessments are performed using simulation studies to quantify potential energy, economic, and emission benefits by different utility tariffs and climate locations, to improve our understanding of the techno-economic performance of different TES and BES systems, and to identify barriers for adopting energy storage for buildings. Finally, the proposed framework will provide guidance to a broad range of stakeholders to properly design energy storage in buildings and maximizes potential benefits, thereby advancing affordable building energy storage deployment and helping us accelerating the transition towards a cleaner and more equitable energy economy.

Yu, Mingyung↗