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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 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Structural Characterization of Deployed Thermoplastic and Thermoset Composite Tidal Turbine Blades

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory worked with Verdant Power to manufacture, and characterize, novel thermoplastic composite blades on their Gen5d 5 m diameter turbines at the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) site in the East River in N.Y. to demonstrate a low-cost manufacturing process for marine energy structures. Verdant had designed, manufactured, and deployed epoxy thermoset composite blades on three Gen5d turbines in October 2020. At a maintenance cycle in May 2021, a Gen5d turbine equipped with the NREL thermoplastic blades was deployed and retrieved in October 2021. Modal, static and fatigue structural characterization was performed on both blade types before and after the deployment. The static and modal test results showed that the thermoplastic blades were slightly stiffer than the epoxy blades both dry and after the deployment. The epoxy blades had about 8% increase in strain at the applied load after the deployment, whereas the thermoplastic blade strains were not changed significantly. Ultimately the thermoplastic blade failed during fatigue testing due to a crack which is thought to have initiated between the internal foam and the laminate at the location of the internal instrumentation. The Verdant Power Gen5d epoxy blades did not have this internal instrumentation and did not have this failure, performing adequately through the operational period. A lack of design information and fatigue data for both the thermoplastic laminates and the adhesive used means that further work is needed to fully understand his failure and the root cause analysis is ongoing. This paper provides details on the thermoplastic blade manufacturing, materials, test methodology and results.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2017

Tidal Prediction

Tides are the most predictable of oceanographic phenomena, due both to the simplicity and predictability of the astronomical forcing and to the near linearity of the ocean's dynamical response. In the classical and simplest scenario, tidal prediction is based on harmonic analysis of past measurements at a fixed location. Limits to predictability arise because isolated astronomical spectral lines are broadened into "cusps" of incoherent energy, for example through interactions with non-tidal flows. Tidal prediction at locations without past measurements has historically been a major challenge, but, owing to near-global observations of modern satellite altimeters, the empirical harmonic approach now yields reasonably accurate predictions throughout most of the open ocean. Advances in numerical modeling and data assimilation allow these predictions to be refined (especially in shallow seas where observations remain insufficient to directly constrain tidal wave structure) and extended to include tidal currents. We review recent progress in the development of global and regional-scale tidal prediction capabilities, summarize accuracy of available charts, and briefly consider outstanding issues. Satellite altimetry has also helped unravel the global tidal energy budget and has clarified the role of internal tides as a sink of tidal energy. We summarize these results, and then turn to the challenging problem of predicting internal tides. To the extent that low modes remain coherent with the surface tide, elevations can be directly mapped. We review current efforts in this direction, which are already producing charts with predictive capability. However, internal tides (especially higher modes) interact much more strongly with lower-frequency ocean flows, so a significant fraction of this tidal signal is intermittent and incoherent. We close with a brief review of ongoing efforts to model global tides in combination with wind-forced ocean motions.

Harmonic Constants↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the tidal interaction between protostellar disks and companions

Formation of protoplanets and binary stars in a protostellar disk modifies the structure of the disk. Through tidal interactions, energy and angular momentum are transferred between the disk and protostellar or protoplanetary companion. We summarize recent progress in theoretical investigations of the disk-companion tidal interaction. We show that low-mass protoplanets excite density waves at their Lindblad resonances and that these waves are likely to be dissipated locally. When a protoplanet acquires sufficient mass, its tidal torque induces the formation of a gap in the vicinity of its orbit. Gap formation leads to the termination of protoplanetary growth by accretion. For proto-Jupiter to attain its present mass, we require that (1) the primordial solar nebula is heated by viscous dissipation; (2) the viscous evolution time scale of the nebula is comparable to the age of typical T Tauri stars with circumstellar disks; and (3) the mass distribution in the nebula is comparable to that estimated from a minimum-mass nebula model.

Lin, D. N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Wind/water energy converter

Device will convert wind, water, tidal or wave energy into electrical or mechanical energy. Is comprised of windmill-like paddles or blades synchronously geared to orient themselves to wind direction for optimum energy extraction.

Paulkovich, J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

From TPL assessment to design optimization: Wave energy converter control co-design applied to the RM3

The Reference Model (RM) project developed six marine energy converter concepts using a sequential design methodology, which, while widely adopted in the industry, often overlooks interactions between system components, resulting in suboptimal designs. One such example is the Reference Model 3 (RM3), a two-body point absorber wave energy converter (WEC). An assessment using the Technology Performance Level (TPL) revealed that RM3’s low power-to-cost ratio, partly due to expensive steel construction, limits its techno-economic performance. Here, this study aims to redesign RM3 by reducing its scale and employing control co-design to integrate WEC and Power Take-Off (PTO) dynamics, constraints, and cost considerations within an optimization framework. We demonstrate the limitations of RM3’s current PTO design and explore the benefits of scaling down to enhance techno-economic viability by lowering material costs. Using WecOptTool, we conduct a parameter sweep over gear ratios and spring stiffnesses for various Commercial Off-The-Shelf generators in irregular wave conditions. Our findings emphasize the importance of aligning PTO components with WEC dynamics, showing that control co-design and strategic scaling can improve RM3’s power-to-cost ratio. This study presents a transferable example of applied control co-design for other WECs, supporting early-stage developers in their design decisions.

Off the shelf components↗
DOE OSTI2024

Current turbines mobile test vessel (final technical report)

This report summarizes the final design of a Mobile Test Vessel (MTV) submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) under the award DE-EE0009452 as part of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0002234: Water Power Technologies Office 2020 Research Funding Opportunity, Topic Area 4: Current Energy Technology Testing Infrastructure. This project was performed by IDOM in partnership with Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC).

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2024

Geometry Optimization of Cable-Based Actuation for Small-Scale Model Testing of a Floating Marine Turbine: Preprint

This research aims to apply combined wave and tidal current loads to a small-scale floating marine current turbine in a wave tank, where an actuation system applies hydrodynamic and mooring forces on the hardware based on results from a simulation. We use a real-time hybrid test setup with physical wave forcing from the wave tank and simulated current and mooring forces implemented through a tensioned cable array. For this paper, we developed an optimization algorithm that adjusts the hardware geometry of the cable array to achieve more efficient tension allocation across the cables for the loads that need to be actuated. By adjusting the points where the cables are attached to the floating platform and the angles between the platform and the winches, an optimal cable geometry can be found to minimize tension variations in the lines, maintain the desired pretension, and prevent excessive tensions. We present the optimization problem formulation, the actuation system evaluation approach, and optimization results that show effective cable actuation setups that are being considered for implementation in the wave tank tests.

cable-based actuation↗
DOE OSTI2020

Baroclinic Residual Circulation and Mass Transport Due to Internal Tides

Baroclinic (BC) tidal residual circulation due to internal tides is investigated around islands over a shallow ridge using a numerical ocean model. Internal tides enhance vertical mixing over shallow slopes, leading to horizontal density gradients that drive BC residual circulation along the main thermocline. For a strongly stratified summer case, the vertical diffusivity estimated by the Mellor and Yamada turbulence closure model exceeds 1 × 10 -2 m 2 s -1 , and the velocity of BC residual circulations reaches 0.2 m s -1 . The magnitude of BC residual circulation is larger than that of barotropic residual tidal circulation, implying that BC residual circulation due to internal tides plays an important role in coastal ocean circulation. Furthermore, BC residual flow accounts for an equal percentage (5%) of the total tidal kinetic energy as the barotropic residual flow under summer stratification conditions. Results from a coupled sediment resuspension and transport model show the growth of intermediate nepheloid layers formed by strong bottom shear stress and BC residual flow. The residual component contributes largely (23% of the total in summer) to the total suspended sediment flux. Seasonal variability is explored, with weaker winter stratification leading to reduced mixing, and thus weaker BC residual circulation and sediment flux. Lastly, the magnitude of the BC residual circulation is also shown to be proportional to the square of the tidal amplitude.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1981

Seismic energy release of the moon

Lunar seismicity is investigated by calculating various source parameters for a number of shallow and deep-focus moonquakes. The seismic moment, seismic energy release, annual seismic energy release, stress drop, and body-wave magnitude are determined for the largest shallow moonquakes and for large deep-focus events. It is found that the shallow events dominate the lunar seismic energy release, that tidal dissipation may account for the energy release by the deep-focus events, and that the stress drops for the deep-focus events are comparable to or smaller than the calculated tidal stresses. A comparison of the results with terrestrial data indicates that the seismic characteristics of a planet are controlled more by tectonic style and state than by the relative magnitude of the driving forces.

Goins, N. R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Static and Fatigue Characterization of Large Composite T-Bolt Connections in Marine Hygrothermal Environments

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been highlighted as ideal candidates for structural applications in marine renewable energy devices, such as tidal turbines and wave energy converters. It is well understood that harsh marine environments can cause strength degradation of composite laminates, which has been extensively researched at the coupon scale; however, no research has investigated how this translates into larger-scale composite structures. This paper presents a subcomponent-scale study which investigates the effects of hygrothermal aging and subsequent static and fatigue characterization of thick composite T-bolt connections as part of a large, multilaboratory materials research effort. Of the glass-reinforced epoxy and vinylester-epoxy matrix composites tested, both showed measurable static strength degradation (4–36%) after being hygrothermally aged, even though the composite specimens were only partially saturated with water. Under tension–tension fatigue loading, the epoxy specimens performed very well in their dry states but exhibited significant degradation after hygrothermal aging. In comparison, the vinylester-epoxy specimens had much shorter fatigue lives in their dry states but exhibited no degradation after hygrothermal aging. Overall, this research demonstrates that hygrothermal aging can have significant effects on the ultimate strengths and fatigue lives of even partially saturated thick composite T-bolt connections, indicating that degradation of the outer plies on thick composite laminates can have pronounced effects on the whole structure. It discusses the challenges of building an understanding of the effects of harsh marine environments in large-scale composite structures.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2022

Combining shallow-water and analytical wake models for tidal array micro-siting

For tidal-stream energy to become a competitive renewable energy source, clustering multiple turbines into arrays is paramount. Array optimisation is thus critical for achieving maximum power performance and reducing cost of energy. However, ascertaining an optimal array layout is a complex problem, subject to specific site hydrodynamics and multiple inter-disciplinary constraints. In this work, we present a novel optimisation approach that combines an analytical-based wake model, FLORIS, with an ocean model, Thetis. The approach is demonstrated through applications of increasing complexity. By utilising the method of analytical wake superposition, the addition or alteration of turbine position does not require re-calculation of the entire flow field, thus allowing the use of simple heuristic techniques to perform optimisation at a fraction of the computational cost of more sophisticated methods. Using a custom condition-based placement algorithm, this methodology is applied to the Pentland Firth for arrays with turbines of 3.05 m/s rated speed, demonstrating practical implications whilst considering the temporal variability of the tide. For a 24-turbine array case, micro-siting using this technique delivered an array 15.8% more productive on average than a staggered layout, despite flow speeds regularly exceeding the rated value. Performance was evaluated through assessment of the optimised layout within the ocean model that treats turbines through a discrete turbine representation. Used iteratively, this methodology could deliver improved array configurations in a manner that accounts for local hydrodynamic effects.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2022

Rapidly Deployable Acoustic Monitoring and Localization System Based on a Low-Cost Wave Buoy Platform

The primary objective of this project is to develop a cost-effective, fit-for-purpose environmental monitoring system, “NoiseSpotter®,” that characterizes, classifies, and provides accurate location information for anthropogenic and natural sounds in near real-time. NoiseSpotter was developed to support the evaluation of potential acoustic effects of marine energy (ME) projects. By utilizing a compact array of three acoustic particle motion sensors, NoiseSpotter triangulates individual bearings to provide sound source localization to within 5% accuracy, allowing the ability to discern ME device sounds relative to other confounding sounds in the environment, while providing location estimates to nearby marine mammals for environmental mitigation purposes. The ME industry needs proven solutions to meet environmental impact assessment needs. The NoiseSpotter® includes off-the-shelf, modular components that are easy to assemble and disassemble. Its acoustic particle motion sensors are commercially available and the data logger and real-time telemetry system is designed to be plug-and-play. The entire system is relatively compact and can be deployed from small vessels. NoiseSpotter’s near real-time capability enables operational monitoring of ME sounds, particularly during early stages of technology adoption to facilitate mitigation of potential noise effects. Widespread adoption of the technology for acoustic monitoring of ME devices requires that it be cost effective; hence the anticipated commercial cost of system hardware is $35,000. This project contributes to reducing barriers to ME testing through support of scientific research focused on reducing or mitigating environmental risks and lowering costs and complexity of environmental monitoring. This project has developed an acoustic monitoring system, NoiseSpotter® (U.S. Patent No. 11,156,734 and U.S. Registered Trademark No. 6,442,313), to detect and characterize baseline noise and sounds from ME operations and support geolocation of detected sounds. The intended outcome of the project is to mitigate concerns about the potential for ME device noise to alter marine mammal or fish behavior. NoiseSpotter® enables cost-effective, near real-time acoustic monitoring of an operational ME device relative to ambient environmental noise and provides a technical basis for ME developers seeking to navigate the permitting process in an efficient manner.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2021

The TELPERION survey for distant [O iii ] clouds around luminous and hibernating AGN

ABSTRACT We present a narrow-band [O iii] imaging survey of 111 active galactic nucleus (AGN) hosts and 17 merging-galaxy systems, in search of distant extended emission-line regions (EELRs) around AGNs (either extant or faded). Our data reach deeper than detection from the broad-band SDSS data and cover a wider field than some early emission-line surveys used to study extended structure around AGNs. Spectroscopic follow-up confirms two new distant AGN-ionized clouds, in the merging systems NGC 235 and NGC 5514, projected at 26 and 75 kpc from the nuclei (respectively). We also recover the previously known region in NGC 7252. These results strengthen the connection between EELRs and tidal features; kinematically quiescent distant EELRs are virtually always photoionized tidal debris. We see them in ≈10 per cent of the galaxies in our sample with tidal tails. Energy budgets suggest that the AGN in NGC 5514 has faded by >3 times during the extra light traveltime ≈250 000 yr from the nucleus to the cloud and then to the observer; strong shock emission in outflows masks the optical signature of the AGN. For NGC 235 our data are consistent with but do not unequivocally require variation over ≈85 000 yr. In addition to these very distant ionized clouds, we find luminous and extensive line emission within four galaxies – IC 1481, ESO 362-G08, NGC 5514, and NGC 7679. Among these, IC 1481 shows apparent ionization cones, a rare combination with its LINER AGN spectrum. In NGC 5514, we measure a 7-kpc shell expanding at ≈370 km s−1 west of the nucleus.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of an Optimal Variable-Pitch Controller for Floating Axial-Flow Marine Hydrokinetic Turbines

This article discusses the development of an optimal variable-pitch controller for floating, axial-flow marine turbines. Recently, OpenFAST, an open-source wind turbine modeling tool, has been extended to model marine turbines. A controller is necessary to simulate marine turbines for different load cases using OpenFAST, which greatly impacts the performance of the energy system. Previous studies have designed controllers using a linearized model of the marine turbine, which can be time-consuming and require the expertise of a control engineer. In this study, we use an automated approach that uses generic models of the marine turbine to identify the controller gains, which can expedite the process of designing a controller. Using an optimizer to identify the control system parameters can additionally improve the controller's performance. The optimal controller tuned using such an approach results in a 20% reduction in the tower-base damage equivalent loading and better tracking of the rated generator speed and power.

axial flow↗
DOE OSTI2024

Power Take-Off Design Study for a Small-Scale Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter for Powering the Blue Economy Applications

The power take-off (PTO) is an integral part of wave energy conversion, and the design process is nontrivial. Better PTOs, and better processes for selecting and designing PTO architectures for various applications, would benefit devices that assist in powering the blue economy by decreasing time and money spent on PTO design and increasing the overall energy capture performance of these devices. This paper chronicles the selection process of a PTO for a small-scale surge-type wave energy converter (WEC) for the purpose of informing future PTO selection processes. Three PTO architectures are evaluated in WEC-Sim: a hydraulic check valve PTO, a hydraulic active valving PTO, and a directly electrified PTO. Simple models of each PTO are constructed. Because a model for the small-scale device was initially unavailable, the PTOs are simulated on a large-scale device. The results are scaled down using Froude scaling and compared to results from directly simulating a small-scale model. Strong assumptions are made because this work is early in the design stages, and a coarse look at PTO options was desired. Specifically, the effectiveness of controls is investigated, along with the efficiency of energy conversion. However, energy capture is only part of the consideration; there are also logistic concerns to be considered when selecting a PTO. For example, components for large-scale WECs are so large and expensive that it may make sense to custom-build PTO components, but small-scale WECs would benefit from off-the-shelf availability because the cost of customization would be a significant portion of the total capital cost of deployment at a small scale. Submersible, off-the-shelf components are much easier to source for hydraulic PTOs. Because of highly effective controls, efficient energy conversion, and availability of marine-grade components, an active valving hydraulic PTO is selected for this small-scale surge-type WEC.

energy conversion/systems↗
DOE OSTI2024

High-Fidelity Numerical Wave Tank Verification & Validation Study: Wave Generation Through Paddle Motion: Preprint

This paper presents a numerical benchmark study of wave propagation due to a paddle motion using different high-fidelity numerical models, which are capable of replicating the nearly actual physical wave tank testing. A full time series of the measured wave generation paddle motion which was used to generate wave propagation in the physical wave tank will be utilized in each of the models contributed by IEA OES Task 10's participants, which includes both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and smooth hydrodynamic particle (SPH). The high-fidelity simulations of the physical wave testcase will allow for the evaluation of the initial transient effects from wave ramp-up and its evolution in the wave tank over time for two representative regular waves with varying levels of nonlinearity. A couple of interesting metrics like the predicted wave surface elevation at select wave probes, wave period, and phase-shift in time will be assessed to evaluate the relative accuracy of numerical models versus experimental data within specified time intervals. These models will serve as a guide for modelers in the wave energy community and provide a base case to allow further and more detailed numerical modeling of the fixed Kramer Sphere Cases under wave excitation force wave tank testing.

HYDRO ENERGY,TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
NASA NTRS1983

The geology of the terrestrial planets

Knowledge regarding the geology of the terrestrial planets has increased considerably during the last four years. The present investigation provides a brief summary of work during these years on the geology of Mercury, Venus, moon, and Mars. Following the Mariner 10 encounter with Mercury in 1974, the geologic history of the planet was broadly outlined by Strom (1979). McCauley et al. (1981) recognized several facies of ejecta around Caloris. Hostetler and Drake (1980) showed that unless Mercury received more than 60-70 percent of its thermal energy from tidal interactions, it must have undergone early, almost global melting. Knowledge of the Venusian surface has increased substantially over the last few years both through improvement of earth-based observations and in connection with the Pioneer Venus mission. A topographic map of Venus is presented. Attention is also given to the composition and character of lunar highlands, the evolution of different maria, photographs obtained of almost the entire planet Mars, and Martian craters and volcanism.

Carr, M. H.↗