Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “hybrid power system”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2015

Green Propulsion Technologies for Advanced Air Transports

Air transportation is critical to U.S. and Global economic vitality. However, energy and climate issues challenge aviations ability to be sustainable in the long term. Aviation must dramatically reduce fuel use and related emissions. Energy costs to U.S. airlines nearly tripled between 1995 and 2011, and continue to be the highest percentage of operating costs. The NASA Advanced Air Transports Technology Project addresses the comprehensive challenge of enabling revolutionary energy efficiency improvements in subsonic transport aircraft combined with dramatic reductions in harmful emissions and perceived noise to facilitate sustained growth of the air transportation system. Advanced technologies and the development of unconventional aircraft systems offer the potential to achieve these improvements. The presentation will highlight the NASA vision of revolutionary systems and propulsion technologies needed to achieve these challenging goals. Specifically, the primary focus is on the N+3 generation; that is, vehicles that are three generations beyond the current state of the art, requiring mature technology solutions in the 2025-30 timeframe, which are envisioned as being powered by Hybrid Electric Propulsion Systems.

Hybrid Electric↗
NASA NTRS1984

Photovoltaic power system for satellite Earth stations in remote areas: Project status and design description

A photovoltaic power system which will be installed at a remote location in Indonesia to provide power for a satellite Earth station and a classroom for video and audio teleconferences are described. The Earth station may also provide telephone service to a nearby village. The use of satellite communications for development assistance applications and the suitability of a hybrid photovoltaic engine generator power system for remote satellite Earth stations are demonstrated. The Indonesian rural satellite project is discussed and the photovoltaic power system is described.

Delombard, R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Hybrid deployable/erectable solar dynamic box truss system

The design of a hybrid deployable/erectable solar dynamic box truss power generation system for the initial operation capability (IOC) of the Space Shuttle is examined. An organic Rankine cycle heat engine for IOC solar power generation is studied. The design configuration is a simple parabolic concentration where the receiver is located in the focal plane with its aperture at the focal point. The relationship between concentrator size and collection efficiency is analyzed. The geometry of the deployable graphite/epoxy box truss ring and the reflective panels of the system are described. Mass properties and dynamic analyses are performed to evaluate the center of gravity location and moments of inertia characteristics of the energy conversion subsystem (ECS). The deployable/erectable truss is applicable for large IR space telescopes and center and offset fed ECSs.

Coyner, J. V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Baseline Testing of the EV Global E-Bike SX

The NASA John H. Glenn Research Center initiated baseline testing of the EV Global E-Bike SX as an update of the state of the art in hybrid electric bicycles. The E-bike is seen as a way to reduce pollution in urban areas, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and reduce operating costs for transportation systems. The work was done under the Hybrid Power Management (HPM) Program, which includes the Hybrid Electric Transit Bus (HETB). The SX is a high performance, state of the art, ground up, hybrid electric bicycle. Unique features of the SX's 36 V power system include the use of an efficient, 400 W, electric hub motor, and a seven-speed derailleur system that permits operation as fully electric, fully pedal, or a combination of the two. Other innovative features, such as regenerative braking through ultracapacitor energy storage, are planned. Regenerative braking recovers much of the kinetic energy of the vehicle during deceleration. The E-Bike is an inexpensive approach to advance the state of the art in hybrid technology in a practical application. The project transfers space technology to terrestrial use via nontraditional partners, and provides power system data valuable for future space applications. A description of the SX, the results of performance testing, and future vehicle development plans are given in this report. The report concludes that the SX provides excellent performance, and that the implementation of ultracapacitors in the power system can provide significant performance improvements.

Eichenherg, Dennis J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Using energy storage systems to extend the life of hydropower plants

Despite their advantages, distributed energy resources (DERs) bring inherent uncertainty and variability into the landscape of modern power systems. As DER penetration grows, conventional generators like hydropower plants have to respond more often to arrest the imbalance in the net load. Hydropower turbines provide their best operational performance with minimal wear and tear when operating at regions of maximum efficiency. However, the current needs for hydropower plants require them to operate under varying load conditions and thus sub-optimal operating points leading to additional stress. To relieve the hydropower plants, this paper proposes a hybridization strategy where a hydropower unit is paired with an energy storage system (ESS) to increase operational flexibility and mitigate damage to the hydro plant. Models are developed to represent the operation of the hybrid system, quantify degradation, and assess economic benefits. Moreover, an innovative controller disaggregates the market dispatch signal into separate control setpoints for the ESS and hydropower unit. In case studies performed on a real-world hydropower facility, it was found that the ESS-based hybridization can extend the life of the hydropower plant by 5% on average. Notably, the economic benefits from reduced maintenance and deferred investment are estimated to be around $3.6 million.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Techno-economic assessment of electricity market potential for co-located hydro-floating PV systems

Abstract—Harnessing renewable energy from diverse sources is paramount for sustainable power systems. Recently, co-located floating PV (FPV) systems present an intriguing prospect in this context. These hybrid systems, blending hydro and solar power, may offer a more consistent electricity output and potential economic advantages. Yet, assessing their actual potential requires a comprehensive techno-economic assessment. In addition, probabilistic price forecasting has recently gained attention in electricity market because decisions based on such predictions can yield significantly higher profits than those made with point forecasts alone. To this end, this paper embarks on a journey to elucidate the electricity market potential of co-located hydro-FPV systems in a probabilistic fashion to investigate the technological merits and economic viability of co-located hydro-FPV under different market structures. Our preliminary findings suggest that LCOE and payback metrics are sensitive not only to different markets but also to different solar incentives. Concurrently, we also observe that the payback period is generally faster with a production tax credit (PTC) than an investment tax credit (ITC). This assessment serves as a cornerstone for understanding the future prospects of co-located hydro-FPV systems in modern electricity markets.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1981

Non-heat pipe receiver/p-40 Stirling engine

The technology for a full-up hybrid dish-Stirling Solar Thermal Power system is discussed. Overall solar-to-electric efficiency for the dish-Stirling system demonstration is approximately 30%. Hybrid operation is provided by fossil fuel combustion augmentation, which enables the Stirling engine to operate continuously at constant speed and power, regardless of insolation level, thus providing the capability to operate on cloudy days and at night.

Haglund, R. A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Closed-loop pressure retarded osmosis draw solutions and their regeneration processes: A review

Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO) is an osmotic process that has been used to harvest energy from salinity gradients using a semi permeable membrane. A comparison between open-loop PRO (OLPRO) and closed-loop PRO (CLPRO) was made regarding their performance and costs. In CLPRO, where the diluted draw solution is re-concentrated in the regeneration system to be reutilized in the process, has recently received an intensive focus as the most viable configuration for a standalone power plant. The choice of the PRO draw solution in CLPRO is crucial to garner a high osmotic pressure as the key for the feasibility of the process. Here, in this review, the draw solutions are critically evaluated in the literature in terms of energy output as well as the method of regeneration used to recirculate them. A set of practical criteria has been suggested to appraise the adequacy of the solution for CLPRO application. It was concluded that NH 3 – CO 2 theoretically can produce 170 W/m 2 of power density. Inorganic draw solutes such as NaCl can generate high power density up to 87 W/m 2 . Organic draw solutes with their remarkably low reverse salt flux (RSF) have promising potential for future application in PRO. Similarly, the regeneration systems of the diluted draw solutions have also been reviewed and discussed. How the energy consumption of the regeneration process affects the feasibility of CLPRO is explained. For the specific case of osmotic heat engines (OHEs), when the energy of the regeneration process is supplied by heat waste, the range of applicability of the heat waste in CLPRO in terms of efficiency is defined and compared to Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The results showed that CLPRO has better efficiency than ORC for temperatures T < 80 °C, which makes it a promising process or low-grade heat energy recovery. In addition, a PRO-RO hybrid system coupled with solar power can reduce the net specific energy consumption (SEC) to 0.39 kWh/m 3 . The conditions that regeneration processes should operate under to make PRO viable are discussed in the last section. Overall, the study indicates the key factors for optimizing the performance of CLPRO process.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Renewable Integration in Hybrid ac-dc Systems using Multi-port Autonomous Reconfigurable Solar power plant (MARS)

To increase inertia and improve primary frequency response of future grids, grid-forming inverters connecting PV to grid and energy storage systems (ESSs) are likely to play an important role. Moreover, high-voltage direct current (HVdc) links will also be an enabler to transfer remote PV generation and for improved grid stability. That is, with increased penetration of PV, discrete development of PV and ESS connecting to transmission ac grid and HVdc links is one of the solutions for stable operation of grid. Here, an integrated concept for integration of PV and ESS to transmission ac grid and HVdc links is proposed that is named as multi-port autonomous reconfigurable solar power plant (MARS). The proposed integrated development reduces the cost associated with respect to discrete development of PV-ESS systems connecting to transmission ac grid and HVdc links. The integrated development incorporates advanced control methods to provide inertial and primary frequency response, reactive power support, and transient stability to manage PV and ESS resources. In this paper, high-fidelity switched system model of the integrated system and grids are developed and detailed simulation results are provided to showcase the stable operation of the integrated system and provision of grid support functions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2005

The Space Technology 5 Power System Design

The Space Technology 5 (ST5) mission is a NASA New Millennium Program (NMP) project that was developed to validate new technologies for future missions and to demonstrate the feasibility of building and launching multiple, miniature spacecraft that can operate as science probes, collecting research quality measurements. The three satellites in the ST5 constellation will be launched into a sun synchronous LEO (Low Earth Orbit) in early 2006. ST5 fits in the 25 kilogram and 24 Watt class of miniature but fully capable spacecraft. The power system design features the use of new technology components and a low voltage power bus. In order to hold the mass and volume low and to qualify new technologies for future use in space, high efficiency triple junction solar cells and a lithium ion battery were baselined into the design. The Power System Electronics (PSE) was designed for a high radiation environment and uses hybrid microcircuits for power switching and over current protection. The ST5 power system architecture and technologies will be presented.

Stewart, Karen D.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Opportunities for Research and Development of Hybrid Power Plants

Hybrid power plants show promise to provide significant value to the electric grid system especially as shares of renewable energy in systems increase from 10% to 20% or more. Many manufacturers and developers are proactively developing hybrid power plant strategies to ensure plant profitability in markets where it’s important to provide energy that is more predictable and controllable, with higher capacity values, as well as various ancillary services to the grid system. However, there still are many questions around if and when hybrid power plants make sense versus leaving it to the larger grid system to ensure low cost and reliable supply by engaging directly with all individual assets. This report summarizes literature on the state-of-the-art in research concerning hybrid power plants from multiple perspectives including: 1) resource and market opportunities, 2) technology selection and sizing, 3) physical design, and 4) operation and control. The emphasis was placed on wind and solar hybrid power plants (with or without storage) but additional technologies were briefly considered and merit further investigation.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Adaptive Reinforcement Learning (ARL) Control of a Multi-port Resonant Converter in UAV Systems

This study presents an adaptive reinforcement learning (ARL) control framework for a multi-port resonant converter used in hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) power systems. The converter integrates high-frequency half-bridge input ports connected to a rectified engine–generator set and a battery energy storage system, along with a semi-bridgeless active rectifier supplying the propulsion load. A deep RL agent is trained to dynamically regulate inter-port phase-shift commands in real time based on flight conditions and load power demand. The ARL controller autonomously identifies phase-shift combinations that maximize conversion efficiency while maintaining stable and coordinated power flow, even under rapidly varying operating scenarios. This data-driven approach eliminates the need for explicit system modeling or extensive manual tuning and enables coordinated control among multiple power ports without inter-port communication. Experimental results validate that the ARL based strategy achieves reliable power sharing and consistently high-efficiency operation across diverse UAV operating conditions.

Asa, Erdem [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000190884812)↗
DOE OSTI2019

Asymmetric tracking-integrated optics for solar concentration

A method is provided for using asymmetrically focused photovoltaic conversion in a hybrid parabolic trough solar power system. Light rays received in a plurality of transverse planes are concentrated towards a primary linear focus in an axial plane, orthogonal to the transverse planes. T band wavelengths of light are transmitted to the primary linear focus, while R band wavelengths of light are reflected towards a secondary linear focus in the axial plane. The light received at the primary linear focus is translated into thermal energy. The light received at the secondary linear focus is asymmetrically focused along a plurality of tertiary linear foci, orthogonal to the axial plane. The focused light in each tertiary linear focus is concentrated into a plurality of receiving areas and translated into electrical energy. Asymmetrical optical elements are used having an optical input interfaces elongated along rotatable axes, orthogonal to the axial plane.

Wheelwright, Brian↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Power Optimization of Cryogenic CO2 Deposition Capture in Deep Space

An extremely reliable cabin air revitalization system is needed for human deep space exploration missions. Deep space offers an environmental temperature close to 4 Kelvin. This low environmental temperature enables heat rejection for systems that are thermally power-intensive, i.e. CO2 cold surface deposition (CDep). The CDep system relies on phase change temperatures of air components to deposit CO2 onto a cold surface. The cold surface can be generated utilizing cryocoolers, including Stirling and Reverse Brayton, or deep space environmental temperature. This paper presents a numerical study on a power optimization of cold surface generation via a cryocooler or thermal radiator. An example system for each type is presented. However, a hybrid system would not only reduce power required to remove CO2, but also increase redundancy and reliability of the air revitalization system.

Pranav Jagtap↗
NASA NTRS1985

Parabolic dish test site: History and operating experience

The parabolic dish test site (PDTS) was established for testing point-focusing solar concentrator systems operating at temperatures approaching 1650 C. Among tests run were evaluation and performance characterization of parabolic dish concentrators, receivers, power conversion units, and solar/fossil-fuel hybrid systems. The PDTS was fully operational until its closure in June, 1984. The evolution of the test program, a chronological listing of the experiments run, and data summaries for most of the tests conducted are presented.

Selcuk, M. K.↗
NASA NTRS2017

High Voltage Hybrid Electric Propulsion - Multilayered Functional Insulation System (MFIS) NASA-GRC

High power transmission cables pose a key challenge in future Hybrid Electric Propulsion Aircraft. The challenge arises in developing safe transmission lines that can withstand the unique environment found in aircraft while providing megawatts of power. High voltage AC, variable frequency cables do not currently exist and present particular electrical insulation challenges since electrical arcing and high heating are more prevalent at higher voltages and frequencies. Identifying and developing materials that maintain their dielectric properties at high voltage and frequencies is crucial.

Power distribution↗
DOE OSTI2024

Distributed Wind Hybrid Energy Systems for Rural Applications

Distributed-wind-based hybrid energy systems can smooth the power output from renewable energy resources. The number of these systems is growing because of their ability to contribute to local energy and resilience needs. Distributed wind hybrid systems offer major benefits for industrial loads, including enhanced energy reliability, cost efficiency, and sustainability. This fact sheet describes those benefits and considerations in detail.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗