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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

2018 International Atmospheric Rivers Conference: Multi–disciplinary studies and high–impact applications of atmospheric rivers

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) play a vital role in shaping the hydroclimate of many regions globally, and can substantially impact water resource management, emergency response planning, and other socioeconomic entities. The second International Atmospheric Rivers Conference took place at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, during 25–28 June, 2018, in La Jolla, California, USA. It was sponsored by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). A total of 120 people attended the Conference with 94 abstracts submitted and 30 participating students. In addition to the conference, the Student Forecasting Workshop was organized in the same week. During this workshop, students were exposed to AR forecasting tools, and learned examples of how these tools could be used to make decisions for various applications. The main goals of this conference were to bring together experts from across the fields of hydrology, atmospheric, oceanic, and polar sciences, as well as water management, civil engineering, and ecology to advance the state of AR science and to explore the future directions for the field. The conference was organized into traditional oral and poster presentations, along with panel discussions and Breakout Groups. This format allowed enhanced interaction between participants, driving progress within the scientific community and the enhanced communication of societal needs by various stakeholders. Several emerging topics of research were highlighted, including subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction of ARs and an overview of the AR Reconnaissance campaign. In addition to providing a forum to disseminate and debate new results from scientific talks and posters, the conference was equally effective and useful in linking scientists to users and decision-makers that require improved knowledge on ARs to manage resources and prepare for hazards. The third International Atmospheric Rivers Conference will be held in Chile in 2020, and hosted by the University of Chile, Santiago.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Visualisation and outlier detection for probability density function ensembles

Abstract Exploratory data analysis (EDA) for functional data—data objects where observations are entire functions—is a difficult problem that has seen significant attention in recent literature. This surge in interest is motivated by the ubiquitous nature of functional data, which are prevalent in applications across fields such as meteorology, biology, medicine and engineering. Empirical probability density functions (PDFs) can be viewed as constrained functional data objects that must integrate to one and be nonnegative. They show up in contexts such as yearly income distributions, zooplankton size structure in oceanography and in connectivity patterns in the brain, among others. While PDF data are certainly common in modern research, little attention has been given to EDA specifically for PDFs. In this paper, we extend several methods for EDA on functional data for PDFs and compare them on simulated data that exhibit different types of variation, designed to mimic that seen in real‐world applications. We then use our new methods to perform EDA on the breakthrough curves observed in gas transport simulations for underground fracture networks.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

MITgcm-AD v2: Open source tangent linear and adjoint modeling framework for the oceans and atmosphere enabled by the Automatic Differentiation tool Tapenade

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology General Circulation Model (MITgcm) is widely used by the climate science community to simulate planetary atmosphere and ocean circulations. A defining feature of the MITgcm is that it has been developed to be compatible with an algorithmic differentiation (AD) tool, TAF, enabling the generation of tangent-linear and adjoint models. These provide gradient information which enables dynamics-based sensitivity and attribution studies, state and parameter estimation, and rigorous uncertainty quantification. Importantly, gradient information is essential for computing comprehensive sensitivities and performing efficient large-scale data assimilation, ensuring that observations collected from satellites and in-situ measuring instruments can be effectively used to optimize a large uncertain control space. As a result, the MITgcm forms the dynamical core of a key data assimilation product employed by the physical oceanography research community: Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) state estimate. Although MITgcm and ECCO are used extensively within the research community, the AD tool TAF is proprietary and hence inaccessible to a large proportion of these users. The new version 2 (MITgcm-AD v2) framework introduced here is based on the source-to-source AD tool Tapenade, which has recently been open-sourced. Another feature of Tapenade is that it stores required variables by default (instead of recomputing them) which simplifies the implementation of efficient, AD-compatible code. The framework has been integrated with the MITgcm model’s main branch and is now freely available.

Adjoints↗
DOE OSTI2020

Citation for the 2019 Victor M. Goldschmidt award to Donald J. DePaolo

Perhaps the comments most commonly heard when a colleague receives professional recognition are “well-deserved” and “long-overdue”. As such, it is my pleasure to introduce Donald DePaolo as the recipient of this year’s Goldschmidt Award as it is both long-overdue and so well-deserved. While Don has received many honors over the course of his career, the Goldschmidt best recognizes his broad impact on geochemistry. There are few who have contributed as much to geochemistry as Don DePaolo. Finally, his scientific contributions are voluminous and broad, ranging from pioneering efforts to establish the Sm/Nd isotopic system, and its applications to mantle evolution and basalt petrogenesis, to studies of magma mixing, assimilation and crystal fractionation, to evolution of the lower crust and granite petrogenesis, to chemical oceanography, diagenesis and seafloor alteration, to reactive transport accompanying rock-water interaction, and to kinetic isotopic fractionation associated with crystal growth, diffusion and evaporation.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Analysis of air mass trajectories to explain observed variability of tritium in precipitation at the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory, California, USA

Understanding the behavior of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, in the environment is important to evaluate the exposure risk of anthropogenic releases, and for its application as a tracer in hydrology and oceanography. To understand and predict the variability of tritium in precipitation, HYSPLIT air mass trajectories were analyzed for 16 aggregate precipitation samples collected over a 2 year period at irregular intervals at a research site located at 2000 m elevation in the southern Sierra Nevada (California, USA). Attributing the variation in tritium to specific source areas confirms the hypothesis that higher latitude or inland sources bring higher tritium levels in precipitation than precipitation originating in the lower latitude Pacific Ocean. In this case, the source of precipitation accounts for 79% of the variation observed in tritium concentrations. In conclusion, air mass trajectory analysis is a promising tool to improve the predictions of tritium in precipitation at unmonitored locations and thoroughly understand the processes controlling transport of tritium in the environment.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Debunking common myths in coastal circulation modeling

Despite tremendous progress in algorithm development, computational efficiency and transition into operations over the past two decades, coastal modeling still lacks scientific rigor due to proliferation of many ‘gray’ areas related to various modeling choices made by modelers. Here, in this paper, we propose some guiding principles for the modeling community to improve performance, and we also debunk commonly held myths that make the coastal modeling lack rigor. Using our own experience in developing seamless cross-scale unstructured-grid based models for the past two decades, we describe in unprecedented detail the end-to-end modeling process (i.e., from digital elevation models (DEMs) to mesh generation to post analysis), and demonstrate that defensible modeling is within reach for any end user by following three guiding principles: (1) Bathymetry is a first order forcing in coastal domains and thus should be respected in all aspects of modeling; (2) Oceanographic processes are driven across multiple spatial scales and so models should enable appropriate resolution as needed; and (3) Model assessment should focus on physical processes. Through qualitative and quantitative model assessments, we demonstrate the fundamental role played by bathymetry/topography as embedded in DEMs in making the results defensible, which is unfortunately glossed over in many modeling studies. Focusing on process-based assessment simplifies the calibration process. A major conclusion of this work is that model developers and operators should maximize the scientific rigor for in silico oceanography by avoiding some common pitfalls that rely on error compensation at the expense of representation of physical system processes. We present some best practice procedures for defensive and trustworthy numerical modeling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Elevated temperature increases carbon and nitrogen fluxes between phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria through physical attachment

Quantifying the contribution of marine microorganisms to carbon and nitrogen cycles and their response to predicted ocean warming is one of the main challenges of microbial oceanography. Here we present a single-cell NanoSIMS isotope analysis to quantify C and N uptake by free-living and attached phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria, and their response to short-term experimental warming of 4 °C. Elevated temperature increased total C fixation by over 50%, a small but significant fraction of which was transferred to heterotrophs within 12 h. Cell-to-cell attachment doubled the secondary C uptake by heterotrophic bacteria and increased secondary N incorporation by autotrophs by 68%. Warming also increased the abundance of phytoplankton with attached heterotrophs by 80%, and promoted C transfer from phytoplankton to bacteria by 17% and N transfer from bacteria to phytoplankton by 50%. Lastly, our results indicate that phytoplankton-bacteria attachment provides an ecological advantage for nutrient incorporation, suggesting a mutualistic relationship that appears to be enhanced by temperature increases.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Author Correction: Microbial Metagenomes Across a Complete Phytoplankton Bloom Cycle: High-Resolution Sampling Every 4 Hours Over 22 Days

In the version of this article initially published, two errors in authorship were made. First, Tatiana Rynearson of the School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island was mistakenly omitted from the final author list. Second, Kurt LaButti of the Joint Genome Institute was mistakenly omitted from the final author list and replaces Alicia Clum due to a staffing change at the Joint Genome Institute. These authorship omissions were not identified until after the work had been published. We are updating the authorship to appropriately recognize the contributions of these authors. The error has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the article.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

PORFIDO on the NEMO Phase 2 tower

We have designed and built an underwater measurement system, PORFIDO (Physical Oceanography by RFID Outreach) to gather oceanographic data from the Optical Modules of a neutrino telescope with a minimum of disturbance to the main installation. PORFIDO is composed of a sensor glued to the outside of an Optical Module, in contact with seawater, and of a reader placed inside the sphere, facing the sensor. Data are transmitted to the reader through the glass by RFID and to shore in real time for periods of years. The sensor gathers power from the radio frequency, thus eliminating the need for batteries or connectors through the glass. We have deployed four PORFIDO probes measuring temperatures with the NEMO-KM3Net-Italy Phase 2 tower in april 2013. The four probes are operative and are transmitting temperature data from 3500 m depth.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere: An International Polar Year Legacy Consortium

International Arctic Systems for Observing the Atmosphere (IASOA) activities and partnerships were initiated as a part of the 2007–09 International Polar Year (IPY) and are expected to continue for many decades as a legacy program. The IASOA focus is on coordinating intensive measurements of the Arctic atmosphere collected in the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, and Greenland to create synthesis science that leads to an understanding of why and not just how the Arctic atmosphere is evolving. The IASOA premise is that there are limitations with Arctic modeling and satellite observations that can only be addressed with boots-on-the-ground, in situ observations and that the potential of combining individual station and network measurements into an integrated observing system is tremendous. The IASOA vision is that by further integrating with other network observing programs focusing on hydrology, glaciology, oceanography, terrestrial, and biological systems it will be possible to understand the mechanisms of the entire Arctic system, perhaps well enough for humans to mitigate undesirable variations and adapt to inevitable change.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Reference Model 3 Scaled Geometry (RM3: Wave Point Absorber)

Contains the Reference Model 3 (RM3) scaled scale geometry files of the Wave Point Absorber, developed by the Reference Model Project (RMP). These scaled geometry files are saved as SolidWorks assembly, IGS, and STEP files, and require a CAD program to view. The scaled RM3 device was tested at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California at San Diego wave tank, details of which are described in the included test report. The scale of the geometries included in this submission are at a 1:33 scale compared to the full scale geometry. This data was generated upon completion of the project on September 30, 2014. The Reference Model Project (RMP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), was a partnered effort to develop open-source MHK point designs as reference models (RMs) to benchmark MHK technology performance and costs, and an open-source methodology for design and analysis of MHK technologies, including models for estimating their capital costs, operational costs, and levelized costs of energy. The point designs also served as open-source test articles for university researchers and commercial technology developers. The RMP project team, led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), included a partnership between DOE, three national laboratories, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Applied Research Laboratory of Penn State University, and Re Vision Consulting. Reference Model 3 (RM3) is a wave point absorber, also referred to as a wave power buoy, that was designed for a reference site located off the shore of Eureka in Humboldt County, California. The design of the device consists of a surface float that translates (oscillates) with wave motion relative to a vertical column spar buoy, which connects to a subsurface reaction plate. This two-body point absorber converts wave energy into electrical power predominately from the device?s heave oscillation induced by incident waves; the float is designed to oscillate up and down the vertical shaft up to 4 m. The bottom of the reaction plate is about 35 m below the water surface. The device is targeted for deployment in water depths of 40 m to 100 m. The point absorber is also connected to a mooring system to keep the floating device in position.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2023

Data and scripts associated with "Coupled primary production and respiration in a large river contrasts with smaller rivers and streams."

This data package is associated with the publication "Coupled primary production and respiration in a large river contrasts with smaller rivers and streams." in review at Limnology and Oceanography (Roley et al. 2023). This study focuses on understanding ecosystem metabolism for the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River in Washington state, a free-flowing stretch with a substantial discharge. Large rivers have been overlooked compared to small and medium rivers due to the challenges associated with measurements. Our study presents novel ways to address these challenges and highlights that metabolism patterns in large rivers differ from those observed in small-medium rivers and requires the application of knowledge and tools beyond those implemented for smaller rivers.This data package includes the data and R scripts for the analyses described in Roley et al. 2023. It includes dissolved oxygen and temperature data from a dissolved oxygen HOBO sensor, light data collected from the National Solar Radiation Database (https://nsrdb.nrel.gov/) and hydrologic variables estimated from the MASS-1 model (Niehus et al.; 2014). It also includes metabolism estimates (gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, and net ecosystem production) estimated via streamMetabolizer (Appling et al.; 2018). All analyses in the paper can be replicated with these data and scripts.The data package is comprised of one main data folder. The folder includes (1) file-level metadata (flmd); (2) a data dictionary (dd) for each data file; (3) data files; and (4) R scripts for metabolism estimates and data analysis. All files are .R, .csv, or .pdf.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Data and scripts associated with a manuscript investigating impacts of solid phase extraction on freshwater organic matter optical signatures and mass spectrometry pairing

This data package is associated with the publication “Investigating the impacts of solid phase extraction on dissolved organic matter optical signatures and the pairing with high-resolution mass spectrometry data in a freshwater system” submitted to “Limnology and Oceanography: Methods.” This data is an extension of the River Corridor and Watershed Biogeochemistry SFA’s Spatial Study 2021 (https://doi.org/10.15485/1898914). Other associated data and field metadata can be found at the link provided. The goal of this manuscript is to assess the impact of solid phase extraction (SPE) on the ability to pair ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry data collected from SPE extracts with optical properties collected on ambient stream samples. Forty-seven samples collected from within the Yakima River Basin, Washington were analyzed dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC), absorbance, and fluorescence. Samples were subsequently concentrated with SPE and reanalyzed for each measurement. The extraction efficiency for the DOC and common optical indices were calculated. In addition, SPE samples were subject to ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry and compared with the ambient and SPE generated optical data. Finally, in addition to this cross-platform inter-comparison, we further performed and intra-comparison among the high-resolution mass spectrometry data to determine the impact of sample preparation on the interpretability of results. Here, the SPE samples were prepared at 40 milligrams per liter (mg/L) based on the known DOC extraction efficiency of the samples (ranging from ~30 to ~75%) compared to the common practice of assuming the DOC extraction efficiency of freshwater samples at 60%. This data package folder consists of one main data folder with one subfolder (Data_Input). The main data folder contains (1) readme; (2) data dictionary (dd); (3) file-level metadata (flmd); (4) final data summary output from processing script; and (5) the processing script. The R-markdown processing script (SPE_Manuscript_Rmarkdown_Data_Package.rmd) contains all code needed to reproduce manuscript statistics and figures (with the exception of that stated below). The Data_Input folder has two subfolders: (1) FTICR and (2) Optics. Additionally, the Data_Input folder contains dissolved organic carbon (DOC, measured as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC) data (SPS_NPOC_Summary.csv) and relevant supporting Solid Phase Extraction Volume information (SPS_SPE_Volumes.csv). Methods information for the optical and FTICR data is embedded in the header rows of SPS_EEMs_Methods.csv and SPS_FTICR_Methods.csv, respectively. In addition, the data dictionary (SPS_SPE_dd.csv), file level metadata (SPS_SPE_flmd.csv), and methods codes (SPS_SPE_Methods_codes.csv) are provided. The FTICR subfolder contains all raw FTICR data as well as instructions for processing. In addition, post processed FTICR molecular information (Processed_FTICRMS_Mol.csv) and sample data (Processed_FTICRMS_Data.csv) is provided that can be directly read into R with the associated R-markdown file. The Optics subfolder contains all Absorbance and Fluorescence Spectra. Fluorescence spectra have been blank corrected, inner filter corrected, and undergone scatter removal. In addition, this folder contains Matlab code used to make a portion of Figure 1 within the manuscript, derive various spectral parameters used within the manuscript, and used for parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) modeling. Spectral indices (SPS_SpectralIndices.csv) and PARAFAC outputs (SPS_PARAFAC_Model_Loadings.csv and SPS_PARAFAC_Sample_Scores.csv) are directly read into the associated R-markdown file. We acknowledge the Yakama Nation as owners and caretakers of the lands where we collected some of these data. We thank the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Data and scripts associated with “Non-random processes impacting organic matter chemistry are maximized in mid-order streams”

NOTE: The manuscript associated with this data package is currently in review. The data may be revised based on reviewer feedback. Upon manuscript acceptance, this data package will be updated with the final dataset and additional metadata. This data package is associated with the publication “Non-random processes impacting organic matter chemistry are maximized in mid-order streams” submitted to Limnology and Oceanography (L&O) by Danczak et al. (in review). This package contains data and scripts used to investigate dissolved organic matter (DOM) molecular chemistry and diversification processes across 47 surface-water sampling sites in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA, during an August 2021 sampling campaign. The package contains analyses of ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), geochemical measurements, geospatial attributes, molecular diversity, and meta-metabolome ecological null models needed to reproduce the main manuscript results. The underlying field data were pulled from exising data packages at https://doi.org/10.15485/1892052 (Fulton et al., 2022) and https://doi.org/10.15485/1898914 (Grieger et al., 2022). For details on how to navigate data packages generated by this project, see https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA/About. We thank the following organizations for providing access to field locations for sample collection: the United States Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Cowiche Canyon Conservatory. Research was conducted under Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Scientific Research Permit #210901. We are grateful to the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for their collaboration in facilitating sample collection and ensuring data usage aligns with their values and worldview. This data package contains an R-Markdown file for analyses and five folders: (1) Data, (2) Geospatial Data, (3) Supplemental_Files, (5) Figures_pdf, (4) and src. The Data folder contains tabular inputs and derived files used in the manuscript analysis. The Geospatial Data folder contains climate and water-balance, hydrologic, land-cover, population/regional water-use, stream, topographic, and stream-order attribute CSV files. The src folder contains scripts used to process data, run analyses, and generate figures. The Figures_pdf folder contains manuscript figure outputs. The Supplemental_Files folder contains supplemental analysis products. All files are .csv, .pdf, .html, .png, .R, .Rmd, .svg, or .tre. This data package is associated with the rcfsa-RC2-SPS_Null_Modeling repository found at https://github.com/river-corridors-sfa/rcfsa-RC2-SPS_Null_Modeling.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Stable Isotope Fractionation by Transport and Transformation

Of the 92 elements naturally present on modern Earth, only 21 are monotopic. The remainder are composed of multiple isotopes, many of which are either stable or decay over such extraordinarily long timescales that they may be considered effectively stable for appropriate applications. Additionally,these isotopes of a given element are distinguished by the number of neutrons within their nucleus, resulting in subtle differences in mass. Though most fundamental characteristics of the isotopes of a given element are the same (e.g., charge, atomic number), their relative distributions in natural environments are altered as they are subjected to a range of mass- dependent transport and transformation processes. Urey and colleagues first demonstrated this mass-dependent partitioning within a thermodynamic framework (Urey 1947). Decades later, these small differences in isotopic abundances serve as the foundation for a suite of powerful diagnostic tools applied broadly across the Earth Sciences, constituting essential capabilities within the disciplines of hydrology, oceanography, petrology, paleoclimate, planetary science, paleontology, ecology, and microbiology, among others. In the following chapter, we review multiple pathways of isotopic fractionation and their treatment within numerical reactive transport frameworks. We focus on near-surface hydrologic systems hosting a variety of water–rock–life interactions which reflect a fundamental balance between transport and transformation. Such conditions describe a wide variety of environments, ranging from the cycling of water through terrestrial ecosystems, to the burial of carbonates in marine sediments, to the metabolism of microbes. We begin with consideration of simple fractionation in the absence of transport, followed by sequential addition of common transport influences with an emphasis on the unique information contained within isotopic observations in these systems. Lastly, we turn to more ‘complex’ reactive pathways that are not easily described by single unidirectional conversions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Consortium for Algal Biofuel Commercialization (CAB-COMM) Final Report

The Consortium for Algal Biofuel Commercialization (CAB-Comm) was established in 2010 to conduct research to enable commercial viability of alternative liquid fuels produced from algal biomass. The main objective of CAB-Comm was to dramatically improve the viability of algae as a source of liquid fuels to meet US energy needs, by addressing several significant barriers to economic viability. To achieve this goal, CAB-Comm took a diverse set of approaches on three key aspects of the algal biofuels value chain: crop protection; nutrient utilization and recycling; and the development of genetic tools. These projects have been undertaken as collaboration between six academic institutions and two industrial partners: University of California, San Diego; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Rutgers University; University of California, Davis; Johns Hopkins University; Sapphire Energy; and Life Technologies.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Report on the Sixth International Symposium on Isotopomers

The ISI 2012 met in Washington, DC, 18-22 June 2012, bringing together researchers and their students spanning an unusually wide range of disciplines including quantum and physical chemistry, cosmochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, chemical oceanography, biogeochemistry, organic and inorganic geochemistry. The diversity of subject matter was matched geographically with 92 attendees hailing from Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Although diverse, the group was united in its commitment to use the light stable isotopes of H, C, N, O, and S, with their equilibrium, kinetic, and intramolecular fractionations, to understand the material cycles and their dynamics between atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere that make life possible on Earth. A distinct benefit of a small meeting like ISI 2012 is the opportunity for everyone to talk to each other. The historic rooms of the Carnegie Institution of Washington offered a cozy and warm atmosphere for participants in ISI 2012 to talk science and life in a casual, relaxed, and in-depth fashion. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers were particularly appreciative of being able to spend five days together with old and new colleagues in comfortable quarters. Many commented that they had gained a lot more in building their life-long working relationships with colleagues at this meeting than at larger meetings.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Development of Algal Biomass Yield Improvements in an Integrated Process

Global Algae Innovations (Global Algae) collaborated with TSD Management Associates (TSD), Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (SIO), GE Power & Water (GE), Hawaii Bioenergy (HBE), Kuehnle AgroSystems (KAS), Texas AgriLife Research (TALR), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to increase algae oil yield and optimize unit operations in order to facilitate commercial development of algal-derived, drop-in transportation fuels. All improvements were viewed through a system-wide techno economic model to ensure the work is focused on and limited to approaches that are scalable to commercially relevant size and compatible with an overall system that is economically viable. The objectives of the proposed project were (i) to develop improved strains and cultivation methods for a 40% increase in algal biofuel intermediate yield; (ii) to develop economical, scalable, low energy pre-processing technologies for harvesting, dewatering, and extraction for an 88% reduction in the downstream processing energy; and (iii) to achieve these improvements in an integrated outdoor system that reduces the projected algae biomass production cost by 58%. All project goals were exceeded, and the project was completed on schedule and budget. Two major technology breakthroughs were achieved. The first breakthrough is an improved cultivation system approach that increases algal productivity by 80% in growth phase while simultaneously reducing the energy use for cultivation by 67%. The second is a harvesting and dewatering technology that reduces energy use by 95-99%, achieves 100% capture efficiency with crystal clear permeate, and produces a 15-20% algae slurry. The harvesting and dewatering technology was commercialized and is now available to the algae industry as the Zobi Harvester®.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗