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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 235 records · Page 13

Enabling Evaluation of a Southern Company Distribution Feeder on NREL ADMS Test Bed: Cooperative Research and Development (Final Report)

The objective of this project is to enable evaluation of a Southern Company distribution feeder on the Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) test bed. The long-term goal is to evaluate a federated distributed energy resource (DER) management solution that aggregates DERs through either direct control, transactive control or an aggregator to provide bulk services while observing distribution system voltage and power constraints. The DER aggregation needs to be coordinated with an ADMS that is responsible for reliable power delivery across the distribution systems. This project takes the first step towards enabling such evaluation by deploying an ADMS from Oracle (Southern Company's ADMS supplier) with a Southern Company feeder at NREL.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

NASA Thermal Recovery Energy Efficient System (TREES) for Aircraft Exergy Optimization

Future air vehicles will increasingly incorporate electrical powertrains that require very tight integration of power, propulsion, thermal, and airframe technologies. These complex and highly integrated sub-systems present a new exergy utilization and thermo-economics challenge due to the significant and highly distributed low-grade waste heat being produced. One system-wide solution is proposed that utilizes acoustic thermal energy conversion technologies to simultaneously provide thermal management and waste energy recycling for the entire vehicle. This system level solution serves to optimize aircraft exergy utilization.

Dyson, Rodger↗

Managing Increased Electric Vehicle Shares on Decarbonized Bulk Power Systems

Transportation electrification and power sector decarbonization - the convergence of these two trends present a complex planning problem requiring realistic, region-specific modeling and analysis to ensure that both can happen rapidly and cost effectively. This project, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office, models the evolution of the U.S. bulk power system (through 2050) in response to large-scale EV charging across all on-road vehicle segments. We will assess the opportunity and value of demand-side flexibility (i.e., "smart" charging) for reducing energy costs, increasing renewable generation shares, and managing future EV loads on the bulk power system. Overall, this study aims to provide an improved understanding of least-cost solutions for managing EV load growth on the grid and will make high-resolution EV load data sets publicly available for further analysis.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY PLANNING, POLIC↗

Transient Optimization for the Betterment of Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Gas turbine engine transients are associated with degraded compressor operability, which must be addressed by the engine control system and accounted for in the engine design. Failure to do so may result in events such as compressor stall/surge and combustor blow out. Transient operability concerns constrain the engine design and can result in sacrifices of efficiency and/or thrust responsiveness. The traditional approach to transient operability management is control logic that limits the fuel flow command. A companion paper presents a strategy for optimizing the transient fuel flow control logic taking into consideration transient operability and thrust responsiveness. The study covered here extends this idea to an electrified gas turbine engine that employs a power/energy management concept known as Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM). TEEM uses an electric power system interfaced with the engine (hence the term ‘electrified gas turbine engine’) to further improve transient operability and alleviate associated design constraints. There can be costs associated with implementing TEEM in terms of power and energy requirements that impact the size of the electrical power system. However, the results of this study show that through optimization of the transient limit logic, power and energy requirements needed to implement TEEM can be significantly reduced. Among the conclusions that can be drawn from the results of the illustrative application covered herein are: (1) there is a reduction in the electric machine power requirement to manage operability during accelerations by 200 to 400 hp, and (2) power transfer from the low pressure spool (LPS) to the high pressure spool (HPS) is the most effective option for improving operability during decelerations, followed by the options of only injecting power on the HPS or only extracting power from the LPS.

Turbine Electrified Energy Management↗

Transient Optimization for the Betterment of Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Gas turbine engine transients are associated with degraded compressor operability, which must be addressed by the engine control system and accounted for in the engine design. Failure to do so may result in events such as compressor stall/surge and combustor blow out. Transient operability concerns constrain the engine design and can result in sacrifices of efficiency and/or thrust responsiveness. The traditional approach to transient operability management is control logic that limits the fuel flow command. A companion paper presents a strategy for optimizing the transient fuel flow control logic taking into consideration transient operability and thrust responsiveness. The study covered here extends this idea to an electrified gas turbine engine that employs a power/energy management concept known as Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM). TEEM uses an electric power system interfaced with the engine (hence the term ‘electrified gas turbine engine’) to further improve transient operability and alleviate associated design constraints. There can be costs associated with implementing TEEM in terms of power and energy requirements that impact the size of the electrical power system. However, the results of this study show that through optimization of the transient limit logic, power and energy requirements needed to implement TEEM can be significantly reduced. Among the conclusions that can be drawn from the results of the illustrative application covered herein are: (1) there is a reduction in the electric machine power requirement to manage operability during accelerations by 200 to 400 hp, and (2) power transfer from the low pressure spool (LPS) to the high pressure spool (HPS) is the most effective option for improving operability during decelerations, followed by the options of only injecting power on the HPS or only extracting power from the LPS.

transient↗

Transient Optimization for the Betterment of Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Gas turbine engine transients are associated with degraded compressor operability, which must be addressed by the engine control system and accounted for in the engine design. Failure to do so may result in events such as compressor stall/surge and combustor blow out. Transient operability concerns constrain the engine design and can result in sacrifices of efficiency and/or thrust responsiveness. The traditional approach to transient operability management is control logic that limits the fuel flow command. A companion paper presents a strategy for optimizing the transient fuel flow control logic taking into consideration transient operability and thrust responsiveness. The study covered here extends this idea to an electrified gas turbine engine that employs a power/energy management concept known as Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM). TEEM uses an electric power system interfaced with the engine (hence the term ‘electrified gas turbine engine’) to further improve transient operability and alleviate associated design constraints. There can be costs associated with implementing TEEM in terms of power and energy requirements that impact the size of the electrical power system. However, the results of this study show that through optimization of the transient limit logic, power and energy requirements needed to implement TEEM can be significantly reduced. Among the conclusions that can be drawn from the results of the illustrative application covered herein are: (1) there is a reduction in the electric machine power requirement to manage operability during accelerations by 200 to 400 hp, and (2) power transfer from the low pressure spool (LPS) to the high pressure spool (HPS) is the most effective option for improving operability during decelerations, followed by the options of only injecting power on the HPS or only extracting power from the LPS.

transient↗

Comparative analysis of thermal management systems in electric vehicles at extreme weather conditions: Case study on Nissan Leaf 2019 Plus, Chevrolet Bolt 2020 and Tesla Model 3 2020

With the surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption and the need for extended driving ranges, optimizing energy efficiency, particularly through thermal management, is critical, especially in extreme weather. Managing the substantial energy needed for cabin climate control and battery temperature regulation can increase energy demands by over 50 %, severely limiting range. This study conducts a comparative analysis of thermal management systems (TMS) in three popular EV vehicles, 2020 Chevrolet Bolt, 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus, and 2020 Tesla Model 3, evaluating their distinct TMS configurations and performance under varied weather conditions. Using both numerical simulations and experimental data collected on a controlled test bench at Argonne National Laboratory, we assess how TMS architecture and operational modes influence energy consumption and range. A comprehensive TMS model was developed, integrating cabin and battery thermal sub-models in the Autonomie software platform, to simulate temperature fluctuations and range impacts. Cabin climate was modeled using a mono-zonal approach, while battery cell temperature distribution was estimated through a 2D nodal structure. Each vehicle's distinct TMS setup was evaluated: the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3 use a dual evaporator vapor compression cycle with a PTC heater for the cabin and a coolant loop for battery thermal management; the Nissan Leaf Plus employs a heat pump with a PTC heater for the cabin and air-cooling for the battery. Tests conducted at ambient temperatures of 35°C, 22°C, -7°C, and -18°C reveal significant differences in energy use and range reduction across both configurations and conditions. At 35°C, the Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt, and Nissan Leaf Plus have a range reduction of 8%, 9%, and 13%, respectively, due to air conditioning. In winter, heating technology is paramount; at -7°C, the Nissan Leaf's heat pump configuration achieves a lower range reduction (19.3%) compared to the Tesla and Chevrolet Bolt PTC heaters, which reduce range by 28.3% and 31%, respectively. Further, this study provides valuable insights for automotive engineers, EV technology researchers, and thermal management system designers aiming to enhance electric vehicle performance by understanding how different weather conditions and TMS architectures impact energy consumption and driving range.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Design and Analysis of Battery Thermal Management Systems

Thermal management of battery cell packs is a critically needed technology. The purpose of this work is to design new and improved Battery Thermal Management Systems (BTMS) for use in electric airplanes. The BTMS should be 3D printable and hold twelve to sixteen 18650 batteries. To minimize aircraft’s weight, an actively air-cooled battery pack was chosen to avoid the excess weight of water-cooled and phase change material (PCM) cooled packs. As a result, significant changes were made to remove all metal in the pack and replace it with lower density polymer matrix composites (PMCs) which can be additively manufactured. Two air cooled battery pack configurations (traditional propeller fans & bladeless fans) were designed, modeled, and compared. These packs were first modeled in SolidWorks 2021 3D CAD, then imported into COMSOL MultiPhysics to be studied using the “Heat Transfer in Solids and Fluids” module. The design with the bladeless fans eliminated the need to use high conductivity heavy metal to remove unwanted thermal energy. These bladeless fans were designed entirely out of PMCs. This thermal pack design weighs 0.04 kg less than that of the traditional propeller fans design and has increased the battery pack energy density by 8.25 Wh/kg.

Thermal Management System for Battery Packs↗

NASA Glenn Research Center Support of the ASRG Project

A high efficiency radioisotope power system is being developed for long-duration NASA space science missions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) managed a flight contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) to build Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRGs), with support from NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). Sunpower Inc. held two parallel contracts to produce Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs), one with DOELockheed Martin to produce ASC-F flight units, and one with GRC for the production of ASC-E3 engineering unit pathfinders that are built to the flight design. In support of those contracts, GRC provided testing, materials expertise, government furnished equipment, inspections, and related data products to DOELockheed Martin and Sunpower. The technical support includes material evaluations, component tests, convertor characterization, and technology transfer. Material evaluations and component tests have been performed on various ASC components in order to assess potential life-limiting mechanisms and provide data for reliability models. Convertor level tests have been used to characterize performance under operating conditions that are representative of various mission conditions. Technology transfers enhanced contractor capabilities for specialized production processes and tests. Despite termination of flight ASRG contract, NASA continues to develop the high efficiency ASC conversion technology under the ASC-E3 contract. This paper describes key government furnished services performed for ASRG and future tests used to provide data for ongoing reliability assessments.

Technology Transfer↗

NASA Glenn Research Center Support of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator Project

A high-efficiency radioisotope power system was being developed for long-duration NASA space science missions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) managed a flight contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company to build Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators (ASRGs), with support from NASA Glenn Research Center. DOE initiated termination of that contract in late 2013, primarily due to budget constraints. Sunpower, Inc., held two parallel contracts to produce Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs), one with Lockheed Martin to produce ASC-F flight units, and one with Glenn for the production of ASC-E3 engineering unit "pathfinders" that are built to the flight design. In support of those contracts, Glenn provided testing, materials expertise, Government-furnished equipment, inspection capabilities, and related data products to Lockheed Martin and Sunpower. The technical support included material evaluations, component tests, convertor characterization, and technology transfer. Material evaluations and component tests were performed on various ASC components in order to assess potential life-limiting mechanisms and provide data for reliability models. Convertor level tests were conducted to characterize performance under operating conditions that are representative of various mission conditions. Despite termination of the ASRG flight development contract, NASA continues to recognize the importance of high-efficiency ASC power conversion for Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) and continues investment in the technology, including the continuation of the ASC-E3 contract. This paper describes key Government support for the ASRG project and future tests to be used to provide data for ongoing reliability assessments.

Technology Transfer↗

Active multi-mode data analysis to improve fault diagnosis in AHUs

Faults in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can lead to increased energy consumption, occupant comfort issues, and reduced equipment lifetime. Commercial fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) tools has been increasingly deployed in U.S. commercial buildings. While they are helping to achieve energy efficiency and operational reliability, there remain gaps in their fault diagnostic capabilities. The diagnostic results often contain multiple distinct candidate root causes (CRCs) or offer no insight into CRCs. This study developed a novel active rule-based multi-mode data analysis method to enhance diagnostic resolution by applying proven rule sets and additional new rules to data from multiple known operational modes. The proposed method was demonstrated using enhanced air handling unit performance assessment rule sets and validated with the simulated data of two air handling units. New metrics, namely, reduced number of CRCs and improvement ratio, were developed to quantify the improvement of fault diagnostic resolution. The validation results showed that the proposed method effectively reduced the number of CRCs in contrast to analyzing data solely for a single mode of operation. It achieved a median improvement ratio of 80% in 19 test cases.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Multistage economic MPC for systems with a cyclic steady state: A gas network case study

Multistage model predictive control (MPC) provides a robust control strategy for dynamic systems with uncertainties and a setpoint tracking objective. Moreover, extending MPC to minimize an economic cost instead of tracking a pre-calculated optimal setpoint improves controller performance. This paper presents a novel multistage economic nonlinear model predictive control (E-NMPC) framework for dynamic systems operating under uncertainty, with specific application to natural gas transmission networks. A key innovation lies in the integration of cyclic steady-state (CSS) constraints within the multistage MPC formulation, enabling the controller to manage periodic operating conditions commonly observed in energy systems. A Lyapunov-based descent condition is enforced to ensure robust stability of the controller. The multistage economic MPC framework is validated on two gas pipeline case studies, where it successfully minimizes net energy consumption, respects operational constraints under uncertain demand profiles, and guides the network to optimal cyclic operation. The Lyapunov function remains bounded in both case studies, validating the robust stability of multistage E-NMPC.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Estimating the State of Charge in Lithium Primary Batteries: Recent Advances and Critical Insights

Lithium primary batteries (LPBs) remain essential in critical applications such as military, aerospace, medical and emergency devices, and portable electronics. Their superior energy density over lithium-ion batteries offers a significant advantage for long-duration use. Therefore, accurate estimation of the state of charge (SoC) is essential for ensuring the reliable and safe operation of these batteries. While extensive research has been conducted on SoC estimation techniques for lithium-ion secondary batteries, LPBs present unique challenges that complicate accurate SoC estimation. Moreover, research on nondestructive testing techniques for SoC estimation in LPBs is significantly lacking. In this review article, it is aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in SoC estimation for LPBs and generates new insights and directions for future research. Herein, existing methods are discussed and their effectiveness and mechanisms are identified, and areas for further optimization are outlined. More theoretical/experimental efforts to advance SoC detection in LPBs is recommended due to challenges identified with existing techniques.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

CAMEO: A Co-design Architecture for Multi-objective Energy System Optimization (Project Report)

CAMEO (Codesign Architecture for Multi-objective Energy System Optimization) is a modular workflow management framework that abstracts co-design problems as Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG). The framework employs JSON-based workflow specifications that enable systematic decomposition of complex optimization problems into reusable, interchangeable components including data loaders, scenario generators, optimization solvers, and result summarizers.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

G189A analytical simulation of the RITE Integrated Waste Management-Water System

This paper discusses the computer simulation of the Integrated Waste Management-Water System Using Radioisotopes for Thermal Energy (RITE) and applications of the simulation. Variations in the system temperature and flows due to particular operating conditions and variations in equipment heating loads imposed on the system were investigated with the computer program. The results were assessed from the standpoint of the computed dynamic characteristics of the system and the potential applications of the simulation to system development and vehicle integration.

Coggi, J. V.↗

Catalog of selected heavy duty transport energy management models

A catalog of energy management models for heavy duty transport systems powered by diesel engines is presented. The catalog results from a literature survey, supplemented by telephone interviews and mailed questionnaires to discover the major computer models currently used in the transportation industry in the following categories: heavy duty transport systems, which consist of highway (vehicle simulation), marine (ship simulation), rail (locomotive simulation), and pipeline (pumping station simulation); and heavy duty diesel engines, which involve models that match the intake/exhaust system to the engine, fuel efficiency, emissions, combustion chamber shape, fuel injection system, heat transfer, intake/exhaust system, operating performance, and waste heat utilization devices, i.e., turbocharger, bottoming cycle.

Colello, R. G.↗

Systems analysis of Mars solar electric propulsion vehicles

Mission performance, mass, initial power, and cost are determined for solar electric propulsion vehicles across a range of payload masses, reference powers, and mission trajectories. Thick radiation shielding is added to arrays using indium phosphide or III-V multijunction solar cells to reduce the damage incurred through the radiation belts. Special assessments of power management and distribution systems, atmospheric drag, and energy storage are made. It is determined that atmospheric drag is of no great concern and that the energy storage used in countering drag is unnecessary. A scheme to package the arrays, masts, and ion thrusters into a single fairing is presented.

Hickman, J. M.↗

Advanced mid-IR Solid-State Laser Developments

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art 2-micron solid-state laser developments. A world record one-Joule-per-pulse energy laser system and an advanced thermal management with fully conductive cooled laser technique are discussed

Yu, Jirong↗