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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2001

Dirigent proteins and dirigent sites in lignifying tissues

Tissue-specific dirigent protein gene expression and associated dirigent (site) localization were examined in various organs of Forsythia intermedia using tissue printing, in situ mRNA hybridization and immunolabeling techniques, respectively. Dirigent protein gene expression was primarily noted in the undifferentiated cambial regions of stem sections, whereas dirigent protein sites were detected mainly in the vascular cambium and ray parenchyma cell initials. Immunolocalization also revealed cross-reactivity with particular regions of the lignified cell walls, these being coincident with the known sites of initiation of lignin deposition. These latter regions are considered to harbor contiguous arrays of dirigent (monomer binding) sites for initiation of lignin biopolymer assembly. Dirigent protein mRNA expression was also localized in the vascular regions of roots and petioles, whereas in leaves the dirigent sites were primarily associated with the palisade layers and the vascular bundle. That is, dirigent protein mediated lignan biosynthesis was initiated primarily in the cambium and ray cell initial regions of stems as well as in the leaf palisade layers, this being in accordance with the occurrence of the lignans for defense purposes. Within lignified secondary xylem cell walls, however, dirigent sites were primarily localized in the S(1) sublayer and compound middle lamella, these being coincident with previously established sites for initiation of macromolecular lignin biosynthesis. Once initiation occurs, lignification is proposed to continue through template polymerization.

NASA Discipline Plant Biology↗
DOE OSTI2021

The curled wake model: a three-dimensional and extremely fast steady-state wake solver for wind plant flows

Abstract. Wind turbine wake models typically require approximations, such as wake superposition and deflection models, to accurately describe wake physics. However, capturing the phenomena of interest, such as the curled wake and interaction of multiple wakes, in wind power plant flows comes with an increased computational cost. To address this, we propose a new hybrid method that uses analytical solutions with an approximate form of the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations to solve the time-averaged flow over a wind plant. We compare results from the solver to supervisory control and data acquisition data from the Lillgrund wind plant obtaining wake model predictions which are generally within 1 standard deviation of the mean power data. We perform simulations of flow over the Columbia River Gorge to demonstrate the capabilities of the model in complex terrain. We also apply the solver to a case with wake steering, which agreed well with large-eddy simulations. This new solver reduces the time – and therefore the related cost – it takes to simulate a steady-state wind plant flow (on the order of seconds using one core). Because the model is computationally efficient, it can also be used for different applications including wake steering for wind power plants and layout optimization.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1995

The effects of solar radiation on plant growth

This phase of this continuing project was completed in April, 1994, using Dahlgren #855 hybrid sunflower seeds and Park Seeds #0950 non-hybrid sunflower seeds in both the control groups and the tests groups. The control groups (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) were grown under normal, un-radiated, conditions. The tests groups (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a) were grown onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-60 flight in February 1994. All data from this experiment (both control and test groups) will be taken and recorded in a data log and compared against each other to determine the radiation effects of solar radiation on plant germination and growth.

Agard, Joslyn↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hybrid-energy approach enabled by heat storage and oxy-combustion to generate electricity with near-zero or negative CO 2 emissions

We assess a hybrid-energy approach that modifies a steam-turbine power plant to use renewable energy sources (electricity, plus options for geothermal and solar heat), plus fossil fuel (natural gas and coal) and/or waste biomass (e.g., Douglas fir woodchips). Heat storage allows heat to be created during periods of excess energy supply and for that heat to be converted to electricity when demanded. Excess electricity, such as from variable renewable energy (VRE), is used to generate oxygen for oxy-combustion furnaces that create very-hot, high-purity CO 2 that heats granular rock beds in insulated vessels. Cool CO 2 leaving the beds is dried, sent to compressors powered by excess VRE electricity, before being sent by pipeline to geologic CO 2 storage. Very-hot CO 2 transfers high-grade heat from storage to the power plant in a closed loop that returns medium-grade heat back to storage, allowing low- and medium-grade renewable-heat sources to be stacked beneath combustion heat, with all heat sources being converted to electricity at the same (high) thermal efficiency. Reliable, on-demand power may be generated with near-zero CO 2 emissions with fossil fuel and with negative CO 2 emissions with waste biomass. Our analyses show that with fossil fuel, up to 35% of gross power can be derived from renewable sources, while for waste biomass, it can be entirely derived from renewable sources. Because our approach has the potential to ensure that grids have a continuous supply of clean energy and because electricity is only generated once, when demanded, it could serve as an efficient alternative to bulk energy storage.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Re-evaluating the Systematics of Dendrolycopodium Using Restriction-Site Associated DNA-Sequencing

The genus Dendrolycopodium (Lycopodiaceae) includes four to five species across North America and East Asia. Species identification in Dendrolycopodium is difficult due to limited or inconsistent characters. In addition, plants with intermediate morphologies regularly occur, potentially indicative of interspecific hybridization. To determine the species relationships in Dendrolycopodium and investigate the existence of hybrids, we generated a draft genome assembly for D. obscurum and carried out double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) on 86 Dendrolycopodium specimens. Our sampling includes all the described species and 11 individuals with intermediate morphology. We find that the genus can be divided into four clades that largely correspond to the described taxa, as well as evidence of interspecific hybridization. Within these clades, our STRUCTURE analysis suggests that there are multiple finer subgroups, with evidence of hybridization and introgression between these subgroups. Given the limited availability of specimens collected from Asia, the status of the various Asian species remains uncertain and will require further study. In summary, our study confirms several hybrid relationships in Dendrolycopodium and provides a clear phylogenetic framework for future taxonomic revision.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic energy system modeling using hybrid physics-based and machine learning encoder–decoder models

Three model configurations are presented for multi-step time series predictions of the heat absorbed by the water and steam in a thermal power plant. The models predict over horizons of 2, 4, and 6 steps into the future, where each step is a 5-minute increment. The evaluated models are a pure machine learning model, a novel hybrid machine learning and physics-based model, and the hybrid model with an incomplete dataset. The hybrid model deconstructs the machine learning into individual boiler heat absorption units: economizer, water wall, superheater, and reheater. Each configuration uses a gated recurrent unit (GRU) or a GRU-based encoder–decoder as the deep learning architecture. Mean squared error is used to evaluate the models compared to target values. The encoder–decoder architecture is over 11% more accurate than the GRU only models. The hybrid model with the incomplete dataset highlights the importance of the manipulated variables to the system. The hybrid model, compared to the pure machine learning model, is over 10% more accurate on average over 20 iterations of each model. Automatic differentiation is applied to the hybrid model to perform a local sensitivity analysis to identify the most impactful of the 72 manipulated variables on the heat absorbed in the boiler. The models and sensitivity analyses are used in a discussion about optimizing the thermal power plant.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

GIS-Based Graphical User Interface Tools for Analyzing Solar Thermal Desalination Systems & High-Potential Implementation

This project developed a user-friendly, open-source, software that enables a comparative evaluation of solar thermal desalination technology options and employs geospatial data layers to identify regions of high-potential for solar thermal desalination. This was accomplished by integrating solar models with desalination models and enhancing their utility by providing GIS-based data inputs. The developed Solar Energy Desalination Analysis Tool (SEDAT) enables techno-economical evaluation of desalination technologies and selection of regions with the highest potential for using solar energy to power desalination plants. It simplifies the planning, design, and valuation of solar thermal and solar hybrid desalination systems in the U.S. and worldwide. SEDAT uses Dash for integrating various layers of large volumes of GIS data with Python-based models of solar energy generation and desalination technologies. It derives time-series of energy generation and water production, with details of plant performance and suggestions for improving the solar-desalination coupling. It is a one of-a-kind tool of analysis representing a definitive advancement in the state-of-the-art. Of solar desalination modeling This report summarizes the various phases of the tool’s development, and presents examples of the results.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Expert perspectives on the wind plant of the future

Abstract Wind power technology has changed rapidly in recent years. Technology innovation, evolving power markets, and competing land and ocean uses continue to influence the design and operation of wind turbines and plants. Anticipating these trends and their impact on future facilities can inform commercial strategies and research priorities. Drawing from a recent survey of 140 of the world's foremost wind experts, we identify expectations of future wind plant design in 2035, both for onshore and offshore wind. Experts anticipate continued growth in turbine size, to 5.5 (onshore) and 17 MW (offshore), with plants located in increasingly less favorable wind and siting regimes. They expect plant sizes of 1,100 MW for fixed‐bottom and 600 MW for floating offshore wind. Experts forecast enhanced grid‐system value from wind through significant to widespread use of larger rotors, hybrid projects with batteries and hydrogen production, and more. To explain experts' perspectives on future plant design and operation, we identify five mechanisms: economies of unit, plant, and resource scale; grid‐system value economies; and production efficiencies. We characterize learning effects as a moderating influence on the strength of these mechanisms. In combination, experts predict that these design choices support levelized cost of energy reductions of 27% (onshore) and 17%–35% (floating and fixed‐bottom offshore) by 2035 compared to today, while enhancing wind energy's grid service offerings. Our findings provide a much‐needed benchmark for representing future wind technologies in power sector models and address a critical research gap by explaining the economics behind wind energy design choices.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Inducible Accumulation of Cell Wall-Bound p -Hydroxybenzoates Is Involved in the Regulation of Gravitropic Response of Poplar

Lignin in Populus species is acylated with p-hydroxybenzoate. Monolignol p-hydroxybenzoyltransferase 1 (PHBMT1) mediates p-hydroxybenzoylation of sinapyl alcohol, eventually leading to the modification of syringyl lignin subunits. Angiosperm trees upon gravistimulation undergo the re-orientation of their growth along with the production of specialized secondary xylem, i.e., tension wood (TW), that generates tensile force to pull the inclined stem or leaning branch upward. Sporadic evidence suggests that angiosperm TW contains relatively a high percentage of syringyl lignin and lignin-bound p-hydroxybenzoate. However, whether such lignin modification plays a role in gravitropic response remains unclear. By imposing mechanical bending and/or gravitropic stimuli to the hybrid aspens in the wild type (WT), lignin p-hydroxybenzoate deficient, and p-hydroxybenzoate overproduction plants, we examined the responses of plants to gravitropic/mechanical stress and their cell wall composition changes. We revealed that mechanical bending or gravitropic stimulation not only induced the overproduction of crystalline cellulose fibers and increased the relative abundance of syringyl lignin, but also significantly induced the expression of PHBMT1 and the increased accumulation of p-hydroxybenzoates in TW. Furthermore, we found that although disturbing lignin-bound p-hydroxybenzoate accumulation in the PHBMT1 knockout and overexpression (OE) poplars did not affect the major chemical composition shifts of the cell walls in their TW as occurred in the WT plants, depletion of p-hydroxybenzoates intensified the gravitropic curving of the plantlets in response to gravistimulation, evident with the enhanced stem secant bending angle. By contrast, hyperaccumulation of p-hydroxybenzoates mitigated gravitropic response. These data suggest that PHBMT1-mediated lignin modification is involved in the regulation of poplar gravitropic response and, likely by compromising gravitropism and/or enhancing autotropism, negatively coordinates the action of TW cellulose fibers to control the poplar wood deformation and plant growth.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Demo-scale testing of a hybrid membrane-sorbent system for post-combustion CO2 capture

TDA Research is developing a novel hybrid membrane-sorbent system for the post-combustion capture of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from supercritical pulverized coal (PC) power generation facilities or large point industrial emitters. Here, the novel design incorporates a 1st-stage continuous membrane separator developed by Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. (MTR) with a dual-bed radial-flow sorbent contactor (designed and developed at TDA). Testing of a pilot unit at 1 MWe scale has been conducted at the site for emerging technologies at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) in Mongstad, Norway using residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) flue gas from Equinor’s Mongstad refinery.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Maize ANT1 modulates vascular development, chloroplast development, photosynthesis, and plant growth

Arabidopsis AINTEGUMENTA (ANT), an AP2 transcription factor, is known to control plant growth and floral organogenesis. In this study, our transcriptome analysis and in situ hybridization assays of maize embryonic leaves suggested that maize ANT1 (ZmANT1) regulates vascular development. To better understand ANT1 functions, we determined the binding motif of ZmANT1 and then showed that ZmANT1 binds the promoters of millet SCR1, GNC, and AN3, which are key regulators of Kranz anatomy, chloroplast development, and plant growth, respectively. We generated a mutant with a single-codon deletion and two frameshift mutants of the ANT1 ortholog in the C4 millet Setaria viridis by the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. The two frameshift mutants displayed reduced photosynthesis efficiency and growth rate, smaller leaves, and lower grain yields than wild-type (WT) plants. Moreover, their leaves sporadically exhibited distorted Kranz anatomy and vein spacing. Conducting transcriptomic analysis of developing leaves in the WT and the three mutants we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two frameshift mutant lines and found many down-regulated DEGs enriched in photosynthesis, heme, tetrapyrrole binding, and antioxidant activity. In addition, we predicted many target genes of ZmANT1 and chose 13 of them to confirm binding of ZmANT1 to their promoters. Based on the above observations, we proposed a model for ANT1 regulation of cell proliferation and leaf growth, vascular and vein development, chloroplast development, and photosynthesis through its target genes. Furthermore, our study revealed biological roles of ANT1 in several developmental processes beyond its known roles in plant growth and floral organogenesis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Influence of Hybridization on the Capacity Value of PV and Battery Resources

Utility-scale systems that combine solar photovoltaic and battery (PV+battery) technologies are growing in popularity on the U.S. bulk power system. The business case for PV+battery systems depends on both their ability to reduce costs and their ability to generate value synergies associated with the provision of energy, capacity, and ancillary services. Capacity value can constitute a significant portion of the value PV+battery hybrids provide to the grid (e.g., through avoided or deferred capacity) and receive through revenues. Throughout this report, we define capacity value as the monetary value of a plant's contribution towards the planning reserve margin, which ultimately depends on market rules and structures. PV+battery hybrids do not always fit into current market structures because of the interactions between the PV and battery components. Unique considerations for the capacity value of PV+battery hybrids include the disparate nature of participation models for PV and battery technologies in existing market rules and the potential influence of a shared interconnection capacity; limitations imposed by a shared inverter; limited ability to charge the battery in advance of capacity events if charging must be sourced from the coupled PV; and challenges or uncertainties associated with co-optimizing the operations of the PV and battery components. Grid operators are currently considering how market structures can be modified to optimally determine the capacity value provided by PV+battery systems, and the rules of how they are integrated into markets are still being written. As with any resource, poorly designed rules could increase the cost of energy and reduce system reliability, while well-designed rules could allow markets to receive the full benefits hybrid systems can offer without overcompensating them for the services they provide. Well-designed rules for PV+battery systems must consider the unique aspects listed above, while leveraging the commonalities with existing resource types. In this report, we summarize the technical capability and market rules that influence the capacity value of PV+battery systems. We further discuss the potential tradeoffs between computational complexity and accuracy for the various ways in which grid operators can credit PV+battery systems for capacity. Finally, we describe markets for capacity, survey current wholesale market rules applying to PV+battery systems, and provide a snapshot of the current regulatory landscape for PV+battery systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Biomass yields, reproductive fertility, compositional analysis, and genetic diversity of newly developed triploid giant miscanthus hybrids

Abstract Miscanthus × giganteus (giant miscanthus), first found as a naturally occurring hybrid, has shown promise as a bioenergy/biomass crop throughout much of the temperate world. This allotriploid (2 n = 3 x = 57) hybrid resulted from a cross between tetraploid Miscanthus sacchariflorus (2 n = 4 x = 76) and diploid Miscanthus sinensis (2 n = 2 x = 38) and is particularly desirable due to its low fertility that minimizes reseeding and potential invasiveness. However, there is limited genetic diversity in commonly grown cultivars of triploid M. × giganteus and breeding and development efforts to improve and domesticate this crop have been minimal. Here, we report on newly developed M. × giganteus hybrids compared with the industry standard M. × giganteus '1993‐1780'. Dry biomass yields of new hybrids ranged from 19.5 to 32.4 Mg/ha/year for the fourth growing season, compared with 21.0 Mg/ha/year for M. × giganteus '1993‐1780'. Plant reproductive fertility remained low for all accessions with overall fertility [(seed set × seed germination)/100] ranging from 0.3% to 4.5% for new hybrids compared to 0.4% for M. × giganteus '1993‐1780'. Culm density and height varied among accessions and were positively correlated with increased biomass. Based on compositional analyses, theoretical ethanol yields ranged from 9, 740 to 16,278 L/ha/year for new hybrids compared to 10,406 L/ha/year for M. × giganteus '1993‐1780'. Relative feed value indices were low overall and ranged between 66.0 and 72.8 for new hybrids compared to M. × giganteus '1993‐1780' with 71.3. The genetic diversity of new hybrids, compared with existing cultivars, was characterized using whole genome sequences. Based on pair‐wise distances, cluster analysis clearly showed increased diversity of new hybrids compared with earlier selections. These results document new triploid hybrids of M. × giganteus with enhanced biomass and theoretical ethanol yields in combination with broader genetic diversity and lowreproductive fertility.

Touchell, Darren H.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Developing and Integrating the Plant Phenomics Community: Support for the 2022 Conference of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (Final Report)

The North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN) hosted our NAPPN2022 Annual Conference as a hybrid event from February 22-25, 2022, at the Classic Center in Athens, GA in cooperation with the University of Georgia. We had over 300 attendees with approximately half attending in person and half attending through our online platform. During the 4 day event, there were 92 scientific talks (33 of which were fast-forward presentations by early career researchers), eleven hands-on workshops, two in-person facility tours, a career and mentoring fair and a panel on international partnerships and perspectives.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flexible Gasification of Coal and Biomass to Generate Carbon Free Electric Power and Hydrogen

This paper describes the development of a coal and biomass-fed plant concept to co-produce electric power and hydrogen with net-negative CO2 emissions under the aegis of the 21st Century Power Plant initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), whose goal is to advance innovative power plant concepts that are capable of flexible, net-zero carbon emission operations while producing cost-effective “blue” hydrogen to support economy-wide decarbonization goals. The proposed standalone plant will be in Nebraska, USA. The specified design feedstock is a hybrid blend of Powder River Basin (PRB) subbituminous coal from Wyoming and local Nebraska biomass (corn stover), 50 wt.% each (dry basis). Other potential feedstocks, including woody biomass (eastern red cedar) and waste plastic (auto shredder residue) were evaluated or reviewed as alternates. The proposed process block comprises a high-pressure, oxygen-blown fluidized bed gasifier (GTI Energy U-GAS® process) coupled with water gas shift, the Selexol process for acid gas (H2S and CO2) removal, and pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) to yield 8,500 kg/h of high-purity hydrogen. The off gas from the PSA unit is used in the power block (gas turbine combined cycle) to generate electric power to support the gasification process, hydrogen production, and 50 MWe net electric power to the grid. All major plant equipment including the gasifier, gas cleanup system, and power generation are commercially available and proven in other applications and considered at TRL 8-9. However, gasification of corn stover biomass is considered at TRL 6. Overall thermal efficiency of the plant is 50% (net HHV) with net atmospheric CO2 removal at a rate of 250-300,000 tpa. Design activities necessary to provide input to a FEED study (Phase II of the project), including the development of the Environmental Information Volume (EIV) for the host site, and an investment case, based on a pro-forma pre-FEED level cost estimate, have been completed and are described in detail in this paper.

Gülen, S. Can↗
DOE OSTI2022

Initial Engineering and Design for CO 2 Capture from Ethanol Facilities

The Energy & Environmental Research Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and North Dakota ethanol producer Red Trail Energy, LLC (RTE) and with technical support from Trimeric Corporation and the KLJ engineering firm, completed an initial engineering design (IED) for a hybrid capture system to estimate associated costs for retrofitting the operational RTE ethanol plant. The project goal supports the DOE objective to achieve negative emissions using commercially available technologies to attain Technology Readiness Level 6+ from a facility emitting >100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) annually. The RTE CCS (carbon capture and storage) Project is currently operating a CO 2 capture facility, adjacent to the RTE ethanol facility in western North Dakota, and injecting the CO 2 more than a mile below RTE property for permanent storage. This novel hybrid capture system would process about 310,000 tonnes of CO 2 annually for the RTE host site and includes CO 2 capture and compression from bioprocessing as well as capturing CO 2 produced from natural gas boilers. The bioprocessing capture process, based on past RTE studies investigating ammonia liquefaction technology with CO 2 produced from natural gas boilers captured utilizing chemical absorption with amine, was shown to be technically feasible for the RTE site. Activities conducted to support the project goal included 1) designing a hybrid capture system using CO 2 emissions from both bioprocessing and heat production at the host site facility; 2) conducting a pre-front-end engineering and design analysis of the hybrid capture system to include environmental health and safety, a constructability report, identification of permits, and corporate approvals; and 3) performing a techno-economic assessment in accordance with DOE’s methodology, as demonstrated by the bituminous baseline study. In addition, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was completed for the RTE site to estimate the carbon life cycle for ethanol-CCS implementation using the designed hybrid capture system to determine potential for net-negative carbon emissions. Results of the IED showed the hybrid system to be technically viable, with a moderate estimated cost of $55/tonne CO 2 captured for the hybrid system. The cradle-to-gate LCA showed preliminary net-negative carbon emissions potential anticipated from implementing a hybrid CCS system at a commercial scale. Recommended next steps toward potential implementation include hybrid capture system demonstration testing for detailed engineering and LCA model comparisons with low-carbon fuel incentive programs for financial support.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1976

Nuclear driven water decomposition plant for hydrogen production

The conceptual design of a hydrogen production plant using a very-high-temperature nuclear reactor (VHTR) to energize a hybrid electrolytic-thermochemical system for water decomposition has been prepared. A graphite-moderated helium-cooled VHTR is used to produce 1850 F gas for electric power generation and 1600 F process heat for the water-decomposition process which uses sulfur compounds and promises performance superior to normal water electrolysis or other published thermochemical processes. The combined cycle operates at an overall thermal efficiency in excess of 45%, and the overall economics of hydrogen production by this plant have been evaluated predicated on a consistent set of economic ground rules. The conceptual design and evaluation efforts have indicated that development of this type of nuclear-driven water-decomposition plant will permit large-scale economic generation of hydrogen in the 1990s.

Parker, G. H.↗