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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
DOE OSTI2020

TEMPEST (Thermo-Electric Model for Powering Energy Storage Technologies)

NREL's TEMPEST model combines electrical and thermal modeling for residential-scale battery systems. The model and default parameters are based off of two common commercial residential batteries. Key inputs to the model include house load, temperature of the battery location, and the solar profile. The key output of the TEMPEST model is the battery profile and internal battery temperature. If internal battery temperature exceeds limits, a derating will occur and this will be reflected in the battery profile. In addition to thermal modeling, the TEMPEST model uses realistic operating principals that are common in today's residential batteries. Mainly, the TEMPEST model incorporates "modes" of operation that constrain battery setpoint based on house load, solar output, and state of charge. The TEMPEST model can be used to analyze the effect of battery temperature, deratings, and mode setpoints on utility network loading and customer bills.

Blonsky, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2022

Comparing the economic performance of ice storage and batteries for buildings with on-site PV through model predictive control and optimal sizing

Integrating renewable energy and energy storage systems provides a way of operating the electrical grid system more energy efficiently and stably. Thermal storage and batteries are the most common devices for integration. However, it is not clear which integrated storage system performs better in terms of overall economics. Ice storage has low initial and maintenance costs, but there is an efficiency penalty for charging of storage and it can only shift electrical loads associated with building cooling requirements. A battery's round-trip efficiency, on the contrary, is quite consistent and batteries can be used to shift both HVAC and non-HVAC loads. However, batteries have greater initial costs and a shorter life. Finally, this research presents a tool, using model predictive control and optimal sizing, and provides a case study for comparing life-cycle economics of battery and ice storage systems for commercial buildings that have chillers for cooling and an on-site photovoltaic system.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Energy Storage Grand Challenge: Energy Storage Market Report

As part of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC), DOE intends to synthesize and disseminate best available energy storage data, information, and analysis to inform decision-making and accelerate technology adoption. The ESGC Roadmap provides options for addressing technology development, commercialization, manufacturing, valuation, and workforce challenges to position the United States for global leadership in the energy storage technologies of the future. This report provides a baseline understanding of the numerous, dynamic energy storage markets that fall within the scope of the ESGC via an integrated presentation of deployment, investment, and manufacturing data from the best, publicly-available sources. This report covers the following energy storage technologies: lithium ion batteries, lead acid batteries, pumped storage hydropower, comrpessed air energy storage, redox flow batteries, hydrogen, building thermal energy storage, and select long duration energy storage technologies. Not all energy storage technologies and markets could be addressed in this report. Due to the wide array of energy technologies, market niches, and data availability issues, this market report only included a select group of technologies. For example, thermal energy storage technologies are very broadly defined and cover a wide range of potential markets, technology readiness levels, and primary energy sources. In other areas, data scarcity necessitates a greater understanding of future applications and emerging science. Future efforts will update data presented in this report and be expanded to include other energy storage technologies. This data-driven assessment of the current status of energy storage markets is essential to track progress toward the goals described in the Energy Storage Grand Challenge and inform the decision-making of a broad range of stakeholders. At the same time, gaps identified through the development of this report can point to areas where further data collection and analysis could provide an even greater level of understanding of the full range of markets and technologies. Finally, numerous complementary analyses are planned, underway, or completed that will provide a deeper understanding of the specific technologies and markets covered at a high-level in this report.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mitigating the Impact of Thermal Binder Removal for Direct Li-Ion Battery Recycling

Li-ion battery recycling will become critical to the management of end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles. Currently, it is a challenge to create a profitable recycling process, which is made more difficult by the reduction in cathode cobalt content. Maintenance of the cathode structure throughout the recycling process can yield increased revenues that may make recycling profitable. This method will require careful removal of the PVDF binder and carbon black, which can be achieved through thermal processing. Furthermore, it is necessary to mitigate the effects of the fluorine from the PVDF on the cathode material. Herein, we report a process that utilizes excess LiOH•H 2 O to react with this fluorine and thereby prevent lithium removal and doping of the cathode material. In addition, we demonstrate a one-step thermal process that can both remove the binder and relithiate the cathode material.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observation and Modeling of Dynamic Fracture Behaviors of Battery Cell Under Impact Loading Using Enhanced Representative Volume Element Concept

The burgeoning electric automobile industry has increased interest in battery safety. Battery cells experience significant mechanical stress during operation, including the impact of accidents and vibrations from driving. The potential for thermal runaway reactions in battery cells raises safety concerns. Although numerous researchers have defined the dynamic behavior of battery cells and proposed numerical models to describe it, few studies have focused on the high-strain rate mechanical impact phase correlated with the onset of fracture. In this study, we describe the dynamic behavior of pouch battery cells and propose a modeling method to study their mechanical failure under impact situations. Impact tests are conducted at various velocities and heights. To overcome numerical issues commonly encountered under rapid deformation scenarios, a new finite element model is developed based on the representative volume element model. The proposed approach efficiently simulates continuous crack propagation and brittleness behavior during impact by permitting the individual behavior of the cell components. Therefore, engineers can reliably design safer electric vehicle battery cells by measuring the properties of the cell components.

ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Techno-Economic Analysis for the Addition of Thermal Energy Storage to a Campus With Existing Battery Storage

Rising global temperatures and increasing energy demands pose significant challenges for energy management, particularly in institutional and commercial settings. As cooling needs grow, campuses must balance operational efficiency, cost control, and grid stability. Energy storage solutions, such as thermal energy storage (TES) systems, offer a promising approach to shifting energy consumption from peak to off-peak periods, alleviating peak demand, reducing utility costs, and enhancing grid resilience. When integrated with existing battery energy storage systems (BESS), TES can further optimize load management and improve energy savings, especially in buildings with diverse energy needs. This article presents a techno-economic analysis of integrating a chilled water TES system into the central plant at California State University, Dominguez Hills, which already operates a BESS. We assess three TES sizing strategies—full storage, load leveling, and peak demand limiting—by modeling and simulations based on historical energy loads. Our findings show that we can control TES systems to complement BESS operation, with campus-level load leveling providing the greatest cost savings by reducing peak demands. Furthermore, the study also evaluates the long-term economic viability of TES, considering installation costs, energy savings, and payback periods under varying tariffs. This research offers practical guidance for institutions seeking to enhance energy resilience and reduce operational costs through energy storage solutions.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal Runaway of Li-Ion Cells: How Internal Dynamics, Mass Ejection, and Heat Vary with Cell Geometry and Abuse Type

Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries can involve various types of failure mechanisms each with their own unique characteristics. Using fractional thermal runaway calorimetry and high-speed radiography, the response of three different geometries of cylindrical cell (18650, 21700, and D-cell) to different abuse mechanisms (thermal, internal short circuiting, and nail penetration) are quantified and statistically examined. Correlations between the geometry of cells and their thermal behavior are identified, such as increasing heat output per amp-hour (kJ Ah −1 ) of cells with increasing cell diameter during nail penetration. High-speed radiography reveals that the rate of thermal runaway propagation within cells is generally highest for nail penetration where there is a relative increase in rate of propagation with increasing diameter, compared to thermal or internal short-circuiting abuse. For a given cell model tested under the same conditions, a distribution of heat output is observed with a trend of increasing heat output with increased mass ejection. Finally, internal temperature measurements using thermocouples embedded in the penetrating nail are shown to be unreliable thus demonstrating the need for care when using thermocouples where the temperature is rapidly changing. All data used in this manuscript are open access through the NREL and NASA Battery Failure Databank.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Growth of titania and tin oxide from Ti 2 SnC via rapid thermal oxidation in air for lithium-ion battery application

Herein, we report the synthesis of TiO 2 –SnO 2 –C/carbide hybrid electrode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) via two different methods of controlled oxidation of layered Ti 2 SnC. The material was partially oxidized in an open-air furnace (OAF) or using a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) approach to obtain the desired TiO 2 –SnO 2 –C/carbide hybrid material; the carbide phase encompassed both residual Ti 2 SnC and TiC as a reaction product. We tested the oxidized materials as an anode in a half cell to investigate their electrochemical performance in LIBs. Analysis of the various oxidation conditions indicated the highest initial lithiation capacity of 838 mAh/g at 100 mA/g for the sample oxidized in the OAF at 700°C for 1 h. Still, the delithiation capacity dropped to 427 mAh/g and faded over cycling. Long-term cycling demonstrated that the RTA sample treated at 800°C for 30 s was the most efficient, as it demonstrated a reversible capacity of around 270 mAh/g after 150 cycles, as well as a specific capacity of about 150 mAh/g under high cycling rate (2000 mA/g). Given the materials’ promising performance, this processing method could likely be applied to many other members of the MAX family, with a wide range of energy storage applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Impact Modeling and Testing of Pouch and Prismatic Cells

Understanding battery response under impact is critical to improve the safety of electrified vehicles. Nevertheless, predicting the impact behaviors of batteries is not straightforward since a battery cell usually contains hundreds of thin layers with dramatically different material properties and multiple physical processes occur simultaneously during cell deformation. Here we utilized both empirical tests and numerical models to capture the failure process of pouch and prismatic cells in various impact scenarios. In each test, a cell was hit once by an indenter dropped from a certain height. During which the cell penetration, loading force, voltage and temperature were monitored to characterize the cell’s response. Meanwhile, numerical models were developed to capture the coupled mechanical, electrical, electrochemical and thermal responses of batteries. In these models, the cell bulk was treated as a homogeneous part to achieve computational efficiency required by large-scale simulations, and it was represented by the geologic cap model that allows both shear and compaction deformation. Simulation results showed agreement with experimental data in essential features of cell behaviors during impact. Details of the test setup, model development and cell failure behaviors are presented in this paper. Additionally, capabilities, limitations and future improvement of the battery safety modeling are discussed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Thermal Damage Potential of Electric Vehicles

The main objective is to assess the risk that electric vehicle (EV) battery fires pose regarding thermal damage to other vehicles involved in a crash and to compare EV and internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) fires. A literature review of experimental data and statistics are used to perform the assessment. The findings indicate: (1) the heat flux emitted from an EV and ICEV fire are similar due to cabin materials being the main contributor to heat flux, (2) for ICEVs involved in a crash with fuel tank leakage, the thermal damage is significantly more than from an EV fire for equivalent fire durations, (3) the thermal damage potential from ICEV pool fires is at least 5 times higher than EV fires, and (4) EV and ICEV crashes resulting in a fire is about 0.002% and 0.2%, respectively. Thus, EV battery fires have a lower risk than ICEV fires.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Understanding thermal and mechanical effects on lithium plating in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium plating is one of the main concerns for cell durability, as cyclable lithium and cell capacity are decreased during the process. Thermal and mechanical loads can influence cell behavior, including lithium plating driving forces, as suggested by the Arrhenius equation and the Bruggeman relation, respectively. Hence, a 1D and a 3D model are employed to study the thermal and mechanical effects on lithium plating in a lithium-ion battery with a high areal capacity (4 mAh/cm 2 ). The 1D model assumes uniform mechanical and temperature profile, while the 3D model is capable of capturing the nonuniformity of stress and temperature in the cell. Further, the effects of mechanical deformation and different temperatures on the process of lithium plating are investigated in this study. With the help of the 1D charging simulations, it is observed that lower temperatures increase the risk of lithium plating and the presence of mechanical deformations can accelerate its initiation. Furthermore, 3D charging simulations indicated that folds and boundaries of jellyrolls are more susceptible to lithium plating due to the higher stress concentration and lower temperature, respectively.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Energy Storage Analysis

This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic characterization of energy storage and exible low carbon power generation technologies that can shift energy across days, weeks, or months to balance daily, weekly, and seasonal disparities in supply and demand. Energy storage technologies evaluated here include pumped hydropower storage (PHS), adiabatic and diabatic compressed air energy storage (CAES), vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs), pumped thermal energy storage (P-TES), and renewably produced hydrogen stored in either geologic formations or underground pipes with re-electrification via combustion turbines in combined cycles, stationary proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, or the novel use of PEM fuel cells designed for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) which are expected to have shorter lives but also lower capital costs. We also evaluate flexible low-carbon power generation systems, including ethanol combustion in gas turbines and natural gas combustion with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). We estimate current costs with literature data, use learning rates to characterize future costs, and develop capacity factors calibrated to an 85% renewables grid to calculate the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of each technology. Results illustrate that at the 12-hour storage duration, PHS and CAES have the lowest LCOE with current costs, and VRBs become competitive if future costs are achieved. At the 120-hour storage duration, hydrogen systems with geologic storage and natural gas with CCS achieve the lowest LCOE in both current and future capital cost scenarios. In particular, the new configuration of HDV-PEM fuel cells with hydrogen storage in geologic formations evaluated here could lower the LCOE by 22-27% compared to stationary fuel cell systems typically evaluated and might help enable very high (>80%) renewable energy electric power systems. P-TES and hydrogen stored in underground pipes are the least-cost options at the 120-hour storage duration rating that do not require some form of geologic storage. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo analysis illustrate that the general trends seen in this study are valid for a wide range of capacity factors and future cost scenarios. The study also illustrates that coproducing and selling hydrogen to other markets could reduce the LCOE of hydrogen systems by up to 39%.

carbon capture and sequestration↗
DOE OSTI2024

A techno-economic survey of energy storage media for long-duration energy storage applications

Energy storage technologies that can economically store and provide electricity over multi-day and seasonal timescales are likely to be a critical component of a sustainable and resilient energy system. In this analysis, we perform a broad survey of energy storage technologies to find storage media (SM) that are promising for these long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications. The energy capital cost of the SM is identified as a key figure of merit for LDES. We develop a data collection framework to collect material price and physical property data, which are used to calculate the energy capital cost floor for 376 SM. These costs are then compared with cost targets for the LDES applications. The results show a multitude of thermal and chemical SM are economically promising, including some synthetic fuels, sensible thermal, latent thermal, thermochemical, and batteries based on low-cost materials. In contrast, currently deployed energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage do not appear to be promising systems for LDES applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

A thermal evaporation–trapping strategy to synthesize flexible and robust oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc–air batteries

Great efforts have been devoted to the development of bifunctional electrocatalysts to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of cathodic oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) in zinc–air batteries (ZABs). Here we report a thermal evaporation–trapping synergistic strategy to fabricate a bifunctional electrocatalyst of flexible N-doped carbon fiber cloth loaded with both CoFe-oxide nanoparticles and single-atom Co/Fe–Nx sites, in which the thermal evaporation process functions in both downsizing CoFe-oxide nanoparticles and trapping the evaporated Co/Fe species to generate Co/Fe–Nx sites. The obtained flexible electrocatalyst, directly serving as an oxygen electrode, displays a small potential gap of 0.542 V for the OER/ORR, large peak power densities (liquid-state ZAB: 237.4 mW cm2 ; solid-state ZAB: 141.1 mW cm2 ), and excellent charge–discharge cycling stability without decay after working more than 770 hours. Furthermore, in situ Raman spectroscopy characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that CoFe2O4 species is responsible for the OER while atomic Fe/Co sites play a key role in the ORR

Zhang, Hong-Bo↗
DOE OSTI2024

Optimizing Grid-interactive Efficient Building Designs with Stacked Value Streams

Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) are those characterized by the combination of energy efficiency and demand flexibility with smart technologies and communications to not only deliver greater affordability and comfort to buildings, but also help utilities manage grid operations and lower system costs. This paper presents an innovative techno-economic assessment framework to effectively examine different GEB design options, explore various use cases, define technically achievable benefits, and thereby assist in informed decision-making. In particular, building load flexibility, thermal storage, and battery energy storage are considered. Advanced optimal dispatch problem is formulated to maximize the stacked value streams from multiple, competing use cases, subject to the physical capabilities and operational flexibility associated with different designs and configurations. Comprehensive case studies were performed for a real-world building to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different GEB designs and offer in-depth insights. It was found that the proposed assessment method could effectively capture the costs and benefits linked to each GEB design option. Furthermore, the study revealed that outage mitigation and demand response are the two most significant sources of benefits for GEBs.

Ma, Xu↗