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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 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Perspectives on multi-material additive manufacturing

The last two decades have seen enormous gains in industrial adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Its layer-wise approach to fabrication offers designers the opportunity to create structures with unique performance advantages over their traditionally manufactured counterparts, and have created new manufacturing business models and supply chains. While today’s AM technologies have enabled the creation of new geometries, future AM systems that offer simultaneous processing of multiple materials in a single build open opportunities for new product functionality that cannot be achieved by traditional manufacturing methods. Advances in multi-material additive manufacturing, which integrate dissimilar material into a complex, three-dimensional object, is emerging but the advances have been sporadic. Moving beyond homogenous materials, adding multi-materials, gradient, functional and responsive materials, and materials with heterogeneous and graded properties means that a single additive process based on either energy delivery or material deposition alone may not be suitable. Finally, this perspective gives a brief overview of the current status, challenges, and future recommendations for multi-material additive manufacturing. The authors aim to expand the notion of multi-material additive manufacturing beyond combining materials with dissimilar properties, to combinations of materials at different length scales, material classes as well as multiple functionalities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Perspectives on future research directions in green manufacturing for discrete products

With the increasing concern due to climate change caused by a higher atmospheric concentration of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases, reducing environmental impact is becoming more important for every part of society. Manufacturing is responsible for a significant amount of energy/material consumption and environmental burden and, therefore, has a great opportunity to reduce its impact through green manufacturing. Green manufacturing presents opportunities across the manufacturing enterprise to increase the efficient usage of energy and material resources. These opportunities include designing products to consume fewer materials and energy during manufacturing and use, incorporating more efficient manufacturing processes, streamlining and optimizing manufacturing schedules and plans, and circularizing products. The goal of this paper will be to provide a perspective from the authors on the opportunities that exist within green manufacturing for discrete products through a review of pertinent topics and future directions. The paper will focus on processes, manufacturing equipment, manufacturing systems, recovering value at a product’s end-of-life, and additional thoughts that include metrics and indicators, techno-economic assessment, and a discussion of efficiency and effectiveness. Key findings from this review include a need for social indicators and renewable energy considerations in scheduling and process planning, integrating Industry 4.0 into circular economy along with social and institutional dimensions, consistency in the ability to measure and conceptualize metrics and indicators, a detailed evaluation of the life cycle impacts and cost of Addit Manuf, and more human and environment-oriented considerations for smart manufacturing.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nuclear Weapon Security DOD Perspective

Presentation Overview: Nuclear Weapon Security DOD Perspective; DOD and DOE Nuclear Security Policy Standards; Weapon Secure Storage Methods; Modes of Transportation: DOD and DOE; Security Breeches; Basic Security Classification Practices

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2021

Clean Grid Vision: A U.S. Perspective - Executive Summary

Clean Grid Vision: A U.S. Perspective aims to present a range of possible pathways for future grid development and call attention to some common trends. It focuses on the lessons learned through NREL’s studies of the U.S. power sector that have measured the impacts of high-penetration VRE and have tested strategies for enhancing grid flexibility and reliability. As such, this report is limited in its scope and does not attempt to review or summarize all grid integration literature. While it refers to relevant external literature to provide context when needed, this report is primarily a summary of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) research in the past 5 years on five key topics: grid planning and operation, grid reliability at the distribution level, grid reliability at the transmission level, demand-side resources, and power markets—each corresponds to a chapter in this report. The main insights of the report are presented in this executive summary.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nuclear Energy in Long-Term System Models: A Multi-Model Perspective

Long-term energy system models–including electric sector capacity expansion models–are widely used tools for informing planning, technology assessment, and policy analysis. Recent decarbonization goals and rapid technological change have increased the need to appropriately represent economic characteristics and technical details of energy system resources, including variable renewable energy, energy storage technologies, carbon-capture-equipped capacity, and nuclear energy. Nuclear power represents about 20% of electricity generation and 50% of carbon-free electricity in the United States as of 2021. However, there are many perspectives on the role of existing and new nuclear in the future U.S. energy system, which is reflected in the broad range of potential contributions reported in the literature. This project aims to understand how issues central to nuclear energy are represented in long-term energy models. Building on earlier collaborations that focused on variable renewable energy and energy storage, this project convenes four modeling teams that use national-scale long-term energy system models from the Electric Power Research Institute, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to share methods and data, update models, run coordinated scenarios, and identify research needs. Improving tools can provide more insightful analyses and ensure that methods are more transparent.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

International Benchmarking: A Global Perspective of Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing

Workplace drug and alcohol testing has been widely implemented in diverse industries and is designed to detect the use of and deter the influence of legal and illegal substances that would impair the ability to perform work that has significant security and safety implications. Across the globe, patterns of drug and alcohol use and abuse and the regulations controlling drug and alcohol use vary by location (e.g., regions, countries, etc.). The prevalence of workplace drug and alcohol testing and protection of individuals’ rights in the workplace similarly tend to exhibit contextual differences. With the advancements in drug-testing technologies and the recent issuance of guidance for additional testing matrices (e.g., oral fluid, hair, etc.) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, gaining a global perspective on the current state of drug and alcohol testing practices and regulations is important for leveraging such advancements to improve the effectiveness of drug and alcohol testing. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) tasked the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) fitness for duty (FFD) team to conduct a benchmarking analysis of international drug and alcohol testing regulations and programs to identify similarities and differences in workplace testing programs and the basis for any differences. The benchmarking study focuses on a policy analysis and benchmarking metrics comparison among different countries and regions. The policy analysis includes the following three types of relevant international and national policies relevant to drug and alcohol testing in the nuclear industry: 1. National drug and alcohol policy 2. Workplace drug and alcohol testing 3. FFD regulations for Nuclear Power Plants The international drug and alcohol benchmarking metrics focusses on the use of blood, breath, urine, hair, and oral fluid in testing; drug and drug metabolite cutoff values; point-of-collection testing devices; roadside testing methodologies; innovations in drug testing; and the extent of availability of such data. Gaining an understanding of workplace drug and alcohol testing in other countries as well as information about new testing methods, matrices, tools, and technologies that other countries have adopted provides NRC with international comparative information regarding the technical basis for such programs and methods as it relates to the protection of worker and public health and safety.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2023

Offshore Wind Energy and Communities: Perspectives on Local Impacts [Slides]

In this webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's WINDExchange initiative, an expert panel discusses the myriad ways that offshore wind may impact communities. Impacted communities can take a variety of forms, from coastal communities hosting ports and cable landings to ocean users such as commercial fishermen, and can experience a range of environmental, economic, cultural, and other impacts related to offshore wind energy. This webinar explores these topics from diverse perspectives and provides an introduction to the local footprints of this emerging industry.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quantum-centric Supercomputing for Materials Science: A Perspective on Challenges and Future Directions

Computational models are an essential tool for the design, characterization, and discovery of novel materials. Hard computational tasks in materials science stretch the limits of existing high-performance supercomputing centers, consuming much of their simulation, analysis, and data resources. Quantum computing, on the other hand, is an emerging technology with the potential to accelerate many of the computational tasks needed for materials science. In order to do that, the quantum technology must interact with conventional high-performance computing in several ways: approximate results validation, identification of hard problems, and synergies in quantum-centric supercomputing. In this paper, we provide a perspective on how quantum-centric supercomputing can help address critical computational problems in materials science, the challenges to face in order to solve representative use cases, and new suggested directions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

A 2023 Perspective: What Is the Value of Hybridization?

This report takes a wind developer's perspective and provides a summary of the current and future state of hybrid facilities, and ultimately seeks to answer the question: "Are hybrid power plants a pivotal tool for meeting future energy and decarbonization targets?" The intention is not to provide an in-depth system-level technical analysis of hybrid facilities, but to showcase a high-level overview of the hybrid facility ecosystem and its potential future directions. Lastly, the authors acknowledge and recognize that non-renewable generation technologies can be integrated into a hybrid facility, however these technologies are outside the scope of this report.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Rooftop Solar in Lawrence, MA: Community Perspectives, Deceptive Practices, and Financing Options

This report was prepared as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Communities Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP) pilot competitive technical assistance for the Lawrence Massachusetts Stakeholder Coalition (LSC) composed of The City of Lawrence, All In Energy, MassDevelopment, Mill City Community Investments, BlocPower and Groundwork Lawrence, and led by Browning the Green Space. The LSC identified rooftop solar photovoltaics as a top priority for this technical assistance opportunity. Lawrence faces high energy burden and electricity prices, thus rooftop solar can be a tool to help lower those costs. However, the coalition received feedback that some solar companies were using deceptive and unfair practices when marketing, selling, or financing solar energy, costing residents more money than utility rates and increasing the energy burden. This project sought to address rooftop solar community priorities through two pathways: 1. facilitating community engagement to understand community perspectives and experiences with rooftop solar development; and 2. conducting a financial cash-flow analysis highlighting the varying fiscal outcomes for rooftop solar adopters based off rooftop solar leasing, ownership, or buying electricity from the utility (National Grid).

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Inverter-Based Power Systems From an Electric Circuit Perspective

This presentation reports a twin circuit theory that enables us to interpret power system dynamics from a electric circuit perspective. Our proposed twin circuit theory can roughly prove the dissipating energy flow (DEF) method, and shows the positive impacts of well-designed grid-forming (GFM) inverters on power systems stability.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Perspectives on Citizen Science Data Quality

Information about data quality helps potential data users to determine whether and how data can be used and enables the analysis and interpretation of such data. Providing data quality information improves opportunities for data reuse by increasing the trustworthiness of the data. Recognizing the need for improving the quality of citizen science data, we describe quality assessment and quality control (QA/QC) issues for these data and offer perspectives on aspects of improving or ensuring citizen science data quality and for conducting research on related issues.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Perspective: Biochemical and Physical Constraints Associated With Preparing Thin Specimens for Single-Particle Cryo-EM

While many aspects of single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) of biological macromolecules have reached a sophisticated level of development, this is not yet the case when it comes to preparing thin samples on specimen grids. As a result, there currently is considerable interest in achieving better control of both the sample thickness and the amount of area that is useful, but this is only one aspect in which improvement is needed. This Perspective addresses the further need to prevent the macromolecular particles from making contact with the air-water interface, something that can result in preferential orientation and even structural disruption of macromolecular particles. This unwanted contact can occur either as the result of free diffusion of particles during the interval between application, thinning and vitrification of the remaining buffer, or—when particles have been immobilized—by the film of buffer becoming too thin prior to vitrification. An opportunity now exists to apply theoretical and practical insights from the fields of thin-film physical chemistry and interfacial science, in an effort to bring cryo-EM sample preparation to a level of sophistication that is comparable to that of current data collection and analysis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Perspective on “code qualifying” new graphite grades for use in advanced nuclear reactors*

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) publishes the Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code, which include guidance for the safe development, construction, and operation of boilers and pressure vessels. ASME BPV Code Section III “Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components” Division 5 focuses on “High Temperature Reactors”. Subsection HH, subpart A lists the different materials properties that are to be measured and how those properties change due to different environmental conditions (oxidation and irradiation damage) for a graphite to be accepted for use in a high temperature reactor core (i.e., “Code Qualified”). Currently there are no nuclear graphite grades that are “Code Qualified” (i.e., a reactor designer can select a graphite grade and build their reactor without any additional testing), which is due in part to development of new graphite grades in the last 20 years and the lack of comprehensive programs needed to produce the data for the code cases. This perspective is going to discuss the requirements, as called out in the ASME BPV Code, that are necessary to “code qualify” a nuclear graphite grade but will primarily focus on the practical and technical challenges associated with irradiation-induced property changes and how to address these to assist with getting graphite ready for use in advanced nuclear reactors. These same technical challenges can be expected to arise for other materials being developed for advanced reactor concepts.

advanced nuclear reactors↗
DOE OSTI2024

Neutron skins: A perspective from dispersive optical models

An overview of neutron skin predictions obtained using an empirical nonlocal dispersive optical model (DOM) is presented. The DOM links both scattering and bound-state experimental data through a subtracted dispersion relation which allows for fully consistent, data-informed predictions for nuclei where such data exist. Large skins were predicted for both 48 Ca ( R$^{48}_{skin}$ = 0.25 ± 0.023 fm in 2017) and 208 Pb (R$^{208}_{skin}$) = 0.25 ± 0.05 fm in 2020). Whereas the DOM prediction in 208 Pb is within 1σ of the subsequent PREX-2 measurement, the DOM prediction in 48 Ca is over 2σ larger than the thin neutron skin resulting from CREX. From the moment it was revealed, the thin skin in 48 Ca has puzzled the nuclear-physics community as no adequate theories simultaneously predict both a large skin in 208 Pb and a small skin in 48 Ca. The DOM is unique in its ability to treat both structure and reaction data on the same footing, providing a unique perspective on this R skin puzzle. It appears vital that more neutron data be measured in both the scattering and bound-state domain for 48 Ca to clarify the situation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Building MCP-native hierarchical AI scientist ecosystems: a perspective on scaling multi-agent scientific discovery

Large language models (LLMs) are evolving from chatbots with limited tool-using capabilities to agentic AI systems that can perform deep research, assist in proposing hypotheses, help design experiments, automate data analysis, and draft scientific reports. However, there are currently two bottlenecks limiting LLMs' real-world impact on the broader scientific research community beyond academic demonstrations: lack of interoperability (repetitive manual tool-integration is required across scenarios) and the need for scalable coordination (unstructured communication and memory become brittle as the number of agents grows). In this Perspective, we argue that the next phase of agentic scientific discovery requires the development of an ecosystem of protocol-native agents and tools organized through hierarchies inspired by human society, beyond the current paradigm of a single monolithic “AI scientist”. We use Model Context Protocol (MCP) as a concrete example of an emerging interoperability layer for scientific tool and context exchange, and we propose three complementary pathways to increase the scaling capabilities of an MCP-native scientific ecosystem by addressing the composability issues: (1) MCP servers for high-value scientific tools maintained by domain experts, (2) automated transformation of existing code repositories into MCP services, and (3) autonomous invention and evolution of new agents and workflows. Finally, we provide a practical roadmap for scaling AI-driven scientific discovery by expanding tool supply and coordination in MCP-native scientific ecosystems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Circular Bioeconomy Concepts—A Perspective

Circular economy concepts—including a circular bioeconomy—aim to transition the current, essentially linear, economic system to a more sustainable one. However, organizations and researchers currently define the circular economy concept differently, resulting in inconsistencies and difficulty in effectively implementing the framework. In this paper, we provide our perspective on the conceptual definitions of the circular economy, bioeconomy, and circular bioeconomy, outlining potential overlaps and differences and proposing a harmonized interpretation that stresses the importance of the carbon cycle. We conclude that the key goal of a circular economy is to slow, narrow, and close material resource loops, built on the foundation of renewable energy and non-toxic materials. Further, a sustainable bioeconomy goes beyond simply switching fossil resources with renewable, biological resources. It requires low-carbon energy inputs, sustainable supply chains, and promising disruptive conversion technologies for the sustainable transformation of renewable bioresources to high-value bio-based products, materials, and fuels. The bio-based circular carbon economy, in particular, stresses capturing atmospheric carbon via photosynthesis and exploiting this unique feature to the fullest extent possible. It sits at the intersection between the circular economy and the bioeconomy concept, resulting in a framework that focuses on closing the carbon cycle and stressing the opportunity to create an additional carbon sink capability in the technosphere by utilizing biogenic carbon for products and materials that are circulated in same or improved use cycles. Lastly, a sustainable circular bioeconomy transition will necessitate a set of consistent metrics that fit all products and industries.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Editorial: Future perspectives on separation technologies

Sustainable separation process development is crucial in promoting economic and environmental sustainability. Separation processes can be energy-intensive, and early-stage or emerging separation technologies can also be costly. For instance, separations in biomass-based fuels and chemicals production can account for up to 50% of the production cost, while industrial separations can consume up to 15% of the total energy used in the United States. Separations are essential to many industrial processes and play a crucial role in helping industry achieve several United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG), such as clean energy, responsible production, and climate change mitigation. Therefore, it is imperative to have a comprehensive discussion within the scientific community to identify innovative approaches for sustainable separation processes. This editorial highlights the key insights and research findings presented in this research topic titled "Future Perspectives on Separation Technologies."

42 ENGINEERING↗