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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

Design of high-deflection foils MHK applications - FEA models - Helical turbines

The Ocean Renewable Power Company's (ORPC's) goal is to design, develop, and test hydrofoils with large deflections. The effects of the deflections on cross-flow turbine performance would be evaluated in order to inform design considerations for full-scale water turbines and other marine hydrokinetic devices. FEA models - NASTRAN Helical foil turbines tested at UNH tow tank Glass and carbon composite material properties Loads derived from CFD models

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Optimal Energy Dispatch of Distributed PVs for the Next Generation of Distribution Management Systems

Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) are being widely adopted by electric utilities for managing and optimizing the operations of their distribution systems. Distributed photovoltaic (DPV) systems with smart inverters can be controlled to adjust active power and reactive power outputs, and they are envisioned to become a part of (centrally or distributed) controllable assets managed by the ADMS for optimizing grid operations. This paper proposes an optimal energy dispatch strategy controlling DPV systems for regulating distribution voltages and achieving conservation voltage reduction. A convex optimization model is proposed with the use of linearized power flow, and the gradient projection algorithm is used to solve the optimal active power and reactive power outputs of smart inverters. The proposed optimal energy dispatch is implemented using an open-source ADMS platform, and simulation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach on improving distribution grid operations.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Efficient Region of Attraction Characterization for Control and Stabilization of Load Tap Changer Dynamics

In this article, we study the monitoring and control of long-term voltage stability considering load tap changer (LTC) dynamics. We show that under generic conditions, the LTC dynamics admit a unique stable equilibrium. For the stable equilibrium, we characterize an explicit inner approximation of its largest region of attraction (ROA). Compared to existing results, the computational complexity of the ROA characterization is drastically reduced. We propose a quadratically constrained linear program formulation for the ROA characterization problem. In addition, we formulate a second-order cone program for online voltage stability monitoring and control exploiting the proposed ROA characterization. Finally, we demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed formulations on the ROA characterization and stability monitoring and control using a standard IEEE test system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A mathematical model for the doubly fed wound rotor generator

A mathematical analysis of a doubly-fed wound rotor machine used as a constant frequency generator is presented. The purpose of this analysis is to derive a consistent set of circuit equations which produce constant stator frequency and constant stator voltage. Starting with instantaneous circuit equations, the necessary rotor voltages and currents are derived. The model, thus obtained, is assumed to be valid, since the resulting relationships between mechanical power and active volt-amperes agrees with the results of others. In addition, the model allows for a new interpretation of the power flow in the doubly-fed generator.

Brady, F. J.↗

Aircraft interior noise models - Sidewall trim, stiffened structures, and cabin acoustics with floor partition

As part of the continuing development of an aircraft interior noise prediction model, in which a discrete modal representation and power flow analysis are used, theoretical results are considered for inclusion of sidewall trim, stiffened structures, and cabin acoustics with floor partition. For validation purposes, predictions of the noise reductions for three test articles (a bare ring-stringer stiffened cylinder, an unstiffened cylinder with floor and insulation, and a ring-stringer stiffened cylinder with floor and sidewall trim) are compared with measurements.

Pope, L. D.↗

Overview of the GRC Stirling Convertor System Dynamic Model

A Stirling Convertor System Dynamic Model has been developed at the Glenn Research Center for controls, dynamics, and systems development of free-piston convertor power systems. It models the Stirling cycle thermodynamics, heat flow, gas, mechanical, and mounting dynamics, the linear alternator, and the controller. The model's scope extends from the thermal energy input to thermal, mechanical dynamics, and electrical energy out, allowing one to study complex system interactions among subsystems. The model is a non-linear time-domain model containing sub-cycle dynamics, allowing it to simulate transient and dynamic phenomena that other models cannot. The model details and capability are discussed.

Lewandowski, Edward J.↗

Large Eddy/Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulations of CUBRC Base Heating Experiments

ven with great advances in computational techniques and computing power during recent decades, the modeling of unsteady separated flows, such as those encountered in the wake of a re-entry vehicle, continues to be one of the most challenging problems in CFD. Of most interest to the aerothermodynamics community is accurately predicting transient heating loads on the base of a blunt body, which would result in reduced uncertainties and safety margins when designing a re-entry vehicle. However, the prediction of heat transfer can vary widely depending on the turbulence model employed. Therefore, selecting a turbulence model which realistically captures as much of the flow physics as possible will result in improved results. Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) models have become increasingly popular due to their good performance with attached flows, and the relatively quick turnaround time to obtain results. However, RANS methods cannot accurately simulate unsteady separated wake flows, and running direct numerical simulation (DNS) on such complex flows is currently too computationally expensive. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) techniques allow for the computation of the large eddies, which contain most of the Reynolds stress, while modeling the smaller (subgrid) eddies. This results in models which are more computationally expensive than RANS methods, but not as prohibitive as DNS. By complimenting an LES approach with a RANS model, a hybrid LES/RANS method resolves the larger turbulent scales away from surfaces with LES, and switches to a RANS model inside boundary layers. As pointed out by Bertin et al., this type of hybrid approach has shown a lot of promise for predicting turbulent flows, but work is needed to verify that these models work well in hypersonic flows. The very limited amounts of flight and experimental data available presents an additional challenge for researchers. Recently, a joint study by NASA and CUBRC has focused on collecting heat transfer data on the backshell of a scaled model of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). Heat augmentation effects due to the presence of cavities and RCS jet firings were also investigated. The high quality data produced by this effort presents a new set of data which can be used to assess the performance of CFD methods. In this work, a hybrid LES/RANS model developed at North Carolina State University (NCSU) is used to simulate several runs from these experiments, and evaluate the performance of high fidelity methods as compared to more typical RANS models. .

Salazar, Giovanni↗

MODELING, IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTROL OF A CVT BASED PTO FOR A SMALL SCALE MHK-TURBINE IN LOW FLOW SPEED OPERATION

Modeling, implementation, field testing and control of a power takeoff (PTO) device equipped with a ball-type continuously variable transmission (B-CVT) for a small marine hydrokinetic (MHK) turbine deployed from a floating unmanned autonomous mobile catamaran platform is described. The turbine is a partially submerged multi-blade undershot waterwheel (USWW). A validated numerical torque model for the MHK turbine has been derived and a speed controller has been developed, implemented and tested in the field. The dependance of the power generated as a function of number and submergence level of turbine blades has been investigated and the number of blades that maximizes power production is determined. Bench and field testing in support of characterizing the power conversion capabilities of MHK turbine and PTO are described. Detailed results of the final torque and power coefficient models, the controls architecture, and the MHK turbine performance with varying numbers of blades are provided.

Pimentel, Hugo↗

HERO WEC V1.0 2024 - WEC-Sim Detailed Simulation Runs and Summary Data

This dataset includes results from simulations of NREL's hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter (HEREO WEC). Simulation runs include 135 wave cases that were based on the updated WEC-Sim model, which is linked below. The data represented in this repository is based on an updated WEC-Sim model using laboratory data to tune and refine the original WEC-Sim model for the V1.0 HERO WEC. The 135 wave cases represent waves with the following wave height and wave period ranges: - Significant Wave Height: 0.25 - 3.75m in 0.25m increments - Wave Period: 5 - 13 sec in 1 sec increments Each run was simulated using a Pierson-Moskowitz irregular wave spectrum with a 100 second ramp time, a total simulation time of 3,100 seconds, and a simulation time-step of 0.005s. A reference table has been included to map each multi condition run (MCR) case with each wave condition. Summary data set includes a spreadsheet and image files with matrices that are associated with data from simulation runs. All matrices cover the same significant wave height and wave periods from the simulation runs, in the same increments. The following matrices are included: - Power Abs: The average absorbed power from the WEC (calculated from anchor reaction force and heave velocity) - Power Hyd: The average hydraulic power output at pump (calculated from pump output flow and pressure) - Power - Hyd ROi: The average hydraulic power measured at the RO system inlet (calculated from RO system pressure and flow (pre-accumulator)) - Flow - Pump out: The average flowrate measured at the pump outlet - Flow - Perm: The average permeate (clean water) production - Flow - RO (pre): The average flowrate measured at the inlet of the RO system before the accumulators - Flow - RO (post): The average flowrate measured after the accumulator bank in the RO system - Pressure - RO: The average pressure measured at the inlet of the RO system This data set has been developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Water Power Technologies Office.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Collection Efficiency and Ice Accretion Calculations for a Sphere, a Swept MS(1)-317 Wing, a Swept NACA-0012 Wing Tip, an Axisymmetric Inlet, and a Boeing 737-300

Collection efficiency and ice accretion calculations have been made for a sphere, a swept MS(1)-317 wing, a swept NACA-0012 wing tip, an axisymmetric inlet, and a Boeing 737-300 inlet using the NPARC flow solver and the NASA Lewis LEWICE3D grid based ice accretion code. Euler flow solutions for the geometries were generated using the NPARC flow solver. The LEWICE3D grid based ice accretion program was used to calculate the impingement efficiencies and ice shapes. Ice shapes specifying rime and mixed icing conditions were generated for a 30 minute hold condition. All calculations were performed on an SGI Model Power Challenge Computer. The results have been compared to experimental flow and impingement data. In general, the calculated flow and collection efficiencies compared well with experiment, and the ice shapes looked reasonable and appeared representative of the rime and mixed icing conditions for which they were calculated.

Bidwell, Colin S.↗

Challenges and Solutions for Real-Time Phasor Modeling of Large-scale Distribution Network with High PV Penetration

The conversion process of a practical large-scale feeder data from a quasi-static time series (OpenDSS) model into a real-time phasor model (ePHASORSIM in Opal-RT) is discussed in the paper. The process is implemented using an open source Python software. Previous reported implementations for the conversion process lead to several errors when applied to a larger-scale system such as the one considered here. Hence in this work, we describe the common issues in this conversion and propose a customized solution to enhance the efficiency of the conversion and reduce the complexity in the process. A quantitative validation of the enhanced conversion process is presented in this work using an actual high PV penetration feeder model that consists of 2230 buses, and using actual load and PV profile data. After a detailed analysis, this customized conversion software will be made available as an open source tool and is expected to be helpful for researchers who want to pursue a similar conversion. Solutions to various observed issues such as identifying the lines due to islanded network, representation of full impedance model of transformer/lines as sequential models, complexity in the representation of single phase buses/lines as three phase buses/lines to make it compatible with the simulator platform are discussed. Comparison of power flow and time series simulation results obtained from both OpenDSS and ePHASORsim models show very low errors, validating the accuracy of the proposed conversion process.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Transient Optimization of an Electrified Gas Turbine Engine Using Machine Learning

Gas turbine engines are designed with sufficient margin to prevent stall under normal operating conditions throughout their life. This compromise ensures that during rapid accelerations, compressor operation remains stable, but at the cost of efficiency and thrust responsiveness. The design margin encompasses multiple sources of uncertainty and systematic deviances from the operating line, the largest of which is the transient allowance. This set-aside accounts for the temporary incoordination of the engine spools during an acceleration while still enabling it to meet the certification requirement to accelerate from low to high power within a specified time, and without experiencing overtemperature, surge, stall, or other detrimental factors. Electrification of the powertrain provides the opportunity to address this reserve and truly optimize the design. The addition of electric machines inherent in hybrid propulsion concepts offers a means to interact with the engine shafts such that the necessary margin can be reduced, which can positively impact the engine design. By adjusting the amount of power extracted from or injected to the engine spools by the electric machines during transient operation, excursions from the operating line can be minimized. Past work using a dynamic engine model has shown that optimization of the fuel flow schedule during acceleration can reduce the required margin while still meeting the time requirement, and results are further improved when combined with power injection and extraction. The current work uses machine learning through a genetic algorithm to address the problem holistically by concurrently optimizing the electric machine power command and fuel flow acceleration schedule using an updated, higher fidelity version of the original engine model.

Stall Margin↗

Transient Optimization of an Electrified Gas Turbine Engine Using Machine Learning

Gas turbine engines are designed with sufficient margin to prevent stall under normal operating conditions throughout their life. This compromise ensures that during rapid accelerations, compressor operation remains stable, but at the cost of efficiency and thrust responsiveness. The design margin encompasses multiple sources of uncertainty and systematic deviances from the operating line, the largest of which is the transient allowance. This set-aside accounts for the temporary incoordination of the engine spools during an acceleration while still enabling it to meet the certification requirement to accelerate from low to high power within a specified time, and without experiencing overtemperature, surge, stall, or other detrimental factors. Electrification of the powertrain provides the opportunity to address this reserve and truly optimize the design. The addition of electric machines inherent in hybrid propulsion concepts offers a means to interact with the engine shafts such that the necessary margin can be reduced, which can positively impact the engine design. By adjusting the amount of power extracted from or injected to the engine spools by the electric machines during transient operation, excursions from the operating line can be minimized. Past work using a dynamic engine model has shown that optimization of the fuel flow schedule during acceleration can reduce the required margin while still meeting the time requirement, and results are further improved when combined with power injection and extraction. The current work uses machine learning through a genetic algorithm to address the problem holistically by concurrently optimizing the electric machine power command and fuel flow acceleration schedule using an updated, higher fidelity version of the original engine model.

Stall Margin↗

Transient Optimization of an Electrified Gas Turbine Engine Using Machine Learning

Gas turbine engines are designed with sufficient margin to prevent stall under normal operating conditions throughout their life. This compromise ensures that during rapid accelerations, compressor operation remains stable, but at the cost of efficiency and thrust responsiveness. The design margin encompasses multiple sources of uncertainty and systematic deviances from the operating line, the largest of which is the transient allowance. This set-aside accounts for the temporary incoordination of the engine spools during an acceleration while still enabling it to meet the certification requirement to accelerate from low to high power within a specified time, and without experiencing overtemperature, surge, stall, or other detrimental factors. Electrification of the powertrain provides the opportunity to address this reserve and truly optimize the design. The addition of electric machines inherent in hybrid propulsion concepts offers a means to interact with the engine shafts such that the necessary margin can be reduced, which can positively impact the engine design. By adjusting the amount of power extracted from or injected to the engine spools by the electric machines during transient operation, excursions from the operating line can be minimized. Past work using a dynamic engine model has shown that optimization of the fuel flow schedule during acceleration can reduce the required margin while still meeting the time requirement, and results are further improved when combined with power injection and extraction. The current work uses machine learning through a genetic algorithm to address the problem holistically by concurrently optimizing the electric machine power command and fuel flow acceleration schedule using an updated, higher fidelity version of the original engine model.

Stall Margin↗

Investigation of Best-Practices and Computationally Inexpensive Radiative Exchange Models for Discrete Element Method Modeling of Aluminosilicate Particles in Concentrating Solar Power Environments

Chemically inert, aluminosilicate based particles have been investigated as both a thermal transport and sensible energy storage medium for concentrating solar power facilities. These particles will experience a wide range of operating temperatures (300-1000 K) and handling conditions (dense to dilute falling particle curtains, dense granular flows, or dense structures), requiring specially-designed and optimized infrastructures. The relative influence of collisional and frictional interactions between particles varies based on temperature-dependent particulate properties and greatly impacts the bulk, granular flow behavior. These underlying physics are captured using discrete element method modeling tools. However, this modeling method is computationally expensive as each particle position and interaction is tracked during the simulation. These modeling methods are further complicated by introducing temperature-dependent particle properties, high-temperature radiative exchange, and directional irradiation sources experienced by granular flows in concentrating solar power environments. In this study, coupled experimental and numerical slump testing of aluminosilicate particles was performed and computationally efficient radiative exchange models were evaluated to establish best-practices for discrete element method models for concentrating solar power environments. The three particle types investigated included Carbobead HSP 30 /60, Carbobead CP 30/60, and Granusil 4030. Existing modeling limitations and computationally-efficient multi-modal heat transfer models were evaluated using Aspherix®, a commercial discrete element method software. High-temperature (< 1073 K) slump testing of aluminosilicate particles was performed to investigate the deviation between experimentally-observed and numerically-predicted angles of repose introduced by computation-time reduction practices including the relaxation of the particle elastic modulus and coarse-graining. Coarse-graining is used to use a single modeled particle that is representative of a collection of smaller particles, decreasing the computational cost at the expense of geometric accuracy. Additionally, relaxation of the elastic modulus is used to reduce computational time at the expense of an increased, modeled particle overlap. Prior studies have determined that aluminosilicate particles retain a high elastic modulus at high temperatures (< 1073 K), requiring small simulation timesteps to ensure resolved contact forces resemble appropriate solid mechanics. A parametric study was performed to evaluate the influence of computation time improvements on the deviation between experimental and modeled angle of repose across high temperatures < 1073 K. Additionally, numerical case studies were performed on candidate particle systems at varying porosities and temperatures. These studies were performed to investigate the influence of computationally-efficient radiative-exchange modeling methods coupled to Aspherix® on modeled accuracy and computation time. The recently-developed distance-based approximation was evaluated in estimating radiative exchange between particles and participating surfaces located in close proximity. The distance based approximation was developed to use tabulated estimates of the radiative distribution factor between individual particles and surfaces in close proximity (< 40 particle radii). These methods were expanded to the aluminosilicate particles of interest, including the influence of particle size distributions. To capture radiative exchange between particles and surfaces not in close proximity (> 40 particle radii) and to capture the absorption of directional irradiation from concentrating solar resources, a volumetrically-averaged radiative distribution factor was calculated between the modeled granular flow and surfaces using Monte Carlo ray-tracing for participating media. Volume-averaged absorption and scattering coefficients were predicted using a volumetric discretization of the modeled domain with monodisperse approximations based on geometric optics and experimentally-determined scattering phase functions for aluminosilicate particles.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Transmission Interface Limits for High-Spatial Resolution Capacity Expansion Modeling

Large-scale capacity expansion models typically rely on estimates of the power transfer limits between modeled zones. Accurate estimation of these interface transfer limits (ITLs) requires modeling the underlying transmission network. Here we expand on a maximum flow optimization method that uses linearized power flow to estimate transfer limits. We apply this method to a data set of the U.S. transmission network to estimate ITLs between U.S. counties. By calculating ITLs using different subsets of the network, we evaluate how the size of the network used in the estimation affects the results. The results show diminishing returns to ITL accuracy after six hops, suggesting that a network subset can reasonably be used to approximate ITLs. The county-level estimates produced in this study will support more spatially resolved capacity expansion modeling and will help inform policy making at local and national levels.

capacity planning↗