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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 37 records · Page 2

Neural network architecture for crossbar switch control

A Hopfield neural network architecture for the real-time control of a crossbar switch for switching packets at maximum throughput is proposed. The network performance and processing time are derived from a numerical simulation of the transitions of the neural network. A method is proposed to optimize electronic component parameters and synaptic connections, and it is fully illustrated by the computer simulation of a VLSI implementation of 4 x 4 neural net controller. The extension to larger size crossbars is demonstrated through the simulation of an 8 x 8 crossbar switch controller, where the performance of the neural computation is discussed in relation to electronic noise and inhomogeneities of network components.

Troudet, Terry P.↗

Editorial: Edge computation and digital distribution networks

The development of digital technologies is penetrating all areas of energy revolution. Based on the in-depth integration of advanced digital technologies, distribution networks are gradually transforming into digital distribution networks (DDNs) with tremendous changes from the structure to the operation mode. DDNs is the digitalized appearance of the physical distribution network, in which ubiquitous connections and massive data are the basic characteristics (Huo et al., 2022). It is an important task to utilize the massive data and propose novel operation modes to construct more efficient and intelligent distribution networks (Jian et al., 2022). Among the advanced digital technologies in DDNs, edge computing has received wide attention (Zhao et al., 2022). It has superior performance in local sensing and intelligent computation, which can effectively relieve huge communication pressure. However, the limited computing resources and the complex computing tasks at the edge side significantly challenge the collaboration of distribution network regulation and advanced digital technologies (Hu et al., 2022). It is necessary to find out proper methods to utilize advanced digital technology to construct DDNs. This Research Topic is organized to introduce the recent progress in the construction, operation and advanced computational methods for DDNs. Finally, seven papers have been accepted, which can be sorted into the following three categories: 1) Evolution and technical features of DDNs, 2) Intelligent operation control of DDNs, 3) Advanced simulation for large-scale DDNs. The three sections below respectively introduce the major research and contributions of the papers covered in each category.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A laboratory system for the investigation of rain fade compensation techniques for Ka-band satellites

The design and performance of a rain fade simulation/counteraction system on a laboratory simulated 30/20 GHz, time division multiple access (TDMA) satellite communications testbed is evaluated. Severe rain attenuation of electromagnetic radiation at 30/20 GHz occurs due to the carrier wavelength approaching the water droplet size. Rain in the downlink path lowers the signal power present at the receiver, resulting in a higher number of bit errors induced in the digital ground terminal. The laboratory simulation performed at NASA Lewis Research Center uses a programmable PIN diode attenuator to simulate 20 GHz satellite downlink geographic rain fade profiles. A computer based network control system monitors the downlink power and informs the network of any power threshold violations, which then prompts the network to issue commands that temporarily increase the gain of the satellite based traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifier. After the rain subsides, the network returns the TWT to the normal energy conserving power mode. Bit error rate (BER) data taken at the receiving ground terminal serves as a measure of the severity of rain degradation, and also evaluates the extent to which the network can improve the faded channel.

Svoboda, James S.↗

Towards computational polar-topotronics: Multiscale neural-network quantum molecular dynamics simulations of polar vortex states in SrTiO3/PbTiO3 nanowires

Recent discoveries of polar topological structures ( e.g ., skyrmions and merons) in ferroelectric/paraelectric heterostructures have opened a new field of polar topotronics. However, how complex interplay of photoexcitation, electric field and mechanical strain controls these topological structures remains elusive. To address this challenge, we have developed a computational approach at the nexus of machine learning and first-principles simulations. Our multiscale neural-network quantum molecular dynamics molecular mechanics approach achieves orders-of-magnitude faster computation, while maintaining quantum-mechanical accuracy for atoms within the region of interest. This approach has enabled us to investigate the dynamics of vortex states formed in PbTiO 3 nanowires embedded in SrTiO 3 . We find topological switching of these vortex states to topologically trivial, uniformly polarized states using electric field and trivial domain-wall states using shear strain. These results, along with our earlier results on optical control of polar topology, suggest an exciting new avenue toward opto-electro-mechanical control of ultrafast, ultralow-power polar topotronic devices.

Linker, Thomas↗

An adaptive, data-driven multiscale approach for dense granular flows

The accuracy of coarse-grained continuum models of dense granular flows is limited by the lack of high-fidelity closure models for granular rheology. One approach to addressing this issue, referred to as the hierarchical multiscale method, is to use a high-fidelity fine-grained model to compute the closure terms needed by the coarse-grained model. The difficulty with this approach is that the overall model can become computationally intractable due to the high computational cost of the high-fidelity model. In this work, we describe a multiscale modeling approach for dense granular flows that utilizes neural networks trained using high-fidelity discrete element method (DEM) simulations to approximate the constitutive granular rheology for a continuum incompressible flow model. Our approach leverages an ensemble of neural networks to estimate predictive uncertainty that allows us to determine whether the rheology at a given point is accurately represented by the neural network model. Additional DEM simulations are only performed when needed, minimizing the number of additional DEM simulations required when updating the rheology. This adaptive coupling significantly reduces the overall computational cost of the approach while controlling the error. In addition, the neural networks are customized to learn regularized rheological behavior to ensure well-posedness of the continuum solution. We first validate the approach using two-dimensional steady-state and decelerating inclined flows. We then demonstrate the efficiency of our approach by modeling three-dimensional sub-aerial granular column collapse for varying initial column aspect ratios, where our multiscale method compares well with the computationally expensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-DEM simulation.

Dense granular flows↗

Cutting the Deployment Costs of Physics-Based MPC in Buildings by Simulation-Based Imitation Learning

It has been shown that model predictive control (MPC) is a promising solution for energy-efficient building operations. However, the deployment of MPC in a large portion of the building stock has not been possible partially because of high installation costs. Every building is unique and requires a tailored MPC solution. The best performing solutions are often based on physics-based modeling, which is, however, computationally expensive and requires dedicated software. A promising direction that tackles this problem is to train a neural network-based optimal control policy to imitate the behavior of physics-based MPC from the simulation data generated offline. The neural networks give control actions that closely approximate those produced by physics-based MPC, but with a fraction of the computational and memory requirements and without the need for licensed software. The main advantage of the proposed approach stems from simple evaluation at execution time, leading to low computational footprints and easy deployment on embedded HW platforms. In the case study, we present the energy savings potential of physics-based MPC applied to an office building in Belgium. We demonstrate how neural network approximators can be used to cut the implementation and maintenance costs of MPC deployment without compromising performance. We also critically assess the presented approach by pointing out the remaining challenges and open research questions.

Drgona, Jan↗

Real-Time Evolution and Deployment of Neuromorphic Computing at The Edge

Extremely low power neuromorphic systems are well-suited for deployment to the edge for many applications. In many use cases of neuromorphic computing for control, a spiking neural network is trained off-line using a simulation and then deployed to a neuromorphic system at the edge, where it will operate without ongoing training or learning. However, it may be desirable to continue training or learning at the edge to refine or adapt to the real-world system. In this work, we propose an approach for performing real-time evolutionary optimization for spiking neural networks for neuromorphic deployment at the edge. In particular, we propose a combination of simulation and real-world evaluations, along with feedback from the real-world environment, to train spiking neural networks for continuous deployment to the edge. We show that the real-time evolution at the edge approach achieves comparable performance to an evolution approach that requires constant evaluation in the realworld environment.

Schuman, Catherine↗

Scalable, Physical Effects Measurable Microgrid for Cyber Resilience Analysis (SPEMMCRA)

The ability to advance state of the art automated protections for industrial control systems (ICS) has as a precursor in the ability to understand the tradeoff space. That is, to enable a cyber feedback loop in a control system environment you must first consider both the security mitigation available, the benefits and the impacts to the control system functionality when the mitigation is used. More damaging impacts could be precipitated that the mitigation was intended to rectify. This paper details networked ICS that controls a simulation of the frequency response represented with the swing equation. The microgrid loads and base generation can be balanced through the control of an emulated battery and power inverter. The simulated plant, which is implemented in Raspberry Pi computers, provides an inexpensive platform to realize the physical effects of cyber attacks to show the tradeoffs of available mitigatoins. This network design can include a commercial ICS controller to introduce real world implementation of feedback controls, and provides a scalable, physical effects measurable Microgrid for cyber resilience analysis (SPEMMCRA).

42 ENGINEERING↗

Extending molecular simulation time scales: Parallel in time integrations for high-level quantum chemistry and complex force representations

Parallel in time simulation algorithms are presented and applied to conventional molecular dynamics (MD) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) models of realistic complexity. Assuming that a forward time integrator, f (e.g., Verlet algorithm), is available to propagate the system from time t{sub i} (trajectory positions and velocities x{sub i} = (r{sub i}, v{sub i})) to time t{sub i+1} (x{sub i+1}) by x{sub i+1} = f{sub i}(x{sub i}), the dynamics problem spanning an interval from t{sub 0}…t{sub M} can be transformed into a root finding problem, F(X) = [x{sub i} − f(x{sub (i−1})]{sub i} {sub =1,M} = 0, for the trajectory variables. The root finding problem is solved using a variety of root finding techniques, including quasi-Newton and preconditioned quasi-Newton schemes that are all unconditionally convergent. The algorithms are parallelized by assigning a processor to each time-step entry in the columns of F(X). The relation of this approach to other recently proposed parallel in time methods is discussed, and the effectiveness of various approaches to solving the root finding problem is tested. We demonstrate that more efficient dynamical models based on simplified interactions or coarsening time-steps provide preconditioners for the root finding problem. However, for MD and AIMD simulations, such preconditioners are not required to obtain reasonable convergence and their cost must be considered in the performance of the algorithm. The parallel in time algorithms developed are tested by applying them to MD and AIMD simulations of size and complexity similar to those encountered in present day applications. These include a 1000 Si atom MD simulation using Stillinger-Weber potentials, and a HCl + 4H{sub 2}O AIMD simulation at the MP2 level. The maximum speedup ((serial execution time)/(parallel execution time) ) obtained by parallelizing the Stillinger-Weber MD simulation was nearly 3.0. For the AIMD MP2 simulations, the algorithms achieved speedups of up to 14.3. The parallel in time algorithms can be implemented in a distributed computing environment using very slow transmission control protocol/Internet protocol networks. Scripts written in Python that make calls to a precompiled quantum chemistry package (NWChem) are demonstrated to provide an actual speedup of 8.2 for a 2.5 ps AIMD simulation of HCl + 4H{sub 2}O at the MP2/6-31G* level. Implemented in this way these algorithms can be used for long time high-level AIMD simulations at a modest cost using machines connected by very slow networks such as WiFi, or in different time zones connected by the Internet. The algorithms can also be used with programs that are already parallel. Using these algorithms, we are able to reduce the cost of a MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) simulation that had reached its maximum possible speedup in the parallelization of the electronic structure calculation from 32 s/time step to 6.9 s/time step.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Extending the Capabilities of Closed-loop Distributed Engine Control Simulations Using LAN Communication

Distributed Engine Control (DEC) is an enabling technology that has the potential to advance the state-of-the-art in gas turbine engine control. To analyze the capabilities that DEC offers, a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) test bed is being developed at NASA Glenn Research Center. This test bed will support a systems-level analysis of control capabilities in closed-loop engine simulations. The structure of the HIL emulates a virtual test cell by implementing the operator functions, control system, and engine on three separate computers. This implementation increases the flexibility and extensibility of the HIL. Here, a method is discussed for implementing these interfaces by connecting the three platforms over a dedicated Local Area Network (LAN). This approach is verified using the Commercial Modular Aero-Propulsion System Simulation 40k (C-MAPSS40k), which is typically implemented on one computer. There are marginal differences between the results from simulation of the typical and the three-computer implementation. Additional analysis of the LAN network, including characterization of network load, packet drop, and latency, is presented. The three-computer setup supports the incorporation of complex control models and proprietary engine models into the HIL framework.

propulsion simulation↗

A High Performance Computing Network and System Simulator for the Power Grid: NGNS^2

Designing and planing next generation power grid sys- tems composed of large power distribution networks, monitoring and control networks, autonomous generators and consumers of power requires advanced simulation infrastructures. The objective is to predict and analyze in time the behavior of networks of systems for unexpected events such as loss of connectivity, malicious attacks and power loss scenarios. This ultimately allows one to answer questions such as: “What could happen to the power grid if ...”. We want to be able to answer as many questions as possible in the shortest possible time for the largest possible systems. In this paper we present a new High Performance Computing (HPC) oriented simulation infrastructure named Next Generation Network and System Simulator (NGNS2 ). NGNS2 allows for the distribution of a single simulation among multiple computing elements by using MPI and OpenMP threads. NGNS2 provides extensive configuration, fault tolerant and load balancing capabilities needed to simulate large and dynamic systems for long periods of time. We show the preliminary results of the simulator running approximately two million simulated entities both on a 64-node commodity Infiniband cluster and a 48-core SMP workstation.

Simulation, power grid, netowrks↗

Adaptive nonlinear polynomial neural networks for control of boundary layer/structural interaction

The acoustic pressures developed in a boundary layer can interact with an aircraft panel to induce significant vibration in the panel. Such vibration is undesirable due to the aerodynamic drag and structure-borne cabin noises that result. The overall objective of this work is to develop effective and practical feedback control strategies for actively reducing this flow-induced structural vibration. This report describes the results of initial evaluations using polynomial, neural network-based, feedback control to reduce flow induced vibration in aircraft panels due to turbulent boundary layer/structural interaction. Computer simulations are used to develop and analyze feedback control strategies to reduce vibration in a beam as a first step. The key differences between this work and that going on elsewhere are as follows: that turbulent and transitional boundary layers represent broadband excitation and thus present a more complex stochastic control scenario than that of narrow band (e.g., laminar boundary layer) excitation; and secondly, that the proposed controller structures are adaptive nonlinear infinite impulse response (IIR) polynomial neural network, as opposed to the traditional adaptive linear finite impulse response (FIR) filters used in most studies to date. The controllers implemented in this study achieved vibration attenuation of 27 to 60 dB depending on the type of boundary layer established by laminar, turbulent, and intermittent laminar-to-turbulent transitional flows. Application of multi-input, multi-output, adaptive, nonlinear feedback control of vibration in aircraft panels based on polynomial neural networks appears to be feasible today. Plans are outlined for Phase 2 of this study, which will include extending the theoretical investigation conducted in Phase 2 and verifying the results in a series of laboratory experiments involving both bum and plate models.

Parker, B. Eugene, Jr.↗

Learning fuzzy logic control system

The performance of the Learning Fuzzy Logic Control System (LFLCS), developed in this thesis, has been evaluated. The Learning Fuzzy Logic Controller (LFLC) learns to control the motor by learning the set of teaching values that are generated by a classical PI controller. It is assumed that the classical PI controller is tuned to minimize the error of a position control system of the D.C. motor. The Learning Fuzzy Logic Controller developed in this thesis is a multi-input single-output network. Training of the Learning Fuzzy Logic Controller is implemented off-line. Upon completion of the training process (using Supervised Learning, and Unsupervised Learning), the LFLC replaces the classical PI controller. In this thesis, a closed loop position control system of a D.C. motor using the LFLC is implemented. The primary focus is on the learning capabilities of the Learning Fuzzy Logic Controller. The learning includes symbolic representation of the Input Linguistic Nodes set and Output Linguistic Notes set. In addition, we investigate the knowledge-based representation for the network. As part of the design process, we implement a digital computer simulation of the LFLCS. The computer simulation program is written in 'C' computer language, and it is implemented in DOS platform. The LFLCS, designed in this thesis, has been developed on a IBM compatible 486-DX2 66 computer. First, the performance of the Learning Fuzzy Logic Controller is evaluated by comparing the angular shaft position of the D.C. motor controlled by a conventional PI controller and that controlled by the LFLC. Second, the symbolic representation of the LFLC and the knowledge-based representation for the network are investigated by observing the parameters of the Fuzzy Logic membership functions and the links at each layer of the LFLC. While there are some limitations of application with this approach, the result of the simulation shows that the LFLC is able to control the angular shaft position of the D.C. motor. Furthermore, the LFLC has better performance in rise time, settling time and steady state error than to the conventional PI controller. This abstract accurately represents the content of the candidate's thesis. I recommend its publication.

Lung, Leung Kam↗

Fuzzy control of magnetic bearings

The use of an adaptive fuzzy control algorithm implemented on a VLSI chip for the control of a magnetic bearing was considered. The architecture of the adaptive fuzzy controller is similar to that of a neural network. The performance of the fuzzy controller is compared to that of a conventional controller by computer simulation.

Feeley, J. J.↗

ARRA: Reconfiguring Power Systems to Minimize Cascading Failures - Models and Algorithms

Building on models of electrical power systems, and on powerful mathematical techniques including optimization, model predictive control, and simluation, this project investigated important issues related to the stable operation of power grids. A topic of particular focus was cascading failures of the power grid: simulation, quantification, mitigation, and control. We also analyzed the vulnerability of networks to component failures, and the design of networks that are responsive to and robust to such failures. Numerous other related topics were investigated, including energy hubs and cascading stall of induction machines

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Coordinated Scheduling for Interdependent Electric Power and Natural Gas Infrastructures

The extensive installation of gas-fired power plants in many parts of the world has led electric systems to depend heavily on reliable gas supplies. The use of gas-fired generators for peak load and reserve provision causes high intraday variability in withdrawals from high-pressure gas transmission systems. Such variability can lead to gas price fluctuations and supply disruptions that affect electric generator dispatch, electricity prices, and threaten the security of power systems and gas pipelines. These infrastructures function on vastly different spatio-temporal scales, which prevents current practices for separate operations and market clearing from being coordinated. Here in this article, we apply new techniques for control of dynamic gas flows on pipeline networks to examine day-ahead scheduling of electric generator dispatch and gas compressor operation for different levels of integration, spanning from separate forecasting, and simulation to combined optimal control. We formulate multiple coordination scenarios and develop tractable physically accurate computational implementations. These scenarios are compared using an integrated model of test networks for power and gas systems with 24 nodes and 24 pipes, respectively, which are coupled through gas-fired generators. The analysis quantifies the economic efficiency and security benefits of gas-electric coordination and dynamic gas system operation.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Computationally-efficient stochastic cluster dynamics method for modeling damage accumulation in irradiated materials

An improved version of a recently developed stochastic cluster dynamics (SCD) method (Marian and Bulatov, 2012) [6] is introduced as an alternative to rate theory (RT) methods for solving coupled ordinary differential equation (ODE) systems for irradiation damage simulations. SCD circumvents by design the curse of dimensionality of the variable space that renders traditional ODE-based RT approaches inefficient when handling complex defect population comprised of multiple (more than two) defect species. Several improvements introduced here enable efficient and accurate simulations of irradiated materials up to realistic (high) damage doses characteristic of next-generation nuclear systems. The first improvement is a procedure for efficiently updating the defect reaction-network and event selection in the context of a dynamically expanding reaction-network. Next is a novel implementation of the τ-leaping method that speeds up SCD simulations by advancing the state of the reaction network in large time increments when appropriate. Lastly, a volume rescaling procedure is introduced to control the computational complexity of the expanding reaction-network through occasional reductions of the defect population while maintaining accurate statistics. The enhanced SCD method is then applied to model defect cluster accumulation in iron thin films subjected to triple ion-beam (Fe{sup 3+}, He{sup +} and H{sup +}) irradiations, for which standard RT or spatially-resolved kinetic Monte Carlo simulations are prohibitively expensive.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Analog simulator of integro-differential equations with classical memristors

An analog computer makes use of continuously changeable quantities of a system, such as its electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic properties, to solve a given problem. While these devices are usually computationally more powerful than their digital counterparts, they suffer from analog noise which does not allow for error control. We will focus on analog computers based on active electrical networks comprised of resistors, capacitors, and operational amplifiers which are capable of simulating any linear ordinary differential equation. However, the class of nonlinear dynamics they can solve is limited. In this work, by adding memristors to the electrical network, we show that the analog computer can simulate a large variety of linear and nonlinear integro-differential equations by carefully choosing the conductance and the dynamics of the memristor state variable. We study the performance of these analog computers by simulating integro-diferential models related to fluid dynamics, nonlinear Volterra equations for population growth, and quantum models describing non-Markovian memory effects, among others. Finally, we perform stability tests by considering imperfect analog components, obtaining robust solutions with up to 13% relative error for relevant timescales.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗